March 30, 2012

Several weeks ago I started seeing advertisements on pro-life websites about nationwide rallies for religious freedom to be held March 23. These rallies, sponsored by an ad hoc coalition of pro-life and religious groups, were organized to protest President Obama’s mandate that all health insurance plans cover (without co-pay or deductible) female sterilization and contraceptives, including those that can cause abortions.

I checked out the coalition’s website at www.standforreligiousfreedom.com and noticed that rallies were being planned in Lincoln and Omaha. I immediately e-mailed the organizers to find out who was organizing these two Nebraska rallies. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive a response for quite some time, and then only a generic one with no names of the local organizers. It wasn’t until a couple of weeks prior to last Friday’s rally that I found out that Nebraskans United for Life and the Respect Life Apostolate of the Omaha Archdiocese were organizing the Omaha rally. And I didn’t find out until about a week before the rally that there was no local organizer in Lincoln.

Despite this lack of communication and organization by the national coalition, the groups in Omaha put together, on very short notice, a highly professional and successful rally outside the Federal Building in downtown Omaha. The rally began with the singing of "God Bless America," followed by Archbishop George Lucas who led the opening prayer and provided introductory remarks about the serious threat the president’s mandate poses to religious freedom.

Next up was Edward A. Morse, a professor of law at Creighton University College of Law. Professor Morse spoke about the time-honored tradition of religious freedom and conscientious objection in the United States. I was next on the program and provided some background on the president’s mandate, explaining what it is and is not.

Father John Brancich, FSSP, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Omaha, gave an informative speech on St. Thomas More and the role of the conscience. Dr. Lloyd Pierre from Sancta Familia Medical Apostolate followed with a physician’s perspective on the medical provider/patient relationship and how this and other health care mandates will impact that relationship.

Next up was a powerful pair of priests: Father James Buckley, pastor of St. Patrick Church, and Father Michael Voithofer, parochial vicar at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, both from Omaha. Father Buckley provided a call to action with numerous suggestions for prayer, fasting and action. Father Voithofer gave an inspirational and rousing close to the presentations with the important reminder that Jesus Christ is victor!

The rally concluded with a prayer by Denny Hartford from Vital Signs Ministries. Denny and his wife Claire, who are evangelical Christians, were among numerous Protestants in attendance to show their support for religious freedom. Estimates put attendance at anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000, a very impressive turnout for limited planning and promotion.

The Lincoln event, because no organizer was identified in time to plan a rally was more of a "Life Chain-style" demonstration. But despite no real organization or leader and only last-minute promotion, around 500 people showed up and held signs surrounding the Federal Building in Lincoln.

The relative success of both events, given the short amount of time for planning and promotion, is extraordinary. It demonstrates the passion and energy that exists locally and nationally toward opposing the Obama Administration’s unprecedented and reckless trampling of religious freedom.

The Catholic Bishops, and the offices like mine that represent them, will be tireless in defending religious freedom and in equipping Catholic parishes and individuals to participate in this epic battle. One excellent resource that currently exists is the U.S. Bishops’ website at www.usccb.org/conscience. From this page one can link to another page that provides many excellent prayer, liturgical and educational materials. May God bless and guide us to be courageous, persistent and faithful.