More photos here!
Video here, here, and here!
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More photos here!
Video here, here, and here!
Sign the petition today!
WWJR – What Would Jesus Ride?
The roar of over 1,400 motorcycles was heard in St. Peter’s Square as bikers from all over the world came to Rome to receive a blessing from Pope Francis. The bikers are celebrating the 110th anniversary of the famed motorcycle maker’s founding.
Prior to reciting the Angelus, Pope Francis greeted the bikers present in the Square.
“I greet the many participants in the Harley-Davidson motorcycle rally and the members of the Motorcycle Club of the Italian State Police,” the Pope said.
The Catholic Diocese of Des Moines sponsored the Independence Celebration Walk and Picnic. Organizers estimated 2,500 people participated.
The crowd gathered at noon at the St. Ambrose Cathedral in downtown Des Moines and walked to the Iowa Capitol. The Most Rev. Richard Pates, bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines, led the group, along with Gov. Terry Branstad, who said he attended the event on his own accord.
The event was a show of solidarity with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Fortnight for Freedom,” which began June 21 and will conclude on Independence Day. The two-week national campaign is intended to draw attention to what they say is the government infringement on their religious freedoms.
One of the key issues is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ directive that nearly all employer health care plans – including Catholic universities and hospitals – must provide birth control and certain other medical services. The church says this requirement would include sterilizations and drugs that could cause abortions. A narrow exemption for churches exists, but moral and religious First Amendment objections continue to be issued by Catholic dioceses, universities, hospitals and charitable institutions now suing the federal government over the matter, as well as other Christian and Jewish groups.
Participate in Fortnight for Freedom activities near you
TOPEKA — Thousands of people rallied Friday at the Kansas statehouse with Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and the state’s Roman Catholic bishops against a federal mandate for health insurance coverage of birth control, protesting it as an attack on religious freedom.
The event was part of a nationwide “Fortnight for Freedom” campaign organized by Catholic bishops nationwide in opposition to the policy announced in January by President Barack Obama.
Speakers urged the crowd to keep protesting the mandate and remain active politically.
…the federal government is still telling religious institutions to provide products and services they find objectionable, and this affront to religious liberty is unconstitutional.
According to this compromise, religious institutions still have to pay for something against their conscience — the health insurance that covers free contraceptives, abortifacients, and sterilization.
Adding one more step between the dealer and the goods doesn’t change the ultimate transaction that’s going on here.
This sleight-of-hand maneuver didn’t fool all of us. And for the many rallying around the nation today, it offends us.
All are invited to the following public events
2 PM Speech and Rally
John Hersey High School
1900 E. Thomas Street
Arlington Heights, IL
7 PM Speech and Rally
Christian Liberty Academy
Grace Gymnasium
502 W. Euclid Ave
Arlington Heights, IL
Submitted by Nancy W.