Catholics called to be ‘Witnesses of Hope’ during Religious Freedom Week
Catholics are encouraged to stand up for the right to practice their faith as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops observes Religious Freedom Week from June 22 – 29. During the week, members of the Church are called to “promote the essential right of religious freedom for Catholics and those of all faiths” through prayer, education, and public action.
This year’s theme, “Witnesses to Hope,” ties into the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. According to a statement from the UCCB, the theme also reflects the work of the Conference’s Committee for Religious Liberty, whose annual report highlighted “the impact of political polarization on religious freedom.”
Churches and people of faith have faced increasing pressure to compromise their religious beliefs in recent years. The yearly observance of Religious Freedom Week draws attention to the value of religious freedom, which allows the Church and all religious communities to serve the public good by living out their faith in public.
The week also spotlights national and global issues where Catholics and other religious communities have faced pressure or persecution to go against their beliefs.
The observance begins each year on June 22, the Feast of St. Thomas More, who was martyred by the English crown when he refused to compromise his conscience by recognizing Henry VIII as Supreme Head of the Church of England.
Issues of concern
The UCCB’s statement spotlights some of the challenges that today’s Catholics face in the public square:
“In addition to issues such as mandates for in vitro fertilization, and threats to Catholic ministries serving migrants, Religious Freedom Week also highlights crucial policy positions such as parental choice in education during a time when the faithful are urged to contact their Senators to express support for educational choice in the Senate’s budget reconciliation bill.”
Each day of Religious Freedom Week, the Committee for Religious Liberty centers on one area of concern: June 22, Political Polarization; June 23, Mandates; June 24, Catholic Healthcare; June 25, Nicaragua; June 26, Parental Choice in Education; June 27, Immigration Services; June 28, Freedom to Serve the Common Good; June 29, Nigeria.
As part of this week’s observance, the Committee for Religious Liberty, along with the Secretariat of Catholic Education and Our Sunday Visitor Institute, sponsored an essay contest on the topic of religious freedom. The top essays will be published on the UCCB website later this week.
For more information about Religious Freedom Week, visit the UCCB’s Religious Liberty website. You can also sign up to receive their First Freedom News monthly newsletter.
