freedom of conscience & freedom of religion

Freedom of Conscience

Freedom of Religion

Source of Controversy:The HHS Mandate

Requires the health plans of all institutions to pay for contraceptive services:

SterilizationsContraceptives

○ Including “emergency contraception” that, in some cases, causes early abortions

The Vice-Presidential Debate

The Vice-Presidential Debate

“With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise,

including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for

contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they

provide. That is a fact. That is a fact.”

--Vice President Joseph Biden

Response of the U.S. Bishops

Response of the U.S. Bishops

“This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for

certain “religious employers.” That exemption was made final in February and

does not extend to ‘Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy

hospital, any hospital,’ or any other religious charity that offers its services to

all, regardless of the faith of those served.”

The Facts The HHS Mandate requires that all institutions pay

for coverage of Sterilizations Contraceptives So-Called “Emergency Contraceptives”

Only one exemptions - for “religious employers”: “Consistent with most States that have such exemptions,

as described below, the amended regulations specify that, for purposes of this policy, a religious employer is one that: (1) Has the inculcation of religious values as its purpose; (2) primarily employs persons who share its religious tenets; (3) primarily serves persons who share its religious tenets; and (4) is a non-profit organization…”

The Facts

The HHS Mandate took effect August 1st

Already forcing for-profit employers to provide all of these services, even if it violates their consciences

A one year “grace period” granted to non-profit employers (who do not fit the exemption)Barring a change, they too will be forced

beginning on August 1st, 2013

The U.S. Bishops’ Battle Cry

“Freedom!!!”Freedom of ConscienceFreedom of Religion

Potential Objections

Not that long ago, the Catholic Church wasn’t so keen on Religious Freedom…

Potential Objections

Freedom of Conscience & Freedom of Religion are not absolute rights

Tonight’s Questions

What is Freedom?

What is Conscience?

What is Religion?

What is Freedom?

At Least Two Dimensions

1) Freedom of ChoiceA power of choosing from among options

“Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility” (CCC n. 1731)

At Least Two Dimensions

2) Freedom as Fulfillment in the Truth

“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (Jn 8:32)

“Freedom negates and destroys itself, and becomes a factor leading to the destruction of others, when it no longer recognizes its essential link with the truth” (John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae n. 19)

“The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to ‘the slavery of sin’” (CCC n. 1733)

Limits to Freedom of Choice

The State can and must step in (at a certain point) when citizens begin making evil choices

Nature itself limits our Freedom of Choice

Subjective / Objective Balance

Freedom of Choice (subjectively) is important and to be respected…A reality that God Himself respects

throughout Scripture …But is not an absolute right

has to be anchored in objective truth

What is Conscience?

St. Thomas Aquinas(3 Key Points)

St. Thomas Aquinas

1) Conscience takes general moral knowledge and applies it to specific situations

His Example:

(Premise 1) “I must not do anything which is forbidden by the law of God”

(Premise 2) “Sexual intercourse with this woman is forbidden by the law of God”

CONCL: “I must abstain from this intercourse”

St. Thomas Aquinas

2) Conscience can be mistaken

His Example:

Certain heretics who believe that all oaths whatsoever are forbidden by God

[Could lead to a mistaken conviction of conscience that taking an oath in court is sinful]

St. Thomas Aquinas

3) We are bound to follow our conscienceEven when it is mistaken (!)Even when it tells us to go against our

superiors

REASON: Conscience applies principles that God Himself has placed in our natural reason

Some Observations Here

A) The need to form our consciences according to the truth

To fail to do so places us in a lose-lose situation

B) Conscience tells us what we must do (not what it’s okay to do)

“For conscience is said to witness, to bind, or incite, and also to accuse, torment, or rebuke”

Most basic moral principle is bonum agendum est; malum evitandum est:--Good must be done; evil must be avoided

Conscience not a Cop-Out!

Occasional appeals in recent decades to conscience (and to St. Thomas) in letting Catholics off the hook from Church teachings

BUT…Are their consciences well-formed?Are their consciences telling them, “I must

do X” or “I must not do Y”?

(Blessed) John Henry Newman


Conscience experienced as a voice

“We are accustomed to speak of conscience as a voice, a term which we

should never think of applying to the sense of the beautiful; and moreover a voice, or

the echo of a voice, imperative and constraining, like no other dictate in the

whole of our experience”


Conscience as echo of Christ’s voice:

“…a messenger of him, who, both in nature and in grace, speaks to us behind a

veil, and teaches and rules us by his representatives. Conscience is the

aboriginal Vicar of Christ”

Vatican II on Conscience

“In the depths of his conscience, man detects a law which he does not impose upon himself, but which holds him to obedience. Always summoning him to love good and avoid evil, the voice of conscience when necessary speaks to his heart: do this, shun that. For man has in his heart a law written by God; to obey it is the very dignity of man; according to it he will be judged” (Gaudium et Spes, n. 16)


“Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of a man. There he is alone with God, Whose voice echoes in his depths. In a wonderful manner conscience reveals that law which is fulfilled by love of God and neighbor … Hence the more right conscience holds sway, the more persons and groups turn aside from blind choice and strive to be guided by the objective norms of morality. Conscience frequently errs from invincible ignorance without losing its dignity. The same cannot be said for a man who cares but little for truth and goodness, or for a conscience which by degrees grows practically sightless as a result of habitual sin.” (Gaudium et Spes, n. 16)


“In all his activity a man is bound to follow his conscience in order that he may come to God, the end and purpose of life. It follows that he is not to be forced to act in manner contrary to his conscience. Nor, on the other hand, is he to be restrained from acting in accordance with his conscience, especially in matters religious.” (Dignitatis Humanae, n. 3)

Final Observations Essential to respect freedom of Conscience

For forcing someone to violate conscience is forcing him/her to commit sin

BUT…Conscience must be formed according to the

truthConscience is only binding when it tells us what

we must do / avoidThere must be at least some limits to the State

respecting freedom of conscience – what are they??

What is Religion?

“Religion” – Typical View Today

Usually involves…DoctrineMoralityRitual Worship

A human attempt to give meaning to life and the universe (cf. Wikipedia)

There exist many different “religions” – each of which is a legitimate quest for meaning

BUT…

“A God who is merely imagined and invented is not God at all. If He does not reveal

Himself, we cannot gain access to Him. The novelty of Christian proclamation is that it

can now say to all peoples: He has revealed himself – He personally – And now the way

to him is open.”

--Pope Benedict XVI in Paris

(Sept 12, 2008)

Pope Benedict’s Understanding of “Religion”

God is real

He has revealed Himself

The way to Him is now open

Religion as a Virtue

“Justice towards God is called the ‘virtue of religion’” (CCC n. 1807)

(Justice = to give each his/her due)

Acts of Religion (CCC nn. 2096-2103)

AdorationPrayerSacrificesPromises / Vows

○ Evangelical Counsels (hence the term “Religious Life”)

Tracing the History

“Religion” comes from the Latin Religio Cicero (106 B.C. – 46 B.C.)

--Religion as “cult” (cultus), i.e., ritual worship--A very public understanding of Religion – a civic duty--Religion as the basis of laws and culture

Scripture

Greek words sometimes translated as “Religion” in English:Latreía – ritual worshipThrēskeía – worship / devotion / piety /

observanceEusébia – godliness, pietyDeisidaimonía – god-fearing

Latreía (ritual worship)

Example: 1 MaccabeesThe false Latreía of King Antiochus (1:43) in

contrast to the true Latreía offered by the Jews (2:19, 2:22)

[False Latreía = IDOLATRY]

Thrēskeía(Worship / Piety / Obersvance)

Example: James 1:26-27

“If anyone thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained in the world”

Eusébia (godliness, piety)

Example: 1 Timothy 6:5-8

“…men who are depraved in mind and bereft of truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. There is great gain in godliness with contentment … but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content”

Deisidaimonía (Fear of God)

Historically was used…In negative sense (superstitious fear)In positive sense (fervent devotion)In neutral sense

Only Scriptural example is Acts 25:19Festus presents Paul’s case to King

Agrippa, and discusses a debate among the Jews over their “religion”

Religio in the Vulgate

5 Instances1) Exodus 12:26 – the Passover celebration

as a “service” [religio]

2) Exodus 12:43 – the Passover celebration as a “command” [religio]

3) Numbers 19:2 – a “statute” [religio] commanded by God to worship in a certain way

4) James 1:26

5) James 1:27

“Religion” in Scripture: Conclusions

Still a fluid term Certain emerging trends…

Somehow connected with “cult” (ritual worship of God)

Often a contrast of true vs. false Religion○ 1 Maccabees [latreía]○ James 1:26-27 [thrēskeía]○ 1 Timothy 6 [eusébia]

Scripture on “Religion”(Indirectly)

Jesus Christ as the one mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5)In Christ we have access to the Father;

outside of Christ we remain isolated Implications for…

Doctrine“Cult” (cultus) – Ritual WorshipMorality

Saint Augustine (A.D. 354-430)

Religio (Latin) comes from re-ligare“To Bind Again”“To Reconnect”“To Re-Tie”

Because the Fall has separated us…From GodFrom each other

A situation which…We ourselves lack the power to rectify

A Sharp Contrast in Augustine

Only one true God The God revealed by Christ

Only one true “Religion” Re-connected to that one

God through Christ, the one mediator

Only one true cultus Baptism / Eucharist making

us members of Christ’s Body and, in Him, giving us access to the Father

Superstition Belief in false gods

Original Sin Disconnected from the one

true God Idolatry

Cultus towards false gods

Augustine’s Abiding Legacy

Augustine’s Abiding Legacy

For over 1,000 years, “Religion” used exclusively to describe Christian faith, devotion, and worship… Muslims viewed as a “sect” or a different “law” – but never

as “a religion” His understanding of “Religion” still there at Vatican II

“First, the council professes its belief that God Himself has made known to mankind the way in which men are to serve Him, and thus be saved in Christ and come to blessedness. We believe that this one true religion subsists in the Catholic and Apostolic Church…” (Dignitatis Humanae n. 1)

New Factors

Discovery of New WorldGradual emergence of the term “Religions”

to apply to other groups besides Christians○ Initially, looking for ways in which “Natural

Religion” prepares them for receiving the true Religion

○ Later, speaking of multiple “Religions” in the same breath

New Factors

Discovery of New WorldEurope no Longer seen at the center of

World Maps…

New Factors Splintering of Christendom

Including “Wars of Religion” (1562-1598)

Jesuit Mission to China

Jesuit Mission to China

European Culture Introduced in ChinaMathAstronomyHydraulicsMusic

Chinese Culture Introduced in Europe…Ethics of ConfuciusScience / TechnologyChina Illustrata by Athanasius Kircher (1667)

The “Rites Controversy”

Opponents of the Jesuits:Accusation of Idolatry and Superstition

○ Genuflections○ Sacrificial Offerings○ Altars○ Ancestor Worship

The “Rites Controversy”

The Jesuits’ Defense:Confucius a teacher, not a godTables, not AltarsGifts, not sacrificesEtc

A new Distinction:1) Religious cultus

2) Civil cultus

Impact on Modern Philosophy

Growing Perceptions:1) Great Chinese Wisdom (in contrast to narrow-

minded religious bigotry in Europe)

2) The religious tolerance of the Chinese Emperor (and of Muslims) in contrast to the intolerance of Christian leaders in Europe

3) Vastly successful Chinese civilization versus conflict and division in Europe (“We’re the barbarians!”)

Etc…

Impact on Modern Philosophy

Rise of Indifferentism Rise of Atheism Rise of Secularism Calls for “Tolerance”

(Today): Religious Relativism

Jean-Jacque Rousseau

3 Kinds of Religion:

1) Religion of Man

2) Religion of the Citizen

3) Religion of the Priest


1) “Religion of Man”Focused on duty / moralityRelatively free of dogma and ritual“the pure and simple Religion of the Gospel, true

Theism”○ (i.e., what Christianity was supposed to be, in

contrast to what it has become…)

Problem: Even if there were true Christians today, they wouldn’t make good citizens; Christianity is other-worldly; a “Christian Republic” is a contradiction in terms…


2) “Religion of the Citizen”(as seen in ancient Rome)Relatively free of dogmaSimple common rituals that build up the

common good

Problem: Founded upon error, and inclines the people towards superstition


3) “Religion of the Priest”Heavy on Dogma and RitualA corruption of the original, primitive GospelPuts men in contradiction with themselves

○ Expected to serve 2 Kingdoms

Problems: “worthless … so manifestly bad that it is a waste of time to amuse oneself demonstrating that it is”

Rousseau’s Alternative:“Civil Religion”

Characteristics:1) Serves as civic glue

2) A few simple dogmas○ An all-powerful and provident Deity○ An afterlife that includes rewards for the just and punishment for

the wicked

3) Tolerance○ Except for the Intolerant!

“It is impossible to live at peace with those we regard as damned”

“But whoever dares to say: Outside the Church is no salvation, ought to be driven from the State…”

Religion Taken subjectively

Personal conviction Searching Believing Praying Etc.

Taken Objectively A real God Who has really revealed

Himself Q: Do my beliefs, moral

choices, & acts of worship actually connect me to the living God?

Vatican II: Religious Freedom(Dignitatis Humanae – 1965)

Reaffirms Objective Side of Religion:

“First, the council professes its belief that God Himself has made known to mankind the way in which men are to serve Him, and thus be saved in Christ and come to blessedness. We believe that this one true religion subsists in the Catholic and Apostolic Church…” (Dignitatis Humanae n. 1)


Reaffirms Objective Side of Religion:

“On their part, all men are bound to seek the truth, especially in what concerns God and His Church, and to embrace the truth they come to know, and to hold fast to it.” (Dignitatis Humanae n. 1)


This search for Religious Truth closely linked with Conscience:

“This Vatican Council likewise professes its belief that it is upon the human conscience that these obligations fall and exert their binding force. The truth cannot impose itself except by virtue of its own truth, as it makes its entrance into the mind at once quietly and with power” (Dignitatis Humanae n. 1)


A Desire to Affirm the ancient teaching, while developing it for today:

“[This Council] leaves untouched traditional Catholic doctrine on the moral duty of men and societies toward the true religion and toward the one Church of Christ. Over and above all this, the council intends to develop the doctrine of recent popes on the inviolable rights of the human person and the constitutional order of society.” (Dignitatis Humanae n. 1)


Interpreting Vatican II

“Hermeneutic of Organic Development”

The Development:Religious Freedom

“This Vatican Council declares that the human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits.” (Dignitatis Humanae, n. 2)

To Be Continued…

Questions?

Go to our website:www.thecatholicfaithexplained.com

Next Presentation:

Wednesday, Oct. 24th

The Relationship of Church and State

freedom of conscience & freedom of religion

Documents

religious freedom

dimensions2 freedom

freedom ofchoice

abuseof freedom

true freedom

freedom of consciencefreedom

dimensions1 freedom

situationb conscience