Conscience Protection/Freedom To Serve

"Deep within his conscience man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Its voice, ever calling him to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in his heart at the right moment. . . . For man has in his heart a law inscribed by God. . . . His conscience is man's most secret core and his sanctuary. There he is alone with God whose voice echoes in his depths." -Catechism of the Catholic Church 1776

1. Pray

• For those in public office
• For those affected by threats to Conscience Protection & Religious Liberty
• Prayer for Protection of Conscience Rights in Healthcare
• USCCB Call to Prayer for Life, Marriage, & Religious Liberty
• Prayer for Protection of Religious Liberty
• Intercessory Prayers for Fortnight for Freedom Ecumenical Prayer Service
• Please consider joining the Holy Rosary prayed for America at 7pm EVERY MONDAY EVENING at St. Matthew the Apostle on Jefferson HWY in River Ridge.  The Rosary will be prayed either in the church or at the statue of Mary just in front of the church. Bring your family & friends!  Spread the word!  For more information call Stephanie at 504-737-9776.
• Prayer for Religious Liberty (prayer card)

2. Educate 

• Current (2017) national Conscience Protection laws 
• Why we need the Conscience Protection Act
• What is the Conscience Protection Act (HR 644)
• Current (2017) Louisiana Conscience Protection law
• New website offers resources on freedom for faith-based adoption & foster care services - Keep Kids First
• Meeting ideas
  • ​Let's Talk Religious Liberty
  • USCCB Podcasts on Religious Liberty
• Bulletin insert ideas
  • Religious Freedom Week 2019
  • Understanding Conscience
  • Conscience Protection/Religious Liberty 
• Handouts (click links to order/download)
  • ​Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
  • Understanding Conscience
• ​Videos
  • Conscience Protection/Religious Liberty videos
  • An example of a Conscience Protection threat..."I Stand with Cathy" USCCB video
• ​​Speakers' Topics
  • ​​​"Conscience Protection & Life Issues"

3. Advocate

• USCCB informational sheet -- Get Involved
• See the Respect Life Public Policy page to find urgent information on legislation, find your state/national Representative or Senator, read about active bills in Congress & the Louisiana State Legislature 

• Visit Human Life Action's Action Alert page for a full list of current Action Alerts & let your voice be heard
• Write your Representatives & Senators to let them know your position on the issues.
  • Find my US Representative & US Senators
  • Find my Louisiana State Representative & Louisiana State Senator
• Write the Governor & the President of the US to let them know your position on the issues
  • Write to the Governor of the State of Louisiana
  • Write to the President of the US
• Register to vote
• Vote in all elections
• Hold a voter drive in your parish
  • Partner with your youth
  • Have a table after Masses with snacks & coffee
  • Have several people with tablets/laptops 
  • Use the Register to vote  link to sign up new voters
  • Focus on voter registration & Respect Life Issues, never on political candidates running for office

According Dignitatis Humanae, "...the right to
religious freedom has its foundation in the very
dignity of the human person as this dignity is
known through the revealed word of God and by reason itself. This right of the human person to religious freedom is to be recognized in the constitutional law whereby society is governed and thus it is to become a civil right" (2).  In the US our religious liberty is protected in the First Amendment
to the U.S. Constitution and in various federal and state laws.

Our freedom includes more than our ability to
worship & pray inside a church or at home; it also encompasses our ability to contribute freely to the common good in accord with the fullness of our Faith.

Religious Freedom Week - 2019