Hotline Asia -- Social Concern Notes

Parish Social Concern Groups - Church's Social Teachings
~ Freedom ~
Lesson 33

Question || Church Teaching || "Thou Shalt Think" || Facilitators' Notes
 

Introduction

“FREE AS THE BIRDS!”

Waldo has just graduated from Polytechnic. He has a job and moved from his parent's home to his own apartment. He feels great. He announces to his friends: "I am now as free as a bird. As long as I don't break any laws or harm anyone else, I can do whatever I please."
 
Question
  1. What is wrong with Waldo's understanding of freedom?
    _______________________________________________
  2. List a circumstance in which Waldo might not be as free as he imagines?
    _______________________________________________
 

Social Teachings of the Church

"This error consists in an understanding of human freedom which detaches it from obedience to the truth, and onsequently from the duty to respect the rights of others. The essence of freedom then becomes self-love carried to the point of contempt for God and neighbour, a self-love ... which refuses to be limited by any demand of justice." John Paul II, Centesimo Anno#17.

"...authentic freedom is an exceptional sign of the divine image within man. For God has willed that man be left 'in the hand of his own counsel' [Eccl. 15:14] so that he can seek his Creator spontaneously..." Gaudeum et Spes, #17.
 

Thou Shalt Think

  1. What is God's purpose in giving us freedom?
  2. If in 2007, Hong Kong were to have a democratically elected government, would it follow that all citizens would be truly free? Why? Why not?
  3. Tell a time in your life when you were truly free.
  4. Give an example how you intend to exercise your freedom in a new way during the coming week.
 
Facilitators' Notes

QUESTION

  1. What is wrong with Waldo's understanding of freedom?
    Waldo “can” do anything he pleases provided he does not harm anyone or break any laws. But this is not freedom but license! Or perhaps he is not as free as he thinks he is.
  2. List a circumstance in which Waldo might not be as free as he imagines?
    Examples:
    1. He may have responsibilities to his family present or future.
    2. The media might be government controlled and he is not free to discover the truth.
    3. He may be unable to quit smoking.
    4. He may be unable to control his temper and he doesn’t have any friends.
    5. If he becomes super rich, he “can” spend large sums at the gambling tables in Macau, but he “may” not if members of his human family are malnourished.

SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH

“…authentic freedom is an exceptional sign of the divine image within man. For God has willed that man be left ‘in the hand of his own counsel’ [Eccl. 15:14] so that he can seek his Creator spontaneously, and come freely to utter and blissful perfection through loyalty to Him. Hence man’s dignity demands that he act according to a knowing and free choice. Such a choice is personally motivated and prompted from within.” Gaudeum et Spes, Joseph Gremillion, The Gospel of Peace and Justice, Catholic Social Teaching since Pope John, (Maryknoll, New York: Orbis,1976) p. 256

“This error consists in an understanding of human freedom which detaches it from obedience to the truth, and consequently from the duty to respect the rights of others. The essence of freedom then becomes self-love carried to the point of contempt for God and neighbour, a self-love which leads to an unbridled affirmation of self-interest and which refuses to be limited by any demand of justice. John Paul II, Centesimo Anno (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1991) #17, p. 35.

“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.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, (Mission Hills: Benziger Publishing Co, 1994), #1731, p. 430.

“THOU SHALT THINK”

  1. What is God’s purpose in giving us freedom? (Cf. Church teachings.)

  2. If in 2007, Hong Kong were to have a democratically elected government, would it follow that Hong Kong people will be truly free? Why? Why not?
    Examples:

    1. The majority may enact laws that curtail the rights of a minority.
    2. People vote without sufficient information.
    3. Business interests financially support the candidates.
    4. People don’t vote.
    5. People don’t take the time and effort to evaluate the candidates for office.
    6. People vote for their own selfish interests and ignore the needs of the disadvantaged.

  3. Tell a time in your life when you were truly free.
    Examples:

    • Received my first pay check.
    • Didn’t follow the crowd.
    • Told the boss that I disagreed with him.
    • Wrote a letter to the newspaper.
    • Told my teacher that I copied the answers.

  4. Give an example how you intend to exercise your freedom in a new way during the coming week.
    Examples:

    • Seek the truth regarding the South Asian children in Hong Kong who do not receive sufficient schooling.
    • Tell my wife that I hate asparagus.
    • Inform the transportation department that the vehicle signal light and pedestrian signal light on our street is weighted in favor of vehicles. Since there are few cars on the road and the wait is so prolonged, the pedestrians usually ignore the light. This gives bad example to the children.

TIDBITS

  1. In what sense could someone imprisoned because of his/her beliefs, be said to “remain free?” For example, Nelson Mandela was in prison for 27 years but could have obtained his freedom if he agreed not to speak out.

  2. Supposing your country were a true democracy and you have just had “free elections”, think of a situation, actual or imagined, in which freedom is not respected.

  3. [To my knowledge, the word “democracy” is not used in any papal social documents. Why do you think this is so?]
 

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