Published: 2025-12-22

Religious Freedom in Catholic Social Doctrine in the Context of John Paul II’s Teaching

Jan Kazimierz Przybyłowski Profil ORCID autora Jan Kazimierz Przybyłowski
LIBERTAS RELIGIOSA Studium interdyscyplinarne wolności religijnej
Section: Artykuły
DOI https://doi.org/10.21697/lr.16389

Abstract

The article examines the concept of religious freedom within the framework of Catholic social teaching, with particular emphasis on the thought of John Paul II. It demonstrates that the right to religious freedom arises from the inherent dignity of the human person and constitutes the foundation of all other human rights and of social order. The study analyses the interplay of reason, faith, and the “heart” in the process of understanding reality, highlighting their complementarity in social reflection. Attention is given to the significance of religious freedom both in its individual and communal dimensions, as well as to its role in promoting the common good, democracy, and moral order. The article also outlines specific elements of the Church’s religious freedom, stressing the necessity of respecting its autonomy and mission. The conclusion indicates that religious freedom – understood within an eschatological perspective – remains a key component of social justice and a condition for the integral development of the human person and society.

Keywords:

religious freedom, Catholic social teaching, human dignity, reason and faith, John Paul II, common good, human rights

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Citation rules

Przybyłowski, J. K. (2025). Religious Freedom in Catholic Social Doctrine in the Context of John Paul II’s Teaching. LIBERTAS RELIGIOSA Studium Interdyscyplinarne wolności Religijnej, 4, 49–63. https://doi.org/10.21697/lr.16389

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