ATLANTA—Masses for Religious Freedom will be celebrated across the archdiocese during the Fortnight for Freedom, 14 days of prayer and special events held June 21-July 4 to focus on this essential freedom. The U.S. Catholic bishops have called for the Fortnight for Freedom to address many current challenges to religious liberty, including the Aug. 1, 2013 deadline for religious organizations to comply with a federal mandate requiring that they provide free contraceptive and abortion-inducing drugs and sterilization in health care plans, in violation of the moral teachings of the Catholic faith.

Masses and events, open to the public, are scheduled throughout the fortnight. Masses planned for Religious Freedom include: Monday, June 24, at 6 p.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains Church, Jasper; Tuesday, June 25, at 7 p.m. at St. Peter Chanel Church, Roswell; Wednesday, June 26, at 7 p.m. at two churches, Holy Family, Marietta, and St. Philip Benizi, Jonesboro; Friday, June 28, at 12 p.m. in the St. Dominic Chapel, Chancery, Smyrna, and 7 p.m. at All Saints Church, Dunwoody; Wednesday, July 3, at 12:15 p.m. at St. Anna Church, Monroe, and at 6 p.m., a bilingual Mass at St. Brendan Church, Cumming; and on Thursday, July 4, at 8:30 a.m. at St. Pius X Church, Conyers, and at 10 a.m. at Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta.

Additional prayer services and events planned include: on June 21-July 3, perpetual Eucharistic adoration at St. Brendan Church; rosaries after Masses at St. Gabriel Church, Fayetteville at 9 a.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 6 p.m. Friday, and before all weekend Masses; meditation and rosary following the 5:30 p.m. weekday Masses at St. Thomas More Church, Decatur; on Tuesday, June 25, rosary following the 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Peter Chanel Church; on Sunday, June 30, rosary at 10:45 a.m. in the rosary garden at St. Oliver Plunkett Church, Snellville. On Wednesday, July 3, from 5-9 p.m. St. Brendan Church will host a celebration for all ages, including a rosary, Benediction and conclusion of 14 days of adoration, a bilingual Mass, dinner, guest speaker retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. John E. Miller and music. On Thursday, July 4, Eucharistic adoration all day at St. Luke the Evangelist Church, Dahlonega, including a Holy Hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and doctrine at 7 p.m.