On Tuesday students, faculty and members of the Provo community filled the Marriott Center at BYU to hear Francis Cardinal George present a message entitled “Catholics and Latter-day Saints: Partners in the Defense of Religious Freedom.”

Francis Cardinal George is President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and holds the highest position in the Catholic Church in the United States. He addressed three main points: the fight for religious freedom as defined by Catholic views, managing current threats in society, and ways in which Catholics and the LDS church have stood together.

“I thought it was really cool that someone from the Catholic Church would make these comments after something like prop 8 in defending morals and family,” said Connor Clark, BYU student from Minnesota. “It’s what we need in society; to come together and defend what’s right even with our religious differences.”

His final point regarding the relationship between Catholics and the LDS Church as defenders of religious freedom was one of great hope and thanksgiving.

“I thank God for the harmony that has grown between us,” George said. “We can and should stand as one in defense of religious liberty.”

The defense of religious liberties affirms what is deepest in our beliefs. It’s going to take good people making good choices and commitments that will in turn benefit the good of society and make a kinder world.

“We become true blessings to one another,” George said. “Our collaborative efforts will, if we stay together, in the end bear much fruit.”