Thus wrote Pope Leo XIII in his encyclical
Sapientiae Christianae. In this work, the late Pontif spells out the duty of Catholics to evaluate the doings and promulgations of civil authority - including resistance to that authority, should civil law contradict Divine Law. The blog "Catholic Thing" analyzes it in great detail. Please read it, as well as the encyclical itself. The next time you hear anyone talking about a "kinder, gentler Church", remember that we are the Church Militant. We are not the "Church Milquetoast", we are not the "Church Mediocre", we are not the "Church Mellow" - but the CHURCH MILITANT.