Our First, Most Cherished Liberty

On April 12, 2012, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty, chaired by Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, MD, published a statement on religious liberty.  The complete statement is available on-line and in .pdf format at the following web address:

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/our-first-most-cherished-liberty.cfm

In the statement, the bishops made the following exhortation:


"Freedom is not only for American, but we think of it as something of our special inheritance, fought for at a great price, and a heritage to be guarded now.  We are stewards of this gift, not only for ourselves, but for all nations and people who yearn to be free."

Therefore: 


"We suggest that the fourteen days from June 21 -- the vigil of the feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More -- to July 4, Independence Day, be dedicated to this 'fortnight for freedom' -- a great hymn of prayer for our country.  Our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power -- St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, St. John the Baptist, Sts. Peter and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome.  Culminating on Independence Day, this special period of prayer, study, catechesis and public action would emphasize both our Christian and American heritage of liberty.

"....In addition to this summer's observance, we also urge that the Solemnity of Christ the King [November 25, 2012] -- a feast born out of resistance to totalitarian incursions against religious liberty -- be a day specifically employed by bishops and priests to preach about religious liberty, both here and abroad."

So visit this web address to check and see what YOUR diocese is doing!

http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/fortnight-freedom-diocesan-activities.cfm