L.A. ARCHDIOCESE CELEBRATES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WEEK
June 25, 2019  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

–Archdiocese to deliver more than 40,000 letters from faithful to California legislators urging them to vote NO on SB 360–

This week the faithful in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles join Catholics around the United States in celebrating Religious Freedom Week through June 29. The observance, highlighting the importance of defending religious freedom, was launched in 2012 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

“Religious freedom is the most basic human right after the right to life, because it involves our relationship with our Creator,” said Archbishop José H. Gomez. “From the start, this freedom has been at the heart of democracy in America — not only the freedom to worship, but also the freedom for believers to follow their conscience in living out their beliefs in society. Today, in California and across the country, religious freedom is being threatened. So, this week, let us pray and work to help our leaders to rediscover the wisdom of America’s founding. At stake are not just our personal freedoms and the liberty of the Church, but also the future character of our democracy.”

The Archdiocese is releasing a series of videos throughout the week highlighting Catholics who practice their faith by serving, worshiping, working, advocating, educating and living as witnesses for Christ.

“What God has been showing me on the streets that I just have to be me, and He wants to use me to have a tangible impact on others,” said a Christ in the City summer missionary as part of the video series. “I want to share some of the love that God has given me, and that God continues to pour into me, with others.”

Over the past week, faithful throughout the Archdiocese have united in a letter writing campaign in opposition to SB 360, a proposed California bill that would deny the right to confidential confessions to priests and to tens of thousands of Catholics who work with priests in parishes and other Church agencies and ministries throughout the state. More than 40,000 letters opposing SB 360 will be delivered to local legislators’ offices this week asking them to vote NO on SB 360.

The Archdiocese has also launched KeepTheSeal.com to provide faithful and parishes information on SB 360 and offers help to faithful to take action in calling on California assembly members to vote NO on SB 360. 

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The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest Archdiocese in the United States with approximately five million Catholics. For the latest news, events and to subscribe for media alerts visit media.la-archdiocese.org. Follow us on social media at LAcatholics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Video archives and footage of Masses celebrated by Archbishop José H. Gomez are also available.