John Zmirak, Soregonadistan & Freedom
“Well then, if you want the state to intervene to guarantee people’s true happiness and freedom, why draw the line at medicating madmen? Since you believe that true happiness comes from knowing God, why not use every means you can short of forcing baptisms to promote your own religion? Why not put video cameras in everyone’s homes to prevent them from fornicating?” I know some nostalgic, illiberal Catholics who might not blink at using such means, but most of us have read enough Thomas Aquinas to counter that not every sin is prudent for us to punish, and that a wide swathe of human autonomy is needed so we can be free to do the good.