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Religious Freedom: The First Freedom
Catholic Online ^ | 12/05/08 | By Fr. James Schall, S.J.

Posted on 12/04/2008 3:08:24 PM PST by tcg

During the Synod on the Word of God, Archbishop Ramzi Garmou of Teheran for the Chaldeans, soberly remarked: “The whole Bible…tells us that faithfulness to the Word of God leads to persecution….According to the Gospel, persecution is considered as the most eloquent sign of faithfulness to the Word of God.”

To say that the only Christians in danger of persecution are those who have not capitulated to the “rights” claimed by the modern state seems paradoxical. Christians in both Muslim and Hindu lands appeal to civil government for protection against persecution. In the post-liberal state, all religions are equally private. All are thought subject to a “fanaticism” needing control.

Perhaps the Chaldean Archbishop was right. The only way we will be able to spot real Christians is if they are persecuted. “Non-persecuted” Christians ally themselves with the modern state or are converted to the dominant religion. They do not maintain enough Christian doctrine or practice to be threats either to the modern state or to other dominant religions.

(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: catholic; christianpersecution; martyrdom; religiousfreedom
The first freedom, that of religion, is the basic freedom. Other freedoms depend on it. Civil law does not “make” this freedom, but recognizes it as inherent in the human person.
1 posted on 12/04/2008 3:08:25 PM PST by tcg
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To: tcg

Iron does in fact, sharpen Iron, one does wonder in the face of such persecutions in the US, how many nominal Christians would find a different faith more palatable?


2 posted on 12/04/2008 3:22:07 PM PST by padre35 (You shall not ignore the laws of God, the Market, the Jungle, and Reciprocity Rm10.10)
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To: tcg

Our first freedom is the Second Amendment. It’s the amendment which keeps the others alive.


3 posted on 12/04/2008 3:50:36 PM PST by Shooter 2.5 (NRA - Vote against the dem party)
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