Declaration on Religious Liberty-no. 3a

On his part, man perceives and acknowledges the imperatives of the divine law through the mediation of conscience. In all his activity a man is bound to follow his conscience faithfully, in order that he may come to God, for whom he was created. It follows that he is not to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his conscience. Nor, on the other hand, is he to be restrained from acting in accordance with his conscience,
especially in matters religious. For, of its very nature, the exercise of religion consists before all else in those internal, voluntary, and free acts whereby man sets the course of life directly toward God. No merely human power can either command or prohibit acts of this kind. However, the social nature of man itself requires
that he should give external expression to his internal acts of religion; that he should participate with others
in matters religious; that he should profess his religion in community. Injury, therefore, is done to the human
person and to the very order established by God for human life, if the free exercise of religion is denied in
society when the just requirements of public order do not so require.

Declaration on Religious Liberty (Dignitatis Humanae), no. 3 December 7, 1965

These reflections and readings from the Vatican II document Declaration on Religious Liberty (Dignitatis Humanae) are intended for daily use during the Fortnight for Freedom, a national campaign designated by the U.S. Catholic bishops for teaching and witness in support of religious liberty. The readings and the questions that follow can be used for group discussion or for personal reflection.