Prayer-Soldier writes "COLORADO SPRINGS: On 19 May 2012, Catholics in Colorado Springs, CO attended a prayer vigil for religious freedom. The group stood together in a parking lot adjacent to St. Patrick's Catholic Church. This was but one of a number of events where Catholics have begun to come together to discuss how to influence their political representatives to prevent Legislative and Executive Order intrusions upon the religious freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America.
In addition to joining together in prayer, the crowd listened to speakers outlining Catholic concerns over efforts by the Obama administration to force religious organizations to pay for insurance plans which must provide drugs and medical procedures contrary to Christian faith. Father Bill Carmody of St. Dominic's Catholic Church in Security, CO pointed out part of the challenge in that opponents own the media and the schools, therefore, the American people are not receiving the full story. He quoted Governer Mike Huckabee who stated, “...thanks to president Obama, we are all Catholics now.” Governer Huckabee's statement was made to emphasize that attacks upon religious freedom is a concern for all people of faith.
As Father Carmody spoke, he reminded those present that while people of faith cannot remain idle in the face of attacks upon religious freedom, people of faith are also called to love those who persecute them. Father Carmody asked those present to remember the importance of prayer and to remember to pray for those who oppose Christian faith for Jesus calls us to love. Father Carmody continued by asking those present to give two hours of prayer for each hour of action.
Father Larry Brennen of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Monument, Colorado, pointed out that as government grows, liberty shrinks. Father Brennen related that the founders created a genius form of government. He gave a brief history lesson pointing out that when our nation was formed, the tradition for constitutional monarchy's to begin the constitution with the name of the monarch conferring powers, but the Constitution of the United States began with three words, “We the people...” Father Brennen commented that this means the people are the monarch.
During the evening, the crowd said the following prayer together:
O God our Creator, from your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You have called us as your people and given us the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society.
We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and freedom of conscience of all people of faith.
Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome – for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us – this great land will always be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
All who attended were also invited to attend a “Stand Up for Religious Freedom Prayer Rally,” to be held at the Colorado State Capitol, 200 West Colfax Ave, Denver. The rally is planned for 8 June 2012 from noon to 1:00pm.
Supporting Articles and Posts:
LifeSiteNews (26 Feb 2012)
http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/baptist-gov.-mike-huckabee-we-are-all-catholics-now
Fr. Larry Brennan - talk (Limited Government and Freedom of Religion)
http://www.petertherock.org/main/?s=Opposition+to+the+Department+of+Health+and+Human+Services+Mandate+and+For+Religiious+Freedom
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