Chapter 3 YLIC
Law as a Guide to Freedom
“Amen I say to you, until heaven
and earth pass away, not the
smallest letter or the smallest part
of a letter will pass from the law.”
Matthew 5:18
What is “Law”???
 What makes something legal?
 What makes something illegal?
 Who makes laws?
 Why do we need laws?
 Are all laws justified?
 Are all laws moral?
 How do people abuse laws?
 Morally, do you have to follow
every law of your nation?
Freedom
&
Freedom makes us
responsible for our
choices and actions,
either good or evil.
Freedom lets us shape
our own lives.
It helps us grow and
mature in both truth and
goodness
Responsibility
“only in freedom can
man direct himself
toward goodness ….
Authentic freedom is an
exceptional sign of the
divine image in man …
man’s dignity demands
that he act according to
a knowing and free
choice. (The Church in
the Modern World, 17)
Good Law/s
 Points out the boundaries of freedom.
 Knowing the law & respecting the law is
essential to living a moral life.
 WHY??
 When we knowingly “break” the law it is our
responsibility to resolve any harm done and
to not repeat the same mistake.
 Good Law/s should protect us and others.
 Rooted in the common good
 Should guide our thoughts and actions and
provide a foundation for moral behavior
 Humans have the freedom to
think and choose.
 Freedom makes US
responsible for our choices.
 We must respect
responsibilities for our
actions.
 Can there be situations
where we are NOT
responsible for our own
actions?
Mental disability
Situation/s
Remember
 Freedom makes us responsible for our choices and actions, either
good or evil.
 External Freedom
 Freedom from factors outside ourselves that threaten or destroy our power to exercise
choice.
 Tyranny
 If a person does not have the right to vote for his/her leaders, or not free to assemble in peaceful
protest or not free to worship peacefully then their freedom is limited.
 Poverty
 If a person is always concerned about paying for housing, food costs, medical costs etc. they may
not have the freedom to pursue a higher education which could take them out of poverty.
 Internal Freedom
 Freedom from interior factors that limit choice.
 Examples: Freedom from fear (such as a phobia) and freedom from addiction (such as
drugs)
True Freedom
“True freedom liberates us to
develop our God-given talents
in a responsible way so we
can live our lives for others
and for our loving God.
Freedom serves what is good,
just, and true.” (pg. 75 YLIC)
Human freedom is not absolute.
What does this mean?
Human freedom is limited.
Give me an example of how freedom is
limited.
License is “unlimited freedom”.
But, true freedom is NOT license!
WHY??? (think morally)
“By deviating from the moral
law man violates his own
freedom, becomes
imprisoned within himself,
disrupts neighborly fellowship,
and rebels against divine
truth.” (CCC1740)
Freedom is limited …
Morally – As Christians we accept that our true
understanding of Freedom is found in the Resurrection.
Physical limits – literally the limits of the human body.
Can the human body do ANYTHING?
There may be intellectual limits.
Different types of “Intelligences”
There may be emotional limits.
Different types of temperaments.
Take an “Intelligences” Quiz
http://www.literacynet.org/mi/assessment/findyourstre
ngths.html
Would you like to earn some extra credit?
+10 on the Big Quiz.
Take this quiz online and print out your “scores”
Attach your scores to the Big Quiz to receive your
Extra Credit
Impediments to Freedom
 Ignorance – simply not knowing what we should do or not do
 Inadvertence – not paying attention or being distracted while we are
acting
 Duress – someone tries to force us to do something
 Inordinate attachments – possessions that can enslave us
 Fear – panic
 Habit – repeated behavior … bad habits are vices
REMEMBER – WE ARE ALWAYS FREE TO CHANGE!
If a deed (action) is “imputable” then someone
can clearly be held accountable for it.
Our actions belong to us. Therefore, we must “own up” to
them!
Good or Bad
Emotions (Passions) = Our feelings
Emotions are morally neutral. (WHY?)
But what you do with that emotion (how you react or do not
react) is NOT neutral!
Keep in mind that how you FEEL and what you THINK
may not and are not always the same thing.
Jesus is the fundamental norm of
Christianity. (He is the model.)
Human Reason – to reflect on human
experience through the ages to discover what is
truly good and what is truly evil.
Values – certain standards or qualities that we
deem worthwhile or valuable
Principles – Usually positive guidelines for living
out or values
Pop Quiz
True or False (T/F)
1. Freedom has limits.
2. Not knowing what we should do or not do is ignorance.
3. Norms are guidelines or laws that help us regulate human
freedom.
4. If a deed is truly imputable then that means someone can
clearly be held accountable for it.
5. Good laws are rooted in the Common Good.
EC: Ms. Montoya will ask out loud.