FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE from Gospel of Life Committee
Bishop William Medley and representative of Silent No More to Address Public Rally Against the Affordable Care Act HHS Mandate, Friday, June 8
OWENSBORO—On Friday, June 8, as the United States Supreme Court prepares to issue its ruling on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), concerned citizens of Owensboro will take to the streets to voice public opposition to the Obama administration’s Health and Human Services Mandate. The HHS Mandate forces all employers—including Catholic schools and hospitals—to provide free contraceptives, surgical sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs through their health plans, regardless of religious or moral convictions.
The Owensboro Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally will begin at 12 noon at Moreland Park (corner at tennis courts), joining over 100 other cities and towns from Maine to Hawaii that are participating in this national event. A complete list of rally sites and other details are available at StandUpRally.com.
The June 8 Stand Up Rally builds on the tremendous momentum created by the first Stand Up Rally held on March 23, with over 63,000 citizens of all faiths attending local rallies in 145 cities. With the Supreme Court’s Affordable Care Act ruling coming and the November elections in sight, the June 8 Stand Up Rally is expected to draw even larger crowds.
The Owensboro Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally has been organized by Rachel Evans, and Birgit Jones, Gospel of Life Committee. Guest speakers will include Bishop William Medley and a representative of Silent No More as well as community and religious leaders of several faiths.
• What: Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally
• When: Friday, June 8, 12 noon to 1 p.m.
• Where: Moreland Park, Owensboro (corner Moreland/Parrish at the tennis courts)
• Who: Hundreds of local citizens opposed to Obama’s HHS Mandate
The date for the Stand Up Rally was chosen to highlight the HHS Mandate’s unconstitutional infringement of religious freedom, coming just weeks before the highly anticipated Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act, expected at the end of June.
“If the Affordable Care Act is ruled unconstitutional, we must ensure that religious freedom will be protected in subsequent health care legislation” explained Birgit Jones. “But if the Affordable Care Act is not struck down, we’ll be sending the federal government a clear message that the faith-based institutions and private businesses affected by the HHS Mandate here in Owensboro will not violate their consciences by complying with it.”
Jones emphasized that the Stand Up Rally has nothing to do with access to contraception. “There is no ‘war on contraception’ in our country. Contraception is already widely, cheaply available. What’s really under attack today is religious freedom – the freedom of conscience.”
The June 8 Rally coincides with the 223rd anniversary of the day James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights to the 1st Congress, including what would become the First Amendment. “We’re standing up for the First Amendment and demanding that all our health care laws respect religious freedom,” Jones explained.
Jones went on to say that ‘the USCCB has designated the period between June 21 (Feast of Freedom of Religion martyrs St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher) – July 4 (Independence Day) as the ‘Fortnight for Freedom’. The purpose of this initiative is a 14-day period of prayer, education and action in support of religious freedom’. The Stand Up for Religious Freedom rallies being held nationwide, on June 8, are the perfect springboard for the continued efforts being offered by the Fortnight for Freedom!’ http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/
For more information please contact: Birgit Jones, 270-316-0299, birgitj@me.com. See also StandUpRally.com.