News and Issues
Catholics in the Public Square and Challenges to Religious Liberty
"As our country's founders affirmed, religious freedom is our first freedom. As Virginians and Americans, we must recall this history and defend this freedom with renewed vigor."
- Most Rev. Paul S. Loverde, Bishop of Arlington
Pre-Election Letter to the Catholic Faithful,
October 2012
"I am absolutely convinced that an unprecedented and very dangerous line has been crossed that goes to the heart of the freedom of religion, and that this action does intolerable violence to our First Amendment rights."
- Bishop Loverde
Statement on the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Contraceptive and Sterilization Mandate,
January 24, 2012
From Bishop Loverde and the Diocese of Arlington
- Bishop Loverde's January 23, 2013 Arlington Catholic Herald Column: A Voice for the Voiceless
- Bishop Loverde's November 20, 2012 Arlington Catholic Herald column: Be Thankful for the True Source of Freedom
- Bishop Loverde's October 30, 2012 letter to the diocese on the November 6th elections: Our Faith is Challenged - Vote/pdf /Spanish
- Bishop Loverde's October 10, 2012 Arlington Catholic Herald column: Conscience and Faithful Citizenship
- Joint Pre-Election Letter to the Catholic Faithful of Virginia by Bishop Loverde and Bishop DiLorenzo of the Diocese of Arlington
- Bishop Loverde's September 26, 2012 Arlington Catholic Herald column: Bearing Witness in the Public Square
- Bishop Loverde’s August 8, 2012 Arlington Catholic Herald column: Still front and center
- Bishop Loverde's statement: This July 4th, Catholics Must Remain Vigilant
- Bishop Loverde's June 29, 2012 reaction from Rome to the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision to uphold the Obama administration's healthcare law: Steadfast, despite the decision
- Bishop Loverde’s June 21, 2012 homily at the Holy Hour for Religious Freedom: In the footsteps of Saint Thomas More: Pray, Educate Act
- Bishop Loverde’s June 13, 2012 Arlington Catholic Herald column: The right to religious freedom
- Litany of Saint Thomas More
- Virginia Bishops Call for Mandate to be Rescinded
- Joint Letter by Bishop Loverde and Bishop DiLorenzo of the Diocese of Richmond on Religious Freedom
- Bishop Loverde on "Accommodation" of HHS Policy
- Bishop Loverde on HHS Contraceptive Mandate
Resources for Parishes for the Fortnight for Freedom, June 21 - July 4, 2012
- Diocesan Religious Freedom Prayer Card: English Spanish
- Prayers of the Faithful
- Scripture Passages
- Graphics and Downloads for Bulletins and Parish Websites
- Sample Parish Strategic Plan
Bulletin inserts for June 16-17, June 23-24, and June 30-July 1.
Articles on Religious Liberty from the Arlington Catholic Herald
- St. Thomas More: A Man For our Season
- U.S. Catholic women, our Church is under attack
- Catholic groups file lawsuits against HHS mandate
- Women organize to defend religious liberty
Additional Links on Religious Liberty
- Virginia Catholic Conference
- U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Religious Liberty Page
- Preserve Religious Freedom (from the Archdiocese of Washington)
- The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
