The USCCB provides “Pray-Reflect-Act” resources at www.usccb.org/ReligiousFreedomWeek - one for each day on different religious liberty topics. Some of the topics include Respect for Sacred Spaces, and freedom to live our faith in healthcare, at school and at work.

The resources this year show the breadth of religious liberty issues of concern to the bishops of the United States. In creating the resources, the USCCB’s Committee for Religious Liberty collaborated with the Conference’s Office of International Justice and Peace to raise awareness about the persecution of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, and conflicts and religious tensions in Nigeria. These are examples of issues the faithful should be aware of in order 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, the bishops are concerned about Catholic healthcare, as the Biden Administration proposed a cascade of changes to federal regulations over the past year that remove conscience protections from healthcare institutions and individuals. 

Religious Freedom Week will also highlight issues that are currently taking place primarily at the state level. State governments have passed or proposed laws that forbid “harboring” or transporting undocumented immigrants, when in fact, the “harboring” is defined as providing a safe place to sleep, or the “transporting” is a ride to Mass. Some states are attacking the “priest-penitent privilege,” or seal of confession, which has been protected since 1813 in the court case of People v. Philips and is thought to be the first court case on the right to free exercise of religion in America.

To connect with the USCCB’s Committee for Religious Liberty, please text FREEDOM to 84576 and sign up for First Freedom News, the committee’s monthly newsletter.