Bishop Taylor urges Catholics to understand religious liberty

Freedom of Religion rally will be sponsored by several faiths at State Capitol June 8

Published: May 12, 2012

By Phyllis Hemann
Associate Editor

In a climate where the federal government is encroaching on religious freedom, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor is encouraging Arkansas Catholics to learn more about religious liberty and issues related to it.

Bishop Taylor and bishops throughout the United States are asking Catholics to pray for religious liberty.

The call is in response to the Department of Health and Human Services mandate that most health insurance policies cover "contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs" even when those "drugs and procedures are contrary to our moral teaching." A narrow group may apply for a possible exemption, which would not include institutions like Catholic charities, hospitals or colleges.

In a letter to the priests May 4, Bishop Taylor introduced a series of bulletin inserts to inform and educate Catholics about the issues surrounding the mandate.

"The (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) has been working to develop a series of bulletin inserts to address a wide range of issues from our concerns over religious liberty to the Church's teaching on sexuality and openness to new human life. Some of these will simply be catechetical, and others will encourage parishioners to take some needed action," Bishop Taylor wrote.

The first bulletin insert is designed for release in May and covers "Religious Liberty, the Most Cherished of American Freedoms."

It encourages parishioners to send their thoughts about the mandate and the protection of conscience to Congress and HHS during a comment period that ends June 19.

The bishop also provided priests with resources on prayer, homily notes and prayers for the faithful.

Additional inserts are planned for June, July-August, September and December and will cover the topics of conscience, marriage, sexuality, openness to new life and calling the new Congress to respond.

On April 12, the USCCB released the document, "Our First, Most Cherished Liberty," which urged Catholics to participate in the "Fortnight for Freedom" from June 21-July 4. These 14 days of prayer and activities will support religious freedom.

An ecumenical Freedom of Religion rally will take place at noon, Friday. June 8 on the front steps of the State Capitol in Little Rock. Bishop Taylor will speak at the event.

For more information, visit www.dolr.org/religiousliberty/home.php.