Where Do Our Rights Come From? (The Drew Mariani Show)

On The Drew Mariani Show, Drew raises a question that cuts right to the heart of our nation’s identity: Where do our rights come from? Do they come from government, or do they come from God? That may sound like a simple question, but a recent exchange in the U.S. Senate showed just how confused our culture has become. Senator Tim Kaine – a Catholic himself – objected to the idea that our rights are given by God rather than government. He even suggested that believing in God-given rights was “troubling” and compared it to the mindset of oppressive regimes. Senator Ted Cruz quickly pushed back, pointing out that America’s founding document – the Declaration of Independence – states clearly that our rights are endowed by our Creator, not by lawmakers or political parties. Drew invites one of the sharpest Catholic minds in the country, Professor Robert George of Princeton University, to unpack this controversy. Professor George reminds you that if rights are granted by government, then government can just as easily take them away. That’s a real path to tyranny. But if rights are given by God, then no human power can legitimately strip them from us. This is the bedrock principle of American freedom. Professor George also speaks about how secularism has tried – and failed – to build a political philosophy without God. He reveals that he will soon deliver the Library of Congress’ prestigious Kellogg Lecture, where he’ll explain why secularist ideas can’t sustain freedom or human dignity. Even many non-religious scholars, he said, are beginning to see the cracks in a purely secular worldview. This conversation is a reminder to Catholics and all people of faith that our rights are sacred gifts from God – not favors handed out by governments. If we forget that truth, we risk losing the very freedoms our nation was built on. So where do our rights come from? The answer isn’t new. It’s written in our founding documents, rooted in Catholic teaching, and it’s as relevant today as it was in 1776: our rights come from God. The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.