A Question of Faith
My faith has been tested this year by the untimely deaths of my mother and my brother. Yet, what shook me to my core and pushed me to challenge a new policy, was losing the right to practice my faith in an equitable manner.
Defending the right to practice my Catholic faith was not something I ever considered having to do and it was not easy or comfortable to continue the battle each time the door closed. I am a person who prefers to live my faith quietly.
Despite the anxiety I felt about pushing this issue, I found the will and the confidence within me to pursue it. This plight to maintain my religious rights also forced me to become an instrument of my faith when it would have been easier to walk away feeling violated. I chose to stand up and question contract language which was hindering my rights as a citizen of these United States.
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After 6 months of persistence and perseverance, the constitutional rights of my colleagues and I have been restored. I am pleased to report that we have regained the right to use a personal day to observe Good Friday.
As the Lenten season approaches, I am thankful that I do not have to continue this battle of faith, instead I can be free to observe this solemn season of personal reflection.
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Thank you to Mayor Christenson and the administration who continued to keep the lines of communication open and for working together with Deacon Rumley to get this issue resolved.
Thank you to all who have supported this cause both publicly and privately.
I want each of you to know that I am grateful for your support of each individual's right to practice faith, any faith.
This is a win for 'ALL' faiths because it reinforces the "inalienable" rights we sometimes take for granted.
From the IFAC (Illinois First Amendment Center)
Religious freedom is an absolute right, and includes the right to practice any religion of one’s choice, or no religion at all, and to do this without government control.
Your rights to Freedom of Religion and the free exercise thereof means:
The Freedom of Religion is an inalienable right.
The First Amendment provides for the Freedom of Religion for all Americans.
The Free Exercise Clause provides that government will neither control nor prohibit the free exercise of one’s religion.
The government will remain neutral. So, go ahead and pray - or don’t. Go to church - or sleep in.
