Religious freedom will be the centerpiece of the upcoming Catholic-Orthodox ecumenical gathering, to be held Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 2500 Clairmont Road, NE, Atlanta. A reception will follow the service. All are invited to attend.

The program is to feature as the keynote speaker, Dr. Alveda King, the pastoral associate for the Priests for Life.

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory and Metropolitan Alexios, the hierarch of Atlanta’s Greek Orthodox Church, are to attend the service, along with priests from both faith traditions.

Most recently, the spiritual leaders of Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox in metropolitan Atlanta have both voiced opposition to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ mandate to include contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs in all health plans.

In 2011, Archbishop Alexios and Archbishop Gregory signed a common Declaration on the Sanctity of Human Life.

And in February, Archbishop Alexios wrote his faith community, expressing opposition to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ mandate. His letter responded to the one sent by Archbishop Gregory to local Catholics. Archbishop Alexios also encouraged fellow Orthodox hierarchs to join with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in opposing the mandate, and the Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America did in a joint statement issued Feb. 2.

Catholic-Orthodox Ecumenical Gathering

Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 7p.m., with reception to follow at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, 2500 Clairmont Road, NE, Atlanta.