Posted on 10/17/2012 9:11:51 PM PDT by The Wabash Cannonball
LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - To share the details of this weekend's rallies, Catholic Online sat down to talk to Eric Scheidler of the Stand Up for Religious Freedom Coalition.
COL: Hello Eric. What's happening this weekend?
SCHEIDLER: On Saturday, October 20, tens out thousands of faithful Americans will gather in 140 cities and town across the United States to protest the Obama administration's HHS Mandate, and raise the crucial issue of religious freedom before the public in advance of Election Day.
COL: Why is this important? / Why should people care about this?
SCHEIDLER: The HHS Mandate is one of the most outrageous attacks on religious freedom in American history. Religious employers are being forced to provide abortion-inducing drugs and contraceptives through their health plans, regardless of any ethical or moral objections.
The narrow "religious exemption" provided under the HHS Mandate excludes such institutions as the University of Notre Dame, Catholic Charities, and Tyndale House, a bible publisher. None of these organizations is deemed religious enough to qualify for the so-called religious exemption.
The HHS Mandate unravels decades of bipartisan consensus on protecting freedom of conscience.
COL: Are you trying to send a message before the election?
SCHEIDLER: Yes, we are trying to send a message before Election Day: vote with your values. If freedom or religion matters to you -- if you don't want to see employers forced to violate their consciences or be driven out of the public square -- then vote for candidates who are promising to fight against the HHS Mandate.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholic.org ...
Stand Up for Religious Rally Noon in Rochester NY Oct. 20
Washington Square Park
Rally in Metairie, LA (suburb of New Orleans) at Veterans and Causeway Blvds. Noon to 1 PM at Veterans Square.
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