all Catholics to make use of popular institutions, so far as can honestly be done, for the advancement of truth and righteousness. Summary According to the teaching of the Catholic Church, citizens are religiously bound to obey their civil rulers in all matters which belong to the sphere of civil government. That sphere comprises whatever may contribute to the temporal welfare of the whole body of citizens. As religion is a sacred duty and its practice contributes much to the well-being of the citizens, the State should not be entirely indifferent to religion. Still the direct care of religion has not been committed to the state but to the Church, which is independent of the State. Hence, there are limits set to the duty of civil allegiance. The State is not competent to make laws in matter of religion, nor may it interfere with the rights of the Church. If the State transgresses the limits assigned to it, the duty of obedience ceases: "We ought to obey God rather than men." Catholics are guided in matters of duty by the public teaching and law of the Catholic Church. See also List of encyclicals of Pope Leo XIII References Further reading Chatard, F. S. "The Encyclical 'Immortale Dei'," The American Catholic Quarterly Review, Vol. XI, 1886. External links Pope Leo XIII, Immortale Dei, 1 November 1885, Libreria Editrice Vaticana Encyclicals of Pope Leo XIII Documents of the Catholic Social Teaching tradition 1885 in Christianity 1885 documents November 1885 events Catholicism and politics