Freedom Rally

Details: 22 June 2012

On June 8, an estimated crowd of 800-1,000 gathered in downtown Lincoln for a "Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally" in opposition to the recent mandate from HHS requiring religious institutions to pay for services and contraceptives (which clearly violate our Catholic faith and religious freedom). I was honored to have been asked to be one of the speakers. Since many scattered around the diocese could not attend, here is the text of my talk.

I always wondered what it would be like to be persecuted for no other reason than for being a Christian. Ever since I was a small boy, I read about the lives of the saints, including the martyrs. I never dreamed I would be talking to a crowd of people about being persecuted as a Christian in the United States of America!

When the Church was founded by Jesus Christ on the rock of Peter and the apostles to stand firm forever (Mt 16:18-19), it was not enough that evil like idolatry and offering incense to the idols existed, the government at the time in the Roman Empire tried to force Christians to offer incense to the idols or face death. Many did offer the incense, but many did not.

There has never been a time when Christians were free from persecutions. But this should not be a surprise. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you … A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you" (Jn 15:18-20).

What did the early Christians do? Prayer and penance. Fasting is one form of penance. Remember Jesus said that after the bridegroom was gone then His disciples would fast (Mk 2:20)? This refers to the period of time between His Ascension and His second coming at the end of time, which is now.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have met and are calling us to join them for a "Fortnight for Freedom," which is a 14-day period of prayer, education and public action to mobilize Christians to emphasize the importance of religious freedom in our dear country from June 21 to July 4. How providential since during this time we celebrate the feast days of St. John Fisher, St. Thomas More, St. John the Baptist and Sts. Peter and Paul!

It is during this time we Christians in the United States, while we pray and perform acts of penance; emphasize our Christian and American heritage of liberty. It is also a great time not only to further educate ourselves, but our neighbor by forwarding e-mails and educational materials, writing letters to the editor, writing letters to our nation’s elected officials, making a comment to HHS, etc. There is a lot to do. Let us not assume ‘someone else will do it.’ Let us eagerly and joyfully join our bishops in the upcoming "Fortnight for Freedom," "For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in the midst of them" (Mt 18:20).

Remember what St. Paul said, "For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" (2 Cor 4:17). And never forget these words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe. "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (Jn 16:33).