Our religious freedom as Americans is guaranteed in the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . .”
The Religious Freedom Committee of St. Joseph’s parish aims to guard and protect the religious freedom that we enjoy as citizens of the United States. We inform our parish of issues that threaten religious freedom and recommend courses of action to combat these threats. We are not a partisan group, and we confront these issues wherever they may exist. We pray a rosary for our country each Saturday at 9:30 AM in our Mary Garden (weather permitting)
For more information, please contact Marty Lendenham via our Community Care Inquiry Form.
WHO WE ARE:
This committee was formed on July Fourth, 2013, to take action against the attack on religious freedom that was included in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare. This act defined a religious organization in a way that included only the worship facility and excluded many of our charitable organizations as well as our educational institutions. Yet Holy Scripture tells us in the Epistle of St. James that worship is only the beginning of the true definition. “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves . . . Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. ” Our American bishops have called for our support for religious freedom, and we are acting in response to their call. It is important to note that leaders of other religions have joined the Catholic Church in protesting these provisions of the ACA. Among those testifying before Congress and speaking out against the violation of the First Amendment were Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist and Jewish leaders.
WHAT WE DO:
We continue to inform parishioners of the ongoing challenges to religious freedoms at home and abroad and encourage and support responses that reflect our Catholic faith including the important responsibility of voting our well-developed Catholic consciences.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
STAY INFORMED!
Heritage Foundation
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
Faithful Citizenship
CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS!
Write our US Senators at:
Office of Senator (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Write our US Representatives at:
Office of Representative (Name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Call the US Capitol Switchboard at:(202) 224-3121
CALL TO PRAYER:
Join parishioners after the 8:30 Saturday Mass to pray the rosary for the intention of Religious Freedom. We meet in church or weather permitting, at the Mary Garden.
The power of the Rosary can be traced back to the Battle of Lepanto. This military triumph is also a Marian feast and underscores our image of the Blessed Virgin prefigured in the Canticles of Canticles: “Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in array?”
CURRENT FOCUS:
PREPARE
to vote in the midterm elections on Tuesday November 5
VISIT ONLINE
the Georgia My Voter Page to find the following voting information:
…Voter registration status…Mail-In application and ballot status Poll location…Early voting locations…Elected Officials…Registration information on file with the county office… Sample ballot for the upcoming election…Provisional Ballot status…
as well as to Register to Vote or CALL 706-769-3958
NOTE:
2024 election dates
- Presidential primary: March 12, registration deadline Feb. 12, early voting from Feb. 19 – March 8.
- State primary and non-partisan election: May 21, registration deadline April 22, advance voting period from April 29 – May 17.
- General election: Nov. 5, registration deadline Oct. 7, advance voting period Oct. 14 – Nov. 1.