On the Duty of Those Under Authority Toward Their Superior

One must not meddle in the affairs of those in authority or pass judgment on them; by doing so one offends the majesty of God, by whom authorities are established, “for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom. 13:1).

One must not resist authority in what is for the good, lest one sin before God and incur His righteous punishment: “Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment” (Rom. 13:2). One must be obedient to one’s superior, for through obedience one makes great progress in the building up of the soul, and beyond that one gains through it understanding of things and comes to contrition.