The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Day 274: Social Duty of Religion (2025)
Date: October 1, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz
Reading: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraphs 2104–2109

Overview:

In this episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz explores the concepts of the social duty of religion and the right to religious freedom as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He breaks down the Church’s teaching on every person's obligation to seek truth, the importance of Christianity’s role in public life, genuine respect for religious diversity, and the juridical safeguards for religious liberty in society. The episode walks through key Catechism passages and clarifies challenging ideas, aiming to help listeners understand how Catholics are called to live their faith both privately and publicly.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Duty to Seek and Embrace Truth

Timestamps: 04:30 – 06:20

• All human beings are obliged to seek the truth, especially about God and His Church:

  “The reality is all men, all human beings are bound to seek the truth, especially in what concerns God and his church. And we… we're bound to embrace it and hold onto it as we come to know it.” —Fr. Mike (05:40)

• This obligation springs from human dignity.
• Respect for other religions remains intact; acknowledging “rays of truth” present in every religion.
• Christians are called to treat those in error or ignorance with love, prudence, and patience.

2. Christian Duty in the Public Square

Timestamps: 07:30 – 11:00

• Christianity is not just personal; it is also public:

  “The duty of offering God genuine worship concerns man both individually and socially. This is the traditional Catholic teaching on the moral duty of individuals and societies toward the true religion and the one Church of Christ.” —Catechism (read at 07:40)

• Christians are tasked with “bringing the Christian spirit into the mentality and mores, laws and structures of the communities in which they live.”
• Key historical example:

  “All human beings are created equal and endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights…that notion came from Christianity…it was the gift, one of the many gifts that Christianity brought to this world.” —Fr. Mike (09:05)

• The Christian’s social duty is to "respect and awaken in each person the love of the true and the good," making known the worship of the one true religion.

3. Religious Freedom—Its Meaning and Limits

Timestamps: 11:00 – 17:10

• No one should be forced to act against their convictions or restrained from acting according to conscience in religious matters, within due limits.
• Fr. Mike clarifies necessary boundaries using examples (e.g., religious convictions cannot justify sacrificing others).
• Religious freedom is not a “moral license to adhere to error” but a right to immunity from external constraint by political authorities.
• Very notable distinction:

  “Error does not have rights. People have rights. So I can defend another person's right to be wrong. I'm not defending the wrong, I'm defending them.” —Fr. Mike (13:40)

• Religious freedom must be limited by the common good and natural law; it is not absolute.

4. Religious Freedom in Civil Society and the State

Timestamps: 14:15 – 16:45

• The Catechism acknowledges that some nations may give special recognition to one religion.
• Still, “the right of all citizens and religious communities to religious freedom must be recognized and respected as well.” (15:30)
• Example provided:

  “Even if Canada became Hindu, they would have to at the same time still respect the rights of the Buddhists and the atheists and the Jewish people and the Christian people.” —Fr. Mike (15:55)

• The obligation is for legal and political structures to protect civil religious liberty for all, regardless of official or majority faith.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Religious Truth and Respect for Others

  “Every religion that exists has some degree of truth. And as Catholics, we get to acknowledge whatever degree of truth exists or subsists in that religion.”
  —Fr. Mike (06:35)

• On Bringing Faith to the Public Square

  “We have to bring our Catholic Christianity into the public square. We have to, because Catholicism is God’s gift to the world...If this is true and this is good and this is beautiful, then we have to bring it to the public square. That is the social duty of religion.”
  —Fr. Mike (16:18)

• On Defending Religious Freedom (and its limits)

  “There is no such thing as a right to do a wrong. I can follow my conscience… and I have that religious freedom… but it’s not unlimited, and that is incredibly important.”
  —Fr. Mike (13:20)

• On States with an Official Religion

  “While Turkey can be a Muslim country if it wants, they at the same time have to respect the religious freedom of all Christians who live in Turkey or all Jews who live in Turkey.”
  —Fr. Mike (16:10)

Structure and Flow

• 00:05 – 03:15: Welcome, intention for the day, opening prayer
• 03:16 – 07:28: Reading of the Catechism (Paragraphs 2104–2109)
• 07:29 –16:45: Detailed break-down and explanation by Fr. Mike:
  • Obligation to seek and embrace truth
  • Living one’s faith publicly
  • Christianity’s influence on human rights/history
  • The Church’s respect for all religions
  • Nature and necessary limits of religious freedom
  • Political realities and protecting rights of religious minorities
• 16:46 – End: Recap, closing encouragement, preview of next topic (superstition, idolatry)

Episode Takeaways

• Every person is obligated to seek the truth, especially about God, and to embrace it.
• Christians have a responsibility to bring their faith into the public realm, influencing society for the good.
• Genuine respect and patience are owed to those of differing religious beliefs.
• Religious liberty is a foundational right of the human person, but is not without limits—those limits are set for the common good and according to reason and natural law.
• Even in countries with an official religion, the rights to religious freedom of all must be protected.

Next Episode Preview

Fr. Mike will address the next commandment-related topics: superstition, idolatry, divination, and magic.

End of Summary.