Defining Moments

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Nationalism: Undue loyalty and devotion to one’s nation, placing it above others, and the promotion of its culture above that of other nations.

Natural Family Planning: Natural family planning, which employs no artificial contraceptives, is moral, safe, effective and advocated by the Church when there is a just reason for postponing a pregnancy. It may also be used to aid conception.

Natural Law: Man’s reasoned participation in God’s eternal law, which is knowable by all human beings.

Natural Rights: The inviolable and universal privileges that man has because he possesses a rational soul. The Declaration of Independence acknowledges these rights and stresses the necessity of their protection. The right to life, truth, moral and cultural values, economic and professional rights, participation in social life, choosing one’s religion and state in life, free association and assembly, emigration and immigration, and legal protection of personal rights.

Neighbor: In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the concept of neighbor is active, rather than passive, which is reflected in the frequent teaching from Scripture that we are to “love our neighbors” as ourselves.

Nostra Aetate: A declaration issued by the Second Vatican Council on “The Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions,” urging all Christians to act in a spirit of charity by promoting fellowship and goodwill with those who do not hold to the Christian Faith.