| Abstract |
Within the framework of the religious conflicts of his times, Francisco Suirez defends that political power is legitimate between Christians, but submitted to the spiritual power of the Pope. On the other hand, although it is not obligatory for the political power to have faith, the people are not obliged to be obedient in those issues incompatible with faith. If a prince is declared heretic, his crown subjects are released from their oath of allegiance. If he is excommunicated, the oath is sort of suspended. If the prince is deposed, the oath is absolutely destroyed. The Pope has the power to declare the intrinsic nullity of the oath. In any case, if the unfair law is not law, then subjects are not obliged to accept it. The only institutional limits to the political power planned by Surez are those that the Pope can exercise. However, the core of the limits to power in the Suarezian political theory is not institutional: They are civil disobedience and resistance, which must be exercised towards the achievement of the common good. |
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