Our Lord really simplified things when He said that the new law consisted in only two parts; Love God and love neighbor. In the Hebrew Scriptures there were hundreds of laws that governed things in minutest detail. And the early Christians, most of whom were Jewish, had to really struggle with change. Some thought that many of the old laws should be carried over into the new Testament.
And, when we come to apply the Lord's commandments to concrete situations, we have to specify about particulars. So, the very early Church, without a long tradition, decreed that nobody should be overburdened, but idolatry, that is, taking part in pagan sacrifices, and sins against chastity are clearly against loving God and neighbor.
The Church has always had a strong sense of its own authority. "Whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven", Jesus said.
Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the Church ever did, happened in the first century. The Holy Day, Sabbath, was changed from Saturday to Sunday. "The Day of the Lord" (dies Dominica) was chosen, not from any directions noted in the Scriptures, but from the Church's sense of its own power. The day of resurrection, the day of Pentecost, fifty days later, came on the first day of the week. So this would be the new Sabbath. People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become 7th Day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy.
With a long period of practice and reflection, Church law developed and changed with changing circumstances. It takes a fair amount of wisdom and study to know in detail the various Church laws. The latest revision of our Catholic Church law took place about 15 years ago, some time after the Vatican Council.
The law of Christ is always primary; we must love God and neighbor. Particular laws are made, not to be overly burdensome, but to apply, in particular circumstances, how the law of Christ is carried out in practice.
Some people think there should be no law, no government. They are anarchists, and of course they make themselves into their own law. We witness such people bombing innocents, shooting randomly in neighborhoods, destroying property, making up convenient (for themselves) rules about life, liberty, chastity, killing the unborn, free speech.
"My yoke is easy, my burden is light", said the Lord. It takes strong faith to be able to see that in all circumstances.
The above was presented as a public service to interested parties.
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