Bishop calls for prayer, penance and fasting on Fortnight for Freedom

Bishop Michael Mulvey has called the faithful in the Diocese of Corpus Christi to commit themselves to prayer and penance for the preservation of religious freedom during Fortnight for Freedom 2015, and on the two Fridays during the fortnight to voluntarily fast and abstain from meat. The bishop will open the Fortnight for Freedom 2015 with a Mass at the Corpus Christi Cathedral on Monday, June 22, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

This Mass will celebrate the Memorial of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, both of whom were martyred for religious liberty.

The Fortnight for Freedom is an annual observance by the Catholic Church in the United States to "celebrate the gift of freedom in our country." The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has again called for the annual observance of the Fortnight for Freedom, a period of two weeks from June 21 to July 4.

"As you know, the gift of religious liberty both here and abroad continues to be threatened," Bishop Mulvey wrote in a pastoral letter read to the faithful at all Masses last weekend. "In many places, such as in the Middle East, the blood of our Christian brothers and sisters cries out for justice as many are displaced, tortured, and martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ. Their witness compels us to unite with them in solidarity and in prayer."

The bishop wrote that in the United States, "the struggle to preserve religious liberty continues as we face challenges from government mandates, unjust laws and policies. Many of these push for persons, entities or businesses to support lifestyles, practices, or moral choices that are incompatible with the natural moral law."

Because these challenges continue to threaten religious liberty, it is a time for Catholics and those who wish to join them, to pray and witness to the preservation of religious liberty especially in the United States, Bishop Mulvey said.

"Threats to religious liberty strike at the heart of human dignity. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right. It is the freedom to love and serve God and to live out that love in our daily lives," the bishop said.

Bishop Mulvey also encouraged the faithful to take part in prayer services or adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that their parishes may be holding during the Fortnight for Freedom. He also invited them to attend a presentation on “Religious Liberty & Human Dignity” hosted at Ss. Cyril & Methodius Parish in Corpus Christi on Wednesday, July 1, at 7 p.m.

"Our country was built on the foundation of religious liberty. It is enshrined in our founding documents and written in our history, unfortunately at times in blood," Bishop Mulvey said. "At this moment in history it is our turn to do all we can to preserve this most precious truth. The dignity of the human person depends on the freedom to choose God and to love him not only privately in conscience but also publicly in service to others. When governments, unjust laws or mandates violate religious liberty, human dignity is violated and the right to bear witness is lost."

The bishop invites anyone interested to check with their local parishes or visit the diocesan Web site at www.diocesecc.org for more information.