Baltimore, Washington Liturgies To Bookend National Celebration Of Fortnight For Freedom

WASHINGTON—Mass at the Baltimore’shistoric Basilica of the NationalShrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, scheduled for June21 at 7:00pm EDT, will open the Fortnight For Freedom, which runs from June 21to July 4. Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore will celebrate the liturgy tokick off the Catholic Church’s national education campaign on ReligiousLiberty.

The closing liturgy will be at theBasilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, July4 at 12:10 p.m. EDT. The Mass in the nation’s capital will be celebrated by CardinalDonald Wuerl of Washington. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia will bethe homilist. EWTN television will carry the Shrine Mass live.

Furtherdetails about the Fortnight can be found at www.fortnight4freedom.org.

Bothnational and local efforts will comprise the campaign that has been launched bythe bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty.

In addition to the Baltimore andWashington liturgies, national efforts include establishment of thefortnight4freedom website. The site hosts resources such as frequently askedquestions about religious liberty, including quotes from the Founding Fathers,the Second Vatican Council and Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Another valuableresource is a study guide on DignitatisHumanae, Vatican II’s document on religious liberty. In addition, the siteprovides several one-page sheets outlining current threats to religious freedomboth in the United States and abroad.

The website also lists sample ofactivities already planned in particular dioceses, as well as resources and recommendationsfor other local efforts, such as special liturgies and prayer services. Bell ringingis planned for noon on July 4 to remind citizens nationwide of the primaryplace of religious freedom in the history, law, and culture of the UnitedStates.

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Keywords: Religious liberty, religious freedom. ArchbishopWilliam Lori, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop Charles Chaput, FoundingFathers, Second Vatican Council, Vatican II, Dignitatis Humanae, Baltimore, National Basilica of the Assumption,Washington, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Billof Rights, Constitution, Fortnight4Freedom, fortnight for freedom,

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