“We cannot – we will not – comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. Our parents and grandparents did not come to these shores to help build America’s cities and towns, its infrastructure and institutions, its enterprise and culture, only to have their posterity stripped of their God given rights. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.”– BishopOlmsted

In Bishop Olmsted’s letter, which was read at all the parishes in the Diocese last weekend, he explained in depth the serious state of affairs regarding the HHS Birth Control Mandate.  Click here to read the Bishop’s letter in full.

In short, he asked that the faithful to do 2 things.

  1. Commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored.”  Very specifically he asked that we pray the Rosary, “asking Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of our Nation, to intercede for us.  Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible.
  2. The Bishop recommends visiting www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn about this severe assault on religious liberty.  

Here is a link to send an email to Congress to support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act.

Let us pray, as in generations past, the Church will, in fact, be able to “count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties”.