Religious Liberty

Religious Liberty is especially important for us Americans.  After all, the pilgrims came here for religious freedom.  What happened after that is well, human concupiscence.  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is planning a Fortnight for Freedom.  On June 21 (I'll remind you.) we are invited to pray a fortnight until July 4th, for religious freedom in our country.  There are suggestions for the fortnight, also.

Fortnight Spotlight...

Pope Francis and Religious Freedom, Quotes from Our Holy Father

Fortnight for Freedom in U.S. Church. . . 
May 5, 2015, Vatican Radio

Religious Liberty and the Practice of Charity
John Garvey, J.D., President, Catholic University of America

ISIS and Indiana: The Global Crisis of Religious Liberty and Catholic Responsibility. . . 
Thomas Farr, Ph.D., Director, Religious Freedom Project, Georgetown University

Help Persecuted Christians and Support Traditional Families. . . 
Helen Alvaré, J.D., Professor of Law, George Mason University

Religious Freedom is Under Stress, Red Mass Homily. . . 
April 23, 2015, Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski

Fortnight for Freedom 2014 Closing Homily
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, USCCB President, Archdiocese of Louisville

Fortnight for Freedom 2014 Opening Homily
Archbishop William E. Lori, Archdiocese of Baltimore

Join the   Call to Prayer Facebook Page to receive weekly emails on prayer and fasting for religious liberty!

  You may find more information on the Conference's site. http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/ 

Novena for Religious Freedom

Starting today, please start praying this novena for our country and religious freedom.  June 21-July 4.  From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/index.cfm

Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty

O God our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Fortnight for Freedom

 

CNA/EWTN News is promoting the USCCB's initiative "Fortnight for Freedom" June 21-July 4, to encourage prayer, education, and action in regards to religious freedom.

This is in response to the Obama Administrations efforts that threaten our Catholic consciences.  The Health and Human services mandate is the perfect example.  This mandate requires employers to cover birth control and other services that Catholics find morally reprehensible.

“Religious liberty is not only about our ability to go to Mass on Sunday or to pray the Rosary at home. It is about whether we can continue to make our contribution to the common good of all Americans without violating our deeply-held moral beliefs,” Bishop Malone said. “This issue affects all Americans — it is not a Catholic issue, a Jewish issue, an Orthodox, Mormon, or Muslim issue. It is an American issue.”

In an April 12 statement, the U.S. Bishops’ ad hoc committee for religious liberty called for a “fortnight of freedom” from June 21 to July 4. The period includes a series of feasts of “great martyrs” who faced political oppression. Their statement was an “urgent summons” to U.S. Catholics, stressing the need for prayer, fasting, and public action for religious freedom.