Freedom

Freedom to Marry, a national pro-gay right group, has opened a political action committee in Maryland, and will start raising money here. "It is the home stretch and we want to be able to do all we can do in Maryland. We believe there is a real path to victory," said Evan Wolfson, the founder and president of FTM. So far the organization has put about $3 million into the other three states with same-sex marriage questions on the ballot, but has not put cash here. The group's early decision to stay out of fund raising for Maryland was seen by some as a vote of no-confidence in the state.

ELDERSBURG - The next community meeting on the proposed Freedom Area Trail Network in Sykesville and Eldersburg will be held Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m., in the South Carroll Senior and Community Center, 5928 Mineral Hill Road. Recently, a $55,000 Maryland Bikeways grant, from the Maryland Department of Transportation, was awarded to Carroll County to complete a feasibility study and design work for the trail. The county started the process more than a year ago, with hopes of improving bicycle and pedestrian routes between Eldersburg and Sykesville.

Matthew VanDyke, the Baltimore man who was captured in Libya last year while fighting with the rebels who eventually overthrew dictator Moammar Gadhafi, says he is now raising money to travel to Syria and film a documentary about the uprising there. “I stand with the rebels,” VanDyke, 33, told the Canadian network CTV in an interview this week. “I'm going to make a film in support of the Syrian rebels with the idea of improving their international image and increasing the flow money and weapons to them.” Syrian President Bashar Assad responded to mostly peaceful protests last year with military force, turning the Arab Spring uprising into a civil war. The regime has used aircraft and tanks to pound rebels and civilians.

Regarding Charlotte Eliopoulos' letter, we all have the right to freedom of speech, even if that means protesting a business owner's beliefs. We also are free not to support his franchises ("Chick-fil-Acontroversy raises free speech issues," Aug. 7). If company CEO Dan Cathy wants to express his beliefs I accept his right to have them, but he also has to accept my choice not to purchase his products anymore. Joseph Kortash, Catonsville

Editor: The Bel Air Independence Day Committee, Inc. hosted a terrific family-oriented day this past Fourth of July. We make most of our activities be an opportunity for families to go somewhere fun on the Fourth of July. Given all of the families I saw out there, I would say that we were successful in that effort. I want to tell you a couple of stories from this past event. A few days ago I was picking up a sizable check from one of our band sponsors. As he handed it to my left hand, he grabbed my right hand firmly, looked me in the eye with conviction and said that he wanted to thank me for helping to make this event happen, how pleased he was to support it and that he wished me well on the Fourth.

Who says pets can't enjoy Fourth of July festivities? On July 4, the American Visionary Art Museum will host its annual Visionary Pets on Parade , a celebration in Federal Hill for pet owners and their furry companions. Pets of all shapes and sizes can partake in the holiday merriment, which includes a parade, costume contest, talent show, games and more. Prizes will be awarded for creative costumes like “Most Visionary Pet,” “Most Patriotic” and “Best Owner & Pet Look- Alikes.” Registration for the 10 a.m. parade begins at 9:30; for more information visit avam.org .

I want to thank Archbishop William E. Lori for reminding me once again why I'm an ex-Catholic ("Fight for freedom," June 27). With the so-called "Fortnight for Freedom," the church leadership is deliberately and cynically using a mixture of patriotism and religion in a blatant and manipulative attempt to influence the outcome of the upcoming elections. I can't seem to recall any recent news about Catholic churches being bombed in the United States or attempts to bar American Catholics from attending mass.

Executive Director for Catholics United James Salt says the Catholic bishops' "Fortnight for Freedom" initiative is a "political attack" on President Barack Obama and that the bishops are playing "sexual politics" ("Catholics challenge U.S. health policy," June 22). Baloney! The Catholic bishops did not seek a confrontation with the administration; it was thrust upon them by the Health and Human Services mandate requiring religious institutions to include contraceptives, abortion-inducing drugs and sterilizations, all contrary to Catholic teaching, in their employees' health plans.

With tweets and text messages, prayers and preaching, Catholics and other Americans are spending two weeks (June 21-July 4) launching a religious freedom awareness campaign called the "Fortnight for Freedom. " Concern for the freedom of Christians to practice their religion, both here and abroad, has been growing for years, and now there are calls for immediate action. Stories of people literally dying for the faith in Iraq and Nigeria can be found in daily newspapers. There, churches are bombed and the blood of martyrs runs freely.

The Ehrlich boys sure love their summer Slurpees. Even the 50-something Ehrlich kid is not averse to indulging on the way home from those hot summer football practices. (Mom does not share our male addiction but usually lets us slide in the interest of family unity.) That the Ehrlich Slurpee bonding experience takes place in Annapolis and not New York City is a good thing, as the Big Apple now deals with the latest assault on individual freedom from Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The successor to the wildly successful Rudy Giuliani is a billionaire Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent.