Religious Freedom Week: June 22-29

Religious Freedom Week takes place June 22-29 each year. It begins with the feast day of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, includes the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and ends with the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

The Church plays a crucial role in both bearing witness to the gospel of life and serving all of those people who will be affected by these discussions and their outcomes.

The USCCB provides “Pray-Reflect-Act” resources at www.usccb.org/ReligiousFreedomWeek, one for each day on different religious liberty topics. These materials help teach about religious liberty from a Catholic perspective, pray about particular issues, and act on what they learn by advocating for policies that promote religious freedom.

The theme for this year is Life and Dignity for All. Among some of this year’s issues, as we approach the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, we are especially mindful of the debates around our country about abortion. The Church plays a crucial role in both bearing witness to the gospel of life and serving all of those people who will be affected by these discussions and their outcomes.

The Committee for Religious Liberty has collaborated with the Office of International Justice and Peace to raise awareness about the religious liberty in China. We need to be in solidarity with people throughout the world who suffer for their faith.

Domestically, a major area of concern continues to be freedom for Catholic institutions, such as schools, hospitals, and child welfare service providers, to carry out their missions with integrity. In particular, protecting Catholic adoption and foster care will become even more vital, as we take new steps in building a culture of life and dignity for all in the United States.

To build a culture of life and dignity for all, the Church must support women and children. In 2020, the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities launched Walking with Moms in Need. This initiative seeks to help parishes become places where pregnant and parenting women can find support and accompaniment.We encourage Catholics to learn about how their parishes can connect with local institutions and accompany women and children at www.walkingwithmoms.com.

Pregnancy resource centers provide counseling and support for moms who want to choose life. In some places, though, abortion activists have sought to curtail the activities of these centers, working to force them to advertise abortion. In 2018, pregnancy resource centers in California successfully defended their work at the U.S. Supreme Court. But in places like Connecticut, for example, abortion activists show no signs of stopping their campaign against pregnancy resource centers. These centers support life and dignity for all.

Beginning in July 2021, the Committee for Religious Liberty began publishing articles on basic issues in religious liberty. This resource helps Catholics learn more about Church teaching and fundamental questions related to religious freedom. The essays are available at www.usccb.org/FirstFreedomBlog.

Connect with the USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty. Text FREEDOM to 84576 and Sign up for First Freedom News, the USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty’s monthly newsletter.

Through prayer, education, and public action during Religious Freedom Week, we can promote the fundamental right of religious freedom for Catholics and for people of all faiths.