Photo Caption: Here are some ideas for how Catholics can respond to threats to religious liberty posed most recently by health insurance regulations that would require church organizations to violate beliefs.

In the strongest language we’ve heard from Catholic leaders in memory, including our own Bishop Jenky, Catholics are being called to action. “Spiritual and temporal combat in defense of Catholic Christianity,” is how Bishop Jenky put his summons found here.

Are we up to the challenge? Or are we going to continue to slumber contentedly in the entertainment culture of the Super Bowl, “The Bachelor,” and who’s wearing what to the Academy Awards?

For those wishing to rise up and stand with our church in defense of our right to freely practice our faith, here are just a few marching orders.

— Bishop Jenky has asked that we pray the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel for the Freedom of the Catholic Church in America at weekend Masses. The prayer appears with his letter. Why not recite it daily at home, perhaps as a family at mealtime?

— The Catholic Conference of Illinois has posted a marvelous aid on its website. There you will find sample letters to send to elected officials asking them to urge President Obama and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to overturn the unjust contraception mandate and support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act. There are also links to sign an online petition on the website of the White House, and send online alerts to your representatives.

— For Catholic men, mark Saturday, April 14, on your calendar. Plan to attend the annual “A Call to Catholic Men of Faith” men’s march through downtown Peoria and celebrate Mass with our bishop at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Let’s have every parish represented and send a statement by making this the largest gathering ever. More information will be forthcoming in future issues of The Catholic Post.

— For Catholic women, consider becoming active in the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, which has a legislative outreach. Contact Nympha White, president, at (815) 483-3013 or nym1010@yahoo.com to learn more. More immediately, make plans to attend the March 10 Behold Conference, which this year has a special focus on blogging and social media.

— Stay educated and united on this latest threat and all other issues affecting our faith by supporting, receiving, and reading The Catholic Post. Please be generous to our 2012 Delivering Unity Campaign, explained in our Feb. 5 issue, and make sure you follow breaking news on our Facebook or Twitter sites.

We know there are very creative Catholics in our diocesan army out in the fields. How are you, your family, your parish, or your school responding to the bishop’s challenge? Email us at cathpost@cdop.org or call our newsroom at 1-800-340-5630. We’ll add your ideas below as they are received, and report back in our next print issue.

Enjoy the Super Bowl. But now is the time for faithful Catholics to get out of the stands, onto the field, and to play both offense and defense on behalf of our church.

It’s time for unity. What can’t we accomplish — in defense against religious freedom threats, on behalf of the unborn, in charitable service to the needy, etc. — if we stand united with our God and one another?

Onward, Christian soldiers. — Thomas J. Dermody