Thread by @Inst_StBoniface

Today the Austrian Parl will most likely pass the law implementing a #VaccineMandate. The constitution grants the state legitimate authority to implement such a mandate under certain circumstances-but do we have to obey? As Catholics, how should we react to such a mandate?
Thread

As Catholics, we may have the tendency towards a default position of obedience. And this is of course a good thing, since obedience is a virtue. But in this particular case, we must consider the nature of this bill, and of the state’s legislative authority in general.
(2/10)

When looking at the legislative authority vested in the state, we must first identify an adequate definition of “the law” as such. St. Thomas Aquinas defines it as "a regulation in accordance with reason promulgated by the head of a community for the sake of common welfare".
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Notice that there are 3 requirements that must be met for a law to qualify as such under this definition: it must be in accordance with reason, there must be legitimate authority and it must serve the common good.
(4/10)

Can this VM be considered to be "in accordance with reason"? Certainly not, for it is almost certain that it will be impossible to enforce it properly. How can a law -which, by its nature, is supposed to be a practical principle- be considered reasonable if it cannot be enforced?

„Law is the criterion of reasonable action and must, therefore, itself be reasonable.“ If a law is not in accordance with reason, there is a contradiction, and how can a contradiction be obeyed?
(6/10)

Will this VM serve common welfare? There are multiple arguments against this assumption, chief of which is the fact that it will create a marginalised group of people-the unvaccinated-who are being set up as scapegoats. The intention behind this pagan practice is always the same:

to rally the majority against a minority group by blaming the latter for whatever - actual or perceived - grievances the majority may have. The #VaccineMandate would create a division that cannot possibly be considered to advance common welfare.
(8/10)

Human authority can only be considered legitimate insofar as it is rooted in divine authority, because all legitimate authority comes from God.
The state cannot create laws out of thin air, call them just and good and demand that we obey. 
(9/10)

Obviously, we cannot just dismiss any law we happen to dislike in this manner. The relevant principles must be applied thoroughly and carefully. In this case, however, it is obvious that this VM is not a legitimate and authoritative law that we as Catholics must consider binding.