With the controversial HHS Mandate proposed by the Obama Administration, Catholics are uniting across America in protest. There are two major initiatives being organized to advocate for religious liberty and against the threat the HHS mandate makes to religious freedom protected by The Constitution.
The first group is organizing its second rally to Stand Up for Religious Freedom. They will be having meetings in over 100 cities across America having rallies at Noon on June 8th. The rally in Charlottesville, Virginia will be in Jackson Park next to the courthouse at Noon. Please try to attend a rally near you, and if you are unable to attend, please pray for us. Details are available at their website in LINKS below.
The United States Catholic Bishops have joined with other Catholic and Christian organizations to file a law suit against the HHS Mandate. There will be period of fourteen days that the church will focus on prayer, and action for religious liberty. The Fortnight for Freedom will begin with a Mass in Baltimore for the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More on June 21st at 7pm, and it will end on July 4th (Independence Day) at 12:10pm with a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated by Cardinal Donald Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington and homilist Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Mass will be televised nationwide on the EWTN cable network. I hope you can make time to support these events in person, or to support us in prayer.
Father Barron recently posted a video that has good references in history and explains well the need to advocate for religious liberty:
LINKS
Stand Up for Religious Freedom (Nationwide Rally)
USCCB Site for Fortnight for Freedom
USCCB Site for resources for Religious Liberty/Conscience Protections
Preserve Religious Freedom (Archdiocese of Washington)
Virginia Catholic Conference comments on HHS Mandate
Previous blog post about Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rally on March 23rd
The United States Charters of Freedom (US Archives)
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” (1st Amendment to the US Constitution, Bill of Rights-1791)
