Day 274: Social Duty of Religion

"All men are bound to seek the truth, especially in what concerns God and his Church, and to embrace it and hold on to it as they come to know it." This duty derives from "the very dignity of the human person." It does not contradict a "sincere respect" for different religions, which frequently "reflect a ray of that truth which enlightens all men," nor the requirement of charity, which urges Christians "to treat with love, prudence and patience those who are in error or ignorance with regard to the faith." CCC 2104

Today's reading is short and focused on the social duty of religion, which includes religious freedom. As Catholics, we have a duty of "offering God genuine worship... both individually and socially" and through evangelization "to infuse the Christian spirit into the mentality and mores, laws and structures of the communities in which [we] live" (CCC 2105). No one should be "forced to act against his convictions" or be "restrained from acting in accordance with his conscience in religious matters" (CCC 2106). This in no way compels us to respect the moral or religious matters as in equating them with the teachings of the Church.

The Catechism Compendium summarizes in what way a person exercises their proper right to worship God in truth and in freedom:

Every person has the right and the moral duty to seek the truth, especially in what concerns God and His Church. Once the truth is known, each person has the right and moral duty to embrace it, to guard it faithfully, and to render God authentic worship. At the same time, the dignity of the human person requires that in religious matters no one may be forced to act against conscience nor be restrained, within the just limits of public order, from acting in conformity with conscience, privately or publicly, alone or in association with others. (#444)