Loreto’s Head of Theology Mr Vaughan, led a discussion at a recent meeting of the College’s Philosophy Society on the concept of Freedom, which featured such historical figures as Emily Pankhurst, the Suffragette from Manchester and the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Women’s education activist, Malala Yousufzai. The discussion explored the link between freedom and responsibility, and whether it’s necessary to have limits on personal freedom in order to protect the rights and freedoms of others. The topic of freedom was expanded to include philosophical ideas advocated by scholars like John Stuart Mill and Max Stirner.

Freedom is one of the seven Mary Ward values which is being celebrated by the College this year. Mary Ward, the founder of Loreto, understood freedom as the privilege to have a loving relationship with God and with other people.