Is Freedom of Speech a Catholic Principle?

[HarryStotle]

Freedom of Speech is a HUMAN principle, a right every being that can form a thought deserves. I like that saying “I may not like what you are saying but I will always defend your right to say it.” Thus freedom of speech should always be protected. The biggest caveat being that free speech as CONSEQUENES for that speech which is why so many are getting fired for saying hateful, racist, things etc…But as far as the right to speak them, everyone should be able to say what’s on their mind.

Many are getting fired for things that are not hateful but merely for having a different opinion on what is an unresolved issue.

It is just that the current culture moulders are so intolerant and intolerable.

Getting fired for questioning BLM is not justified and neither is it hateful to express concern about what that movement stands for.

Getting fired for expressing an opinion is suppression of one’s right to speak freely because what is never considered in today’s climate are the reasons why the fired person says what they do. It is merely assumed they are being hateful. This is compelling speech - you must say the “right” thing or you won’t have a job, irrespective of what you intend to say or why.

 

[anon90190422]

Absolutely not. It was condemned by Leo XIII and other as an error and contrary to true liberty. Of course freedom to speak the truth is good, and to raise concerns about issues. However the State should censor and punish slander, detraction, grave disinformation, especially by the Press, as well as opinions that pose a grave danger to the morals of the society. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but we don’t have true freedom of speech anyway. Here in Canada the Constitution allows “reasonable limits”, which basically means whatever the government thinks is “hate speech”.

 

[Mike_from_NJ]

However the State should censor and punish slander, detraction, grave disinformation, especially by the Press, as well as opinions that pose a grave danger to the morals of the society.

Should non-Catholic or secular countries allow for speech that is favorable to Catholic teaching if they see it as slander, detraction, grave disinformation, or grave danger to the morals of that society?

 

[Genesis315]

Should non-Catholic or secular countries allow for speech that is favorable to Catholic teaching if they see it as slander, detraction, grave disinformation, or grave danger to the morals of that society?

Of course. I understand what you’re getting at, but you’re looking at this question from the position of relativism or procedural liberalism not from the basis of an objective moral order and a common good. Looking at the extremes, a civil power that suppressed truth while promoting public immorality would be acting unjustly, while a civil power that promoted truth and virtue while guarding public morality would be acting justly.

But as a practical matter, depending on the circumstances the best course of action might be a broad freedom for all (such as in a pluralistic society that does not yet share a common conception of the good)–public authority can certainly tolerate (not order or encourage) error or evil for a proportionately greater good (even if the best we can hope for is just basic public order). That’s why the Catholic Church opposed the introduction of Liberalism that threatened to and then did destroy that common foundation in the good, but once it was destroyed, generally has accepted the so-called liberal freedoms as an acceptable practical approach for such a shattered order. But the goal should be higher, that is a society and public authority informed by that same good, including the highest good. The whole point of society is to foster the common good to the greatest extent possible.

As JonnySilvestri noted, no society has an absolute freedom of speech. And the limits that are considered duly imposed are going to be based on some vision of the common good and what would best serve it in a given set of circumstances. No society or public authority is neutral. Obviously a Catholic will support the true religion as said vision of the common good (this is summed up in paragraph 2244 of the Catechism of Catholic Church if you are interested in something more reliable than me).