The pastoral strategy is essentially a call and encouragement to prayer and sacrifice  it's meant to be simple. ... Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty are not only foundational to Catholic social teaching but also fundamental to the good of society.  Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, from the news release about the Call to Prayer.    En Español: Obispos Urgen A Los Católicos A Orar Por La Vida, Matrimonio, Libertad Religiosa

Join the Movement

    What: The U.S. bishops have approved a pastoral strategy to advance a Movement for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty. It is essentially a call to prayer, penance, and sacrifice for the sake of renewing a culture of life, marriage, and religious liberty in our country. Click here for a one-page handout about the Call to Prayer that is suitable for use as a bulletin insert or flyer. En Español: "Llamado a la Oración

    Why: The well-being of society requires that life, marriage, and religious liberty are promoted and protected. Serious threats to each of these goods, however, have raised unprecedented challenges to the Church and to the nation. Two immediate flashpoints are the following:

    First is the HHS Mandate, which requires almost all employers, including Catholic employers, to pay for employees' contraception, sterilization, and abortifacient drugs regardless of conscientious objections. This is a clear affront to America's first freedom, religious liberty, as well as to the inherent dignity of every human person.

    Second, current trends in both government and culture are moving toward redefining marriage as the union of any two persons, ignoring marriage's fundamental meaning and purpose as the universal institution that unites a man and a woman with each other and with the children born from their union. These challenges call for increased awareness and formation, as well as spiritual stamina and fortitude among the faithful, so that we may all be effective and joyful witnesses of faith, hope and charity.

    When: In this Year of Faith, starting on the feast of the Holy Family (Dec. 30, 2012) until the feast of Christ the King (Nov. 24, 2013)

    Who: All of the Catholic faithful are encouraged to participate

    Where: Throughout the entire country; at your local parish, cathedral, school or home.


How To Participate: 5 Ways
1. Host or attend a Eucharistic Holy Hour on the last Sunday of each month

    Two-page template for a Holy Hour
    Dates for Holy Hours
    Video: Adoration

2. Pray a daily Rosary

    How to pray the Rosary

3. Prayers of the Faithful at daily and Sunday Masses

    Suggested Prayers of the Faithful for life, marriage, and religious liberty, both at home and abroad

4. Abstain from meat on Fridays and fast on Fridays

    Fasting and abstinence unites us to the redemptive suffering and death of our Lord. "The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's penitential practice." - Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1438
    The practice of fasting: The general practice of fasting allows a person to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal.
    As we are conformed to Christ through fasting and abstinence, we in particular remember the intention of the protection of life, marriage and religious liberty.
    For more information on fasting and abstinence, see the USCCB Fast & Abstinence page.

5. Participate in the 2nd Fortnight for Freedom (June/July 2013)

    Goal: A visible, vibrant reminder of the God-given nature of religious liberty, the right to bring our faith into the public square, and the rights of individuals and institutions to conduct their professional lives according to their religious convictions
    Key issue: Potential Supreme Court rulings on marriage in June 2013
    Key issue: The need for conscience protection in light of the August 1, 2013 deadline for religious organizations to comply with the HHS mandate
    Key issue: Religious liberty concerns in other areas, such as immigration, adoption, and humanitarian services


Learn More

Life

    Pro-Life Activities page
    Love and Sexuality
    Abortion
    Contraception
    Hope After Abortion (Project Rachel Ministry)


Marriage

    USCCB Issues and Action: Marriage and Family
    USCCB Issues and Action: Promotion and Defense of Marriage
    Marriage: Unique for a Reason
    For Your Marriage
    Por Tu Matrimonio



Religious Liberty

    First American Freedom. . .
    USCCB Issues and Action: Religious Liberty
    USCCB Document: "Our First, Most Cherished Liberty"
    USCCB Administrative Committee Statement: "United for Religious Freedom"