Missouri Catholic Conference

Videos of the Rally Speeches Available

Mar 292012

To watch videos of the Rally for Religious Liberty, click the links below. These links will take you to Conservative TV Online’s website. These are high-resolution videos. If you are using a slower Internet connection, use the low-resolution video link provided on CTV’s website below the original video.

DISCLAIMER: The MCC does not endorse, nor is it affiliated with, Conservative TV Online. Any opinions expressed by Conservative TV Online are those of Conservative TV Online and not necessarily those of the MCC.

Watch Archbishop Carlson’s speech or download the text here.

Watch Maggie Karner’s speech or download the text here.

DISCLAIMER: The MCC does not endorse, nor is it affiliated with, Conservative TV Online. Any opinions expressed by Conservative TV Online are those of Conservative TV Online and not the MCC.

Watch Dr. John Yeats’ speech or download the text here.

Watch Darrin Rodgers’ speech or download the text of the letter he read here.

Watch Bishop Gaydos’ prayer or download the text of the prayer here.

March 29, 2012 Posted by mocatholic at 3:42 pm Abortion-Drug Mandate, Missouri General Assembly, News, Religious Liberty Tagged with: Rally for Religious Liberty No Responses »

Rally for Religious Liberty Draws Thousands to Capitol

Mar 282012

On Tuesday, thousands of people of faith joined together to protest the HHS mandate that forces employers to pay for coverage for contraceptives, abortion drugs and sterilization procedures.

Attendees wore red to show their support for conscience rights legislation currently pending in the Missouri General Assembly. Although the event was on the first floor, an estimated 2,000 participants from around the state filled three floors of the Capitol.

In his address to the crowd, Archbishop Robert J. Carlson denounced the mandate and the so-called compromise that followed.

“Mr. Obama, your compromise changed absolutely nothing!” he said. “This is about religious liberty, and we will never give up this freedom!”

In decrying the so-called compromise, which changed the mandate to force insurance companies to provide the services, Archbishop Carlson said, “Mr. President, there is no free lunch!”

He noted that if the insurance company has to provide the services, someone has to pay for them and that cost will be passed to the consumer.

Archbishop Carlson specifically called out President Obama a few times, and he noted that the president is essentially telling people through the mandate that they can worship and have faith, but not exercise their faith.

“The federal government, which was formed to be of the people, by the people and for the people, has decided to tell some of those people that we are free to hold our faith but we will be required to deny its practice, and I say NEVER!” Archbishop Carlson said.

He reiterated that Christians are called to serve everyone, just as Jesus Christ did.

Maggie Karner, director of Life and Health Ministries for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, reminded the crowd that the mandate is not about women’s issues at all, but about the constitutional rights of all citizens.

She also echoed Archbishop Carlson’s point that an integral part of the Christian faith is service, and that service shouldn’t be restricted to inside the walls of a church.

“Mercy is not what we do, it’s who we are,” Karner said. “This debate is not about contraception … We cannot be expected to check our faith at the door.”

Other speakers included Dr. John L. Yeats of the Missouri Baptist Convention and Darrin Rodgers, who read a letter from Dr. George O. Wood of the Assemblies of God, USA.

Before and after the rally, participants filled out cards showing their support for conscience rights legislation, including SB 749, sponsored by State Sen. John Lamping and HB 1730, sponsored by State Rep. Stanley Cox, and then gave the cards to their state legislators and Gov. Nixon.

The event was co-sponsored by several groups including: the Missouri Catholic Conference, Missouri Right to Life, Concerned Women for America, the Missouri Baptist Convention, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Assemblies of God USA.

To download the speeches, click the links below.

Archbishop Robert Carlson’s speech

Maggie Karner’s speech

Dr. John L. Yeats’ speech

Letter from Dr. George O. Wood of the Assemblies of God, USA

Bishop Gaydos’ Prayer

March 28, 2012 Posted by mocatholic at 1:17 pm Abortion-Drug Mandate, Missouri General Assembly, News, Religious Liberty Tagged with: Rally for Religious Liberty 4 Responses »

Rally for Religious Liberty Information

Feb 292012

Join us as we rally for religious liberty on Tuesday, March 27 at noon in the first floor rotunda of the State Capitol.

Wear red to show support for bills that will protect our religious liberties. If you want to lobby legislators, please come at 10 a.m. to register. We will be there to help you find your legislators. We will also provide cards for you to sign and deliver to your legislators and the governor. If you don’t know where to go when you arrive at the Capitol, look for volunteers in red sashes to help direct you. If you are coming just for the rally, it starts at noon and no registration is necessary.

Sponsors of the event are: Assemblies of God USA, Concerned Women for America, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, Missouri Baptist Convention, Missouri Catholic Conference and Missouri Right to Life.

Speakers include:

Dr. John L. Yeats – Executive Director of the Missouri Baptist Convention
Maggie Karner – Director of Life and Health Ministries for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Archbishop Robert Carlson — Archdiocese of St. Louis

For transportation information:

Contact Missouri Right to Life at 573-635-5110 or at righttolife@missourilife.org.

In St. Louis, click here or call 314-792-7555.

In Springfield, contact Sharon Weidelman at 417-887-0600 or at sharonweidelman@yahoo.com.

In Kansas City, contact Bill Francis at 816-714-2367 or click here.

In Jefferson City, contact Dr. Stephana Landwehr at 573-635-9127 ext. 231 or at prolife@diojeffcity.org.

If you are driving yourself, parking is available in a garage on the corner of Madison Street and Capitol Avenue, a couple of blocks from the Capitol. It is $6 a day or 50 cents per hour. For a map, click here. Metered parking is also available down Capitol Avenue and High Street.

The rally starts at noon and is expected to last no more than an hour and a half.

If you have other questions, call the Missouri Catholic Conference at 1-800-456-1679 or at 573-635-7239 or at mocatholic@mocatholic.org. Download the flier about the rally here.

What to bring:

Brown bag lunches are suggested. However, there is a cafeteria in the basement of the Capitol and restaurants within walking distance of the Capitol. Lunch is not provided.
Wear comfortable walking shoes as the rotunda might be standing-room only.
Please do NOT bring signs. They are not allowed inside the Capitol.

Updates on legislation concerning the abortion-drug mandate:

Respect for Rights of Conscience Act Action Alert

SB 749 Action Alert

Download the flier here.