LEAP of Faith: The Four Freedoms — Yesterday and Today
As we celebrate the birth of our nation this month, it’s important to remember that Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and the concept of the Four Freedoms share a fundamental concern for human dignity and common good of individuals and society.
Learn: The Four Freedoms speech was delivered by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his 1941 State of the Union address to Congress. In this speech, he outlined four essential human freedoms that he believed should be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. Roosevelt’s articulation of these freedoms went beyond traditional American liberties, emphasizing economic security and freedom from fear of aggression. The Four Freedoms: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear were later depicted by artist Norman Rockwell in a famous series of paintings. Learn more about President Roosevelt’s speech at https://www.fdrlibrary.org/four-freedoms.
Explore: The Four Freedoms speech is considered a precursor to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights which includes many of the same principles. Interestingly, Franklin Roosevelt’s wife, Eleanor, was among the women delegates from various countries who participated in the development of the declaration. Pope Francis has said “the path to peace calls for respect for human rights, in accordance with the simple yet clear formulation contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” Explore more at https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
Act: Take a look at the original Four Freedoms by Norman Rockwell and more current versions that were created by the artists Frank Willis Thomas and Emily Shur that are displayed on the bulletin board “The Four Freedoms — Yesterday and Today.” What do the newer versions tell you about the universality of the Four Freedoms? What part do you play in fostering the Four Freedoms for all people?
Pray: Lord of Wisdom, awaken us to our duty to care for the basic needs of all people. Strengthen with hope people denied their human rights and freedoms. Provide us all with the voice to cry out for justice for the poor and the oppressed. Amen.
Source: USCCB
