The Freedom of the Church

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ • St. Josaphat Formation Center, Phoenix, AZ

As we celebrate the freedom of our Republic this July, we can reflect also on the freedom of the Church within the Republic. Throughout the history of the Church there has been a constant struggle between control by the State and the freedom of the Church. The Roman Catacombs represent the severity of this struggle in no uncertain terms. There is, moreover, a long list of Martyrs down through the ages of those who have witnessed to the freedom of the Church by their lives before an antagonistic state power. Some that come quickly to mind include St. Thomas Beckett under King Henry II, Sts. Thomas More and Bishop John Fischer under King Henry VIII, Bishop St. Stanislaus of Krakow under King Boleslaus II, St. John Nepomucene under King Wenceslaus; and many groups of Martyrs like St. Paul Miki and companions in Japan, St. Paul Chang and companions in Korea, Andrew Dung-Lac and companions in Vietnam, and St. Augustine Zhao Rong and companions in China! Then, of course, there are the innumerable Martyrs under the Communist regimes of the 20th Century!

Today, however, more and more freedom of conscience is denied by the main-stream culture which demands absolute freedom in every form of self expression, even being able to choose one’s own gender. At the same time, it is completely intolerant of any perceived form of refusal to concede, cooperate, facilitate or even applaud their agenda. This hypocrisy is a direct assault on freedom for all citizens but especially for Christians. St. Augustine said that “as long as our sense of having greater or less freedom depends on outward circumstances, it means that we are not yet truly free.” [Confessions, book 10, chap. 27] While they can deter and dishearten and terrify us, no external circumstance can prevent us from believing in God, or trusting in Him or loving Him with our whole heart and our neighbor as ourselves. Even in prison the Martyrs were still free.  

It is heartening to recall something George Washington said: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim tribute to patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness — these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens … reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principles.” We pray our land may truly be and remain the ‘land of the free and the home of the brave’.