Human law governs the actions of those in a society, therefore the human law states that one cannot get drunk and then walk through the streets naked; this disrupts the social order. It does not (should not), however dictate private action: the law doesn’t forbid someone to get drunk in their own home. In Christianity, it is a sin to intentionally get drunk (Aquinas says that we are rational creatures and to become intoxicated is to willingly give up the rationality that God gifted us with). Therefore, the moral law coincides with the law against public drunkenness.

Does that mean the human law is the moral law? Nope. Some would argue it. They would complain that they should have the “freedom” to get drunk wherever they please. Instead, there’s a law against public drunkenness because some people don’t know that to get drunk is to give up their freedom.

To further clarify: just because something is legal, doesn’t necessarily make it okay, morally speaking. It’s obedience to God and His law that *should* dictate our behavior. Happily, if we are living our lives in line with the teachings of the Bible and the Church, we will almost always be obeying civil law. The opposite is not necessarily true.

So, I believe that if we are diligent in sharing Christ’s message, then those who receive it will no longer participate in those activities that may be legal, but are immoral.

I’m not sure if I’ve answered your question about the difference between the moral law and the human law directly, but hopefully it makes more sense now! Thanks for your comment! It’s great to hear from you!!

That’s a good post, btw, for the 4th. Hope the family’s doing well!