Posted by Archbishop Edward Ford (October 18, 2012 at 10:39 am)
One week before the nation-wide Rally For Religious Freedom takes place elsewhere in the country, Sanford, Maine held its own Rally For Religious Freedom on October 13th at Gowen Park in the heart of Sanford here in York County, Maine. The date was chosen to avoid a conflict with the state Right-To-Life Convention which takes place on the 20th and would not allow many Right-To-Lifers to attend the Rally. We were very fortunate to have received great cooperation from the Town Park and Recreation Department and the support of the Sanford Police Department in seeing to it that the site was made available to us and that all went smoothly.
Gathering at the Gazebo
Nearly 100 Mainers and people from nearby New Hampshire joined their voices together to stand-up for and to defend the principles of Religious Freedom guaranteed to all Americans by our founding fathers. They gathered at the gazebo in the town’s Gowen Park and were led in prayer and song while hearing two prominent speakers layout the case for and the need to defend our Religious Freedom rights at this crucial time in our nation’s history. [Continue reading …]
Posted in October Rally Report | Comments Off on Sanford Stands Tall for Religious Freedom
Posted by Matt Yonke (October 18, 2012 at 9:57 am)
I can’t believe all the great videos that are being produced exposing the HHS Mandate for the pernicious policy that it is.
This video reduces the message to 15 seconds. It really is that simple.
Don’t forget to share this video on Facebook, Twitter and wherever else you can. Hard as it is to believe, there are still good people who care about this country who haven’t heard this message yet. Let’s all work to spread the word between now and election day!
Posted in News and Commentary | Comments Off on Archdiocese of St. Louis Says, “It’s That Simple”
Posted by Matt Yonke (October 17, 2012 at 4:23 pm)
This great new commercial from Let Freedom Ring highlights the specific harms of the HHS Mandate, specifically citing the example of Catholic Charities in Chicago which would face $5,000,000 in fines unless they compromise their beliefs and submit to the Mandate!
Those kinds of crippling fines will shut down Catholic Charities along with many other charitable religious organizations. As the ad asks, is this what we want our government doing? Fining charitable organizations for their religious beliefs?
Posted in News and Commentary | Comments Off on New Ad Shows How the HHS Mandate Would Cripple Catholic Charities
Posted by Matt Yonke (October 17, 2012 at 7:00 am)
There are only 3 days to go until the huge Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom! Help spiritually prepare the soil for Saturday’s outpouring of support for religious freedom from Sanford, Maine, to Honolulu, Hawaii; Seattle, Washington, to Miami, Florida; and all points in between.
This is Day 7 of the Novena to Reverse the HHS Mandate. Find the previous days’ novenas here. [Continue reading …]
Posted in Novena | Comments Off on Day 7: Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate
Posted by Phil Sevilla (October 16, 2012 at 4:24 pm)
The San Antonio Stand Up For Freedom Rally was held on October 6th in downtown San Antonio next to San Fernando cathedral, the mother church of the archdiocese. We decided to hold it earlier because of major event conflicts on October 20th.
We had a great line-up of speakers with Bishop John Yanta who gave the invocation and Michael Dunnigan of St. Joseph Foundation who gave a well-rounded “lecture” on the adverse effects on our Catholic institutions’ liberties if the HHS mandate is not revoked.
We invite you to view the videos of the talks given at the October 6th San Antonio rally below.
We’ll be praying for all the rallies scheduled to be held on October 20th.
Posted by Matt Yonke (October 16, 2012 at 7:00 am)
We’re now in the final days running up to the big October 20 Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom, taking place in over 130 cities across the United States.
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.
Posted in Novena | Comments Off on Day 6: Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate
Posted by John Jansen (October 15, 2012 at 2:56 pm)
The next Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally is only five days away, and today our list of cities has topped 140!
More than 125,000 people attended the March 23 and June 8 Rallies, and the number of cities on board for October 20 indicates that the Stand Up for Religious Freedom campaign shows no signs of weakening.
On the contrary, opposition among the American people to the HHS Mandate’s assault on religious freedom is intense—and getting stronger!
From Miami, Florida to Seattle, Washington and all the way out to Honolulu, Hawaii the American people are sending a message that we will not stand idly by while the federal government forces all employer health plans to provide free contraceptives, sterilizations, and abortion-inducing drugs, regardless of any moral or religious objections.
Check out the Locations Page to see all the cities taking part and find a Rally near you.
Posted in Rally Locations | Comments Off on Over 140 Cities to Rally for Religious Freedom Oct. 20
Posted by Matt Yonke (October 15, 2012 at 7:00 am)
Today we begin the last week of work before Saturday’s Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom.
As we set our hands to our jobs today, let’s all offer prayers for the success of the Rallies that will take place this week and for the defeat of the HHS Mandate.
And 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.
Posted in Novena | Comments Off on Day 5: Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate
Only two days until the Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom and response has been huge!
There are only 3 days to go until the huge Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom! Help spiritually prepare the soil for Saturday’s outpouring of support for religious freedom from Sanford, Maine, to Honolulu, Hawaii; Seattle, Washington, to Miami, Florida; and all points in between.
We’re now in the final days running up to the big October 20 Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom, taking place in over 130 cities across the United States.
The next Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally is only five days away, and today our list of cities has topped 140!
Today we begin the last week of work before Saturday’s Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom.