Bishop Edward Weisenburger urges Catholics in the Diocese of Salina to join the national effort to defend religious liberty in a new way, by participating in a text messaging campaign sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Catholics and supporters of religious freedom from all faiths around the nation are now able to text FREEDOM to 377377 (or LIBERTAD to 377377 for Spanish-language engagement), to join the movement and subscribe to receive more information on how to help save religious freedom.

“Across America, our right to live out our faith is being threatened — from Washington forcing Catholic institutions to provide services that contradict our beliefs, to state governments prohibiting our charities from serving the most vulnerable,” Bishop Weisenburger said.  “I encourage all Catholics — and all people of good will — within my diocese to text the simple, meaningful word FREEDOM to 377377 to join the movement.”

Bishops across the U.S. have called upon the laity to take up the defense of religious liberty, the first freedom in our Bill of Rights. Bishops have marked a “Fortnight for Freedom” — from June 21 to Independence Day — when dioceses and parishes nationwide will observe a special period of prayer, study, catechesis and public action to emphasize both our Christian and American heritage of liberty.

The USCCB plans to communicate with supporters about two times a month. Standard text message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt-out. Reply HELP or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for help.

Visit Fortnight4Freedom.org for more details.

The Register

Topeka — Now is a critical time for every Catholic to stand up and pay attention, believes Cathy Ruse, senior fellow for legal studies with the Family Research Council in Washington.

“I think everybody should pay attention when the bishops speak in unison — and forcefully — about an issue of public policy,” said Ruse, who will be the keynote speaker at the statewide Rally for Religious Freedom.

The rally will take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. June 29 on the south steps of the Capitol in Topeka.

Early this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services revealed details of a health-care mandate that will require employers to provide insurance coverage to employees that includes contraceptives, sterilization and drugs that are considered abortifacients.

Catholic entities such as colleges, hospitals and other institutions are included in that requirement, regardless of religious objections.

“Every single (bishop or archbishop) has spoken out and called this a violation of religious freedom,” Ruse said. “Everybody should look up and take notice.”

The Kansas rally — which will bring together thousands of Catholics from across the state to the Capitol — is one of many similar events across the country. All four Kansas bishops — Bishop Edward Weisenburger of Salina, Bishop Michael Jackels of Wichita, Bishop John Brungardt of Dodge City and Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan. — will be in attendance.

The rally is part of a nationwide “Fortnight for Freedom” called for by the U.S. bishops to heighten the awareness of all Americans to the threat this mandate represents to the religious liberty of all. Running from June 21 to July 4, the fortnight focuses on our American heritage of religious liberty and is intended to be a time not only of prayer, study and catechesis but also of public action.