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,( Compare 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
IN BRIEF
2137 "Men of the present day want to profess their
religion freely in private and in public" (Dignitatis Humanae 7 § 3.). --CCC
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