Freedom of conscience

This can be understood in several different senses: freedom of the will to recognize or ignore the demands of conscience; freedom to obey conscience independent of external influence; freedom to live in society according to one's own conscience. None of these senses is dependent upon the adequate or erroneous recognition of the truth by the conscience. In Christian terms, conscience is distorted and undeveloped through man's fallen nature and can only be perfected through divine revelation. Nevertheless, decisions made in the situation in which the individual finds himself may be referred to the grace of God, which liberates his freedom.