Educational Resource
Catechetical Sunday 2015 Religious Liberty Lesson Plan
Catechetical Sunday 2015 Religious Liberty High School Unit Lesson Plan
Purpose of the Unit:
A five‑lesson high school curriculum designed by the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty to teach:
- The meaning of religious liberty according to reason and revelation
- Religious liberty as a civil right
- The rights and duties of the Church and the State
- Contemporary threats to religious freedom
- The responsibility of Catholics to understand, defend, and live out this “first, most cherished liberty”
Religious liberty is presented as a fundamental human right rooted in the dignity of the human person, the freedom to seek truth, and the duty to follow one’s conscience.
The curriculum includes:
- Lesson summaries and full 30–40 minute lesson plans using the Ecclesial Method
- Ready‑to‑use handouts
- Case studies, Scripture passages, and Church documents
- Activities, discussions, and prayer resources
- References to Dignitatis Humanae, Our First, Most Cherished Liberty, and current events
The Church teaches that:
- Religious freedom is essential for both individuals and communities
- It allows people to seek God and live according to truth
- The Church has the right and duty to evangelize and serve the common good
- Government must safeguard, not control, religious life
- Catholics today must be vigilant, articulate, and courageous in defending this fundamental right