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At Thanksgiving, did someone grab your hand before the meal when it was time to pray? Did you shrink from the forced intimacy? Did you even pray, or has your group of family and friends shifted to a generic expression of thanks?

The holidays are full of potential conflict. When we try so hard to be sensitive, many holiday meals start with a secular benediction. No need to offend; better to leave God out altogether.

But true peace and understanding come, and we best honor each other, by being up front about what is most sacred to us. To squelch our religion buys a false peace that, ultimately, sets everyone on edge.

In our homes, when guests are present, we should invite them to participate in - or abstain from - prayers and other rituals. Do what our faith asks - thank God - and get on with it.

Freedom of religion has come to mean for many the complete absence of religion. That's a false reading of the Constitution and public sentiment.

Our Constitution guarantees freedom of faith. The government can neither establish a religion nor limit our free exercise thereof. Neither good manners nor the law require us to keep quiet on faith. Say why you oppose poverty or abortion or war; did you have a better reason than Catholic morals, based on divine law?

There are other distorted readings of the right: in public schools, for instance, in the name of diversity and tolerance children often learn about all religious holidays save the Christian ones. And they almost never study religion as a subject, leaving them ignorant of a prime cause in history and current events.

We are also promised the free exercise of our religion, regardless of the setting.

Recently, in Cooperstown, a parishioner at St. Mary's Church was being denied the sacraments while in Otsego County jail. Anthony Pacherille, 16, is awaiting trial on charges related to the April 2 shooting of a classmate.

The sheriff even rebuffed a visit from Bishop Howard J. Hubbard. Attention from state officials and the local newspaper helped clear up an apparent misreading of rules. The Bishop visited; Anthony is now receiving the sacraments; and the sheriff has been gracious and cooperative, according to Rev. John Rosson of St. Mary's.

But most inmates don't have outside help. All of our fellows - even those sitting in a cell far from our dining room table - should be free to worship.

(12/02/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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