In Part I, we explored religious liberty as a universal human right—not just for Christians, but for all people. We also examined how religious freedom must not become a tool for institutional self-preservation or a way to secure Christian privilege.

However, religious liberty is not just something to defend but to live.

Jesus never called us to cling to privilege. He called us to take up our cross.

Faith is about protecting what we believe and boldly practicing it. Religious liberty gives us the freedom to love, serve, and witness to Christ in the world. And that is where the true challenge begins.

Faith Is a Journey, Not Just a Belief

The Catholic Church teaches that religious liberty is not just a political issue but a matter of human dignity. God gives every person the freedom to seek truth, to grow in faith, and to live with integrity.

This means we are free to live our faith, but we are also responsible for using that freedom.

• Do we use religious liberty to serve others or to protect ourselves?

• Does our faith lead us to greater compassion, or do we only defend it when it benefits us?

• Are we willing to follow Jesus, even when it costs us something?

Faith is not about standing still. This journey constantly calls us to grow, love more deeply, and become more like Christ.

Religious liberty is not simply the right to believe—it is the freedom to live out our beliefs in a way that transforms the world.

Religious Liberty as an Invitation, Not Just Protection

Religious liberty allows us to practice our faith, but why do we practice it?

Jesus gives us the answer:

Faith is not just about what we believe—it’s about how we live. It’s about loving God and loving our neighbor. It’s about choosing mercy over judgment, generosity over self-interest, and service over comfort.

But too often, when discussing religious liberty, the focus is on preserving institutions rather than living the Gospel.

If we fight for our religious rights but ignore Christ’s call to care for the poor, have we truly understood what it means to be Christian? If we demand freedom for ourselves but neglect those who suffer, are we using our faith as God intended?

Jesus never used his power to protect himself. Instead, he poured himself out for others. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and welcomed the outcast. That is the kind of faith we are called to live.

Religious liberty is not just about ensuring we can go to church—it is about ensuring we are the Church in the fullest sense of the word.

Faith Sometimes Hurts—And That’s a Good Thing

We often think of faith as something that brings us peace—and it does. But true faith also stretches us, challenges us, and sometimes even hurts.

That’s because faith isn’t just about what we receive from God—it’s about what we give back.

When Jesus carried his cross, it was not just a moment of suffering but the ultimate act of love. And he tells us that if we want to follow him, we must be willing to do the same.

That might mean:

• Choosing forgiveness over resentment, even when it’s hard.

• Serving someone in need, even when we feel too busy.

• Speaking the truth with love, even when it’s uncomfortable.

If our faith never challenges us, we may not fully live it. The saints, martyrs, and great witnesses of the Church understood this well. They didn’t just defend their faith—they lived it, and in doing so, they changed the world.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Religious liberty is precious. But it is not just for us—it is for the world. It is the freedom to become the kind of people who bring light into darkness, hope into despair, and love into brokenness.

Here’s how we can start:

1. See religious liberty as an opportunity to love more deeply. We are free to practice our faith, but that freedom is not just for our benefit—it is an invitation to serve, forgive, and welcome others as Jesus did. If our faith calls us to love our neighbor, religious liberty should not simply be about securing our rights but using our freedom to make the world more just, compassionate, and Christlike.

2. Recognize that faith is a journey, not just a belief. Faith is not a static set of doctrines to memorize; it is a lifelong transformation. True discipleship means allowing ourselves to grow, change, and become more like Christ daily. How we understand and live our faith should deepen over time, leading us to greater humility, mercy, and love.

3. Be willing to embrace the cross. The Gospel is not always easy, but it is always worth it. Faith will challenge us, stretch us, and, at times, demand sacrifice. If our religious liberty is only used to protect ourselves from difficulty rather than to help us carry the burdens of others, we are not truly living as disciples. Christ calls us to follow him, embracing the joys and struggles of a faith that asks much of us.

4. Keep Christ at the center. Religious liberty is about protecting Christianity and making Christ known through our lives. If we focus only on defending faith as an institution rather than embodying faith as a way of life, we risk losing sight of the Gospel we seek to protect. Religious freedom should not lead us to isolation or self-preservation but to a bold and visible witness of love, justice, and truth.

A Faith That Transforms

Religious liberty is not just about securing our place in the world but about using our freedom to bring Christ into the world.

A faith that focuses only on protecting itself will shrink. But a faith that is willing to love, serve, and even sacrifice—that is a faith that will bear fruit.

True faith is not about comfort. It is about courage, love, and offering our lives to God in a way that blesses others.

So, what does it mean to use our religious liberty well? It means practicing faith boldly, with love and sacrifice. It means seeing our freedom not as a shield but as an invitation to live the Gospel fully.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the gift of religious liberty. Help us to use it well—not just to protect our faith, but to live it boldly. May our faith be a light in the world, drawing others closer to you. Amen.