Friday, June 29, 2012
Thousands braved the triple-digit heat in Topeka today to rally against a federal mandate.
The Catholic Bishops of Kansas organized the gathering calling for the Obama administration to overturn the mandate. The order is designed to ensure that most employers' health plans cover contraceptives.
Groups were bused in from all across the state.
"If we don't stand up we will lose our religious freedoms that we are barely hanging onto now," said Dave Hamilton of Topeka.
Hundreds of people from Wichita attended the rally, including Mike Westcott.
"I believe we as a church should have the right to practice our religion without restrictions," he said.
The rally was part of a nationwide campaign to fight for religious freedom prompted when President Barack Obama made the announcement of the mandate earlier this year.
