\n<\/p>\n
Apr 15, 2026<\/p>\n
This interview with Prof. Thomas Pink, originally published in
\n2020, is being republished as part of Thomas Mirus\u2019s ongoing series
\ncovering the major encyclicals of Pope Leo XIII.<\/p>\n
Vatican II\u2019s Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis
\nHumanae, begins by noting that its discussion of religious liberty
\n\u201chas to do with immunity from coercion in civil society\u201d and so
\n\u201cleaves untouched traditional Catholic doctrine on the moral duty
\nof men and societies toward the true religion and toward the one
\nChurch of Christ.\u201d This episode is about discovering what that
\ntraditional doctrine was and is.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Our main source will be Pope Leo XIII\u2019s encyclical Immortale
\nDei, which is available in audiobook form on CatholicCulture.org.
\nThomas Pink guides us through a close reading of this document
\n(with supplementary material from Libertas and Longuinqua). Here,
\nand in the magisterium of other 19th-century Popes, we find a
\nnumber of teachings on Church and State that have gone largely
\nunmentioned since the Council, and which are sadly forgotten or
\neven rejected by the majority of self-described conservative
\nCatholics.<\/p>\n
Links<\/strong><\/p>\n Thomas Mirus\u2019s article summarizing the encyclical\u00a0https:\/\/www.catholicculture.org\/commentary\/leo-xiii-on-states-duties-toward-church\/<\/a><\/p>\n Audiobook of Immortale Dei\u00a0https:\/\/www.catholicculture.org\/commentary\/pope-leo-xiii-immortale-dei-on-christian-constitution-states\/<\/a><\/p>\n Text of Immortale Dei (On the Christian Constitution of Thomas Pink, \u201cConscience and Coercion\u201d\u00a0https:\/\/www.firstthings.com\/article\/2012\/08\/conscience-and-coercion<\/a><\/p>\n Timestamps<\/strong><\/p>\n [00:00] Introduction\u00a0<\/p>\n [4:59] The historical and theological context of Immortale [9:42] An overview of points from Immortale Dei and [12:28] The source and nature of authority; its directive and [20:30] The State\u2019s duty to profess, protect and foster the one [25:56] Reasons for toleration of other religions; coercion of [36:05] Leo\u2019s analogy of Church and State with soul and [45:26] Separate sovereignties of Church and State interact; [51:31] Obligations twd. religion of the State properly [55:03] Consequences of the State neglecting God and [1:02:40] Dignitatis Humanae: drafting, intended scope, legacy, [1:10:30] Papal condemnations of freedom of speech and [1:31:10] The Church\u2019s move away from coercing baptized [1:36:13] The importance of docility in accepting difficult [1:41:29] Need for a synthesis of the whole magisterium on DONATE to make this show possible! http:\/\/catholicculture.org\/donate\/audio<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0SIGN UP for Catholic Culture’s newsletter: https:\/\/www.catholicculture.org\/newsletters<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nStates)\u00a0https:\/\/www.catholicculture.org\/culture\/library\/view.cfm?recnum=4916<\/a><\/p>\n
\nDei\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nLibertas\u00a0<\/p>\n
\ncoercive functions\u00a0<\/p>\n
\ntrue religion\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nthe baptized\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nbody\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nState can act as the \u201csecular arm\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nspeaking, not just rulers as individuals\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nreligion\u00a0<\/p>\n
\ncompatibility with tradition\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nopinion\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nheretics\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nteachings\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nChurch, State and religious liberty<\/p>\n