Antigone a Model For Our Times

For those who have read some Sophocles, Antigone is a play in which a very important lesson is to be learned regarding the extent citizens are to obey civil law. I would highly recommend reading all of the plays of Sophocles because of their beauty; however, you can simply read Antigone to glean an important truth I present here, but it would be like reading only one chapter of a book. On top of that, these are great books of the western world, whose merit cant be extolled enough. 

The play culminates in act of civil disobedience by Antigone -the daughter of Oedipus Rex, in opposition to King Creon. He took over the kingdom after the exile of Oedipus, which was due to the incest he unknowingly participated in with his mother -this is the origin of the Oedipus complex. After Oedipus' exile, one of his sons perished after trying to besiege Thebes, thus inuring the penalty of not being permitted a proper burial. This edict was put forth by Creon, who vowed to put to death anyone who disobeyed him. Antigone being the victims sister, believed it a moral duty to bury her brother and was successful in doing so under the cover of night. This was quickly discovered by the King who questioned Antigone. Her response to Creon reveals the impotence of his law in comparison to Divine law. 

If a law is promulgated and that law is contradictory to a higher law, i.e. Divine  Law or Natural Law, then that law is no law at all (Aquinas). 

Similarly, we have just witnessed a new law passed by the supreme court which permits homosexuals to be married. The state has ruled that something that is immoral (homosexuality), is now moral. This is in direct opposition to both the higher laws we just spoke of. Therefore, this law is in reality no law at all; it is an error of judgement. 

Consequently, we are not obliged to follow this law. Bishop Jarrel just recently made comments on this same idea, "This ruling is irreconcilable with the nature and definition of marriage as established by Divine Law" and he encouraged people to be disobedient to it. This is a bishop who is courageously speaking out. God bless him and his diocese. 

There is a fun ending to the play Antigone , in which justice is served, but I wont spoil it for you. We however should not be cowards by accepting this new Law. We must opose it in both our speech and action. There are also numerous examples of saints in the early Church who opposed the state for unjust laws; Thomas More comes to mind. We cant do this unless we are prayed and fasted up. Not to mention we must be solid in our understanding of the truth and be ready to defend it. 

There are many reasons why this law is erroneous, but in light of the story of Antigone, we learn that it is simply no law at all, because it is not just. 

Question:

Why is the new so called gay "marriage" law wrong? 

Answer:

Because any law that is irreconcilable to a higher authority, namely natural and divine law -this law contradicts both, is in reality no law at all and we are not obliged to obey it.