June 2016
Fortnight for Freedom: Witnesses to Freedom
On his visit to the U.S., Pope Francis encouraged us to nurture, promote, and defend the precious gift of religious freedom.
To this end, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has continued to encourage Catholics, other Christians,
and all people of good will to set aside two weeks to reflect on religious freedom. The Fortnight for Freedom runs from June 21
(the vigil of the feast of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher) to July 4 (when we celebrate our national Independence Day).
The theme for this year’s Fortnight is “Witnesses to Freedom.” The Conference is lifting up for reflection the stories of 14
women and men - one for each day - who bear witness to freedom in Christ, such as Bl. Oscar Romero, Ven. Henriette Delille,
and the Coptic Christians who were killed by ISIS last year. Reflecting on the lives of these great men and women can show us
how we might serve as witnesses to freedom today. They love their country, yet this love does not surpass their love for and
devotion to Christ and his Church.
We can emulate this in our work today to promote religious freedom in the U.S., as it is of a piece with our efforts to
contribute to the good of all Americans. We are dedicated to protecting and building up civil society precisely so that we - and so
many others - may remain free to provide education, to care for the sick, the poor, and the migrant.
And so we see that these witnesses are also dedicated to service. They show us that what is important is not simply that we
have rights, but that we exercise them responsibly and out of love for others. This can take many forms. In every situation, we
are called to be missionary disciples, people who follow Christ and serve the world.
(Archbishop Lori, chair of Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Pope Francis on Religious Freedom
The 14 women and men of faith,
from all over the world,
who bear witness to authentic freedom in Christ:
Little Sisters of the Poor
Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More
Coptic Martyrs
St. John the Baptist
Ven. Henriette Delille
Bl. Oscar Romero
Martyrs of Compiègne
Fr. John Bapst, SJ
Sts. Peter and Paul
Sts. Felicity and Perpetua
Bl. Miguel Pro
St. Maximilian Kolbe
St. Edith Stein
St. Kateri Tekakwitha
American Catholics are committed to building a society
which is truly tolerant and inclusive, to safeguarding the
rights of individuals and communities, and to rejecting
every form of unjust discrimination. With countless other
people of good will, they are likewise concerned that
efforts to build a just and wisely ordered society respect
their deepest concerns and their right to religious liberty.
That freedom remains one of America’s most precious
possessions. And, as my brothers, the United States
Bishops, have reminded us, all are called to be vigilant,
precisely as good citizens, to preserve and defend that
freedom from everything that would threaten or
compromise it. (Sept. 2015)
When individuals and communities are guaranteed the
effective exercise of their rights, they are not only free to
realize their potential, they also, through their talents and
their hard work, contribute to the welfare and enrichment
of society as a whole……
It [religious freedom] is a fundamental right which shapes
the way we interact socially and personally with our
neighbors whose religious views differ from our own.
(Sept. 2015)
Edited by Clotilde Pichon, Director of Social Ministries, [email protected]
SOME OF THE WOMEN AND MEN OF FAITH WHO BEAR WITNESS TO AUTHENTIC FREEDOM IN CHRIST (from USCCB)
Bl. Oscar Romero
When Monsignor Oscar Romero was installed as Archbishop of San Salvador, El Salvador, in February
1977, he was thrust into a tumultuous situation. A military coup in October 1979 led to a gruesome, twelve
year civil war. These events were precipitated by the great disparity between a small number of powerful,
wealthy families – who were backed by local politicians and the military – and the rest of El Salvador’s
citizens. Many people suffered extreme poverty. Laborers worked for minimal pay for wealthy landowners,
yet they could not hope to obtain land for themselves. The military terrorized the people in order ensure
that the families held onto land and money. The Catholic Church became a target when some clergy
began to defend the poor. In response to these injustices, some Salvadorans took up arms and fought
against the military.
Shortly after his installation, Archibishop Romero’s close friend Fr. Rutilio Grande, a priest who openly
opposed the unjust practices of wealthy landowners, was assassinated by gunmen while traveling with two
people to celebrate Mass. This experience awakened Archbishop Romero to the reality of the corruption in his country and
prompted him to take a stand for his people’s freedom.
Archbishop Romero preached many homilies that were broadcast throughout San Salvador. He persistently defended the
rights of the people, calling government leaders to conversion and challenging them to uphold God’s law. He reminded the
people that they were loved by God and that fighting back with Christian charity was the way to victory. His vocal response to
government violence against the poor led to difficulties with other clergy members and his religious superiors as well as death
threats from government accomplices. In spite of these challenges, he continued to speak out on behalf of the poor. On March
24, 1980, Archbishop Romero was shot to death while celebrating the Eucharist in the chapel of Divina Providencia hospital.
Blessed Oscar Romero was beatified by Pope Francis in May 2015.
Coptic Martyrs
Ven. Henriette Delille
Henriette Delille, a free woman of
color, lived in New Orleans in the
early 19th century. Descended of an
enslaved African woman and white
slave owner, Henriette was born into
the precarious class of Creoles or
free Blacks of mixed heritage. A devout
Catholic, Henriette worked to bring
religious education and the sacraments
of the Church to the many enslaved as
well as freepersons of African descent. Using her meager
personal resources and with the support of two other free
women of color, Juliette Gaudin and Josephine Charles,
Henriette devoted her adult life to seek and care for orphans,
the aged, disabled, infirm, and indigent in the community.
Henriette confronted many obstacles: opposition from the
ruling class - including Church officials - to Black religious
association, lack of money and poor health. However,
Henriette’s efforts were supported by lay men and women
donors and associates, both free and enslaved, named the
Association of the Holy Family.
Henriette, Juliette, and Josephine’s service, mercy, and
love served as the catalyst for the founding of the Sisters of
the Holy Family congregation, which continues to serve the
people of God throughout Louisiana and neighboring states,
as well as Washington, DC, California, and areas of Central
America and West Africa.
On February 15, 2015, a
shocking 5-minute video aired
showing 21 men in orange
jumpsuits being forced to the
ground in Libya and then
beheaded by ISIS-affiliated
militants. Their only crime: they
were Coptic Christians, “people
of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian Church.” These
men, like many others, were migrants from Egypt, working in
Libya. Ostensibly, they were being killed to avenge the alleged
kidnapping of Muslim women by the Egyptian Coptic Church,
an outrageous charge, but then ISIS needs little excuse for its
brutality.
Coptic Christians are part of the oldest Christian church in
Africa. Tensions between Coptic Christians and Muslims are
not new, despite the fact that Copts make up about ten
percent of Egypt’s population. Under Muslim rule, Copts have
often faced discrimination. Since 2010, attacks against Copts
seem to have increased. But this persecution pales in
comparison to the brutality inflicted by ISIS-affiliated militants
who beheaded the 21 men in Libya.
Reaction to the beheadings came swiftly from all over the
world. On February 21, 2015, the head of the Coptic Orthodox
Church, Pope Tawadros II, said the 21 would be
commemorated as martyr saints. Pope Francis called the
killings “barbaric,” lamenting, “They only said ‘Jesus help
me…’ The blood of our Christian brothers is testimony that
cries out. Be they Catholic, Orthodox, Lutherans, it doesn’t
matter. They’re Christian.”
Ways to Celebrate the Fortnight for Freedom
PRAY Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet for our country and our first freedom;
LEARN about Catholic teaching on religious freedom;
READ the stories of the 14 women and men of faith, from all over the world, who bear witness to authentic freedom in Christ;
VISIT www.fortnight4freedom.org from the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops for more information and resources.