June 8th: Religious Freedom Rally on Capitol Hill

Politicians, Pro-Life Leaders, a POW, clergy,

 among speakers at

"Stand Up for Religious Freedom"

Capitol Hill Rally on June 8

WASHINGTON, D.C. - More than a dozen speakers, including elected officials, pro-life leaders, clergy, and a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, will address a "Stand Up for Religious Freedom " rally on Capitol Hill at 12 noon on Friday, June 8, 2012.

The rally will be held at 200 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001, in Upper Senate Park next to the Russell Senate Office Building.

This is the second in a series of rallies being held to demonstrate opposition to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate under the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare) which forces employers and religious institutions to pay for abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization procedures, free contraceptives, and other services that are objectionable to Christians.  See fact sheet at

http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/docs/HHSMandateFactSheet.pdf
Some of the speakers will include:

-- Alan Keyes, author, broadcaster, and former diplomat and former presidential candidate

-- U.S. Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD)

-- Delegate Robert Marshall of Virginia

-- Hon. Robert K. Dornan, former Congressman from California

-- Kristan Hawkins, Executive Director of Students for Life

-- Guy Gruters, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam

-- David Bereit, founder and director of 40 Days for Life

--Emily Hardman of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty

-- Fr. Jerry Pokorsky, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Annandale, VA

-- Fr. Shenan Boquet, President of Human Life International

-- Pastor Johnny Hunter of LEARN, Inc.

-- Fr. Victor Salomon of the Hispanic Outreach of Priests for Life (who will speak in Spanish)

Matt Swain of Sacred Heart Radio will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

Stand up for Religious Freedom rallies will be held in 151 cities in 48 states at noon local time on June 8. See locations list at ; http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/locations/. Over 70 national organizations are cosponsoring the rallies.

"I am pleased to be able to lend my voice to oppose this outrageous intrusion by the federal government into our lives," commented Delegate Marshall, who has served in the Virginia Assembly for 21 years. "No one should be forced to buy or pay for a service that they don't want, nor should citizens, religious institutions, and employers be forced to pay for abortions and other immoral procedures that are against their religion and their conscience," Delegate Marshall said.

For more information on the DC rally, see http://www.defendlife.org/docs/relfreedom06082012.pdf

or contact Jack Ames at 410-961-2008 or Cathy Roth at 301-452-7180.

Dick Retta