Religious Freedom

Describe freedom in general terms

Generally, freedom means being able to choose for oneself and implies a commitment to be responsible for what one chooses. However, what it means to be free means different things to different people

Define Catholic Freedom

For, the Catholic Denomination of Christianity, true Freedom is found only in knowing and relating with God

List the features of Catholic Freedom

1. freedom is knowing and relating to God

2. Christ’s death and resurrection has freed people from sin

3. Catholics should use their freedom to express God’s will (by serving others)

Explain how Catholic freedom is knowing and relating with God

• Catholics believe God is the source of true freedom because God created humanity for a loving relationship with Him (Genesis 1:27)

• In Psalm 34:4, King David remarks, ‘I seek Yahweh and he answers me, frees me from all my fears’

• =highlights how only by seeking a relationship with Him and knowing His teachings, are we able to live freely

Explain how through Christ, people are freed from sin

• Unfortunately, sin can lead people away from God and and enslave them to selfish desires.

• In Ephesians 1:7, biblical teachings state, ‘In him (Christ) we have redemption… in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.’
  =highlights through Christ’s death and resurrection, people are freed from sin and empowered to live according to God’s will

Explain how Catholics should use their freedom to serve others to express God’s will

• Because, Christ has set us free, Catholics have the choice to choose God by following Christ’s ways

• In Galatians 5:13, Catholics are called to use this freedom to ‘serve one another through love.’
  =highlights true freedom received through Christ should be used in doing good for others instead of exploiting it in a way that harms society and individuals

List the challenges for Catholics in sharing in the work of Jesus

• Sin

• Social attitudes and trends

• abuse of freedom

Explain how sin can challenges Catholics from sharing the work of Jesus

Sin challenges Catholic freedom as it separates people from God and lead them away from good .

‘By refusing God’s plan of love (man) deceived himself and became a slave to sin.’ CCC 1739

the human nature to sin can enslave people to selfish desires and distract them from Christ’s mission to serve others

Explain how social attitudes and trends can challenge Catholics from sharing the work of Jesus

People struggle to challenge social trends that conflict with Jesus’ teachings

e.g In Australia 80,000 abortions happen annually, making it hard for Catholics to publicly reject it to defend Christ’s teaching of human dignity

=shows how people fail to achieve freedom by expressing God’s will by challenging contemporary secular trends

Explain how the concept of freedom of choice can challenge Catholics from sharing the work of Jesus

The concept of doing whatever one wants promotes a delusion self reliance without being responsible to God and the human community
For example, utilitarian philosopher Peter Singer justifies infanticide stating, ‘ fetuses are neither rational nor self aware and can therefore hold no preferences”
=concept on freedom of choices leads to justifying assaults on right to life

define how Catholic Freedom finds expression through the Church

The Church expresses Catholic freedom through its teachings and actions

how the Church expresses Catholic freedom through its teachings

The Church’s expression of Catholic freedom through its teachings guide people towards truth, goodness and a relationship with God
In Genesis 1:27, it states, ‘God created mankind in His own image’
= Bible teaches us that every person has God'-given dignity because they are created in God’s image. Encourages Catholics to treat others with respect, helping them find Catholic freedom through goodness.

how the Church expresses Catholic freedom through its actions

The Church expresses Catholic freedom through actions that help people grow in holiness and experience God’s grace
e.g The Sacrament of Reconciliation confers God’s forgiveness and grace on Catholics
= shows how Sacraments help Catholics deepen their relationship with God and grow in freedom

Define a Catholic Sacrament

The CCCC 1131 describes it to be ‘an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace’

List the features of a Catholic Sacrament

1. outward sign - God conveys His grace through words and gestures.

2. instituted by Christ

3. God gives sanctifying grace through someone ordained to do so

Define the Sacrament of Reconciliation

it is a ritual in the CDOC that includes the confession of a Catholic person’s sins, receiving the forgiveness of God through the ministry of the priest. Through this ritual, a person is reconciled with God, the Church and continues to live as a disciple of Church

List the beliefs of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Catholic Freedom

1. True freedom is found through a loving relationship with God
   -the sacrament restores a person’s relationship with God

2. Jesus gave the Apostles authority to forgive sins, allowing people to receive freedom through the church
   -the sacrament allows the church to mediate God’s forgiveness through the priest

3. growing in freedom from sin leads to growth in holiness
   -the sacrament frees people from sin, helping them grow in holiness

List the four parts to the ritual of Reconciliation

1.Contrition

2.Confession

3. Act of Penance

4. Absolution

Define contrition

since sorrow of the soul for offending God, combined with a firm resolve to avoid sin in the future

Explain the part of confession

Penitents openly confess their sins to a priest.
CCC 1493 states, ‘One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and the Church must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave sins’
allows a person to open himself to God

Explain the part of Act of Penance

This act of conversion can look like saying prayer or performing a fitting action to overcome one’s faults and make amends for the harm their sins have caused
-’Reconciliation requires conversion’ Catholic Encylopaedia, ‘Penance, Sacrament of,’

=highlights how penance demonstrates the penitent’s willingness to embrace a relationship with God and the Church community

Explain the part of Absolution

the priest represents the Church community and acts in the person of Christ, absolving the sinner.
Mark 2:12, Christ entrusted to his Apostles the ministry of reconciliation stating , ‘If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven.’

=through Apostolic succession, bishops and priests have the power to forgive all sins in Jesus name. Through absolution, the priest grants God’s forgiveness and restores the relationship between the penitent and God’s family