Independence Day, 2012: 236 Years of Freedom

On the whole, I like living in America. This country isn't perfect, but we have a tradition of freedom: with occasional lapses. Like I said: America isn't perfect.

That freedom is what draws many people here. I got a look at this country through an immigrant's eyes while working for and ESL (English as a Second Language) program in San Francisco.

One of the men I worked with had escaped from one of eastern Asia's more tightly-managed nations: hiding, during part of the trip, in a pile of anchor rope. The trip had been dangerous, and uncomfortable, but he thought moving to a country with freedom was worth it.

Freedom: For Everybody

I'm a practicing Catholic, so I have to believe some things. The rules are based on simple principles:

• 'Love God, love your neighbor.'
  (Matthew 22:36-40, Mark 12:29-31, Luke 10:25-27; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1822)
• Everybody's our neighbor
  (Matthew 5:43-44, Luke 10:29-37; Catechism, 1825)

Taking those principles seriously, and being a practicing Catholic, I think:

• People
  • Aren't all alike
  • Have equal dignity
  • Must not be treated unjustly
  (Catechism, 1934-1938)
• Faith
  • Is important
    (Catechism, 1814-1816)
  • Without works is dead
    (Catechism, 1815)
  • Must be
    • Kept
    • Acknowledged
    • Lived
    • Professed
    • Spread
    (Catechism, 1816)
• Religious freedom is vital
  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2104-2109)
  • For everybody
    (Catechism, 2106)

When the Church says 'everybody's my neighbor,' and 'religious freedom is vital for everybody:' 'everybody' means everybody. As I've said before, the Catholic Church is literally universal, καθολικός. And that's another topic.

Related posts:

• "Religious Freedom: Resources; Backgrounders"
  (July 3, 2012)
• "Independence Day: A Reflection About Freedom, from Milwaukee"
  (July 3, 2012)
• "Freedom, Responsibility, and Quotations "
  (July 2, 2012)
• "Individuals, the Common Good, and All That"
  (May 13, 2012)
  Particularly
  • Lockstep Conformity
  • A Nonconformist: (not) Like Everybody Else
  • Individuality: Catholic Style
  • "Not Just Something, But Someone"
• "Freedom of Speech: Bothersome, but Valuable"
  (January 27, 2012)