Fortnight for Freedom Closing Mass

Members of the clergy process down center aisle of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington July 4 in for the closing Mass of the bishops' "fortnight for freedom" campaign. The observance, which began with a June 21 Mass in Baltimore, was a two-week period of prayer, education and action on preserving religious freedom in the U.S. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

Fortnight for Freedom Closing Mass

People listen as Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput delivers the homily during Mass at the basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington July 4, the final day of the bishops' "fortnight for freedom" campaign. The observance, which began with a June 21 Mass in Baltimore, was a two-week period of prayer, education and action on preserving religious freedom in the U.S. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

Fortnight for Freedom Closing Mass

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput and Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, pray during Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington July 4, the final day of the bishops' "fortnight for freedom" campaign. The observance, which began with a June 21 Mass in Baltimore, was a two-week period of prayer, education and action on preserving religious freedom in the U.S. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

Fortnight for Freedom Closing Mass

People pray during Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington July 4, the final day of the bishops' "fortnight for freedom" campaign. The observance, which began with a June 21 Mass in Baltimore, was a two-week period of prayer, education and action on preserving religious freedom in the U.S. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)

Fortnight for Freedom Town Hall

Cardinal Seán O’Malley holds a Fortnight for Freedom sign at a town hall meeting he hosted in Boston on June 25, 2012. (Photo: George Martell/The Pilot Media Group)

Fortnight for Freedom Town Hall

Cardinal Seán O'Malley of Boston led a panel of experts-- John Garvey, president of Catholic University of America; Kim Daniels, an attorney specializing in religious liberty issues; Dr. Angela Franks, a professor at the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at St. John Seminary--in an unprecedented interactive, live town hall on June 25, 2012. (Photo: George Martell/Pilot New Media)

Fortnight for Freedom - Brooklyn's Observance

Eucharistic adoration at St. Joseph’s Church, Prospect Heights, began the Diocese of Brooklyn’s observance of the Fortnight for Freedom on June 22. (Photo: Antonina Zielinska)

Fortnight for Freedom - Des Moines

An estimated 2,500 people participated in the Independence Celebration Walk & Picnic on July 1, sponsored by the Diocese of Des Moines. The walk started at St. Ambrose Cathedral and ended just north of the State Capitol. (Photo: Anne Marie Cox/Diocese of Des Moines)

Fortnight for Freedom - Des Moines

Participants in the Independence Celebration Walk made their way toward the State Capitol building in Des Moines on July 1. (Photo: Chelsea Wells/Diocese of Des Moines)

Fortnight for Freedom Atlanta

Wilton D. Gregory, Archbishop of Atlanta, speaks to the crowd inside Marist School’s Centennial Center at a June 22 rally.  (Photo: Cindy Connell Palmer/Archdiocese of Atlanta)

Fortnight for Freedom - Parma, OH

Bishop John M. Kudrick, Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, center, with Father Richard Plishka (left) and Archpriest Michael Hayduk (right) saying the Kneeling Prayer during a Moleben (prayer service) to the Holy Spirit prayed with special petitions for the Fortnight for Freedom, Saturday, June 23, at the Byzantine Catholic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Parma, Ohio. (Photo by Loretta Nemeth, director of communications)

Fortnight for Freedom Statewide Rally, Topeka, KS

Archbishop Naumann speaks to a crowd of approximately 4,000 attendees at a statewide rally for religious freedom sponsored by the bishops of Kansas on June 29.( Photo: Anita McSorley, The Leaven)

Fortnight for Freedom Statewide Rally, Topeka, KS

A statewide rally for religious freedom was held in front of the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka on June 29 and led by the bishops of Kansas. (Photo: Lori Wood Habiger, The Leaven)

Fortnight for Freedom Rosary Ride, Colorado Springs, CO

The 1st Annual Rosary Ride for Religious Freedom began with Morning Mass at St. Gabriel parish on July 4. 23 motorcycles, 1 motor scooter, 2 bicycles and 5 cars were blessed at St. Gabriel’s by pastor Fr. Kirk Slattery to begin the ride. (Photo, Marc Lanning, St. Gabriel Parish, Colorado Springs, CO)

Fortnight for Freedom Rosary Ride, Colorado Springs, CO

The Rosary Ride motorcade proceeded to five parishes in the diocese of Colorado Springs to pray one decade of the rosary at each parish: St. Patricks, Holy Apostles, Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi, and St. Mary’s. (Photo, Marc Lanning, St. Gabriel Parish, Colorado Springs, CO)

Fortnight for Freedom Celebration of Freedom Rally, Washington DC

More than 2,000 individuals gathered for a June 24 Celebration of Freedom Rally at George Washington University's Smith Center. Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl preached on the importance of prayer, education, and action. (Photo: Rafael Crisostomo/Catholic Standard)

Fortnight for Freedom Opening Mass, Baltimore

Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop of Baltimore, blesses the congregation during Fortnight for Freedom Opening Mass. (Photo: Johanna Coughlin, Archdiocese of Baltimore)

Fortnight for Freedom Opening Mass, Baltimore

A standing-room-only crowd in the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary attends the kick-off mass for the Fortnight for Freedom. (Photo: Johanna Coughlin, Archdiocese of Baltimore)

Fortnight for Freedom, Fort Wayne/South Bend Indiana

A friar of the Franciscan Brothers Minor holds the American flag during the Catholic Fortnight for Freedom service on June 25, 2012 on the plaza of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana. (Photo: Joe Romie / Diocese of Fort Wayne - South Bend)

Fortnight for Freedom, Charleston

Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone leads the Fortnight for Freedom Eucharistic Procession “Free to Follow the Good Shepherd” along the streets of Charleston. The Eucharistic Procession followed an beautiful evening liturgy and all night adoration prayer vigil. (John Karafa, Diocese of Charleston)

Fortnight for Freedom, Charleston

The Diocese of Charleston launched its Fortnight for Freedom celebration with a Eucharistic procession in which 500 people walked from the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist to the Battery which overlooks Charleston Harbor and  historic Fort Sumter. Bishop Guglielmone led prayers and celebrated Benediction at the Battery. (Kathy Schmugge, Diocese of Charleston)

Fortnight for Freedom Interfaith Prayer Service, San Antonio

The Archdiocese of San Antonio organized an interfaith prayer service which included participants: (from left to right) Bishop Oscar Cantu, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of San Antonio; Imam Abdul Rahim Muhammad, Mosque Masjid Bilal Ibn Ra'bah, Islam Faith; Margaret Leeds, Baha’i Faith; Deacon Pat Rodgers, Director of Communications, Archdiocese of San Antonio; Chaplain Gary Goodlin, Major, United States Air Force, Retired, Protestant Faith; Rabbi Aryeh Scheinberg, Congregation Rabbi Rodfei Sholom, Jewish Faith; Gurvinder Singh, Sikh Research Institute, Sikh Faith; Dr. Rajam Ramamurthy, Hindu Faith. Deacon Rodgers leads the Fortnight for Freedom interfaith service by recognizing the differences of many faiths, but with the reminder “that what unites all faiths is the firm belief in the universal human right to seek God following one’s conscience and the freedom to live that faith openly and freely.” (Photo: Jordan McMorrough, Today’s Catholic)

Fortnight for Freedom Interfaith Prayer Service, San Antonio

Chaplin Gary Goodlin, Major, United States Air Force, leads the participants in prayer thanking God for the freedom to worship freely, openly, and without restraint and asking God to continue bless our nation, leaders, and all Americans. The interfaith prayer service was televised on the Catholic Television of San Antonio (CTSA-15). (Photo: Jordan McMorrough, Today’s Catholic)

Fortnight for Freedom Mass, Los Angeles

At the June 24 Fortnight for Freedom Mass at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles, Archbishop José H. Gómez reminded the congregation that the greatest threat to our freedom of religion comes not from politics, but from a lack of faith and courage. (Photo: Victor Aleman, The Tidings, Los Angeles, CA)