Fortnight of Freedom

Schedule of Events and Resources
for the Diocese of Madison

The U.S. bishops have issued a call to action to defend religious liberty and urged laity to work to protect the First Freedom of the Bill of Rights. They outlined their position in “Our First, Most Cherished Freedom.” The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate is requiring almost all private health plans to cover contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs. For the first time in our history, the federal government will force religious institutions to facilitate drugs and procedures contrary to our moral teaching, and purport to define which religious institutions are “religious enough” to merit an exemption. This is not a matter of whether contraception may be prohibited by the government. It is not even a matter of whether contraception may be supported by the government. It is a matter of whether religious people and institutions may be forced by the government to provide coverage for contraception and sterilization, even when it violates our religious beliefs.

***The bishops have called for “A Fortnight for Freedom,” the two-week period from June 21 to July 4—beginning with the feasts of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher and ending with Independence Day—to focus “all the energies the Catholic community can muster” for religious liberty.***

Thursday, June 21 – “Fortnight for Freedom” Begins
Rosary Rally at State Capitol 7:00 PM, State Street steps of the State Capitol Building
Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino will be in attendance!

Throughout the Fortnight
USCCB Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty – Prayed at the end of Mass.

Thursday, June 21- Friday, June 29
Novena to St. Thomas More, Patron of Statesmen, Politicians, & Lawyers

Friday, June 22
The Feast of St. Thomas More (St. Thomas More Society Event)
Mass - 12:10 Celebrated by Bishop Morlino at St. Patrick’s, Madison
Invited Lunch - 1:00
Talk - 1:30 Bishop Paul Swain, On Religious Liberty

Special Invitation to Lawyers, Judges and Government Officials
You are especially invited to celebrate the Feast of St. Thomas More, the patron saint of lawyers on Friday, June 22 at the 12:10 Mass at St. Patrick’s Church, 404 E. Main St., Madison. Bishop Paul J. Swain, an attorney, former government staffer and decorated Air Force veteran, will keynote the lunch following Mass speaking on “God’s Faithful Servant First: Comments on Threats to Religious Liberty.” This event is port of the Fortnight for Freedom called by the US Bishops for June 22 – July 4 and sponsored by the St. Thomas More Society, a group dedicated to discussing issues of importance to the legal profession. Hearing a reasoned response from a Catholic perspective will balance the deluge of secular information that does not adequately address the issue of religious freedom. To reserve your seat at the lunch, please respond by June 13 by sending a check payable to St. Thomas More Society to Deb O’Brien, 2 East Mifflin St., Suite 600, Madison, 53703. Members and their guests: $20, Non-members: $25, Law Students: $15. After June 13, the public is most welcome to request a reservation in the same manner.

Tuesday, June 26- Wednesday, July 4
Novena to the SS. Peter and Paul, Martyrs of Rome

Thursday, June 28
Rosary Rally at State Capitol 7:00 PM, State Street steps of the State Capitol Building

Friday, June 29
Priestly Ordinations – Official Diocesan Mass Observing the “Fortnight for Freedom”
St. Maria Goretti Parish, 5313 Flad Ave., Madison at 7:30 PM

Wednesday, July 4
Noon – Church bells to ring in parishes throughout the diocese, as a sign of affirmation of religious freedom – our first, most cherished liberty.

Other Suggested Observances:

•Have 24-hour adoration in your parish or cluster. Some have already scheduled this for:
Thursday, June 21- Friday, June 22
Thursday, June 28- Friday, June 29 and
Tuesday, July 3- Wednesday, July 4
•Attend Mass on the 4th of July, to conclude the “Fortnight” in your parish
•Include the St. Michael Prayer at the conclusion of every Mass
•Pray for the courage for our priests and bishops
•Read and study the Bishops’ document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship”
•Have a social function at your parish, with neighboring parish or cluster, celebrating religious freedom
•Fast and pray for the upholding of our First Amendment Right to Religious Freedom

Special National Masses

June 21 Mass in Baltimore, MD
A Mass will be offered on June 21 at 7 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary inBaltimore, Maryland, celebrated by Archbishop William E. Lori of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, to open the Fortnight for Freedom.

July 4 Mass in Washington, DC
A Mass will be offered on July 4 at 12:10 p.m. at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated by Cardinal Donald Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington and homilist Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Mass will be televised nationwide on the EWTN cable network.

Ecumenical Resources
• Letter from USCCB on Ecumenical cooperation
• Ecumenical prayer service

Resources:

Parishes please read the Suggested USCCB Prayer Resources for Conscience Rights and Religious Freedom Also available in Spanish.

The following prayer cards are available to download from the USCCB in English and Spanish:

• Litany for Liberty
• Mary Immaculate; María Inmaculada
• Our Lady of Guadalupe; Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
• St. Thomas More; Santo Tomás Moro

Bulletin inserts and Flyers:

• “The Most Cherished of American Freedoms—Past and Present” in English and Spanish.
• Faithful Citizenship Bulletin Inserts
Look for more bulletin inserts to be released from the USCCB.

• ObamaCare and its Mandates Fact Sheet

Intercessory Prayers:

• Faithful Citizenship Intercessory Prayers for the Prayers of the Faithful.

Educational:

• Complete list from the USCCB
• Religious Liberty homily talking points
• Twelve Things Everyone Should Know about the HHS Mandate - Also available in Spanish
• Backgrounder on Coerced Abortion Payments
• Is Respect for the Rights of Conscience Act Overbroad?
• Order the Religious Liberty pamphlet from Our Sunday Visitor and make available to parishioners

Advocacy:

• Send an electronic message to Congress to Oppose the HHS Mandate and Support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act
• Host a petition drive at your parish
• Write Letters to Editor in your local news publications

Last Updated: Tuesday, June 12, 2012