Since returning from Rome and a visit with our seminarians there, I have been overwhelmed by the beauty of the season here in God’s Country – blue skies, Fall colors, perfect temperatures, and farmers in the fields – an absolute delight. Hard to find anything troubling in a season that seems so serene, right? Well, unfortunately, we do need to revisit some troubling signs that continue to poke at us in terms of current “man-made” events. We still have some worries that dog us regarding government interference in our lives and liberties.

As we all know, the Catholic Church is committed to safeguarding the right to life and is vigorously supportive of the defense of our first amendment rights concerning religious liberty and conscience protection. I am concerned that many Catholics, however, have either given up on our struggle, thinking: “This is a lost cause, anyway,” or even more unfortunately, have never gotten involved.

For the past two years, “Fortnights for Freedom” rallied many Catholics and fostered widespread awareness that our religious liberties, guaranteed by the Constitution, were in jeopardy. The continuing debate and multiple lawsuits against the government by dioceses, charitable organizations, and privately owned Catholic businesses, have left us with little time to change some policies in Washington and offer support for those who are friendly to our cause in Congress.

The HHS mandate stating that “all Food and Drug Administration approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity” still remains a toxic piece of legislation that frustrates the just application of the first amendment rights of all citizens and is particularly odious to Catholics and all people of faith. The government continues to maintain its stand in favor of the HHS mandate and the “reproductive rights” guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act despite having been told over and over that these pieces of legislation violate citizens’ first amendment rights and, more seriously, transgress the moral commandments of God. The case has repeatedly been made to protect the integrity of the Constitution, and to convince those responsible that following these policies will violate our consciences and open us up to deliberate cooperation with evil.

I invite you to support a new opportunity to stop this attack on our liberty. Members of Congress who stand with us in favor of the integrity of the American Constitution and who also stand with us in support of the value of human life are putting forth an amendment to the Affordable Care Act called H.R. 940, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act. This amendment would affect the ACA ensuring that the federal government cannot require individuals, charities, or businesses to buy insurance coverage that includes items or services against which they have deeply held moral or religious objections. It would also ensure that the federal government, or any state or local government receiving federal financial assistance, does not discriminate against any health care entity or worker for abiding by his or her conscience and refusing to provide, train, or refer abortion services. The Health Care Conscience Rights Act would guarantee a private right of action for victims facing discriminatory practices.

This is still a time of action. The Administration needs to know that the policies and mandates of the Affordable Care Act and the law being put into effect on January 1, 2014 are offensive and objectionable, especially to Catholics. I think Washington sincerely believes that we Catholics are indifferent or are downright abandoning the call of the American Bishops to take action in this area.

It is time for Catholics to rally. Please call your member of Congress and urge support of H.R. 940. The beauty of autumn reminds us that the seasons are changing. There is an awareness of winter close at hand, but there is always a hope of new life and a springtime that will come again. I encourage you to be a part of the new life that we as Catholics and as Americans must deliver to our leaders. I sure hope you will consider this invitation and respond positively.

Fill October with love for life, and I’ll see you at Sunday Mass.

Yesterday, Thursday 19 September 2013, my daily schedule was filled with more than normal abnormal things.  Almost everything, of course, was completely a surprise. One of the biggest surprises of all was the release of the Pope’s interview with Father Antonio Sparado, a Jesuit priest who is the editor of La Civilta Cattolica, an Italian Jesuit journal. The interview took place in August during three meetings between the two men. After the official Italian text was approved, five translators were commissioned to produce an English translation. I hasten to point out—Pope Francis does not speak English very well so the nuances and innuendos were part of the translator’s shading of the Pope’s thoughts and words.

The interview has created quite a storm in the mainstream media. Their spin and subsequent reporting once again leads one to think that the Pope is really making a statement about issues as opposed to attitudes. The same old media canards of abortion, contraception, homosexual unions, and women’s ordination have all been juxtaposed—quite non-contextually—against some basically beautiful and essentially significant parts of the Papal message.

In plain and simple language, the Pope is tired (aren’t we all??) of hearing the Catholic message ridiculously and trivially boiled down to secular ideologies concerning social behavior that is at variance with Catholic teachings on ethics, morality, or social issues. He reaffirmed in this interview that the church’s teaching in those areas remains clear and unchanging. Then what’s all the hubbub in the secular press?

Pope Francis, in that same mainstream media, has been acclaimed as the “World’s Parish Priest.” That title, while it is meant to show how “different” Francis is, is precisely his badge of honor and character in the world where he is the Universal Pastor of souls. He begins the interview by identifying himself as a “sinner.” So far, he’s no different from any of us. And he continues to note that “I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon.” That is the basic message of the Gospel; we are sinners and the Lord has looked upon us. That is the message of the Gospel and it is for the proclamation of that Gospel that the Church exists. Jesus Christ, the Son of God saves sinners and loves us.

The Pope made it clear, furthermore, that he is not accustomed to talking to so many people at once (a reference to the crowds at World Youth Day.) “I can look at individual persons, one at a time,” he said, “to come into contact in a personal way with the person I have before me.” This is the essence of this interview. It becomes a moment with “the world’s parish priest” and, I think, more than being an interview “for the masses” it is a personal blueprint of ministry for priests and bishops in a very beautiful way. So much so, that it has shaken the world with its Gospel simplicity. This Pope did not choose the name and patronage of Saint Francis of Assisi on a whim—he knows the Saint and he knows how Saint Francis’ Gospel simplicity melted the hardened hearts of the secular society of his age.

The Pope is not opening a new arena of public dispute about secularism and the adversarial roles between the Church and the world; nor is he trying to remake the Church into a consort for the Worldly. This interview, I think, was primarily a message to everyone, but especially to priests and bishops, that the Church is truly a “one issue” Church and that the issue is the personal relationship that God has with each and every human person in Jesus Christ. The parish priest, in particular, is a messenger and deliverer of the Good News of Jesus Christ and wins souls for Christ one soul at a time.

The Pope called bishops and priests in particular to be good shepherds who, with Jesus, would walk with each member of the flock through the darkness. We must first see the person who is loved by God and saved by His love through the Blood of His Son. Each person must be received with that sense of Gospel charity—the proclamation of the message of Jesus Christ. Such charity opens new doors to speak about “issues” and to instruct through catechism and the sacraments of the Church.

This article is an insight into the teaching style of the Pope; different, perhaps, from what we are used to or even that with which we are comfortable. There is no doubt, however, that he maintains the authoritative and true teachings of the Catholic Church. What I think he wants us to understand, moreover, is that the Church has a heart—and that heart is the Heart of Christ Himself.

Share the love at Sunday Mass—bring a friend.

This past March, and in the subsequent months, we witnessed some incredible changes at the Vatican; the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the election of Pope Francis produced a wondrous torrent of exhilaration for the Catholic world and, indeed, for people of good will everywhere.

Throughout the months of Francis’ short papacy many people have been trying to figure him out. Clearly he is different from Blessed John Paul II and from Benedict XVI. I believe, however, that many people who were anticipating a retreat from courage in the actions of this Pope with the world at large, have certainly found that nothing could be further from the truth.

He rises as his saintly and courageous predecessors have before him, with a profound awareness of the dignity of humanity and the strength of the Prince of the Apostles in defending that dignity in the promotion of authentic peace and justice.

In calling for and receiving the attention of the world in an effort to fast and pray for peace and civility in Syria, Pope Francis has shown himself to be the world’s Pastor, a voice for all who urge humanity to once again realize how truly and deeply our nature has been touched by God. It is in this moment, as the Holy Father teaches, that we need to return to the earliest days of God’s action with creation—“God saw it was good.” How significant for the Pope to evoke the Book of Genesis and the Creation Story to correctly identify the evil protagonists in the current unfolding of events in Syria. The evil serpent brings doubt, fear, and trouble into the lives of our first parents and thus, violence, betrayal, cruelty and division, into the human family. This is not the “goodness” that God intends, and it is not the future He envisions for His children.

The Pope has called the world to an awareness of the universal Fatherhood of God and His true plan for authentic freedom for all people. The Pope discourages us from choosing sides from among groups who have proven they cannot be trusted as forces for good. War can only beget war and death, only more death. Indeed, the principals in Syria have shown only violence and selfishness. Our Christian brothers and sisters, along with other innocent people, are being ruthlessly exterminated in violent exhibitions of avarice and power.

It is clearly time, as Pope Francis and other religious leaders have pointed out, that we speak the truth in love. We speak in God’s name—however we address Him—to bring about authentic peace, real solutions, and an end to violence. No more war, never again war!

Pray for peace—every time you go to Mass.

Now that we are nearing Labor Day, it is fair to say: “Summer vacation is over.” I say it sadly since it means snow will be flying sooner than later. In spite of the fact that our poor children had to return to school in some of the hottest weather we’ve had all summer, we know that soon the leaves will be turning and heavy sweaters and coats will be the order of the day. Time to get back to the books and the work of education.

Education is work in which we are all involved. Parents, pastors, administrators, educators, staff and children—we all have work to do. We administrators and pastors have the large task of trying to redefine the method by which our schools are funded. Of course, most of the “heavy lifting” in this area is still borne by school tuitions and parish subsidies. There are, however, some new methods we will try to explore to improve our funding. These options, by design, attempt to create some fairly equal sharing across the diocese, assisting parents in fulfilling their obligation to educate their children in the Catholic school while maintaining the highest standards of excellence that have always been the hallmark of Catholic Education throughout the ages.

In the area of finance, the Deans and the Council of Priests will discuss these matters with a view toward making some changes and updating policies. You all know, and have heard me say many times before, that our Catholic schools are part of the mission of evangelization in the Church. We pride ourselves, further, on the fact that our Catholic schools are, and have been for years, at the forefront of academic excellence, maintaining the highest standards for quality education in elementary and, in particular, secondary education. The cost of our schools is part of the sacrifice we all make to secure the faith for the coming generations. Catholic schools should not simply be seen as “burdens” for those “unfortunate” parishes who happen to be “stuck” with them. Our review of financing will provide us with some more creative and innovative methods that will help us all share our common responsibility to educate our young people and maintain our Catholic schools.

Throughout the Diocese, I am seeing great efforts being taken by so many inside and outside the educational community to support and promote Catholic schools. New schools are opening and existing schools are modernizing and expanding their buildings. Enrollments are creeping up in slow and positive directions. I am even speaking with our seminarians to hear, who among them may be interested in going on for further study in education and administration. These efforts are part of our strategic diocesan planning for the future and I am happy to say that this part of the planning seems bright.

I have said to you many times over that I am a great supporter of Catholic Education and, particularly, Catholic schools. With Doctor Susan Holman, our Superintendent of Schools, and those responsible for assisting her in assembling a new and visionary finance procedure, and our superb teachers and administrators, I am certain that as our schools open this fall it will be with a new hope and positive approach to the proclamation of the faith and the education of our children. Through our, strong families, good parishes and vibrant schools, we will create in our Diocese a culture of life that will produce good citizens and healthy and holy human beings.

Join me at Sunday Mass to help this happen faster and stronger!

In his statement concerning the current situation in Egypt, Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac (the counter part of our President of the USCCB) said:

“With pain, but also with hope, the Catholic Church in Egypt is following what our country is experiencing: terrorist attacks, killings and the burning of churches, schools and state institutions. Therefore, out of love for our country and in solidarity with all lovers of Egypt, Christians and Muslims, we are trying to do our best to communicate with friendly organizations around the world to clarify for them the reality of events taking place in our country. … We address the international conscious and all national leaders that they understand and believe that what is happening in Egypt now is not a political struggle between different factions, but a war against terrorism.”

Christian brothers and sisters are not only being routed and killed in Egypt simply because of the fact that they are Christians, there is a growing and systemic lack of respect for humanity—respect for the human person. Pope Francis and Coptic Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria have urged an end to the violence.

The Prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, recently told the French edition of Vatican Radio that Egypt’s revival must “take place in respect of the human person, in the mutual respect of all religions, in respect for religious freedom. The destruction of Christian churches is unacceptable. Religion cannot be used to justify violence.”

Pope Francis seemed to underscore that sentiment in his Angelus message last Sunday. “Faith,” he said, “is not decorating your life with a bit of religion … “

“Following Jesus means renouncing evil [and] selfishness, and choosing goodness, truth and justice even when that requires sacrifice and renouncing our own interests.”

“Living a truly Christian life can lead to division, even within families,” the pope said. “But, attention: It’s not Jesus who divides. He sets out the criteria: Live for oneself or for God and others, ask to be served or serve; obey one’s ego or obey God — it is in this sense that Jesus is a ‘sign of contradiction.'”

“When Jesus told his disciples he had come to ‘set the world on fire,’” the pope said, “he was not authorizing the use of force to spread the faith. Rather, it is the exact opposite: The true force of the Christian is the force of truth and love, which means renouncing the use of violence.”

As we reflect upon the message of the Gospel, the message of the Vicar of Christ, and the cries of the world in search for mercy and justice, it seems to me that, here, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, we might want to make a genuine effort to get to Sunday Mass. Yes, we are free to sleep in late on Sundays, have special brunches on Sundays, go fishing, go to the mall, and do all sorts of otherreally fun things on Sundays. Don’t you think, however, that we might do well to have a little solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan? Remember that so many Egyptians are being maltreated, abused, made homeless, or killed because people have put God outside of their lives and decided to act like gods themselves?

I’m sure in Egypt they like to go to brunch, sleep in, or go to the mall on Sundays too; but, I’m willing to bet that many more would rather be left in peace to go to their churches, where they can be received and loved unconditionally by God. It would be good for us to keep them in mind here, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, where we respect human freedom and value its endurance as part of our national patrimony. Our treasured freedom of religion not only keeps our church doors open, but also helps us to keep our minds and hearts open so that we can be bearers of the Gospel to others by our words and actions.

So, you know, I’ll look forward to seeing you at Sunday Mass.

These days remind me of an old proverb: “May you live in interesting times.” The saying, as I once wrote in this blog, is of Asian origin and is filled with the ancient wisdom that often comes with the two edged sword of literal and practical irony. The saying invites the recipient to “interesting” times. Ultimately, the irony connotes “interesting” as belonging to something other than what appeals to one’s intellectual curiosity or enlightenment; rather “interesting” here leads one to expect unsteady, perturbing, or even troubling times. So in these days I find myself living the resonance of the ancients’ dreams and the multi-faceted fulfillment of their mystical proverb.

Recently, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) made a change in its membership policy for youth. The basics of the resolution to the youth membership policy requires the youth member to (a) subscribe to and abide by the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Law, (b) subscribe to and abide by the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principles (duty to God), and (c) demonstrate behavior that exemplifies the highest level of good conduct and respect for others and is consistent at all times with the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Law. No youth may be denied membership in the BSA on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.

The National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) understands this policy to mean the following: (a) a youth will not be prevented from receiving a rank award or religious emblem simply for having or experiencing a same-sex attraction; (b) a youth will not need to hide the fact that he has or experiences this attraction, but a youth also will not be encouraged or pressured to disclose publically the experience of such attraction; and (c) a youth experiencing same-sex attraction should not be afraid that he will be expelled by the Scouting community by disclosing the experience of such attraction.

There have been, and will be, no doubt more reactions to this change by the BSA which has a long, close, and admirable relationship with the Christian Church, especially the Catholic Church. BSA is expected to provide more details on the application of this resolution over the coming months leading up to the resolution’s implementation on 1 January 2014. In addition, it is important to remember that nowhere in the BSA documentation have they indicated that this change means that what some have referenced to as “openly gay” youth will be admitted to the organization. This change in policy does not mean acceptance or promotion of a “gay lifestyle” since that would be contrary to the values of the BSA; rather, it means that a youth who may disclose that he is experiencing a same-sex attraction may not be excluded, bullied, treated with disrespect or denied advancement within the movement. The BSA offers the additional clarification that the Scout Oath begins with duty to God, and the Scout Law ends with a Scout’s obligation to be reverent. Those will always remain core values of the BSA. The values set forth in the Scout Oath and Law are fundamental to the BSA and central to teaching young people to make better choices throughout their lifetimes.

As Bishop, I can certainly attest to the significant accomplishments and benefits that Scouting has given to our Diocese over the years. The new policy of the BSA does, indeed, prove that we live in “interesting” times, but it also gives us an opportunity to ponder and consider carefully that the new BSA membership policy as such does not necessarily contradict the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church as it is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), numbers 2357-59, and the USCCB document: Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care (2006).

Interesting, or not, these are the times in which we live. While we stand on principle, we must also remember that charity and prudence also guide our way with the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. The bishops of the United States are in contact with the leadership of the BSA to assure that the mainstays of the great traditions of Scouting and its treasured alliance with the Church will remain as strong as we can possibly maintain in these interesting times.

With hope for the future, I’ll see you at Sunday Mass.

Catholic beach parties have taken on a whole new meaning given that three million souls celebrated with Pope Francis on the famous Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro last week. The Pope, being acclaimed as a “Frock Star,” complete with sombrero, certainly knows how to party with the best of them. What a great opportunity for the youth of the world to participate in such an exuberant display of energy, emotion, and genuine spiritual fervor.

From the time of its inception, World Youth Day has resolutely gained momentum precisely to awaken in the next generation a sense of purpose and participation in the mission of Christ. Watching this gathering of the youth of the world in the name of Jesus Christ draws us all to a lively and energetic expression of faith in the Person of Jesus and an awareness of His reality and true presence in our midst.

Prayer, first and foremost, focused the attention of all participants on that spiritual relationship with Jesus. It was expressed in many different ways—but prayer activated the whole gathering and gave it purpose. Adoration of our Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament, was pivotal and plentiful round-the-clock. The youth of the world came to be with and celebrate Jesus Christ.

Secondly, there was a sense of getting to know Him better. Bishops from around the world offered catechesis and teachings. In addition, talks centered on the WYD theme were given based on Sacred Scripture showing the relevance of the teachings of the Church. Specific topics relating to young people and various methods of personally encountering Jesus and introducing Him to others, were also brought to light. It was basic evangelization at its best.

Thirdly, of course, all of this was done with the Vicar of Christ, the Successor of Saint Peter, the Pope himself. Pope Francis certainly did not fail to ignite the fire of evangelical fire in the crowds at Rio.

Personal conversion, attention to and identification with the mission, and a powerful celebration of faith in action all done on the world stage with a few million brothers and sisters was a winning formula that stirred the minds and hearts of young people who wanted to know and love Christ. It was a great beach party, and we should all be proud of our Pope and his young friends who allowed us to share in it. If God wants, in 2016 we will see a gathering of the youth of the world feeling the presence of the spiritual father of WYD, Saint John Paul II, in Krakow. The planning has already begun …

Continue the celebration at Sunday Mass!

Congratulations to all royal couples and to their baby princes or princesses of wherever.

I must admit that I watched all the trappings of the birth of Prince George of Cambridge with joyful enthusiasm. It is exciting to witness when a married couple is celebrated by pretty much the entire civilized world for being in love, being married, and having a baby. It’s good news, and it’s been big news since the first day we heard about it—the first day we heard of Kate’s pregnancy. There was scuttlebutt all around, from that first day, concerning the future king or queen of England. Almost immediately, press reports poured forth with the news that Queen Elizabeth herself had changed the laws regarding succession to the Throne, and this child was going to be the first to enjoy those new rights—especially if the child to be born would be female. From the beginning of his life in the womb of his mother, Prince George was acknowledged as a person—acknowledged as the heir to the Throne of England—by the whole world—from the beginning of his life!

Of course, it is not so astonishing in a world where there are no absolutes, no objective truths, no common sense of morality, that a child in the womb of a “royal” would be considered a person, given a title, be celebrated and anticipated well in advance of his or her birth. While a child in the womb of lady whomever may be considered a fetus, a mass of cells, a product of conception, whose growth would be timed and calculated in order that it could be violently wrenched from a very similar womb if somebody—most likely his or her mother— chose to do so. Strangely enough, I don’t think this double standard poses such a conundrum to many other people, but it should.

The world did not view Kate as a woman only, but recognized her as Will’s wife. They were seen as a unit. The baby was their baby—from the start—and the baby of Cambridge had two parents. Kate was not alone, and baby Cambridge’s future existence was not solely a matter of Kate’s freedom to determine. The significance of a husband and wife having a child together is obviously still a cause for wonderment. We believe that this is part of God interacting with men and women. This is how creation is meant to continue—in unique and singular love.

The birth of this royal prince should remind us of more than just the fact that he was born with a heck of a lot more of this world’s goods than any of us could ever dream of having. Every child is a gift and no one of us is an accident. We are each created by God in love. The unique love of a man and a woman made holy and sacred in the sacrament of matrimony allows God’s creativity to be manifested in the way that God intends. Children are not just objects—little vessels of entitlement—tax write-offs—or pieces of property that we can have just because we want to—but rather the supreme gift given by God.

So, congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their son. Congratulations to all mothers and fathers whose children are truly royal heirs, the sons and daughters of God, the King of Kings! We are all part of a royal family.

Come celebrate the royal banquet at Sunday Mass.

The world prepares for one of the great gatherings of humanity in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next week: the twenty-eighth World Youth Day. This gathering is a triumph for the Catholic Church and a major event for young people from around the world. Since 2002, WYD has been held every three years. The event this year has been moved up due to the fact that Rio is hosting the World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympic Games in 2016. World Youth Day is expected to be larger than both of those events put together.

The history of WYD is something of a modern miracle itself and continues to underscore the significance of not only the papacy of Pope John Paul II, but also the incredible Christ-like modeling of the man himself. At the end of the year 1983-1984, the Holy Year of the Redemption, Pope John Paul entrusted the Jubilee Cross, a simple wooden cross, to the youth of the world. (The cross had been placed near the papal altar in Saint Peter’s at the Pope’s request.) He asked the youth to take it on pilgrimage around the world.

“My dear young people, at the conclusion of the Holy Year, I entrust to you the sign of this Jubilee Year: the Cross of Christ! Carry it throughout the world as a symbol of Christ’s love for humanity, and announce to everyone that only in the death and resurrection of Christ can we find salvation and redemption.” (Rome, 22^nd April 1984).

The following year, 1985, was declared by the United Nations as the International Youth Year. Pope John Paul II took the UN idea and ran with it like no other world leader did, or has since. Mass was celebrated again in Saint Peter’s Square with approximately a half-million young people present with the Pope and the Jubilee Cross. 1986 saw the first proclaimed World Youth Day again in Rome. 1987 World Youth Day was launched in Buenos Aires, Argentina and the tradition was firmly established and has been growing stronger every time the youth of the world gather with the Pope. The ongoing pilgrimage of the WYD Cross is truly a source of immense grace. So many people have found consolation and peace for their suffering as they approached the Cross. So many have been touched by the mystery of God revealed in Christ as they came into contact with this Cross. This year WYD is from 23—28 July in Rio. Pope Francis, a native of neighboring Argentina, will be present as the Vicar of Christ and the Successor of Peter, leading the world youth, including fifty young people from the Diocese of La Crosse.

Last September as the current Year of Faith was beginning, each parish and institution of the Diocese received a handmade simple cross. It is a sign, much the same as it is for WYD, of the symbol of our Redemption. Those crosses are lovingly making their way on pilgrimage throughout the homes of our Diocese. This week, during World Youth Day, let us be mindful to pray for our young people and the future of Christ’s Church, which is in their hands.

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You; because by Your most Holy Cross, You have redeemed the world!

Pray with me at Sunday Mass.

In March of 1775, Patrick Henry, a delegate of the Second Virginia Convention, addressed the Convention with a speech that stirred the minds and hearts of all who heard it. The final words: “Give me liberty or give me death” are part of the fabric of America and the courageous hallmark of a valiant patriot.

Henry spoke as the inevitability of war with England loomed as an ever more dreary and unfortunate menace.  Henry, like others of his time, was filled with a love of freedom and an understanding of personal liberty that could be achieved in a “United States” truly independent from the tyranny of the King of England.

“For my own part,” Henry said, “I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfil the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.”

The question of “freedom or slavery” we face today is every bit as consequential as is was for Patrick Henry. Our country, founded on the self-evident truths of our creation as free human beings, now faces a new subjugation by the repudiation and foreswearing of the basis of human liberty enshrined in our founding documents.

The bishops of the United States, driven by a sense of divine justice and patriotism, have accepted the challenge thrust upon us by a government that seeks to abandon the reasonableness of law, limit legitimate freedoms, and deny constitutional liberty, by imposing restrictions such as the HHS mandate and other unbearable burdens thus limiting the free exercise of our religious freedoms.

At the end of last week, the Administration offered an extension to the deadline of 1 August 2013, when the HHS mandate was to become law for everyone. Indeed, there is still hope and there is cause for diligent prayer. The Fortnight for Freedom continues to produce saints and patriots (not just football players…) who are eager to stand for liberty and promote justice. Stay with us, folks. Keep on praying and supporting the cause for justice and freedom. Saints and patriots continue to walk among us desiring the liberty and protection of law and the guarantee of freedom of conscience. Liberty is always a cause worth fighting for. Happy Independence Day!

Celebrate freedom by attending Sunday Mass.