Religious Liberty
The effective recognition of the right to freedom of conscience and religious freedom is one of the highest goods and one of the most serious duties of every people that truly wishes to ensure the good of the individual and of society.
— Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, no. 553
Our First and Most Cherished Freedom
The Indiana Catholic Conference supports the fundamental human right of religious freedom, which is the “immun[ity] from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether along or in association with others, within due limits” (Dignitatis Humanae, no. 2).
The Church recognizes the great protections for religious liberty in the United States, but remains vigilant of numerous emerging challenges.