The annual Fortnight for Freedoom, a nationwide event focusing on prayer, education and action, will be held June 21 to July 4.  This year, the theme: "Freedom to Bear Witness" will be highligted. It is based on a talk Archbishop Lori gave at a workshop on religious freedom at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD in 2014.  "Keeping the spirit of the Gospel means that Catholic institutions are to bear wirness in love to the full truth about the human person by providing social, charitable and educational services in a manner that fully reflects the God-given dignity of the human person," said Archbishop Lori, chairman of the U.S. Bishop's Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.

During the fortnight, we celebrate the feast days of St. Thomas More, St. John Fisher, St. John the Baptist, Sts. Peter and Paul and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome, all great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power.  The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops offers several suggestions for parishes and families to celebrate this event.  These ideas include: memorial Masses highlighting the saints honored during the fortnight; a movie night with movies about religious freedom, a community service project, Christian music concert, Fourth of July picnic, eucharistic adoration or group study of Dignitatis Humanae, Latin for "Of Human Dignity," the Second Vatican Council document on religious liberty.

Please click here for additional information.