As a Catholic,I was always taught that the first sin was disobedience. The first and principal example took place in the supernatural realm and was Lucifer's
"non servium" The second,took place in the Garden of Eden where again we find disobedience the first sin,this time in the natural world. Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. God told them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; they disobeyed. Now we come into the world tarnished with that Original Sin. Disobedience,don't you think?
Could you cite the source of the information you offered about obedience being a part of justice. I've never heard that before and to be quite honest,it makes no sense to me,so I would like to read it in context. Thanks.
I don't agree with everything from this source but it gives a decent explanation of the Theological virtues, the human virtues and others grouped around the core human virtues.
The Three Theological Virtues: Faith - Hope - Charity.
Sec. 1826 CCC
"1. The three theological virtues are manifested in the following manner:
The effect produced by the virtue of Faith is to make us believe in the existence of God and in his divine perfections.
The effect of the virtue of Hope is to make us look for eternal salvation from God, as well as the means that are necessary for its attainment.
The virtue of Charity causes us to find satisfaction in God, and to seek to please Him by keeping His commandments.
2. These virtues are fitly termed theological, because God Himself is their object, their motive, and their Author.
God is the object of faith; that is to say, we believe what God has revealed, and all that has reference to God Himself, to His being', His attributes, His works and His will. God is the motive of faith, for we believe that which He has revealed because He is omniscient and the highest truth. God is the object of hope; for we hope for eternal happiness after death, to see God and enjoy Him forever. God is the motive of hope, for we hope for eternal felicity because He is almighty, most bountiful, and faithful to His promises. God is the object of charity, for all our love centers in Him. God is the motive of charity, since we love Him because He is supreme beauty and sovereign goodness. God is also the Author of the three theological virtues, as the following reasons demonstrate:
3. We receive the three theological virtues to render us capable of performing good works simultaneously with sanctifying grace.
When the Holy Spirit enters into the soul, He transforms the powers of the mind, so that it can rise to God with greater facility. When He comes and imparts to us sanctifying grace, a light shines in our heart that awakens faith and hope (2 Cor. iv. 6), and a fire is ignited, that kindles a flame of charity (Rom. v. 5). This action of the Holy Ghost within the soul is called the infusion of the three theological virtues. The three theological virtues are infused into the soul (Council of Trent, 6, ch. 7). The infusion of these virtues has a similar effect as have the rays of the sun in imparting light and warmth to the atmosphere. God does not force these virtues upon us; the freedom of the will is in no wise interfered with. The power of exercising the three theological virtues is imparted in Baptism (CCC 1266), and if it be lost, it is given again in the Sacrament of Penance. As the seed lies dormant in the bosom of the earth, until, under the influence of sun and rain, it germinates and grows, so the three theological virtues at first lie dormant in the soul of the child until he attains the use of reason, and through the action of grace and religious instruction they are developed and come to sight (in works). The baptized child resembles one who is asleep, who possesses the power of sight, but sees nothing, until he awakens from sleep and makes use of that power. So the power to exercise faith, hope, and charity are latent in the soul of the child, until with the use of reason they are brought into play, and their existence is made apparent.
4. We ought to make acts of the three theological virtues frequently in the course of our life, especially before approaching the sacraments and at the hour of death.
The means of making acts of the three theological virtues is to place before the mind the object and the motive of these virtues. In doing so, it is well not to employ the usual formula, but to express one's self in one's own words. Every time we make the sign of the cross, utter a prayer, or do a good deed, we make implicitly at least, an act of one or more of these virtues." Rev. Francis Spirago, The Catechism Explained, Tan Books (1899) p. 442-43. Imprimatur, +Patrick J. Hayes, Archbishop of NY, Oct. 18, 1921.
The Four Cardinal Virtues. Sec. 1805 CCC
Prudence - Justice - Fortitude - Temperance.
2. Justice enables us to willingly walk the narrow path of the commandments; the just man dreads the slightest deviation from it. The just man gives every one his due; to God, he gives worship, to proper authority, obedience, to subordinates, fairness, and to all, the love Christ commanded
http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/basic_belief.htm -------
Thanks,reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church is always enlightening and serves to preserve and clarify the teachings of the Church through time. It's really quite remarkable. But I didn't find the statement I had asked you about anywhere in the Catechism. I did find one paragraph under Justice that captured part of it.
Of course,I did know that obedience is part of justice,in terms of a right relationship with God as well as legitimate authority/ies. However,I still do not know the context or the source document of the statement in your post #23,wherein you commented under the title OBEDIENCE in the FAITH
It is the teaching of the Church that obedience is a part of justice,one of the cardinal virtues,which is subordinate to the theological virtues of faith,hope and charity. Faith is greater than obedience. Therefore,if obedience acts to harm the faith,then a Catholic has a duty not to obey his superiors.
So to go back to square one,where did that statement come from or did you weave it together from diverse sources? In either case,it seems to me that it is wrong and can lead to total anarchy. I just wish there were more we could do to get the imposters out of the Church and ensure that it will be here for our children and theirs,like it has been there for me through some awful times. I guess I'll just keep praying and writing letters and trust that the Triune God will see us through the storms.