Home/Stay Informed/All Diocesan Articles

All Diocesan Articles

Solidarity in Freedom - Religious Freedom Week- June 22-29

Posted on June 21, 2021 in: News, Events

Solidarity in Freedom - Religious Freedom Week- June 22-29

In the United States, we celebrate a long history of religious freedom, protected under the First Amendment, passed by Congress September 25, 1789, and ratified on December 15, 1791.

Religious freedom permits the Church, and all religious communities, to live out their faith in public and to serve the good of all.

The Church’s promotion of religious freedom expresses her solidarity with all people who seek the good and who hope for fulfillment in the truth, which the Church teaches is ultimately found in Jesus Christ. 

This year, as a Diocese, we led the way in showing how to safely open classrooms for in-school instruction. We lived out our baptismal call through our many efforts at Catholic Charities and Saint Vincent de Paul locations throughout Southeastern Connecticut. The meals, the rent and utility assistance, the donations of PPE, and the many, many prayers were all evidence of our religious freedom in action. 

In 2021 this freedom continues to be challenged. A major area of concern is freedom for Catholic institutions, such as schools, hospitals, and child welfare service providers, to carry out their missions with integrity. However, religious organizations’ ability to partner with the government in its relief efforts and to receive needed government aid is continually threatened by legislative provisions that would exclude some faiths but not others.

Another issue of special concern is the wave of attacks on Catholic churches that began in May of 2020. Vandals demolished religious statues, entered churches and desecrated sanctuaries. There have been over 60 attacks so far, and that number continues to grow. The precise reasons for these attacks are often unknown. In some cases, they are tied to anger at perceived injustices from the past. Other cases may involve mental illness. In all cases, Catholics must remember that we worship the Lord who reveals the truth and beauty of the gospel in his suffering and resurrection and that we are called to respond to aggression with compassion.

Through prayer, education, and public action during Religious Freedom Week, we can promote the essential right of religious freedom for Catholics and for those of all faiths.

FCC News Desk


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

Calendar of Events

Posted on December 04, 2024 in: Events, Around the Diocese

26256

Schedule of Christmas Masses - Cathedral of St. Patrick
The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord - Christmas is on Wednesday, December 25th.   Masses will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich as follows:  MASSES for the SOLEMNITY OF CHRISTMAS Tuesday, December 24th 4:00PM 10:00PM** **This year the Midnight Mass will be celebrated at 10:00PM NOT midnight. Livestream will begin at 9:45PM CLICK HERE Mass will also air on radio Station WICH 1310 AM and 94.5FM Wednesday, December 25th 7:30AM 9:00AM 10:30AM 5:00PM The Word beca...

Read More

Faith, Fellowship, and Festive Cheer: A Christmas Celebration with the Sisters in Baltic
The Office of Faith Events brightened the season by making their annual Christmas visit to the Sisters in Baltic. The day was filled with festive joy and the warmth of community as they shared in a timeless tradition of a Christmas Carol sing. Between songs, a special touch was added with Christmas sharing questions, sparking heartfelt memories and laughter. A favorite question, “What was your favorite Christmas gift as a child?” brought delightful responses from the Sisters, including cherished memories of a cowgirl outfit, a Chatty Cathy doll, and Ra...

Read More

Festival of Trees and Traditions Celebrates 50 Years of Holiday Magic
This December, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford welcomes the community to the Festival of Trees and Traditions: 50th Anniversary Golden Holiday Event, a cherished celebration of artistry and holiday spirit running from December 5–15, 2024. This year’s festival features a dazzling array of festive trees and wreaths, each uniquely designed and generously donated by individuals, organizations, and businesses throughout the region. The Diocese of Norwich is proud to contribute two special trees this year, showcasing the spirit of giving and creati...

Read More

Opinion: A Parade of CT Voices of Those Who Do Not Respect Innocent Life
Op-ed written by Christopher Healy, Executive Director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference, published in the Hartford Courant on December 7, 2024: It took little time for the radical abortionists to lose all perspective and credibility as witnessed by the recent effort by establishment media to proclaim a new dark age for women in Connecticut. In the December 1 Hartford Courant article “Family Planning in Era of Trump,” the leaders of the taking of innocent life, Planned Parenthood, have complained that the election of Donald J. Trump will be catastroph...

Read More

Christmas Pastoral from Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne
Christmas 2024 My friends, I am pleased to share with you this Christmas pastoral letter as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Norwich. Many of you are regular Mass goers.  Some of you come occasionally, once a month or so.  Some come once or twice a year on the major holidays of Christmas or Easter.  For others, this may be the first time you have been in a church for years or maybe even for the first time. To all of you, I say, “Welcome and merry Christmas.” Whatever your relationship with the Church may be, I invite you to c...

Read More

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA DONATE

English

Español

 

Latest Articles
Archbishop Coyne’s Christmas Message — A Call to Peace and Anticipation
January 1: A Holy Day of Obligation
A Timeless Tradition: The 45th Annual Festival of Lessons and Carols at the Cathedral
Santa’s tomb? Coffin of St. Nicholas May Have Been Found — but There’s a Catch
A Life of Faith and Service
Hope Does Not Disappoint: Join the Jubilee Year Mass at the Cathedral
Amid Christmas and Jubilee Preparations, Prepare Your Hearts, Pope Says
Finding the Manger
Recently Added Galleries
Click to view album: 40 Days for Life 2024
Click to view album: Blessing of the Fleet 2024
Click to view album: Mass of Ordination for Fr. Eric Carl Hosmer, Fr. Julian Felipe Cuervo-Lozada and Fr. Alexander James Pandolfe
Click to view album: Norwich Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (NDCCW) 46th Annual Layette
Signup for Weekly Newsletter

     

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294