Rally for religious freedom
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Christina Leslie | Correspondent
Hundreds of faithful from across the state gathered March 23 under sunny skies on the steps of the Trenton Statehouse to show their respect for life and the First Amendment right to practice religion without governmental interference. The Trenton “Stand Up for Religious Freedom” Rally, one of 140 such events held across the nation, informed the attendees that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and its HHS Mandate will violate the rights of life-affirming citizens and urged them to take action to overturn it.
Speakers at the nearly two-hour long rally included Trenton Bishop Emeritus John M. Smith, Damon Owens of NJ Natural Family Planning Association, Len Deo of the New Jersey Family Policy Council, and Dan Rossi, NJ State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus. Physicians, college students, and clergy of various faiths gave witness to the challenges the Act enforced upon their faith, education and livelihoods.
“Let’s be clear: this issue is not about birth control, it’s about government control,” declared Marie Tasy, executive director of New Jersey Right to Life, as the crowd cheered and held aloft signs declaring “Stand up for religious freedom.”
“We stand in solidarity now to rescind this assault on our rights, our beliefs and our conscience,” she stressed.
In January, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a mandate requiring all employer health plans to include abortion-inducing drugs, sterilizations and free contraceptives regardless of any moral or religious objections. The mandate’s narrow “religious exemption” excludes most Catholic schools, hospitals, and charities, thus forcing them to directly violate their teachings to provide required services.
The rally, a joint project of the Pro-Life Action League and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, was coordinated by the New Jersey Right to Life.
See expaned story in The Monitor.
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By Christina Leslie | Correspondent
Hundreds of faithful from across the state gathered March 23 under sunny skies on the steps of the Trenton Statehouse to show their respect for life and the First Amendment right to practice religion without governmental interference. The Trenton “Stand Up for Religious Freedom” Rally, one of 140 such events held across the nation, informed the attendees that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and its HHS Mandate will violate the rights of life-affirming citizens and urged them to take action to overturn it.
Speakers at the nearly two-hour long rally included Trenton Bishop Emeritus John M. Smith, Damon Owens of NJ Natural Family Planning Association, Len Deo of the New Jersey Family Policy Council, and Dan Rossi, NJ State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus. Physicians, college students, and clergy of various faiths gave witness to the challenges the Act enforced upon their faith, education and livelihoods.
“Let’s be clear: this issue is not about birth control, it’s about government control,” declared Marie Tasy, executive director of New Jersey Right to Life, as the crowd cheered and held aloft signs declaring “Stand up for religious freedom.”
“We stand in solidarity now to rescind this assault on our rights, our beliefs and our conscience,” she stressed.
In January, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a mandate requiring all employer health plans to include abortion-inducing drugs, sterilizations and free contraceptives regardless of any moral or religious objections. The mandate’s narrow “religious exemption” excludes most Catholic schools, hospitals, and charities, thus forcing them to directly violate their teachings to provide required services.
The rally, a joint project of the Pro-Life Action League and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, was coordinated by the New Jersey Right to Life.
See expaned story in The Monitor.