Religious Liberty Conference Notes

I took down the following notes from the religious liberty conference I attended.

• Feelings are the main take-away in any form of communication.
• We are the only religion with an official document of dialogue thanks to Vatican II.
• When speaking about religious freedom, we must not seek to take away other's freedom.
• Our aim is not to win (an argument). Our aim is to witness.
• We are ministers of the Gospel.
• Truth makes its own claim.
• Shed light, not heat.
• We are not free to define the Catholic Church and its teachings.
• Development of doctrine continues through the ages, but does not contradict.
• Social hostility against the Catholic religious liberty is rising in Europe.
• To excommunicate someone, the bishops have to follow Canon Law. 
• The HHS mandate interferes with corporeal works of mercy.
• There's a fine line between having concern for unity in the Church and being a coward for truth.
• The secularization of culture is causing religion to be put in the closet while others are coming out of the closet.
• We need to bring people to love God, to conversion, and to the sacraments especially penance.
• We get the government we deserve because we elect our government through democracy.
• Catholic way of life has to be behavioral not just value based.

The archbishop was one of the speakers, and hearing him speak made me like him even more.