Pastoral Message on Freedom

This weekend, throughout the United States, we celebrate our freedom. Our rights are protected and opportunities abound. We recognize that freedom has a cost, one we celebrate and honor on days such as this. It's good to honor those who fight for our country, who may well pay the ultimate price for the liberties we're afforded. As faithful Catholics, we recognize that there is more to freedom than simply being at liberty to make our lives what we want them to be. St. John Paul II reminds us: "Freedom is not just doing what we can, it is doing what we ought." We become freer within ourselves and within our relationships when we choose what is right and good. When we choose sin, we become trapped in egoism - less free, not more. This Independence Day, let's continue to pursue virtue and good character and encourage others to do this same.