Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston devote two weeks to promote and protect religious freedom
June 18, 2014
By Catherine
Rogan, Media Relations Specialist, Archdiocese
of Galveston-Houston
Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of
Galveston-Houston
devote two
weeks to promote and protect religious
freedom
As our nation prepares to celebrate its
freedom and the anniversary of the signing of
the Declaration of Independence on July 4,
Catholics in the Archdiocese of Galveston-
Houston and across the country are urged to
participate in the third annual Fortnight for
Freedom, June 21 to July 4, 2014. This year’s theme is
“Freedom to Serve.”
Initiated
by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the goal of Fortnight for Freedom is
to call Americans to learn more about the
challenges to religious liberty both at home and
abroad. It is a two-week period during
which Catholics are invited to pray about and
discuss the question of freedom, especially
religious freedom, in the world and in our own
country.
“The centerpiece for all
the celebrations is the great gift of Religious
Liberty,” explained Daniel Cardinal
DiNardo. “In Catholic teaching, the
principle of religious freedom is rooted in the
very nature and dignity of the human person. In
our civil government, the First Amendment, as
well as federal and state laws, protects
religious freedom.”
“However, recent decisions by
judges and the courts have seen erosions in some
aspects of our religious freedoms. One of our
current concerns as Catholics is the HHS Mandate
of the Affordable Care Act,” said Cardinal
DiNardo. “As federal law it demands that
almost all health plans cover sterilization and
contraceptives including abortion causing drugs
– a direct violation of our religious
beliefs. It is not a matter of whether
contraception may be prohibited or supported by
the government. The key issue is whether
religious people and institutions may be forced
by the government to provide coverage for
contraception or sterilization, even if it
violates their religious beliefs.”
Area
Catholics are also looking at other challenges
to religious liberty at home and abroad. In the
U.S., they include the defense of marriage, and
concerns regarding immigration and humanitarian
services. In the world at large, the
fragility of religious freedom has become all
too apparent as religious groups, particularly
Christians are persecuted in the Middle East and
parts of the developing world.
During the two weeks of
Fortnight for Freedom, the Archdiocese and its
parishes are providing local Catholics with
resources for prayer,
outreach and education, and how to take action
to protect and promote religious freedom and
liberty.
More
information about the Fortnight for Freedom can
be found at www.Fortnight4Freedom.org
.
The Archdiocese of Galveston-
Houston serves 1.2 million Catholics in 10
counties.
It is the largest Roman
Catholic diocese in Texas and the 12th largest
in the United States.
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