"Respect for Houses of Worship"

Pray that people of all faiths would be free to worship without fear of attacks and harassment.

Reflect
Houses of worship provide spaces for people to step back, often with fellow believers, and pray.  The disturbing rise in attacks on these places is an attack on religious freedom.  Gunmen in churches, synagogues, and mosques terrorize faith communities.  In Europe and North America, churches have been desecrated.  Priests all over the world have been killed, even while celebrating liturgies.  The problem is not limited to attacks on Christians.  Over 50 people were murdered in two mosques in New Zealand, while there have been several attacks on synagogues here in the U.S. in recent years.  Mosques and synagogues have been vandalized, while there has been a rise in attacks on Jews and Muslims who are simply going about their daily life.  These kinds of attacks are assaults on the image of God and cannot be tolerated.

Act
First, take time during this week, if possible, to pray a decade of the rosary, fast from a meal, or spend time before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, offering up your act as a sacrifice in reparation for sins against human dignity.

Then, support increased funding for the FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant Program.  This program provides grants to nonprofits, including houses of worship, to improve security.  While we should hope, pray, and work for a country where people can worship without fear, we can also take practical steps to protect churches, mosques, and synagogues.  Contact your Representative and Senators today!