As an American citizen, I value those freedoms enshrined in the Bill of Rights – the freedom to speak my piece, to assemble and associate with whom I wish. As a Catholic bishop, I treasure our freedom of religion “and the free exercise thereof” and want to trust that leaders in both political and religious venues guard those freedoms well, neither abusing them, nor weakening them through a lack of vigilant attention to the world around us.

Both of those things can happen, and very easily, because while human nature likes predominance of viewpoint, it often takes too much for granted. We see something of that happening even now in our culture when people with one point of view make suggestions – sometimes not even veiled suggestions – that those of a different opinion should be silenced. This includes people without religious beliefs arguing that while churches may be fine so far as they go, they have no place in the arena of public ideas and debate.

We are given freedoms, which are precious, but we must approach them as responsibly – and with as much respect for others – as we can. Freedom used irresponsibly, as I learned young, has the potential to deliver a profoundly painful reckoning.