Contact: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, 540-538-4741

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- "Stand Up for Religious Freedom" rallies will be held in 129 cities across America on March 23, at 12:00 noon. (Go to Standupforreligiousfreedom.com)

This makes this event one of the largest in American history with respect to simultaneous rallies occurring in cities across the nation.

The rally will be on the plaza of the HHS (Hubert Humphrey Building) on March 23, at 12:00 noon located at 200 Independence Ave. SW in Washington, D.C.

There will be a news conference at 12:00 P.M. which will mark the start of the rally.

With the growing support and energy of these rallies, it is now clear that the HHS mandates and the issue of religious freedom will be a major issue in the 2012 Presidential Elections.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition and D.C. rally captain/organizer, states;

"We are honored to be hosting a "Stand Up for Religious Freedom" rally here in Washington, D.C. at the HHS building. Health and Human Services is at the center of the debate concerning President Obama's unjust mandates on faith institutions.

"We agree with the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops when they say these mandates, '... involve needless government intrusion in the internal governances of religious institutions, and to threaten government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions.'

"For the faith community, we can never be silent or indifferent when it comes to matters of justice, human rights and religious freedom.  Through these rallies, we want to send a clear message to President Obama and HHS that we will never comply with an unjust or immoral government mandate that would require us to violate our faith and our conscience.

"The HHS mandates and the issue of religious freedom have now ignited a political firestorm that will be a major issue in the 2012 Presidential Elections.  In an odd way, President Obama's forcing Christian institutions to violate their conscience and core beliefs has energized the faith community in a way that none of the republican candidates have yet been able to accomplish."

For more information or interviews call:
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney at 540.538.4741