Bishop Conlon Talks about the Declaration on Religious Liberty ("Dignitatis Humanae"), part 4

The whole point of religious freedom comes from God's invitation to each person to discover Him and to move toward Him. The reason why we uphold religious freedom is an impulse toward the Creator. That impulse needs to be protected. Each person has the right to have the impulse unfold. People often search for truth. People need to give their assent to the truth. Religious liberty comes from God, and is driven by a search for God. Conscience comes about as an inquiry to the truth. Conscience isn’t about convenience, while an inquiry into God is entering into a relationship with God. We are called into relationship with God, but humans are social. There is a need in us to share with others. We have a right to be free to search for God and in developing a conscience and in engaging in a common expression in relationship with God.