As we celebrate the nation’s birthday once again this Fourth of July, Catholics and all Christians can take a short breather. Why? Because, finally, we have won a couple of battles in the judiciary that protect our religious liberty.

For the past few years our bishop and all the faithful in our diocese have celebrated the Fortnight for Freedom — a two-week period ending on today’s holiday. It has looked pretty bleak for religious folks during that time. However, with the Supreme Court deciding for Hobby Lobby and deciding that protestors at abortion clinics do not have to observe any arbitrary barrier the state sets, keeping them from having their speech heard, protection of our religious liberty just got a bit stronger.

Let’s not get too optimistic. Many are hailing these rulings as great events and while good, these rulings simply reflect a divided judiciary’s fickle views on all things religious. In other words, the next case could go the other way. And the next case is the really big one that deals with how Catholic institutions must implement Obamacare.

From the struggles that have already happened, we have to be even more vigilant and vocal now. If we do not speak up for the freedoms the Constitution gives us, we are likely to lose our rights. And no bishop or pope is going to be able to give those back to us.

We are fighting a secular movement laser-focussed on pushing religion out of public life. That is not going to go away soon. It’s great if your pastor or bishop speaks up, but all of us have to use our voices to make it clear that religious liberty means that we are free to practice our faith in all its forms and no government can force us to do the opposite. In your workplace, among neighbors and friends, and among your own family members, speak up, and strongly, about religious liberty.

All over the world Catholics are being persecuted. In lands where Islam is the majority faith, Catholics are being killed. If they can willingly suffer and pay the ultimate price as martyrs, surely we can speak up for our faith. We are not going to suffer martyrdom — not yet. So while we can, let’s defend religious freedom. It’s a basic right that our founding fathers referenced explicitly at the birth of our nation.

Fight for this freedom now, so that it may protect us in the future.