Archbishop Charles Chaput on Religious Freedom

"Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia warned Tuesday that the United States will face increasing pressure to abandon its traditionally broad protections for religious liberty, though he encouraged Christians never to give up hope in God's love.

"Religious liberty, he said, 'means much more than the freedom to believe whatever you like at home, and pray however you like in your church.'

"'It means the right to preach, teach and worship in public and in private,' he said March 17. 'It means a parent's right to protect his or her children from harmful teaching. It means the right to engage the public square with moral debate and works of social ministry. It means the freedom to do all of this without negative interference from the government, direct or indirect, except within the limits of 'just public order'.'"

A recent Catholic News Agency article reported on this presentation by Archbishop Chaput at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary. The focus of his talk was the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae.

To access the complete Catholic News Agency report, please visit:

The Pilot: For Archbishop Chaput, religious liberty means more than you may think. (19 MAR 15)