Catholic Bishops Call For Prayer For Religious Liberty
WASHINGTON—TheAdministrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops(USCCB), at its March 13-14 meeting in Washington, called for a nationwideprayer campaign for protection of religious freedom and conscience rights from severalthreats, including the U.S. Department of Health a
WASHINGTON—TheAdministrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops(USCCB), at its March 13-14 meeting in Washington, called for a nationwideprayer campaign for protection of religious freedom and conscience rights from severalthreats, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate thatforces employers, including religious ones, to provide contraception/sterilizationin their health plans.
“We call upon the Catholic faithful, and all people offaith, throughout our country to join us in prayer and penance for our leadersand for the restoration of our First Freedom—religious liberty—which is notonly protected in the laws and customs of our great Nation, but rooted in theteachings of our great Tradition,” the bishops said in “United for ReligiousFreedom” a March 14 statement. “Prayer is the ultimate source of ourstrength—for without God, we can do nothing; but with God, all things arepossible.”
To support the effort, the USCCB has posted prayerresources at www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/resources-on-conscience-protection.cfm.
The heart of the campaign is a new “Prayer for ReligiousLiberty” prayer cards, in English and Spanish, and available electronically.They can be downloaded and printed locally. Bulk packages of prayer cards willsoon be available. English-language prayer cards feature the image of MaryImmaculate; Spanish-language cards feature Our Lady of Guadalupe. They may beordered at www.usccbpublishing.organd ready for shipping in April.
The full text of “United for Religious Freedom,” prayer campaignresources, and related information on religiousliberty and conscience rights, are at www.usccb.org/conscience.
---
Keywords:USCCB, Catholic bishops, Cardinal Dolan, prayer, prayer card, prayer campaign,parish resource, religious liberty, religious freedom, conscience rights,conscience protection, HHS mandate, contraception, sterilization, Our Lady ofGuadalupe, Mary Immaculate
# # # # #
MEDIACONTACT ONLY:Sr.Mary Ann WalshO:202-541-3200M:301-325-7935Email