Can an act be morally right but unlawful?

Question

Can an act be morally right but unlawful?

Answer 1

Yes. Men make laws. Men are fallible. So, morality and legality do not always align.  

Answer 2

Yeah. Like if you kill someone because they raped someone, yes it would be illegal. The moral thing would be to rid of them, but you cant.

Answer 3

think of it this way: not everything that is legal is moral/ethical and not everything that is ethical/moral is legal.

i will give you an example:

"Not everything that is legal is moral/ethical"

abortion is being allowed in circumstances that the life of the mother is at risk. although this is allowed by law, it is definitely immoral in the sight of the church.

"Not everything that is moral/ethical is legal."

i am a student-nurse and while i was riding a bus, the driver accidentally bumped to a ten wheeler truck. i noticed that a passenger is bleeding severely. because i was taken over by my consience and quite confident that i can handle the situation, i rush to the passenger and give him an aid. because i do not have still a license, i am prohibited by law to practice my profession. however, this is seen moral and ethical because of the intention of helping the person.

Answer 4

Yes. Morality is based on an individual's beliefs...not law

Answer 5

but it depends...

Answer 6

yes. like when you take a child from an abusive parent but don't have legal custody, like the other parent or a relative.  

Answer 7

Yes.

Answer 8

Absolutely.  Plenty of moral things are illegal.  Conversely, immoral things can be legal.  

Answer 9

In n**i occupied Europe, it was law to report a Jew to the authorities if you knew where one was being hidden or was living.

So yes, I think it's a safe bet to say that an act can be right but illegal. Just because something is legal doesn't necessarily make it right, and something can be illegal but that doesn't always make it wrong