FREEDOM

The divine "scheme of things," as Christianity understands it, is at once extremely elastic and extremely rigid. It is elastic, in that it includes a large measure of liberty for the creature; it is rigid in that it includes the proviso that, however created beings choose to behave, they must accept responsibility of their own actions and endure the consequences.

Dorothy L. Sayer in Dorothy L. Sayer: A Rage for Life.

In May 1924, a shocked nation learned two young men from Chicago, Richard Leopold and Nathan Loeb, had killed 14-year-old Bobbie Franks. What made the crime so shocking, and made Leopold and Loeb household names, was the reason for the killing. The two became obsessed with the idea of committing the "perfect murder," and simply picked young Franks as their victim. They were sentenced to life imprisonment, but Leopold was killed in a prison brawl in 1936. Claiming he wanted "a chance to find redemption for myself and to help others," Nathan Loeb became a hospital technician at his parole in 1958. He died in 1971.

Today in the Word, October 3, 1992.

Liberty of thought is in itself a good; but it gives an opening to false liberty.

John Henry Newman, Apologia pro vita Sua, 1864.

A man's worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes.

Thomas Huxley, "Address on University Education," Collected Essays, 1902, III, p. 236.

No man in this world attains to freedom from any slavery except by entrance into some higher servitude. There is no such thing as an entirely free man conceivable.

Phillips Brooks (1835- 1893), Perennials.

Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong.

John Diefenbaker.

We are in bondage to the law in order that we may be free.

Cicero.

Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation are men who want rain without thunder and lightning.

Frederick Douglass.

Commentary

The divine "scheme of things," as Christianity understands it, is at once extremely elastic and extremely rigid. It is elastic, in that it includes a large measure of liberty for the creature; it is rigid in that it includes the proviso that, however created beings choose to behave, they must accept responsibility of their own actions and endure the consequences.

Dorothy L. Sayer in Dorothy L. Sayer: A Rage for Life.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thou who art the way, the truth, and the life; hear us as we pray for the truth that shall make all free. Teach us that liberty is not only to be loved but also to be lived. Liberty is too precious a thing to be buried in books. It costs too much to be hoarded. Help us see that our liberty is not the right to do as we please, but the opportunity to please to do what is right.

Peter Marshall, Before the U.S. Senate.