Religious Freedom Takes Center Stage at a Forum on Sunday, November 10th at 2 p.m.

On Sunday, November 10th, St. Ann Church, 289 Arch Rd., in Avon will host a discussion: “A Forum: The Catholic Church in the Public Square,” to address issues of religious freedom, rights of conscience and first amendment rights at 2 p.m.. The forum will feature speakers Jim Vicevich, radio host of “Sound Off CT” on WTIC-AM/1080 Radio, and Michael Culhane, executive director of the Connecticut Catholic Conference. Capitol Bureau Chief of the Hartford Courant Chris Keating will be the moderator. The forum is open to the public.

The forum will explore the growing secularization of our culture and the movement to expunge all evidence of religion from public life.  Topics will include protecting Americans’ rights to live out their faith in the public square, constitutional limits on governmental power, interpretation of “separation of church and state,” and the implementation of the federal health care mandate.  Since its inception, the mandate has created grave concern over religious freedom and the rights of Americans to practice their faith under the First Amendment. As written, the mandate requires that religious institutions pay for prescriptions and procedures such as: abortion-inducing drugs, contraception and sterilization that go against Catholic convictions. Religious employers who refuse to pay for the insurance based on their religious principles will suffer exorbitant fines. Many may be prevented from delivering social services to the poor and needy, and ultimately be forced to close.

The forum is sponsored by Defenders of Faith Ministry of St. Ann and co-sponsored by St. Catherine of Siena Church in West Simsbury and St. Mary’s Church, in Simsbury.

To reserve a seat, email: saintann4@yahoo.com or call 860-673-9858. Seating is limited.

A free will offering will be accepted to benefit the Lupus Foundation.