The Thomistic Institute The Nature of Religious Freedom | Fr. Thomas Joseph White, OP
Jun 16, 2016
Fr. Thomas Joseph White, OP discusses religious freedom in a secular state from a Thomistic perspective. Topics include human freedom, rational perception of the good, ethical vs deviant practices in religious belief, church-state agreements on bishop appointments, and the concept of loving God through natural contemplation.
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Why Suppressing Religion Undermines All Freedoms
- Excluding religious choices by state coercion attacks the interior structure of human freedom.
- If the state can bar pursuit of God it sets precedent to exclude any other goods, threatening human dignity and conscience.
Participation Prevents Rivalry Between God And World
- Recognizing God as the ultimate good need not oppose respect for created goods; created goods participate in God's goodness.
- Participation means honoring science, family, and arts complements religious orientation rather than competes with it.
Respect Religious Groups As Social Contributors
- States should recognize religious organizations and their social roles, including worship, education, and healthcare.
- Religious social activities are endemic to human nature and deserve public legal protection when serving temporal common goods.