Catholics and Latter-day Saints are important partners in the defense of religious freedom in the public square. That was the message His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. delivered today at Brigham Young University to thousands of students, faculty and others tuning in by satellite and on the Internet. Two apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Quentin L. Cook, were present for the address, as was Bishop John C. Wester of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City.
In his
address,
Cardinal George explained that religious freedom cannot be
reduced to just freedom of worship or even freedom of
private conscience, but that individual and religious groups
must have the right to exercise their influence in the
public square.
“The lesson of
American history is that churches and other religious bodies
prosper in a nation and a social order that respects
religious freedom and recognizes that civil government
should never stand between the consciences and the religious
practices of its citizens and Almighty God,” he said.
Speaking of the
partnership Catholics and Mormons have in defending
religious freedom, Cardinal George acknowledged that
“sometimes our common advocacy will make one of us the
target of retribution by intolerant elements” but emphasized
that such actions should not deter religions from making
their voices heard. “In the coming years, interreligious
coalitions formed to defend the rights of conscience for
individuals and religious institutions could become a vital
bulwark against the tide of forces that work in our
government and society to reduce religion to a purely
private reality.”
Cardinal George
pointed out that “society is based not on individuals but on
families, on mothers and fathers with duties and obligations
to their children, on children who learn how to be human, in
the school of love, which is the family, which tells us we
are not the center of the world individually.”
He also lauded
the growing relationship between the Catholic Church and The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their joint
efforts, such as providing aid to the poor and needy and
combating pornography.
“I’m personally
grateful that after 180 years of living mostly apart from
one another, Catholics and Latter-day Saints have begun to
see one another as trustworthy partners in the defense of
shared moral principles and in the promotion of the common
good of our beloved country,” he said.
“Our churches
have different histories and systems of belief and practice,
although we acknowledge a common reference point in the
person and the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Cardinal George
is president of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops and the first Chicago native to become archbishop of
Chicago. He presides over 2.3 million Catholics in the
Chicago Archdiocese.
While in Utah to
deliver an address at Brigham Young University, Cardinal
George toured the Family History Library and Temple Square
and met briefly with the First Presidency and later with
other senior Church leaders at Church headquarters.
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(Wisdom From Elder Jeffrey Holland)
Paul put it candidly, but very hopefully. He said to all of us:
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but [only] that which is good . . . [and] edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God. . . .
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you. . .
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Ephesians 4:29–32
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