Slide 1

HUMAN FREEDOM & OBLIGATION FREEDOMBreaking out of all the old structures of political oppression, racial prejudice, economic injustice, and constricting cultural mores.

Since the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of freedom and a force for liberation(ITL), we recognize here an authentic sign of Gods presence and purpose . . . for authentic freedom is an exceptional sign of the divine image within man(GS 11, 17).

Authentic freedomisnotthe right to say and do anything, but todo the good

The pillarsof this freedom:

The truth about Jesus the Savior

The truths aboutthe Church

The truth aboutman and his dignity

Freedom fromAuthentic human freedom has many aspects.

Ordinarily we become sharply aware of the value of our freedom only when we are forced to do something against ourwill.Then we realize how much we long to befree fromthings imposed on us.

Authentic freedom, therefore, involves first of allfreedomfromeverything that opposes our true self-becoming with others in community. Such, for example, ourinteriorobstaclesand exterior forces.

Interior Obstacles:IgnoranceDisordered passionsFearsPersonality defectsBad habitsPrejudices or psychological disturbances

Exterior Forces:Violent force or even the threat of violence

The greatest single obstacle to authentic freedom isSIN. Liberation to true freedom means first and foremost liberation from the radical slavery of sin

Beyond being liberatedfromall the obstacles to authentic freedom is thefreedom for growing as full persons and children of God,sharing in the life of Christ our Liberator through his Spirit. It is the freedom found inauthentic love.

Freedom of the Children of God- The goal of this process and task of personal freedom is to be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God

Exercise of Responsible Freedom- As Christians, we come to know what is moral good in the light of theGospelandhuman experience.For faith throws a new light on everything and manifests Gods design for our total vocation, and thus directs the mind to solutions that are fully human

What is authentic human freedom?

Asharedcapacity with others in the community forchoosing- not anything at all-butwhat is the good,in order to become ourtrue selves

It involvesboth:

Freedom fromwhatever opposes our true self-becoming with others in community, andFreedom forgrowing as full persons before God and our fellow human persons, in authentic love.

How is human freedom experienced?We experience freedom most naturally in our free choices to act or notto act, to do or not to do something. We accept responsibility for these acts. Beside our individualfree actsthere is thefreedom of our very selfformed gradually by our free acts. Often calledfundamental freedomor option, it is not primarily a psychological term, but rather refers to our moral being as a human person.

What is meant by freedom of the children of God?

The freedom we share by the power of Christs Spirit within us, that liberates usfromthe enslavement of sin, the law, and death,fora life of loving service of our fellowmen.

We have no sin, no laws to obey, and we will never die; but that the grace of God offers us the real possibility of:

breaking out and overcoming the slavery of sin, living in true freedom as guided by law, and transcending our physical death by sharing in Christs eternal life.OBLIGATIONIs a course of action that someone is required to take whether legal or moral. There are also obligations in other noramtive contexts, such as obligations of etiquette, social obligations, and possibly in terms of politics, where obligations are requirements which must be fulfilled.

Vary from person to person

are generally granted in return for an increase in an individual's rights or power.