Bishop Opens Fifth Fortnight For Freedom

Bishop Charles C. Thompson opened the Diocese of Evansville’s observance of the fifth Fortnight for Freedom by celebrating Mass at St. Benedict Cathedral on June 21. The observance opens annually on that date and concludes on July 4.

“This year’s Fortnight theme, ‘Witnesses to Freedom,’ highlights the witness of martyrs and others who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power,” Bishop Thompson said in his homily. He mentioned St. John Fisher, St. Thomas Moore, St. John the Baptist, Sts. Peter & Paul and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome.

The bishop suggested that these martyr-saints lived a Christian witness found somewhere between those who persecute and kill in the name of religious cleansing, and those who persecute and kill in the name of religion itself.

“Both extremes are detrimental to religion and humanity,” Bishop Thompson said.

“One of the founding principles of our nation is that of religious freedom as a fundamental human right,” he added. “It is our duty to ensure that this basic right, which includes both worship and service, is not reduced to being a mere privilege limited by all sorts of suffocating conditions and unreasonable limitations.”

The bishop opened his homily by recalling Pope Francis’ historic speech before a joint session of the U.S. Congress during his September 2015 visit to the U.S.

“In his remarks to congress,” Bishop Thompson noted, “the Holy Father commented, ‘In a word, if we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will be used for us.  The Golden Rule always reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development.’”

The bishop also recalled that Pope Francis referred to President Abraham Lincoln as “The guardian of liberty” and stressed the need for “safeguarding religious freedom” along with other freedoms.

“Through the grace of baptism, strengthened by the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist, we have what it takes to make the difference in defense of the very principles of religious liberty to preserve all that we hold as sacred in our nation and world,” Bishop Thompson said. “Each of us has a voice.  Each vote counts.  Each has a right to be heard.  And each of us has a responsibility to advocate for freedom of conscience, standing as ‘Witnesses to Freedom.’”