For the sixth consecutive summer, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops will be sponsoring the Fortnight for Freedom. The purpose of the event that begins on June 21 and concludes on July 4 is to emphasize the importance for Americans to be vigilant in our protection of religious freedom. Religious Freedom is the very first freedom enshrined in the Bill of Rights that is part of our constitution. That amendment prevents our government from establishing a particular national religion or from preventing the free exercise of religion.
In recent years religious freedom has begun to erode in our country. Some of the most serious instances have been those that involved the Obama Administration’s interpretation of the Affordable Care Act. The US Justice Department’s interpretation of the act mandated that all health insurance plans provide contraception and abortion services to their subscribers. A religious order, the Little Sisters of the Poor, who provide nursing home and health care services challenged the mandate because it violates the precepts of our Catholic faith. The Sisters filed a lawsuit to block that interpretation of the law. The case eventually came before the US Supreme Court which unanimously sent the case back to lower courts with the instruction for it to implement a compromise agreement suggested by the Little Sisters.
Religious freedom isn’t only from liberal politicians. It is under attack from the right wing too. Their attack on religious freedom surrounds the issue of helping migrants and refugees. The USCCB reports that under one state law enacted to try to prevent assistance being offered to undocumented aliens would have made it illegal for a citizen to give a ride to church to a so call “illegal alien”. The current federal Administration is trying to use religious beliefs as a stipulation to prevent certain people from coming into our country.
During the Fortnight for Freedom, learn more about Religious Freedom so that you can discuss it with others in a rational and calm manner. Do that by respecting the beliefs of religious freedom skeptics. Such people have some legitimate concerns. Many are concerned that all people should be treated with dignity. That is also the foundation of Catholic teaching on religious freedom. So, listen to their concerns and work together for compromise that will insure the dignity of all people.
Remind people that Religious Freedom is a fundamental right. Government should not coerce people to act against their well formulated consciences. A government that tries to force citizens to act against their consciences can force them to submit to any governmental demands.
People of faith must be allowed the space to do good. Challenges to religious freedom often come about from a mistaken view that religion is only good if it conforms to every value that happens to be prevailing at the time. Religious people should not be forced to undermine their belief system in exchange for the ability to try to improve society as they see it.
Some religious freedom skeptics charge that religious people should not be able to imposes their beliefs on others. A pluralistic society needs to foster a wide range of beliefs. Everyone, religious or non-religious, should have the right to freedom from coercion. They should have the right to express their views and try to educate others as to what they believe is good for society as a whole.
As part of the Fortnight for Freedom, take some time to educate yourself and others about the topic of religious freedom and its importance for the common good of all our fellow citizens. People want to know about Catholic teaching on the topic. They are hungry to come to a better understanding of the importance of religious freedom no matter what their religious beliefs.