Archbishop Charles J. Chaput preaches at Mass on Sept. 27 at St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg. Photo by Chris Heisey, The Catholic Witness
Archbishop Charles Chaput of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia spoke yesterday on the eve of the Fortnight for Freedom:
“The right to worship is a necessary but not sufficient part of religious liberty. Christian faith requires community. It begins in worship, but it also demands preaching, teaching, and service. It’s always personal but never private. And it involves more than prayer at home and Mass on Sunday–though these things are vitally important. Real faith always bears fruit in public witness and public action. Otherwise it’s just empty words.
The founders saw the value of publicly engaged religious faith because they experienced its influence themselves. They created a nation designed in advance to depend on the moral convictions of religious believers, and to welcome their active role in public life.”
