“Freedom”. It’s a word we hear a lot. It’s used as a justification for an action. It’s used as a justification for inaction.
It’s something we Catholics and citizens of the United States pride ourselves on having a lot of.
It’s something we are always ready, able, and willing to defend if we feel it’s being challenged.
But what does “freedom” mean?
Meanings of ‘freedom’
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines freedom as “the quality or state of being free” with examples such as: “The absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action;” “liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another;” and “the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous freedom from care.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (no. 1731) says “Freedom is the power, rooted in reason and will, to act or not to act, to do this or that, and so to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility. By free will one shapes one’s own life. Human freedom is a force for growth and maturity in truth and goodness; it attains its perfection when directed toward God, our beatitude.”
The word “freedom” has come up a lot lately.
Most notably in relation to issues of life, vaccines, masks, weaponry, expression and all forms of speech, race, gender, marriage, raising one’s children, the rights of children, and many more “hot button” topics.
Many people connect these with freedom in one way or another.
The right to pick a side, argue that side, and to live it out is a freedom.
Is anyone using their freedom incorrectly? Are people wrong in their thinking of what freedom is? Are there limits to freedom?
Do you feel free? If not, what would make you feel freer than you are now? Are your freedoms being challenged?
Your turn
Chances are, with all that is going on in the world, the nation, and our Church, you’ve used the word “freedom” a time or two.
What does it mean to you? Does freedom have its limits? Are people misusing the word? How are you free and exercising your freedoms?
I want to hear from you.
In 200 words or less — “What does freedom mean to you?”
You can submit your answers via email at [email protected] or by mail to Catholic Herald 702 S. High Point Rd., Ste 121, Madison, WI 53719.
I’ll publish as many of these as I can, and I look forward to the dialogue between all of you readers.