354 CAN PEOPLE BE FORCED TO BELIEVE IN GOD?

YOUCAT Lesson 354, April 28, 2015

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

354  Can people be forced to believe in God?

No.  No one may force others to believe, not even one’s own children, just as no one may be forced to be an unbeliever.  A person can make the decision to believe only in complete freedom.  Christians, however, are called to help other people, by word and example, to find the way to faith.  [2104-2109, 2137]

Map of the spread of Christianity: dark blue by A.D. 300, light blue by A.D. 600, yellow A.D. 800. "Mapspreadofxity" by Agur -

Pope St. John Paul II said, “Proclaiming Christ and bearing witness to him, when done in a way that respects consciences, does not violate freedom.  Faith demands a free adherence on the part of man, but at the same time faith must also be offered to him” (Encyclical Redemptoris mission, 1990, no. 8).

“We impose our faith on no one.  Such proselytism is contrary to Christianity.  Faith can develop only in freedom.  But we do appeal to the freedom of men and women to open their hearts to God, to seek him, to hear his voice.”  Pope Benedict XVI, September 10, 2006

Proselytism (from Greek proser-chomai=to arrive): the exploitation of the intellectual or physical poverty of others to draw them over to one’s own faith.

[2104-2109, 2137]

II. "HIM ONLY SHALL YOU SERVE"

The social duty of religion and the right to religious freedom

2104 "All men are bound to seek the truth, especially in what concerns God and his Church, and to embrace it and hold on to it as they come to know it."( Dignitatis Humanae 1 § 2.)²⁶ This duty derives from "the very dignity of the human person."( Dignitatis Humanae 2 § 1.)²⁷ It does not contradict a "sincere respect" for different religions which frequently "reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men,"( Nostra Aetate 2 § 2.)²⁸ nor the requirement of charity, which urges Christians "to treat with love, prudence and patience those who are in error or ignorance with regard to the faith."( Dignitatis Humanae 14 § 4. )²⁹ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

2105 The duty of offering God genuine worship concerns man both individually and socially. This is "the traditional Catholic teaching on the moral duty of individuals and societies toward the true religion and the one Church of Christ."( Dignitatis Humanae 1 § 3)³⁰ By constantly evangelizing men, the Church works toward enabling them "to infuse the Christian spirit into the mentality and mores, laws and structures of the communities in which [they] live."( Apostolicam Actuositatem 13 § 1.)³¹The social duty of Christians is to respect and awaken in each man the love of the true and the good. It requires them to make known the worship of the one true religion which subsists in the Catholic and apostolic Church.( Compare Dignitatem Humanae 1.)³² Christians are called to be the light of the world. Thus, the Church shows forth the kingship of Christ over all creation and in particular over human societies.( Compare Apostolicam Actuositatem 13; Leo XIII, Immortale Dei 3,17; Pius XI, Quas primas 8,20.)³³ –CCC

2106 "Nobody may be forced to act against his convictions, nor is anyone to be restrained from acting in accordance with his conscience in religious matters in private or in public, alone or in association with others, within due limits."( Dignitatis Humanae 2 § 1.)³⁴ This right is based on the very nature of the human person, whose dignity enables him freely to assent to the divine truth which transcends the temporal order. For this reason it "continues to exist even in those who do not live up to their obligation of seeking the truth and adhering to it."( Dignitatis Humanae 2 § 2)³⁵ CCC

2107 "If because of the circumstances of a particular people special civil recognition is given to one religious community in the constitutional organization of a state, the right of all citizens and religious communities to religious freedom must be recognized and respected as well."( Dignitatis Humanae 6 § 3.)³⁶ –CCC

2108 The right to religious liberty is neither a moral license to adhere to error, nor a supposed right to error,( Cf. Leo XIII, Libertas praestantissimum 18; Pius XII Acta Apostolicae Sedis 1953,799.)³⁷ but rather a natural right of the human person to civil liberty, i.e., immunity, within just limits, from external constraint in religious matters by political authorities. This natural right ought to be acknowledged in the juridical order of society in such a way that it constitutes a civil right.( Compare Dignitatis Humanae 2.)³⁸ –CCC

2109 The right to religious liberty can of itself be neither unlimited nor limited only by a "public order" conceived in a positivist or naturalist manner.( Compare Pius VI,  (Quod aliquantum  (1791) 10; Pius IX, Quanta cura 3.)³⁹ The "due limits" which are inherent in it must be determined for each social situation by political prudence, according to the requirements of the common good, and ratified by the civil authority in accordance with "legal principles which are in conformity with the objective moral order."( Dignitatis Humanae 7 § 3.)⁴⁰ --CCC