From left, Mark Crane, Jennifer Kraska and the Rev. Joseph Toledo spoke at the Religious Freedom Forum on Wednesday. (Special to the Reporter-Herald)

Area churches hold forum on religious freedom

On Wednesday, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish of Fort Collins, and the Loveland, Fort Collins, Windsor, and Greeley Stakes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints jointly hosted a Religious Freedom Forum.

Nearly 750 community members from many faiths attended the event to hear speakers discuss the importance of religious freedom and how people can help preserve it locally and nationally, according to a press release.

Jennifer Kraska, executive director of the Colorado Catholic Conference, the state level public policy agency of the Church jointly operated by the three Catholic dioceses in Colorado, was the keynote speaker.

President Mark Crane, Loveland Stake President, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Rev. Joseph Toledo of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Parish also spoke, and the Colorado Mormon Chorale performed.

"Religious freedom is our first and most fundamental freedom," Kraska said. "The First Amendment recognizes and protects religious freedom, but this cherished freedom is granted to us by God and inscribed on the heart of every person. Today, there are many voices in society that try to stifle religious freedom, so an event such as the one we are having is so important in order to show unity on this important topic and learn more about what we can do to protect and preserve religious freedom in America."

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Area churches hold forum on religious freedom - Loveland Reporter-Herald