STAND UP FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Archive: “Court Battles” Category

Cautious Optimism in the Wake of Today’s Hobby Lobby Hearing

Posted by Matt Yonke (March 25, 2014 at 4:13 pm)

Eric Scheidler at the Supreme CourtToday the Supreme Court heard the Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood v. Sebelius cases, which challenge President Obama’s HHS Contraceptive Mandate. You can read the transcript of today’s hearing here [PDF].

These cases stand to overturn the Mandate with decisions in favor of Hobby Lobby and Conestoga.

Supporters of religious freedom rallied outside the Supreme Court, and Stand Up for Religious Freedom co-director Eric Scheidler spoke at the rally [pictured above] along with such notables as Senator Ted Cruz and Live Action’s Lila Rose.

Reports coming out in the wake of this morning’s hearing point to cautious optimism for a Hobby Lobby victory. LifeNews.com reports several sources predicting a Hobby Lobby victory, and an article by Ian Millhiser on the liberal news site ThinkProgress.org reported similar sentiments. [Continue reading …]

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Day 9: Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

Posted by Matt Yonke (March 25, 2014 at 5:00 am)

CrucifixToday is the day. The Green family, owners of Hobby Lobby, and the Hahn family, owners of Conestoga Wood Specialties, will represent all of us people of faith as they petition the Supreme Court to allow them to follow their consciences in how they run their businesses.

The need for prayer has never been greater.

Join us in praying the final day of this Novena, and if you’re in the area, join the rally and prayer vigil at the Supreme Court in support of these brave families starting at 9:30 a.m.! [Continue reading …]

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Join the Tweet Storm for Religious Freedom, 3/25 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon

Posted by Matt Yonke (March 24, 2014 at 1:26 pm)

Tweet stormTomorrow is the big day. The Supreme Court will hear the Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood v. Sebelius cases challenging Obama’s HHS Mandate.

Now more than ever, we need to make people aware of these historic cases and the threat the mandate poses.

You can help by joining in the Tweet Storm for Religious Freedom tomorrow, Tuesday, March 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon eastern time.

Help set the record straight on the Mandate by tweeting during that time and using the hashtag #ReligiousFreedomForAll to draw national attention to our side and the opposition’s hashtag #NotMyBossBusiness to join their conversation and accurately explain the facts of the case.

In addition to tweeting from 9 a.m. to noon eastern time tomorrow, you can also change your avatar to this great “I Stand with Hobby Lobby” graphic, blog about the cases explaining how the HHS mandate is forcing family businesses to violate their beliefs or face devastating government penalties, and share the news by linking to positive news coverage on your Facebook and Twitter so that our story spread far and wide. [Continue reading …]

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Day 8: Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

Posted by Matt Yonke (March 24, 2014 at 11:02 am)

Candle-lit PrayerTomorrow the highest court in the land will hear two of the most important cases on religious freedom in our nation’s history: Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood v. Sebelius, and it’s crucial that we surround this day in prayer.

Please join us in praying day 8 of the Novena to Reverse the HHS Mandate. [Continue reading …]

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Day 7: Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

Posted by Matt Yonke (March 23, 2014 at 10:59 am)

Christ PrayingThere are only 3 days to go until the first HHS Mandate cases, Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood, reach the Supreme Court! Help spiritually prepare the soil for this crucial day by joining the Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate.

This is Day 7 of the Novena to Reverse the HHS Mandate. Find the previous days’ prayers here. [Continue reading …]

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Day 6: Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

Posted by Matt Yonke (March 22, 2014 at 10:58 am)

Sermon on the MountWe’re now in the final days running up to the Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood cases coming before the Supreme Court.

Please join me in praying this special “Novena to Reverse the HHS Mandate,” now on day 6. If you’ve missed the previous 5 days of this 9-day prayer sequence, go ahead an join in now—remember the workers in the vinyard!

Scroll down for the previous days’ prayers, or find them listed here.

Novena to Reverse HHS Mandate: Day 6

Father, You unite the human family
through the blood of Your Son Jesus Christ
and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

At this time of need,
when Your Church and all Your people
are called to stand firm against injustices
inflicted on us from our government,
we ask You to strengthen us in the bond of unity.

Strengthen the unity of Your Church,
that none of Your faithful may be on the sidelines,
but that everyone may be active in this battle.

Give Church leaders the grace to discern
the many varieties of the working of Your Spirit
that they may fan into flame the gifts that the Spirit
bestows freely on Your people.

And give us the wisdom to know
that no group has a monopoly on the defense of life and freedom.
May we work in an ecumenical and inter-religious spirit
and welcome the efforts of all people of good will
who believe in freedom of religion and conscience.

We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Day 5: Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

Posted by Matt Yonke (March 21, 2014 at 10:49 am)

PrayerFive days to go before the Supreme Court hears the Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood v. Sebelius cases. Your prayers are needed now more than ever!

Let’s all join together today in praying Day 5 of the Novena to Reverse the HHS Mandate.

Novena to Reverse HHS Mandate: Day 5

Lord God,
You are Light, and in You there is no darkness.
You sent Your Son Jesus Christ
as the Light of the World,
and You sent Your Holy Spirit
to enlighten the hearts and minds of all.

Lord, we pray today
that we may always experience
the light of Your truth,
informing our conscience
of what is right and what is wrong.

We pray that this light
will reach all of our fellow citizens,
that they may recognize the dangers of evil
which are often hidden along their path.

Open the eyes and minds of all
to the threats that currently exist
to our religious freedom,
to the health and well-being of women,
and to the good of our nation.

Give us the grace not only to recognize evil,
but also to reject it with the unwavering strength
that comes from you.

We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Day 4: Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

Posted by Matt Yonke (March 20, 2014 at 10:47 am)

Holy Spirit

Today, let’s remember to lift our nation up in prayer that the Supreme Court would uphold the principles of religious freedom that have made it so great.

Let’s join in prayer today with day 4 of the Novena to Reverse the HHS Mandate. [Continue reading …]

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Day 3: Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

Posted by Matt Yonke (March 19, 2014 at 10:44 am)

Prayer

The Green family, owners of Hobby Lobby, and the Hahn family, owners of Conestoga Wood Specialties, are standing for all of us as they defend religious freedom by challenging the HHS Mandate in court. And now we must stand up with them as their cases are brought before the Supreme Court.

It’s one week till the Supreme Court hears their cases, so let’s keep fighting together by spreading the truth about the Mandate in the world, and by bringing it before the Lord on our knees.

Here’s day 3 of the Novea: [Continue reading …]

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Day 2: Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

Posted by Matt Yonke (March 18, 2014 at 10:00 am)

Christ PantocraterPrayer is the foundation of all our efforts to fight President Obama’s HHS Mandate, which forces all employer health plans to provide free contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, without regard to objections of conscience.

And so I invite all to join in praying a “Novena to Reverse the HHS Mandate” in the days leading up to the Supreme Court hearing the Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood v. Sebelius cases on March 25. Here are the prayers for Day 2 of the Novena: [Continue reading …]

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