All other systems (besides the Catholic faith) at some point and in some way attack the idea of free will. And when they attack free will, they attack human dignity. One of the reasons for Chesterton's greatness is that he always defends freedom and dignity. He argues that nothing is inevitable. We need never surrender to this or that set of circumstances, to social forces, to biological determinism, to history, or to fate. This is the essence of freedom.
Modern(s) think freedom means breaking the rules, but, as Chesterton points out, freedom means exercising free will to obey the rules. Without freedom there is no such thing as obedience and responsibility. We are not forced to obey. We choose. That is what gives us our dignity. We make a vow by choice. Freedom means keeping the vow, no matter how difficult, not breaking it, no matter how compelling.
The world, of course, thinks that a person who becomes Catholic gives up his (or her) liberty. But, as Chesterton says,
Tell a Catholic convert that he has lost his liberty,
and he will laugh.
and he will laugh.
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