Becket Fund Co-Hosts Religious Freedom Rallies Religious Freedom Supporters Descend on Over 140 Cities Standing Against HHS Mandate

WASHINGTON, DC ─ Becket Law co-sponsored rallies organized by the “Stand Up for Religious Freedom” coalition to oppose the new mandate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that requires all employers provide free contraceptives, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs through their health plans, even in violation of their consciences. The rallies spread to over 140 cities nationwide, and feature leaders representing a wide range of organizations that oppose the mandate. Since October of last year, Becket has led the charge against the mandate, filing the first lawsuits challenging it.

“The administration’s mandate on religious institutions is an unprecedented breach of the Constitution,” said Lori Windham, Senior Counsel at Becket Law, who will make remarks at the Washington D.C. rally. “People of all faiths will be rallying in our nation’s capitol and around the country to fight the government’s actions and defend the rights of all Americans to practice their faith without government coercion.”

Below are the times, locations and speaker information for each of the three rallies where representatives of the Becket Fund participated.

(See photos from event here)

Washington D.C.

When:
Friday, March 23, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. ET

Where:

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Building
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Speakers:

Lori Windham, Senior Counsel, Becket Law
Star Parker, President, Center of Urban Renewal and Education
Lila Rose, President, Live Action
Kristen Hawkins, Director, Students for Life
Dr. Johnny Hunter, President, LEARN
Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director, Christian Defense Coalition

New York City

When:

Friday, March 23, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. ET

Where:

Federal Hall National Memorial
26 Wall Street New York, NY 10005

Speakers:

Dr. Alveda King, Director of African-American Outreach, Priests for Life
Melissa Moschella, Fellow, Becket Law
Janet Morana, Silent No More Awareness Campaign
Fr. Agustino Torres, Franciscan Friars
Chris Slattery, Expectant Mother Care
Msgr Philip Reilly, Helpers of God’s Precious Infants
Fernando Cabrera, New York City Councilman
Chris Bell, Good Counsel Homes
Dr. Anne Nolte, The Gianna Center for Women’s Health
Fr. Victor Salomon, Sacerdotes por la Vida

Philadelphia

When:

Friday, March 23, 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. ET

Where:

Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell
People’s Plaza

Speakers:

Ashley McGuire, Neuhaus Fellow, Becket Law
Cathy Ruse, Senior Fellow, Family Research Council
Austin Ruse, President of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute
Dom Giordano, Host, Dom Giordano Program
Steve Bozza, Director of the Respect Life Office for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Rev. Paul CB Schenck
Rev. Rob Schenck
Dr. Damon Cudihy, MD
Lillian Burgos

Becket Law is a non-profit, public-interest legal and educational institute that protects the free expression of all faiths. Becket exists to vindicate a simple but frequently negated principle: that because the religious impulse is natural to human beings, religious expressional is natural to human culture.

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(Photo by Emily Hardman, media@becketlaw.org)