God, Equality, and the Founding of America

Friends, we are in a time of profound cultural convulsion. There are deep concerns about the nature of justice and politics. But what makes for a just social order? The fundamental understanding of “unalienable” and God-given human rights. When we take belief in God out of that equation, the foundation of our liberal democracy gives way.
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Bishop Barron on the Logic of Justice, Logic of Grace: www.wordonfire...
Bishop Barron on Living as the Image of God - Created or Joy and Love: www.wordonfire...
Bishop Barron on the Canonization of Junípero Serra: • Bishop Barron on the C...
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[@annamariehalasova395]

Thank you very much from Czech Republic. Such words are very rare in Europe of our days. God bless you.

[@paulfaigl8329]

Pani Halasova, ja Vas zdravim od protinozcu. Musim Vam ale prozradit, budte s timto nasim biskupem opatrna. Ma spoustu peknych nesmyslu. Vy znate Anglicky jiste dobre, podivejte se na tohle. Je to i citovano jistym Charliem nahore. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnq3ZHSQmZhqf6s

[@udochiekwerike3856]

Wow. I'm literally so speechless. You are an absolute treasure to the Church.

[@gildadarlas9457]

I haven't seen in such a short message, anyone addressing the issue of the social and political idea of equality and its link (or the lack of it) with reference to God so well articulated - until now. Thanks, Bishop Barron, very much needed.

[@gildadarlas9457]

Charlie052 G Your Point Being?

[@marianserra8371]

Well said Gilda. My heart is so broken

[@FranchesicaMiddleton]

Bishop, thank you for finding words for my feelings. Peace be with you.

[@nelsonphilip4520]

Thank you Bishop Barron. I dare say that the wisdom you express is uniting the "One Nation, Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty & Justice for All!

[@jimselimos4863]

@Ro Mo i notice that today, also.

[@vuhoang7109]

@Ro Mo right on! Today's America's culture are praising the richness in diversity we have, but then have forgotten or even replaced it from the motto of our nation are under One God, indivisible. And interestingly enough, seems like most of those who've gone the other way are the ones who've not followed the teaching of God from the Bible or straight out denied God.

[@alt8791]

Just here to point out that the "under God" part was added in the 1950's during the Red Scare and McCarthyism to create a separation between the US and the perceived "godlessness" of the USSR (despite the fact that Stalin all but made Russian Orthodoxy the state religion of the USSR)

[@Martin-qm2lg]

There is a Creator God, a God who loves us. You are not an autonomous, self contingent being. We are all a creation of God.

[@alt8791]

_[citation needed]_

[@rmoss42]

I re-read the Declaration of Independence the other day and it references God explicitly four times: "Nature's God," "Creator," "Supreme Judge," and "divine Providence."

[@ceilsloan9735]

Nearly every founding father made reference to the Almighty God.

[@iesumaria1743]

Don't be confused though, the "god" the founding fathers speak of is not the Living God of Christianity, The Father Son and Holy Spirit, but a cold, Deistic, clock-maker god, who crumbles before the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

[@paulfaigl8329]

@@user-wr3xs9gt2h Yes. A very good contrapunkt. But perhaps, His Excellency grew up a bit since the 3 years or so. He has some understanding of the "theory" (I said just "some" because he would need to go for a few years to really orthodox seminary for a refreshed and "deleter" of much of nonsense has accumulated since being such a high flyer in social medias) but the practice? Exempla trahunt is the second part of a Latin proverb, he practices only the first and that often with faulty content. May God guide Bishop Barron to Light and Wisdom.

[@alt8791]

funny how when you read the Constitution, you know, the actual document that lays out the laws for the country, the only reference to god or religion is the express forbidding of establishing one as the state favored one.

[@guypotvin6943]

And your point is? Jefferson attributed God, God didn’t attribute the Declaration of Independence. That aside, it’s the constitution is what matters. The original had flaws. Americans need to get it out of our heads , that we are especially blessed by God, more so than other nations.

[@josephjackson1956]

Whenever I think about the unalienable rights that our founding fathers talked about, I am always saddened by the laws that ignore that and allow the right to life to be taken away; abortion, the death penalty, etc.

[@glenndavis9523]

joseph jackson slavery?

[@HTtwentyten]

@@glenndavis9523 Is there slavery in America now? Joseph's point is that abortion and the death penalty continue.

[@barbarastraszewski2474]

@@HTtwentyten There is terrible discrimination against Black people throughout our country and always has been. We have an unequal justice system here in America, too. I could go on and on but will not. I pray for things to change for all people of color...Red, Brown, Black, and that White Supremacist will not control and win the election in November.

[@alt8791]

funny how the Bible seems to be _obsessed_ with the death penalty.

[@thedarkworld221]

@Dennis Kelly That would be ignoring how they used religious thought to make the constitution.

[@kywoltering9033]

Thank you Bishop Barron. I am a History Professor and I ask my students the very same question about equality in every single Modern History Class. It is not at all obvious that we are equal.

[@paulfaigl8329]

Perhaps you may question your own training dear Professor. Perhaps you need some retraining. Medieval theology has it also. God bless.

[@diannediaz5912]

Gosh. I sat listening, absolutely stunned by this presentation. When it ended I felt at a loss as I felt I needed to hear even more. Thank you, Bishop Barron, you are indeed an excellent teacher. God bless you.

[@kathykois]

Bishop Barron, you have such a gift that God has bestowed upon you. Thank you for your words. Please use that same gift that our Father in Heaven has given you to lead His lost Church as He has requested from you and like His Holy Mother, Mary, you said yes. God bless you.

[@desmondginny]

For hence it was that the Truth said to His disciples, A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid: neither do they light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that it may give light to all that are in the house (Matthew 5:15). Hence He says to Peter, Simon, Son of Jonas, do you love Me? (John 15:16-17); and he, when he had at once answered that he loved, was told, If you love Me, feed My sheep. If, then, the care of feeding is the proof of loving, whosoever abounds in virtues, and yet refuses to feed the flock of God, is convicted of not loving the chief Shepherd. Hence Paul says, If Christ died for all, then all died. And if He died for all, it remains that they which live should now no longer live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again (2 Corinthians 5:15). Pope St Gregory the Great

[@sonjabroodryk5169]

Good evening, Bishop. We have received our hardcover WOF Bibles, we feel very blessed to have them. Cape Town, South Africa. God bless your work, and your team!

[@Kat-ez4ni]

wait... i was hesitant to order their book because i thought we wouldn't be able to get it here in SA!!! imma go get myself one now

[@stacinodine7207]

Bishop, thank you for speaking. We are listening, if quietly.

[@popmotsisi]

I’m envious. I shouldn’t have waited. I’m in Johannesburg. I’m placing mine on order.

[@rogodrio9003]

I am so happy and grateful for you Bishop Barron., you are a blessing in this trying times. God Bless you ✝️ 🛐

[@dominicschmitz4933]

@@popmotsisi cool man!

[@pattidumas1946]

Bishop Barron has a beautiful mind with the capacity to make a topic relate to all levels of thinking human beings...children, teens young adults and older adults. His art is giving beauty to conversation as a model for all of us across the globe. Thank you Bishop as I now think, see and relate to the beautiful again as I knew as a child from my father, who saw and showed me the beautiful that leads to Truth.

[@JohnR.T.B.]

Sanctus Junipero Serra, ora pro nobis

[@regularfather4708]

To corroborate what you're saying, before I started going back to church (baptist) I found great delight in people watching, disparaging folks based on the way they looked, hating people who did things that impede me, looking down on people who are different from me in any way. I found God (still working on finding Jesus) and now, I can't do any of that anymore. Every once in a while I might start judging folks in my head, but it no longer gives the catharsis it once did. It's just an old habit, bubbling up, easily squashed. I get no joy from looking down on others, but I get great comfort from acknowledging that they are people just like me, who through the many varied experiences that we all endure, the choices we make and the consequences of those choices, have perhaps taken very different paths to become just like me: broken, imperfect, struggling to find something more. We all possess a tiny piece of God within ourselves, a spark of the divine that makes us truly equal.

[@ROSIE112109]

Well said Bishop Barron "Cultural Convulsion". It brings sadness to my heart to see where our culture has gone. But I have Faith that with prayer, love, solidarity we all will return to the body of Christ. I hope soon our society stops thinking as "we" & "they" and remember that we are all created equal as the two wonderful icons you mentioned remind us. We're God's children and we all are His body. We will heal with Love and unity! By pulling away from Him my friends will result in cancer. God bless you all, in particular Bishop Barron for teaching us with Love and patience 🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️💜💜💜

[@winstonsmith9533]

We are equal in the eyes of God. And we made our government: the consent of the governed. Before that, people were governed by kings by Divine Right. That's American Exceptionalism: we agree to allow our representatives to make laws. Freedom is hard and requires self control and self discipline of the individual. God bless you Bishop Barron and everyone here. God bless the United States of America.

[@augustsonseventy42]

Rule by Divine Right was invented by the jurists (lawyers, basically) who were basically royal agents. It was intended to expand and entrench royal authority and absolutism and, unsurprisingly, kings patronized and promoted those who argued for it in the schools and universities. It was always heterodox and borderline heretical as every Christian royal coronation ceremony made it abundantly clear that the king was crowned and anointed by God *through the ministry of His Church*, which includes the People of God. The kings however wanted to cut out the Church part as it implied the Church could depose kings and that the people had a say in their government and who would rule them. A Christian coronation also required the monarch to swear an oath that he would not alter, interfere with or in the ancient customs, practices and traditions of the people/realm (e.g. meddle with marriage), implying anyone who did so was a tyrant. Today we see all too well in totalitarian states and political parties that this is exactly what enemies of the people and society always do to break and divide the societies they intend to dominate and rule.

[@tryhardf844]

You can tell Bishop Barron is serious when you don't hear the piano and instead hear trumpets. God bless.

[@jameskearney4100]

Bishop, We are a Republic !!!

[@ipso-kk3ft]

I remember, reading about how the seemingly "godless" and secular constitution of America is precisely what enabled such a strong and vibrant religious culture. Thanks Bishop, for defending St. Serra! I'll continue to pray for Catholic America! Run the good race for Christ!

[@gmpeacock4349]

Amen!!When I started listen my mind went straight to our Souls as being equal. Be blessed.

[@SUZMIC1]

Excellent synopsis Bishop Barron!! Thank you for standing up and educating us “heathen” about the work of faith, hope and love that St. Serra undertook and why he should be honored ( and prayed to!) as well as the Founding Father. God is one and He is truth when we believe life fits together well!!

[@vinniep2612]

Thanks Bishop Barron. You cannot separate God from Thomas Jefferson's truest meaning of his words. Your articulation of this connection was done very well; I pray it gives us something to contemplate and discuss instead of the argumentative polarization these truths tend to devolve into. God's continued blessings.

[@insight856]

We love u Bishop Barron!! Ur my beacon of hope!! 🙏🙏

[@DW5200]

Bishop Barron- I recommend "Catholic Republic" by Tim Gordon. It addresses the East Coast portion of your talk- how Jefferson et al strayed from their mostly protestant/enlightenment roots to establish Catholic natural rights here. Im about 1/2 way through it, (tough but enjoyable going for me) I think you'd like it.

[@edwardo737]

Thank you

[@johnmendez3028]

Thank you Bishop Barron for fleshing out the change in understanding that led to the writing of our founding documents, the fundamental point that “all men are created equal by the creator” & “endow with certain unalienable rights”, and the foundational place of God in it.

[@roisinpatriciagaffney4087]

Bishop Barron, is a scholar, and a gentleman. And Irish. He can't lose. Pax Christi.☘☘☘

[@marysedita7326]

Thank you Bishop Barron for this much needed insight. Oh, we received our leather bond Bible and 4 others which we have now shared with others. God Bless you! Praying for you ♥️

[@bryanwalters9574]

This has been one of the most helpful videos I have seen on this topic. I sincerely hope to hear more of Bishop Barron’s thoughts on these issues. I hope one day Bishop Barron can discuss how development of doctrine in the Catholic Church functions with regard to social teachings. In the Middle Ages it does not seem that the church was open to liberalism or democracy, the modern church tends to be supportive of both. I’d love to hear an explanation of the development of that doctrine.

[@paulfaigl8329]

You may suggest to Him to have an open discussion on this and that with Taylor Marshall.

[@bryanwalters9574]

Paul Faigl does Taylor Marshall have a lot to say on the topic? I admit I’ve never been very impressed with him. I watch his videos fairly regularly as he tends to jump on interesting topics quickly, but I’ve always found his analysis to be shallow. Seems to me he just gets by on his zealous attitude. Of course Bishop Barron has his problems too. But I will say this: as a Protestant who is on a journey towards Rome, when I watch Bishop Barron it makes me want to be Catholic, when I listen to Taylor Marshall I start thinking I’m fine where I am.

[@rdurl5086]

Simply Outstanding - Thank you Bishop Barron.

[@Thomas-dw1nb]

Great and timely insights, Bishop. It's refreshing to see you standing with the lay church in defense of the Serra statue, as well.

[@cesarb1695]

Thank you Bishop.

[@inesalvarez-calderon6663]

Fascinating, true, important!

[@jameselkington2486]

Mother Mary, help me live Holy and stop sinning. Help me to seek the good and right and just in Truth Goodness and Beauty in the dirt and grim and dust. Thank you Bishop Baron

[@bc5612]

This is a very complex topic, Jefferson's words were indeed directionally correct but we must not forget that he was schooled in the principles of Thomas Hobbes. And today we see many of the Hobbesian theories of government flowing thru the behavior of the American public and the current administration. You can also see some of Augustine's criticism of the Roman Empire and his conclusion that right worship leads to right behavior.

[@Pdrum2]

He was following the teachings of John Locke

[@paulfaigl8329]

@@Pdrum2 beginning of a downfall. These rationalists have brought all this upon us.

[@marianserra8371]

Thank you your Excellency my tears have been many, and your words have been soothing during this trying time

[@lt5231]

Thank you Bishop Barron for putting that into words so well!

[@imalive4u169]

This is why we should fight for the right to life of the unborn. It's hypocritical to say we have the right to life when abortion exists.

[@billo875]

Wow. That was so badly needed. Well done Bishop Barron!

[@johnbartholomew2381]

Bishop how can we square Jefferson's "all men are created equal" with his ownership and trading of Slaves? I am a Catholic School Teacher; what shall I say to the students who rightly identify this contradiction and long for truthful explanation.

[@DaveHof]

The original draft of the Declaration of Independence would have ended slavery, so Jefferson clearly would have gladly put a stop the system that he participated in. Objections from southern state delegates forced Jefferson to remove that language. Had he not done so, the revolution may not have started at all. There was a belief that independence from England had to be the first priority, and only if/when that was achieved could the subject of slavery be revisited.

[@markrolinger3453]

I suggest that you remind your students that Jefferson was a human being burdened by original sin and therefore flawed. With the benefit of hindsight we can say with certainty that he was deeply flawed when it comes to slavery. We can also say with certainty that his flaw was not nearly as obvious then as it is now. Ask your students to honestly consider current events and ask themselves if there are circumstances present in today’s society that our tolerance of, or indiffernce toward or even participation in will shock future generations. Might abortion be one such circumstance? It is easy to judge Jefferson with the benefit of hindsight. Are we honestly willing to subject ourselves to that same backward looking scrutiny? Are we willing to be judged in the same way? Jefferson was wrong about slavery. If we choose to make him a monster we can. But that would be unfair.

[@roniquebreauxjordan1302]

You have to go way back to Greek and Roman society to begin to explain the complexity of slavery and the ideas Jefferson, Madison and Davis held...complex, yes...contradiictory.,definitely (see Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia) Are we in the 19th century..definitely not...21st century applied thought is so important. #allreallyarecreatedequal

[@OrthoLou]

You leave politics out of it and NOT indoctrinate kids!

[@SevenDeMagnus]

I trust Bishop Barron vs. those formal catholic theologians and formal, catholic philosophers (formal, meaning w/ a degree related to those disciplines). Bishop Barron will be a doctor of the Church, most likely. God bless, Revelation 21:4

[@ToxicPea]

Bishop Barron is amazing in the sense that he addressed a majority of the issues plaguing modern America without even lifting a figurative finger so to speak (as in he never brought it up in this episode). We need to have God back in politics or else these problems are going to get worse. PeaS: So I heard Kanye was running lol.

[@zoraidaiglesias934]

Thanks for sharing. God Bless you and protect you always

[@TheEowyn22]

I do understand your larger point and agree. However, while listening, I can’t help but be distracted by the thought that while Jefferson’s words may have been very different from Plato and Aristotle, he seemed to agree with them in practice. He spoke about all men being created equal with certain unalienable rights endowed by our Creator, but like the ancients, he extended those rights only to certain men, those that were considered superior. I figure that’s why you refer to him as flawed, but it’s difficult to think of him as being different from the ancient philosophers when his own slave holding practice rebuts his own words.

[@jmclaughlin2009]

I assume you're talking about Jefferson owning slaves. Jefferson's (and the rest of the Founding Fathers') relationship with the institution of slavery was very complicated. He inherited all of his slaves and due to his debts, he legally could not free them. Jefferson wrote against the concept of slavery, proposed gradual emancipation. He also, I will point out, banned the Atlantic slave trade and used the Marines to enforce that ban. Jefferson owned slaves but without his ideals (and actions as President), I dare say that the fight to end slavery in America would have been much, much more difficult.

[@TheEowyn22]

Jefferson could have freed his slaves. There was no law against it. The law simply stated that freed slaves had to leave Virginia and he thought that was cruel. He thought they needed protection, not freedom, because they were child-like and inferior. It should be noted that Washington, who also hailed from Virginia, did free all his slaves. Also, Jefferson did not inherit ALL of his slaves. He bought at least 20 and sold another hundred or so away. All this comes directly from the Monticello website - the people entrusted with his legacy. I do not think Jefferson was evil. He was a product of his time, and his writings and work to build our nation were incredibly important, essential really. However, that doesn’t change the fact that he did buy and sell human beings, and considered them lesser. All I am saying here that hearing the philosophy of Aristotle and Plato juxtaposed against Jefferson is jarring because even if his words were different, he lived more like he agreed with them.

[@TheEowyn22]

www.monticello.org/slavery/slavery-faqs/property/

[@paulfaigl8329]

@@TheEowyn22 Interesting. Where can you count yourself as being free? From bondage, from 10 hours work per day? From chemicals in the food? From poisoned water? You tell me.

[@ashleighe.4501]

@@paulfaigl8329 ...there is a difference between what you're talking about and being forced to work for NO pay, being seen and treated as 3/4 of a human being, being raped and being beaten....they are not the same.

[@fr.thomasherge3504]

Thank you, Bishop Barron. This was just the point of my Sunday homily, which I just posted on my channel. Equal rights only makes sense if you believe in God. Also, just got a Word on Fire Bible. Looks great.

[@jkellyid]

Love your commentaries Bishop Baron. Regardless of any criticism you get this work you do is life affirming.

[@quefuetato5779]

I don’t think when Thomas Jefferson said all men are created equal he meant “literally”, but that we are equal in dignity and value.

[@guypotvin6943]

Que fue TaTo What? Not literal? You realize what you are saying? Your suggesting, some are better than others

[@quefuetato5779]

guy potvin I agree 100%. We are not equal mentally, physically and all sorts of other abilities but we are equal in value/dignity before God.

[@ronnestman4696]

Bishop Barron is a treasure! God bless him.

[@nicksterwixter]

I absolutely hear what you're saying Bishop Barron, but I think a reasonable objection would be "Why then did the founding of liberal democracy take nearly 1800 years (by Protestants no less), during which systems of government that treated people decided unequally (feudalism) flourished in a Europe that was utterly dominated by Catholicism?" How would you respond to this objection?

[@markcobuzzi826]

I know this is not nearly enough to sum up such a complicated issue in history. But at least one thing that should be kept in mind is that Protestant factions were also responsible for societal ills that have been considered repugnant to American values. For example, I recall reading in school back then how Catholics being discriminated against under the Church of England were among those, who specifically traveled to the Americas for religious freedom. Apparently, one of the influences, behind the First Amendment mandating that America does not establish its own official church, was also how said Anglican Church operated and affected those who did not conform to its teachings. At the very least, it sounds like an example of Protestant nations being just as guilty. Also, the persecution of Native Americans is arguably one of the country’s most serious original sins besides slavery, where the settlers were inherently betraying the very philosophy their country is founded upon. This next observation is in-part also based on stuff I looked up years ago, so I cannot give an immediate source. But apparently, mentalities akin to “Manifest Destiny”, which was used to justify the persecution and pillaging of Native Americans on religious grounds, has some roots in Calvinist mindsets, where a person either belongs to God’s elect and is saved or is predestined for Hell and deserves his/her poor lot in life.

[@dynamic9016]

Thanks much for this video.

[@pattidumas1946]

If I may, I would suggest that anyone who would like to reform their concepts, to join his Word in Fire institute as I have.

[@IONov990]

As a woman, it can be difficult to accept we are not equally beautiful. Sure beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Some women, for whatever reason, naturally attract more men based on their appearance alone. I can also to see how intelligence is not evenly distributed. It is difficult to accept your limitations without feeling envious towards those who have more than you or do not share your limitations and flaws.

[@anupomarozario8299]

Thank you Bishop Barron.

[@maryannchaisson6742]

Excellent point Bishop Barron!🇨🇦👏👏✝️

[@yankeerose01]

Bishop Barron, perhaps we will get to the point where women are included in such lofty ideals of equality and God-given human rights.

[@adamdamato5308]

God Bless, Father Barron.

[@augustsonseventy42]

Good morning Bishop.

[@discoveringme941]

we are equal in rights

[@pero777100]

I would advise to go with both "born equal" as what we know and maybe "created equal" if majority of people chose to believe so. This strenghten nacional foundation and give more stability and prosperity on a long term and other good things.

[@pero777100]

And that we are born - I believe this is Jesus's "invention".

[@joeflint4851]

BTW: Thanks for your new Bible, it’s really awesome, enlightening, and informative! U B Awesome!! God Bless You and Holy Mother Church!

[@jamesrramey]

Thank you !

[@heribertossemann9234]

Very interesting, Bishop Barron, I got a greater picture of the reality.

[@nicksibly526]

Words that are so good, so true and so beautiful and yet so elusive to the angry mob.

[@MaCorazonDYu]

Thank you bishop we are all children of God, so we are true follower of our Lord Jesus! Amen

[@mikkis668]

Thank you. This was good and useful. Please continue to give us tools to understand our present situation. We, the laity, also need practical advise on how to meet and cope with the hostility Catholics face today. You mentioned Catholic Action in your latest article... maybe something like that could be helpful in "such a time as this"?

[@christophermartinez8853]

Thank you! I always learn so much from you!

[@marabarnet6789]

Eye opening brilliant! God bless you!

[@lizy6743]

Please do a video on the American Gospel movie. It’s very critical of Catholicism but I’d like to hear your response to it.

[@buckfarmer-gregory6400]

"Serra's evangelism, at least indirectly, is the ground of the principles Jefferson is talking about." What would be correct is to say that Serra and Jefferson are operating within a common cultural and ideological space (Christian Europe in the late 18th century). It is confusing and misleading to imply that Jefferson's work stands on Serra's work when there is no causal connection (such as a statue stands on a pillar, the pillar causes the statue to be in the place it is). Your remarks here, Bishop, appear to create a mood affiliation between the evangelical work of St. Junipero Serra and the democratic egalitarian project of Thomas Jefferson (at least as exists in the Declaration of Independence). This affiliation feels extremely specious given that the California Indians were seen as legal children (and treated more poorly than Spanish children). How can you compare that project to the project of creating legal equality among all peoples? Would Serra's methods and effects stand up to the teachings of Church on evangelization and proselytizing as made more clear in the 2nd Vatican Council? I think a clear-eyed assessment would say "no, the Church would forbid such a project today." I favor a theology of continuity with the Council, and so the teaching laid out there can be applied in any age. Furthermore, if we judge Serra's project by the work of his contemporaries, how do we explain his decision not to follow the example of the Jesuits in Paraguay who had managed a peaceful Catholic republic for a century prior to Serra's work and whose achievements in South America were written about by famous writers like Montesquieu. Serra made choices with the knowledge he had. These need to be explained in light of the suffering and death his choices caused.

[@00MSG]

Thank you Bishop, very insightful, I have never noticed those little words to be important.

[@NicoSantanaMusic]

Well said and very insightful thank you Bishop

[@rdquintero143]

Fascinating. A real unpacking of History while not using a revisionists lens.

[@tomsaltsman]

The problem is sin for both a democracy and the Church. In a democracy, we should be able to decide (by majority rule, obviously) what is the LOWEST acceptable standard we will tolerate as a diverse society. The Church calls us away from all sin. So in essence, it is the job of the Church to maintain the highest standard while a democracy maintains...ostensibly...the lowest standard of behavior. Those who cannot accept the lowest standard must go to jail or suffer some other rejection from general society.

[@Joshwutup]

It must be on your end. I hope you post my question and answer it. Thanks.

[@tracythorne3922]

Thank you! Thought provoking and eye opening as always.

[@tappanzee3490]

Love him and no we did not all read Aristotle lol learning so much from BB

[@tateharrigan8061]

9:36 “flawed, but fascinating figures” does that imply Serra was flawed and the people tearing down the statues are correct or flawed in the sense that are both sinners.

[@AroMaticOner]

That is a strange comment without a clear explanation of what was meant wrt St. Serra. The comment is really beside the point of the message of the video and so we are left to wonder why the Bishop says this?

[@killianmiller6107]

You don’t put up statues to commemorate people’s flaws, but as icons to represent their achievements.

[@paulfaigl8329]

You should know that all humans are flawed. Go and read your theology.

[@alt8791]

@@killianmiller6107 the achievements of murdering and borderline enslavement of native populations to force an alien belief system on them per the orders of a tyrannical government?

[@rachealbrimberry8918]

This is good.

[@withremnanthearts]

But is a liberal democracy worth it? Liberal democracies have this over emphasis on equality, even if it goes against reality. ie a man claims to be a woman, liberal democracies changes laws to equalize men with these thoughts to women.

[@coldforgedcowboy]

As Peter Kreeft says, "Reality Trumphs", meaning that eventually realilty trumps subjectism and relativism.

[@damiangurklys1148]

Thank´s for this message your eminence, God bless you.

[@markitsche987]

The awakening. 😃It feels like LOR in real time.

[@Barbara-zp8iu]

Thank you for this. Yes! Our nation's founding sentiment is inextricably bound to the belief in a creator. How do we continue to protect this vital connection as a nation, rather than increasingly disregard or deny it? (And in a society that more and more insinuates that 'science and data' wholly precludes even discussion of the significance of the possibility of the existence of a creator). Bishop Barron, I wonder if you're familiar with the 1985 PBS video "The Creation of the Universe", narrated by Stephen Ferris (and still available on dvd). If you appreciate both science and religion and believe that these two entities not only can coexist, but are interconnected and complimentary parts of the same whole, you will undoubtedly love this video. I would love to hear your thoughts on this!

[@keymaker2112]

In his seminal book, "Liberty or Equality: The challenge of our times" Erik Maria Ritter von Kuehnelt-Leddin makes a compelling case for the opposite, regarding equality's good. He argues that the totalitarian states of the 20th century were actually an intensification of the drive towards equality and that the modern totalitarian state could never have arisen out of hierarchical or aristocratic states, but could only have resulted as a consequence of democratization and a cultural impetus towards equality. Nazism and Marxism are not rejections of equality, but rather the logical conclusion of equality at the expense of all other aims, varying by scope and scale in the particular. In either case, a hierarchical or democratic society, it is only God and religion which permit some space for human dignity.

[@someguyontwitter]

That’s not necessarily an opposite take. Key words are “drive towards equality.” A liberal democracy (or republic) is predicated on the belief that all men *are* equal. A drive towards equality is predicated in the belief that men are *not* equal (but should be). Thus by the principles in the Declaration of Independence, the laws must treat us as equals, and under totalitarianism, the laws must make us equals.

[@keymaker2112]

@@someguyontwitter An astute observation! I still have reservations regarding the declaration of an unqualified equality, but you are essentially correct. I appreciate the critical refinement.

[@someguyontwitter]

@@keymaker2112 Thanks! Certainly the distinction I made relies on different understandings of equality, so declaring equality without qualification would be dangerous. I am reminded of G.K. Chesterton's criticism of elevating "democracy" too high as a value, and how the outcome tends to be tearing down anyone who rises above the very bottom, and thus destroying civilization, rather than helping people flourish. (If I recall correctly, I read that in his "Orthodoxy," but it may have been in "Heretics.") A proper understanding of equality is needed both for a declaration of equality to be true and for a value of equality to avoid leading to totalitarianism and destruction.

[@johnstewart7025]

I am reading Gary Willis book on Jefferson, so I am sure he will enlighten me on this. However, when we consider that we were "created" equal -- obviously, he isn't talking about our bodies or our individual political power or wealth. He is talking about us as people created identically. The church would call that our soul. I think Jefferson was thinking of us as equal citizens -- in the abstract.

[@josephat8334]

Thank you, Bishop Thank you

[@elipadgett1078]

Bishop Barron keep up the good work! God bless you, praying for you. Can you address the heresy of Americanism?

[@glpiccininno]

My God his idea that the Declaration of Independence has any legal standing in the formation of our system is idiotic. The DoI has NO legal standing.

[@zanerobert1641]

Bishop Barron, what are your thoughts on James Cone's work "The Cross and the Lynching Tree"?

[@theevolvingartist]

Thanks for mentioning this book, I’m going to check it out.

[@ellendayton8059]

thomas jefferson was a deist. he took a greek and french version of the new testament and excised god from the teachings of jesus. and he was highly influenced by jean jacques rousseau because they were in france together approximately the same time. he also included emanumission of the slaves in the original version of the declaration of independence but had to excise that or the southern states would not sign the paper. i did do a lot of research on thomas jefferson as i created a 45 minute interview with the man on the two dollar bill. he was a very likable , brilliant inventor, agronomist,, and intellectual and died bankrupt. the same day john adams died.

[@margarethhuapcent1270]

THANK YOU JESUS CHRIST!

[@winstonsmith9533]

Forgive me: Not a liberal democracy, a Republic.

[@MrTEACHPREACH]

Sally Hemmings was not included though in TJ vision of equality

[@maggiemeiring1539]

I stand with modern Natives who tore his statues down. Through missionary work he assimilated Native Americans to European culture and Catholicism, by promising protection from Spanish Army brutalizations, whoever followed was treated well if they didn't die from foreign spread disease (similar to what happen to Natives on the east coast) and whoever didn't listen where basically at the whim of the army. And when the rest of his argument is how Thomas Jefferson said we were all CREATED equal - yes it was such a powerful message - I agree it is. However Thomas Jefferson enslaved over 600 GOD CREATED HUMAN BEINGS through out his life and also brought about the Trail of Tears (forcing relocation of 60,000 Native Americans from their land they've had for hundreds of years) so I think there is an extreme paradox in both these men's lives that isn't being told and as much as I agree that saying we are created equal I also think history tells us we use religion to tell people who don't have the same beliefs that they are savages and that they are wrong therefor we deserve their bodies as labor and their land as our own. Which is not right.

[@NLT31]

I always thought that being created equal is that we all have some gift or quality.

[@expukpuk]

What is the difference between liberal democracy and not liberal democracy?

[@pero777100]

Very interesting. We do know that humans are born, maybe we are created I don't know. But in building society, system of government or any kind of social system best advice would be to try to stick and use what we know as much as possible. We know that humans and other plants and animals are born. Are we created? Who knows...

[@richardline2697]

A great mini tutorial!

[@ourladyoflorettostmichael7802]

Greetings from Scotland!

[@AmericanGuy7654]

The same Jefferson who took a razor to his Bible and who said "every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty ... they have perverted the purest religion ever preached to man into mystery and jargon."

[@schwaglr]

I think he sort of acknowledges that at 9:28

[@TheWoodlandsMusicLessons]

I never heard the bishop say that Thomas Jefferson was a saint or that everything he did was perfect. I believe he only mentioned one sentence of the Declaration of Independence, which was written by Jefferson. Maybe I'll have to watch the entire video again.

[@AmericanGuy7654]

Perhaps I am being overly critical, but I think the idea that Plato, Aristotle, and the classical tradition are less inimical to Catholicism than liberal democracy is a bit laughable. St. Thomas Aquinas, the greatest thinker the Church has produced, was influenced by this tradition, and in many ways his thought is completely opposed to modern liberalism. I recognize that perhaps *some* aspects of modern liberalism can be reconciled, but the great popes of the 19th century, even down to Pope Francis, have recognized that liberalism is not compatible with Catholicism. I prefer the views of Patrick Deneen and Adrian Vermeule who take a more critical approach to the liberal tradition and, like Alasdair MacIntyre, positively reevaluate the Aristotelian classical tradition. Rant over!

[@gildadarlas9457]

John Adams, you are missing - completely - Bishop Barron's point. See the video again, please.

[@astrol4b]

@@tomthx5804 that the founding fathers were influenced by Locke seems to me uncontroversial.

[@gailgoth5618]

Absolutely brilliant

[@jasonokasuo3401]

There is a deep sense of sweet irony listening to a catholic bishop talk about rights. Was "religious freedom" not included among the papal list of modern errors? XD