Supernatural Freedom

First Things MagazineI wrote the following comments in response to a great article by Fr. Anthony Anderson in a recent edition of First Things Magazine.  The Magazine was kind enough to publish my comments in the “Letters” section of its August/September Issue…

Antonio Anderson’s “Bullets and Beatitudes” published in the May issue of First Things strikes me as essentially a study of freedom. In contrasting the lives and choices of Antonia and Antonio, Fr. Anderson addresses some fundamental questions of freedom that dominate the South-of-the-Border world where he lives and works but north of the border we would do well to understand and address these same questions.

I find it useful to draw a distinction between two orders of freedom: supernatural freedom and temporal freedom. The first sort allows us to make choices directed toward the good the true and the beautiful even though the other sort of freedom may be partially or completely lacking. Clearly, many conditions relating to economics and justice (temporal affairs) place significant limitations on the freedom of the inhabitants of the Fr. Anderson’s world. Notwithstanding severe restrictions to this temporal freedom, however, individuals still retain their supernatural (moral) freedom. This sort of freedom can never be taken away by men or by economic or political structures. It is our Creator’s free gift and is not withdrawn or removed while we yet live. This freedom allows us, when faced with restrictions to our temporal freedom to live heroically as Antonia did; living joy in the face of poverty and suffering. This freedom acts upon hope; that certain capacity (based on trust in our Creator’s good designs for us) that brings divine perspective to every event, act, word, thought of our lives.

Of course, another reaction when faced with limitations to temporal freedom is that chosen by Antonio. Antonio chooses to respond to a very real attack on his temporal freedom by embracing and perpetuating the abuse of freedom. He reacts to the limitations placed on his economic freedom by abusing the freedom of others; in the process also abusing his own moral freedom. Ultimately, his lack of hope leads him to this action. He fails to value the enduring good promised by the Creator, choosing rather to seek that good that abides only in this temporal reality. He fails to hope and, ironically, his very temporal response carries with it the very really possibility that he will cut short his time. Hence, Fr. Anderson’s conclusion is perfect. The only solution for the problem of the mafia in his world is the conversion of the mafia; the gift of Hope, the canvas for supernatural freedom.

We should employ this same framework in our efforts to address the erosion of freedom in our own world. I suggest a third way to address attacks upon the freedom of the individual; fight back in a selfless manly way, employing all the reason and courage at our disposal – keeping in mind that this fight for temporal freedom must be accompanied by conversion and growth in Hope so that we not give undo importance to our own will and that we not grow desperate (and selfish) when our Creator permits successful attacks on our temporal freedoms.

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