- Apostolates/Ministries
- Catholic Cemeteries
- Catholic Charities
- Catholic Scouting
- The Courage Apostolate
- Office of Clergy and Religious
- Development Office
- Diocesan Resources
- Finance Services
- Human Resources
- Marriage Preparation
- Obituaries
- Pastoral Services
- Respect Life
- Safe Environments
- Vocations
- Women's Ministries
- Youth Page
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Statements on Religious Liberty20112012 |
Bishops Greet Supreme Court Decision On Immigration With Hope, CautionSee decision as step toward humane immigration reform Seek federal government’s strong role in immigration Wary that part of decision might lead toward racial profiling WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops greeted with hope and caution the June 25 Supreme Court decision to strike down provisions of an Arizona immigration law that would have allowed warrantless arrests of people suspected of an offense that is deportable, that would have made it a crime to seek work in the state and that would have made undocumented presence a state crime. Read More >> |
Archbishop Lori: Church must remain 'obstacle' to fully secular cultureBALTIMORE (CNS) -- On the eve of the feast day of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori held up the two martyrs as a source of inspiration for American Catholics during a Mass June 21 launching the U.S. bishops' much-anticipated "fortnight for freedom." Click to read More Click to Read Archbishop Lori's homily |
Watch more videos on Fortnight For Freedom at USCCB.org | Fortnight for FreedomThe fourteen days from June 21—the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More—to July 4, Independence Day, are dedicated to this “fortnight for freedom”—a great hymn of prayer for our country. Read More >> On Monday, June 25, 2012, join the CatholicTV Network as they broadcast special LIVE coverage with Cardinal Seán O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston, during Fortnight for Freedom Click to read more about the Catholic TV coverage |
 | 43 Catholic dioceses, groups sue to stop HHS contraception mandateWASHINGTON -- Forty-three Catholic dioceses, schools, hospitals, social service agencies and other institutions filed suit in federal court Monday to stop three government agencies from implementing a mandate that would require them to cover contraceptives and sterilization in their health plans. Read More >> |
 | Archbishop urges people of all faiths to stand for religious freedomWASHINGTON (CNS) -- After receiving the inaugural Religious Freedom Award May 24, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori encouraged people of all faiths to stand together to defend religious liberty. Read More >> |
 | Baltimore, Washington Liturgies to Bookend National Celebration of Fortnight for FreedomBell ringing called for on July 4 Prayer services for liberty to be held nationwide Resources available at www.fortnight4freedom.org WASHINGTON—Mass at the Baltimore’s historic Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, scheduled for June 21 at 7:00pm EDT, will open the Fortnight For Freedom, which runs from June 21 to July 4. Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore will celebrate the liturgy to kick off the Catholic Church’s national education campaign on Religious Liberty. Read more >> |
|
| Mary Ann Glendon: Why the Bishops Are Suing the U.S. GovernmentThe main goal of the contraception mandate is not to protect women's health. It is a move to conscript religious organizations into a political agenda. This week Catholic bishops are heading to federal courts across the country to defend religious liberty. On Monday they filed 12 lawsuits on behalf of a diverse group of 43 Catholic entities that are challenging the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) sterilization, abortifacient and birth-control insurance mandate. Read more >> |
Diverse Group of Religious Leaders Unify Around Defense of Religious FreedomsThe main goal of the contraception mandate is not to protect women's health. It is a move to conscript religious organizations into a political agenda. Unprecedented Effort to Launch State Religious Freedom Caucuses to Stop the Steady Erosion of Religious Liberties WASHINGTON – May 24, 2012 – To fight for the protection of religious freedoms in the face of threats by aggressively secularist elected officials, bureaucrats and judges, a diverse group of religious leaders joined together at the National Religious Freedom Conference, “Rising Threats to American Religious Freedom, to establish a unified effort surrounding the recent and unprecedented wave of threats that go to the heart of religious freedoms. Read more >> |
 | Bishops Issue Statement on Religious Liberty'An unjust law cannot be obeyed,' they state, in face of growing threats to freedom.WASHINGTON — Marking a new era of intense church-state friction, the U.S. Catholic bishops issued a hard-hitting statement today that defended the free exercise of religious institutions in the United States and abroad. In doing so, they opposed any “accommodation” with “unjust” laws and outlined plans for prayer and catechetical initiatives designed to strengthen an embattled constitutional right. Read More >> |
 |
A Call to Catholics: |
Bishops Appeal Federal Decision That U.S. Constitution Forbids Religious Accommodation, Requires Abortion, Contraception Funding in Anti-Trafficking Service ContractCourt decision poorly reasoned, dangerous Ignores Supreme Court precedents favoring religious liberty Threatens religious charities of all faiths nationwide WASHINGTON—The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) filed a notice of appeal April 17, asking a federal appeals court to vacate a decision by a Massachusetts federal judge declaring that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) violated the First Amendment in its contract with USCCB to provide case management services to victims of human trafficking, because the contract did not require USCCB to facilitate abortion and contraception. USCCB has also requested a stay of the lower court’s decision until the appeals court can rule. Read More >> |
 | Bishop tells committee about 'absurd' effects of contraceptive mandateWASHINGTON (CNS) -- The chairman of the U.S. bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty went before Congress again Feb. 28 to urge rescission of the Department of Health and Human Services' contraceptive mandate or passage of the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act. Read More » |
Cardinal Dolan Voices Dismay at Handling by White House in Letter Updating Bishops on HHS Mandate ControversyWASHINGTON—Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York voiced dismay in the Administration’s handling of the church as the White House and the church seek to work out religious freedom problems found in a mandate in the new health care reform bill. Read More » |
Senate Vote to set Aside Conscience Act Marks Chance to Build Bipartisan Support, Seek Judicial Remedies for Religious FreedomWASHINGTON—The Senate’s 51-48 vote March 1 to table the bipartisan Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (S. 1467), sponsored by Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) and 37 other senators, impels the Church to strengthen its resolve to support religious freedom. Read More » |
Bishop Lori responds to "America" magazine editorial |
Bishops Renew Call To Legislative Action On Religious Liberty |
"Referral is Not the Answer, Rescinding the Mandate Is,” by Bishop William Lori, chairman of the USCCB’s Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty |
U.S. Bishops Vow to Fight HHS EdictHoly Father affirms struggle for Religious Liberty In his “Ad Limina” visit with American Bishops |
Marriage and Religious Freedom:Fundamental Goods That Stand of Fall TogetherAn Open Letter from Religious Leaders in the United States to All Americans Released January 12, 2012 Read the Executive Summary Read the Q and A for the Open Letter |
Religious Leaders Join Together in Support of Marriage, Religious LibertyOpen letter highlights connection between protecting marriage, religious freedom Letter is a “sign of hope” and “compelling argument,” Cardinal-designate Dolan says Elected officials need to defend marriage, religious liberty. Read More » |