Religious freedom rally draws ecumenical support

400 Arkansans gather on June 8 on Capitol steps to protest against HHS contraceptive mandate

Published: June 16, 2012

By Malea Hargett
Editor

Malea Hargett

Attendees at the Little Rock religious freedom rally June 8 on the State Capitol steps raise their fists in unison to show that five fingers separately can't have an impact but joined together in a clenched hand can.

Malea Hargett

Russell Hoerman, a Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church parishioner in Little Rock, was not one to lobby and speak out on social issues, but the recent U.S. Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate pushed him to stand up for his faith.

On March 23, about 58,000 people rallied in 143 cities around the country to protest the federal government's decision to require most health insurance plans to offer sterilization and contraception. Most religious employers like hospitals and charities or business owners who are religious are not exempt from the mandate. No rally was held in Arkansas in March, and Hoerman wanted to make sure the second scheduled Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally June 8 would be held so Arkansans can make their voices heard.

"I was willing to get out of my shell and participate but nothing did (March 23)," Hoerman said. "When they started talking about the second rally, I kept waiting for someone to step forward."

Bishop Taylor's Rally Comments
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Organizers said 57,000 people, including estimating 800 in Little Rock, met at Capitol Hill park, federal courthouses and historic sites in 164 cities.

About 400 people met on the steps of the State Capitol in Little Rock at noon for a short ecumenical rally of speeches and patriotic music. People held religious freedom signs and waved American flags throughout the program. Two women from Hot Springs carried large Christian flags.

"As a Catholic, the HHS mandate is a very clear line that has been drawn in the sand," Hoerman said. "It is a great opportunity for us as Catholics on the left and right to really get our morals adjusted. … I think the bishops standing up the way they have, and it's our obligation to offer our fraternal support to them. I don't think we have ever seen the Catholic bishops so united, yet we still have a war going on in the Church."

Hoerman worked with the Family Council, a Christian organization that promotes traditional family values, to organize the rally. In addition to Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, speakers included Mark Evans, pastor of The Church at Rock Creek in Little Rock, and former congressional candidate Beth Anne Rankin of Magnolia. The master of ceremonies was Sen. Missy Thomas Irvin of Mountain View, who was raised Catholic and graduated from Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock.

Bishop Taylor said the attack on religious freedom is not just from the current administration; it is happening in city and state governments as well.

"The Catholic Church teaches that religious liberty is a basic human right and so civil law must never 'require what conscience forbids or forbid what conscience requires,'" he said.

He said the government is asking organizations to take actions against their consciences.

"Freedom of religion is more than merely freedom of worship. It is the freedom to live according to the dictates of our conscience every hour of every day, and not just one hour on Sunday," he said.

Marianne Linane, diocesan respect life director, said the rally affirmed to her that other faiths are willing to fight the HHS mandate.

"All of the speakers are very committed to seeing this religious freedom thing through. We have ecumenical support…. They are all aware that this is not a Catholic issue."

Tamra Cook, a member of Christian Ministries in Hot Springs, held a flag with a red cross, said, "We have got to get together and unite. We can all unite under the name of Jesus."

Julia Pritchett, a Catholic and leader of the Students for Life at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, agreed.

"This isn't an issue just for Catholics. This is for everyone who cherishes religious freedom," she said.

Gerald Crochet Jr. of Little Rock, who attended the rally with his wife and two children, believes it is essential to fight for freedom.

"If we lose on this one, heaven forbid, I don't know where this country is going to end up. … The power of this government has gotten way out of hand, and we need to reverse it," he said.

Hannah Trice, a graduate of the National Right to Life Academy in Washington D.C., was encouraged with the turnout for the rally.

"The most important thing to get from rallies like this is to activate people," she said. "I prefer not to fight, but if I have to I will stand and I'll lobby … Most of all, I believe in changing hearts."