The Fortnight for Freedom in the Archdiocese of Washington

The Fortnight for Freedom in the Archdiocese of Washington
Lawsuit Information

Developed a website to provide news and information on the lawsuit filed by the
Archdiocese of Washington and other plaintiffs in the U.S. District Court for the
District of Columbia: http://www.preservereligiousfreedom.org
Events & Catechesis for Prayer and Action
• Celebration of Freedom
– Sunday, June 24 at 4:00 pm
– The George Washington University Smith Center
– Over 4,000 faithful will gather for a rally of music and video, tracing the
history of religious liberty and celebrating our Catholic experience.
– Cardinal Wuerl will invite the faithful to join in prayer, and the afternoon
will culminate in Benediction.
• Minute to Win It!
– May 23 to November 25, Solemnity of Christ the King
– Catholics across the area will be invited to pray a short prayer for religious
freedom each day at 3:00 pm
– Prayer cards will be distributed at the May 22 Theology on Tap when
Cardinal Wuerl speaks on religious liberty.
– Use of social media will allow faithful of the archdiocese to invite others
from across the country to join them in prayer.
• Be the Conscience!
– Music fest featuring Catholic artists from across the country
– The event will serve as a celebration of our religious freedom and
encourage young adults to be the voice of and to stand in protection of
religious liberty
• Growing In Faith Through Service (GIFTS)
– A summer service outreach initiative will invite young adults to serve in
our local Catholic Charities agencies.
– Service opportunities will provide for regular reflection on religious liberty
and highlight the Catholic Impact data.
Social Media
• Developed a website to provide information on events and catechesis for prayer
and action: www.sacredproperty.org
– Initially an invite page for the Celebration of Freedom on June 24, but will
expand
– Taken from James Madison, who often referred to conscience as the “the
most sacred of all property”
– Created branding (design and logo) for archdiocesan Fortnight for Freedom
– Will include catechetical, prayer, video and parish resources
– Over 10,000 car magnets will be distributed via parishes directing people to
the website.
– Social media integration plan will link all archdiocesan new media with
website – Cardinal Wuerl’s blog and archdiocesan Facebook, Twitter, and
YouTube channel.
– Facebook ad campaign
– “I Am Free Because” Twitter campaign
Traditional Media
• Use of media will encourage participation in the events surrounding the Fortnight
for Freedom and will provide moments for catechesis.
– :15 and :30 TV spots on WJLA
– :30 radio spots on WTOP
– Print ads in The Catholic Standard and El Pregonero
Ongoing Catechesis for Next Six Months
• Integrate religious liberty catechesis with the bishops’ document “Faithful
Citizenship,” using bulletin inserts distributed on a monthly basis from the start of
the Fortnight through the Solemnity of Christ the King.
– June: Invitation to Prayer
– July: What is Conscience?
– August: Focus on Human Dignity
– September: Focus on Marriage and Referendum
– October: Focus on Immigration and DREAM Act
– November: Focus on Call to Be Faithful Citizens
Extensive Resources That Inform, Catechize and Evangelize
Maryland Catholic Conference
 Religious Freedom and the People of Maryland: A Statement from the Catholic
Bishops of Maryland (.PDF - English)
http://www.adw.org/fortnight/resource1.pdf

La más Sagrada de Todas las Propiedades: La Libertad Religiosa y la Gente de
Maryland (.PDF - En Español)
http://www.adw.org/fortnight/resource2.pdf
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
 Our First, Most Cherished Liberty: A Statement on Religious Liberty from the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (PDF in English)
http://www.adw.org/fortnight/resource3.pdf

La Primera y mas preciada de nuestras libertades (PDF En Español)
http://www.adw.org/fortnight/resource4.pdf
Archdiocese of Washington
 Prayers of the faithful on religious liberty (PDF in English)
http://www.adw.org/fortnight/resource5.pdf

Oraciones des Los Fieles (PDF En Español)
http://www.adw.org/fortnight/resource6.pdf
Resources for Youth Ministry
 One-session religious freedom lesson plan for high school age students (PDF in
English)
http://www.adw.org/fortnight/resource7.pdf

Plan de lección sobre libertad religiosa para alumnos de tercer año y alumnos
del último año (PDF En Español)
http://www.adw.org/fortnight/resource8.pdf

Accompanying PowerPoint presentation (PowerPoint in English)
http://www.adw.org/fortnight/resource9.pdf

La Más Sagrada de Todas las Propiedades (PowerPoint En Español)
http://www.adw.org/fortnight/resource10.pdf
Resources for Adults
 One-session religious freedom lesson plan for parishioners and parish leaders
(PDF English)
http://www.adw.org/fortnight/resource11.pdf

¿Qué tiene de especial la libertad religiosa? Explorando nuestra primera libertad
(En Español)
http://www.adw.org/fortnight/resource12.pdf
For more information please contact:
Secretariat for Communications
Archdiocese of Washington
301-853-4516
[email protected]