Fortnight For Freedom Begins Tommorrow

This is just a reminder that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops have called on all Catholics to set aside time between 21 June to 4 July 2012 as a special period of prayer, study, catechesis, & public action will emphasize both our Christian and American heritage of liberty.

. Dioceses as well as parishes around the country have scheduled events &/or provided materials to help with this prayer & reflection. Here in Dubuque, the Archdiocesan website does have a page listing several resources.

Archbishop Hanus released the following statement:

"Fortnight for Freedom"

"The approaching observance of Independence Day on July 4 reminds us that religious liberty has been an important value in our country since the Declaration of Independence. The First Amendment of the US. Bill of Rights states: ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibit-ing the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.’"

The Power of Prayer put together a booklet with prayers & reflections for each day. (I know it was also distributed at at least 1 parish in the area as well.) Also a flyer was put out with a novena for 25 June to 4 July. Some dioceses are doing more than others. Sadly some are doing little more than mentioning it in passing. In DBQ some priests have said no to promoting it because it is "political".

Follow the links above to the USCCB website to see what your diocese is doing & to get resources to help you to pray & take actions over the next 2 weeks.

As President Reagan said "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." (This is only 1 version of what he often said.)

These next 14 days may be a make or break it time for the USA. Participating in this Fortnight for Freedom is not an option, it is a must. Each of us must spend at least some time over the next few days praying for our country, we must repent of the sins of our country as well. But we must all do more as the Holy Spirit leads us. Speak up, write letters to the editor, go to local events. Challenge your friends to action as well.

If we don't do all we can, then some day each of us will have to answer to God for our failure to do what we should have. I don't know if it is too late to stop God's judgment on this country. I don't know if our fight for freedom will include having to be martyred for the faith. All I do know right now is that God has called us to pray & the act. I pray I have the grace to hear & do all I should rather than just the bare minimum.