Freedom vs. License

"From its outset, human history attests the wretchedness and oppression born of the human heart in consequence of the abuse of freedom." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1739)

Once again prompted by the preaching of Fr. John Corapi in his series Come Home to the Catholic Church, I felt a need to offer some clarification on the subject of Freedom.  The word freedom has been twisted and stretched and abused every which way in this country.  We are a country of freedom, but I propose that we don't even understand what freedom is.

As Americans we pride ourselves in our freedom or "ability to do what we want."  And that is where the problem lies.  Words are very important and if we don't understand what they mean, then we may easily be fooled or manipulated by their use.  Besides, understanding freedom as the ability to do what we want can't be true since we have laws.  Why do we have laws when we regard freedom so highly?  Well, I think it is that someone at some point in American history had common sense, and they established laws so we would respect our freedom.  But rather than respect our freedom we have begun to abuse our freedom, which simply undermines the law.  For example, (using Fr. Corapi's example) if something that is detrimental to the moral good, such as pornography, is made legal, then the law which is meant to protect our freedom actually hurts us by destroying our freedom and disregards the very purpose of the law.

You see, freedom has it's root in the love and service of God and others. "Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God." (1 Peter 2:16) So, permitting that which hurts or destroys our relationship with God or others can't be called freedom. Rather, the correct term is license.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, license is defined as: "a: freedom that allows or is used with irresponsibility, b: disregard for standards of personal conduct : licentiousness."

So, what has happened that we have gotten to this point in our country? Well, the Prince of Lies has propagated this very simple misunderstanding through a few generations, and now those who never came to understand the difference between freedom and license have risen to positions of authority where they may establish laws respecting license and abusing freedom. The irony is that those who establish laws permitting licentiousness are undermining and destroying the very laws they are responsible to uphold (which are meant to protect freedom) and in so are destroying not only the laws themselves but also the nation and souls of millions.  Our country's law makers have put us on the road to becoming "The Land of the Licentious and the Home of the Coward."

It is now our job to remind people of the true meaning of freedom, and the corruption of license. "And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:32)