The United States bishops are encouraging Catholics to resort to prayer in the wake of attacks on Catholic churches and other security concerns around a looming Supreme Court abortion decision.
Religious Freedom Week is June 22-29, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is inviting Catholics to pray, ponder, and act to promote religious freedom.
The bishops’ theme for this year is “Life and Dignity for All,” which focuses on building a pro-life society.
Each day of Religious Freedom Week is dedicated to a different concern on the USCCB website. Walking with Moms in Need (a USCCB project that assists pregnant and parenting women in difficult situations); adoption and foster care; taxpayer funding for abortion; religious freedom in China; pregnancy resource centers; health care workers; and free speech are among the issues addressed.
Church vandalism is also on the list.
Last month, attacks on Catholic churches and pro-life organizations increased as a result of a leaked draft opinion in the Mississippi abortion case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
However, Aaron Weldon, the USCCB’s religious liberty program specialist, told CNA that a “fair portion” of church vandalisms referred to the issue of abortion even before the Supreme Court abortion case was leaked.
“We anticipated that this could be something that ramps up as we head toward the Dobbs decision and debates about abortion,” Weldon said. “Even if you are a person of no faith, you should recognize that people should be able to worship without being afraid of being attacked in some way,” said Weldon. “I think it’s something we can all agree on.”
Despite disagreements, the USCCB claims that religious freedom, like free speech, entitles each person to live in a peaceful, nonviolent society. The USCCB stresses Religious Right Week as a time to campaign for not only the goals of the Catholic faith, but also the freedom to worship for all faiths, by “prayer, education, and public action.”
“Pray that Christian testimony in the face of attacks on our churches will convert minds to faith in Jesus Christ,” the USCCB suggests as a prayer purpose to counteract church vandalism.
The USCCB publishes information on the dangers of vandalism against religious sites to help people think about these issues. The article includes incidents of recent vandalism on sacred locations, stating that “the civic harmony of a pluralistic society necessitates that people be allowed to worship without fear.”
The USCCB is asking Twitter users to tweet a photo of their favorite church or devotional art to @USCCBFreedom with the hashtag #ReligiousFreedomWeek to take action.
Weldon also asks everyone to contact their elected officials to protest vandalism and acts of hate directed at “our religion group, or any other faith community.”
The Catholic Church is called to bear “witness to the gospel of life and serving all who will be affected by these discussions and their outcomes,” even when faced with trials, as the USCCB recognizes disagreements around the world concerning abortion, foster care systems, healthcare, and many other issues.
The USCCB website has many instances of prayer, education, and engagement for other concerns.