Citing Maryland’s ground-breaking adoption in 1649 of religious freedom rights, Maryland Catholic bishops issued a statement calling the faithful to prayer, education, and action to protect religious freedom.  Mounting threats, the statement says, include government mandates violating formerly unquestioned rights of conscience and hostile legislation such as the 2009 measure considered by the Connecticut legislature that would have imposed a reorganization of the governance structure of the church. (Main page |  Press release |  PDF of full statement)