Religious freedom was among the topics which Pope Francis touched upon during a meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.
Vatican Radio reported that in his address to the Italian head of state, Pope Francis recalled how 2013 marked the 17th centenary of the Edict of Milan, a document which many consider to be the first example of religious freedom being promoted.
It’s everyone’s responsibility
“In today’s world, religious freedom is more often affirmed than put into practice,” the pope said. It is often threatened, and not infrequently violated. The serious outrages against this fundamental right are a source of serious concern and need to be confronted at the global level, he said.
Defending religious liberty and making it available for everyone, Pope Francis said, is everyone’s responsibility. Doing so “guarantees the growth and development of the entire community.”
Prayer for the Protection of Religious LibertyO God our Creator, We ask you to bless us Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, We ask this through Christ our Lord. |
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Religious freedom threatened
It seems as if every day we hear about violations of religious freedom throughout the world. There is sectarian violence happening in many countries, most recently occurring again in Iraq.
Although we don’t have sectarian violence in our country, there are signs that religious freedom is slipping here, too. Our most cherished religious freedom is under threat.
The U.S. Catholic bishops have called for their third Fortnight for Freedom to be observed from June 21 to July 4. The bishops’ website (www.fortnight4freedom.org) has many resources available on how you can take part in this time of prayer, education, and action.
The bishops point to such threats to freedom as:
- The HHS mandate forcing religious institutions to facilitate and/or fund products contrary to their own moral teaching.
- Catholic foster care and adoption services having licenses revoked because they refuse to place children with same-sex couples or unmarried opposite-sex couples who cohabit.
- State immigration laws that forbid “harboring” of undocumented immigrants while the Church wants to provide Christian charity and pastoral care to these immigrants.
We as lay people must have the courage to speak up when our religious freedom is challenged.
Above all, we must pray to God that this nation does indeed remain “one nation, under God.” Pray the prayer at right suggested by the Catholic bishops for the Fortnight for Freedom — or any time throughout the year.