maledicency laws

I have argued earlier that a Catholic society cannot live without some kind of censorship laws and strict enforcement of those laws. It is high time to be more precise on this point and ask: what kind of censorship laws?.

The answer is: maledicency laws. This includes in the first place maledicency against God (blasphemy) and generally maledicency against man. This is what the Portuguese Penal Code calls "Crimes contra a honra", defamation in its various forms (v.g., libel, slander) being foremost among them.

It should now be clear why in Portuguese history blasphemy was always taken as such a serious crime. Man is made at the image of God. Once people lose respect for God (blasphemy) they will soon lose respect for men. Society is done.

Furthermore, it should now be clear why Portuguese society always progressed the most when maledicency laws were strictly enforced, such as under Estado Novo. Conversely, the argument can be used to make us understand why Portuguese society does not and cannot progress at present. Maledicency laws are not enforced (except when maledicency crimes are commited against someone in a position of power). Rather, the justice system itself has been transformed into an instrument of institutionalized maledicency.