by Joshua J. McElwee
The U.S. bishops are taking their new effort to protect religious freedom to Congress.
Bishop William Lori, head of the Bridgeport, Conn., diocese and chair of the bishops' new ad hoc committee on religious liberty, is set to testify this afternoon before the House of Representatives subcommittee that deals with issues of constitutional rights.
The testimony comes about a month after the bishops announced creation of their new committee Sept. 30.
At the time of the announcement of the committee, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, the bishops' conference president, said that an assault on principles of religious liberty is coming "in an increasing number of federal government programs or policies that would infringe upon the right of conscience of people of faith or otherwise harm the foundational principle of religious liberty."
Lori's testimony, which comes before the judiciary committee's subcommittee on the constitution, is set for 2:30 this afternoon, Eastern Time. Watch NCR for updates on his testimony.
Among the subcommittee's area of oversight are constitutional amendments, constitutional rights and issues relating to federal civil rights. Its chairmen are both Republicans, Congressman Trent Franks from Arizona and Congressman Mike Pence from Indiana.
For the full story on Lori's testimony, see my report here: Bishop to Congress: Religious freedom subject to 'rapid erosion'
