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Observance champions freedom of religion
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
When the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops established a Fortnight for Freedom in April 2012, the timing of the observance was significant. The event champions religious freedom.
The annual observance was set from June 21 to July 4 for a reason, said David Schmidt, director of the Office of Pro-Life, Marriage and Family Life in the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. As a release from the diocese notes, the dates include the Feast Days of “martyrs who remained faithful in the face of religious persecution by political power.”
These include:
St. Thomas More, whose Feast Day is June 22, who refused to give render allegiance to King Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England and was beheaded.
St. John Fisher, June 26, who opposed King Henry VIII’s divorce and was beheaded.
St. John the Baptist, June 24, who recognized Jesus as the messiah, was beheaded.
St. Peter, June 29, first pope and founder with St. Paul of the see of Rome, who was crucified.
St. Paul, June 29, known for his Epistles, was beheaded.
First Martyrs of the Church in Rome, June 30, who were put to death because of their faith.
July 4 celebrates the independence of the United States, where the Pilgrams settled because they sought religious freedom.
The theme of “Freedom to Bear Witness” conveys the right of religious freedom.
Bishop George V. Murry will celebrate the 12:10 p.m. June 29 Mass at St. Columba Cathedral, 154 W. Wood St., the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. All are welcome to celebrate the lives of these two champions of the faith who remained faithful amidst persecution by the political powers of their day.
Schmidt said the time on the liturgical calender is one of “prayer, education and action for religious freedom.” He said it is suggested that parishes encourage members to arrive at the church early for Masses the weekends of June 28 and July 4 to pray with Fortnight for Freedom as the intention.
The famous passage from the Declaration of Independence — “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” — mentions the Creator, God, and happiness covers a wide range. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting.
Many Americans take religious freedom for granted and believe it guaranteed, Schmidt said, “People are less concerned about religious freedom than in the past.” He questioned if there is a trend that infringes on religious freedom.
Schmidt said two Catholic Charities adoption agencies of long-standing in Boston and San Francisco have closed because to be licensed to do adoptions, agencies must allow adoptable children to be placed in a family other than a married couple, that is, a man and woman. That was the Catholic Church and the agencies’ standard. “The Church believes parenting is not a genderless function. Men have duties as fathers and women as mothers,” Schmidt said. “There are married couples wishing to adopt, and that is the Church preference.”
Lawsuits involving U.S. Health and Human Services directives to provide contraception options and abortions have been challenged by denominations that are not Catholic, Schmidt said. Those denominations also are following their standards of beliefs.
In the Middle East, there has been persecution and killing of Christians.
People should not confuse freedom of worship with religious freedom, which encompasses the former. Religious freedom not only allows people to worship as they wish in addition to following their faith in their lives and choices.
“Growing secularism doesn’t seem to give freedom of religion respect,” Schmidt said.
For information, visit www.fortnight4freedom.org or www.doy.org or call the Diocese of Youngstown’s Office of Pro-Life, Marriage and Family Life at 330-744-845, ext. 272.