Religious Liberty: The freedom to bear witness to Jesus Christ

Most Reverend Michael Mulvey is bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

One of the most precious gifts God has given to the human person is the gift of freedom. Rooted in the nature of the human person, freedom is fundamental to who we are and who God wants us to be.

The ability to seek the truth and live according to that truth reflects the human dignity that God has bestowed upon us as his children, made in his image and likeness. Capable of knowing, loving and serving God, the human person is called to enter into a correct relationship with him, and thus should be free to do so.

Far from being simply permission to do what we please, human freedom exists in order that we can search for the truth, embrace it and live it. In short, true freedom consists in the liberty to choose God and to shape our lives in his.

This is religious liberty. It is our first and most cherished freedom since it lies at the heart of our choosing a relationship with God. Religious liberty gives us the opportunity to seek the Kingdom of God and its righteousness and to bear witness to Jesus Christ by loving God and loving our neighbor.

It would be a dangerous error to think that religious liberty is something that is granted to the human person by governments, courts or any other human power. Being rooted in our nature, like all other fundamental human rights, it must be recognized, preserved and fostered by all, including governments.

Alarmingly today, religious liberty continues to be attacked and undermined by terrorists, radicals, societies and, yes, even by governments that should protect this fundamental human right and not compromise it.

In many places, such as in the countries of the Middle East, our Christian brothers and sisters are facing disturbing persecutions, torture and even martyrdom for their belief in Jesus. Their blood cries out for us to stand united in prayer and solidarity with them. We should never be complacent in the face of their suffering for we know that in the Body of Christ, when one suffers, all suffer.

Their witness beckons us to proclaim Jesus Christ more profoundly in word and deed, in private and in public. It calls us to appreciate more deeply the religious liberty that we enjoy in this country and to defend it more intensely against unjust laws, practices and government mandates that cause its erosion.

Our defense of religious liberty flows from our love for humanity and from the truth that the ability to seek God and give over our lives to him is essential to human dignity.

Let us continue to stay alert, especially in engaging with our legislators and political leaders, so that the fundamental right of religious liberty will not be lost or eroded but rather thrive in our society and in our world.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen us in our witness. I ask each of you to pray and to offer sacrifices and fasting for those who are threatened and losing their lives, families, churches and properties.