Wednesday, November 23, 2005
DH4
Dignitatis Humanae 4 begins:
The freedom or immunity from coercion in matters religious which is the endowment of persons as individuals is also to be recognized as their right when they act in community. Religious communities are a requirement of the social nature both of man and of religion itself.
Sounds about right, since in American jurisprudence corporations can claim such rights. The section continues, listing the various rights to education, mobility, leadership, and such that religious communities require to live out the search for the truth. Religious communities themselves are cautioned:
However, in spreading religious faith and in introducing religious practices everyone ought at all times to refrain from any manner of action which might seem to carry a hint of coercion or of a kind of persuasion that would be dishonorable or unworthy, especially when dealing with poor or uneducated people. Such a manner of action would have to be considered an abuse of one's right and a violation of the right of others.
Religious communities can demonstrate their beliefs to others: (I)t comes within the meaning of religious freedom that religious communities should not be prohibited from freely undertaking to show the special value of their doctrine in what concerns the organization of society and the inspiration of the whole of human activity.
And they can undertake works within society that express their faith in action: (T)he social nature of man and the very nature of religion afford the foundation of the right of men freely to hold meetings and to establish educational, cultural, charitable and social organizations, under the impulse of their own religious sense.
Don't be bashful; any comments?
