Catholic-Jewish commission says freedom must reflect divine will

Published: 2007-03-22

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Human freedom must be exercised in accordance with God's law, including the obligation to protect human life, said members of a dialogue commission representing the Vatican and the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. "Freedom of choice is derived from God and therefore is not absolute, but must reflect divine will and law," said members of the Catholic-Jewish commission at the end of their mid-March meeting in Jerusalem. Members of the dialogue commission discussed their communities' teaching on freedom of religion and conscience and limits on that freedom, said the statement published by the Vatican. The human capacity to make choices is a reflection of the divine image in which men and women are made, but freedom also carries with it responsibilities, participants said. "The idea of moral relativism is antithetical to this religious world view and poses a serious threat to humanity," they said.

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