Rally for Religious Liberty a Success!
From Hawaii Family Forum
Over 400 people came down to the capitol on Saturday to take a stand for religious freedom in Hawaii. Speakers included: Kahu Curt Kekuna (Kawaiaha‘o Church), Pastor Kelekona Bishaws (Real Life Christian Center), Pastor Kuna Sepulveda (Word of Life Christian Center), Very Reverend Gary Secor (Vicar General, Roman Catholic Church in the State of Hawaii), Jim Hochberg (Alliance Defense Fund Representative), Fritz Rohlfing (local attorney and LDS Representative), Lupe Piena (LDS Member), Dr. Russell Stewart (the Ark Christian Center), Jerry Coffee (retired military officer), and Eva Andrade of Hawaii Family Forum. Emcee James "Duke" Aiona, Jr. did an outstanding job of keeping the day smoothly flowing. Attendees enjoyed graceful dancing from the Halau from the Ark Christian Center and great music from Red, White & Blues. Lisa and Loele Lee, a mother/daughter team did a fabulous job on the Star Spangled Banner and Tina Youngs sang a beautiful rendition of Hawaii Pono'i.
MAHALO TO ALL OF YOU WHO CAME OUT AND JOINED US!
* * * * *
Star-Adv: Tony Boquer of St. Jude's Catholic Church decided to break his silence Saturday at a rally by religious organizations at the state Capitol.
Boquer, who brought along 90 members of his Makakilo church on two buses, said he attended the first rally in his 64 years to take a stand against the new federal contraception mandate that contradicts basic Catholic beliefs against birth control and abortion.
"I've been having chicken skin since it began, listening to (Catholic Vicar General) Gary Secor and the other speakers," he said. "I finally got out of my comfort zone. It's time for people who have been sitting at home very comfortably because they're not personally affected by something to finally wake up and say, ‘Yes, it is personal. I'm drawing a line in the sand.'"
Boquer and his wife were among almost 400 people — representing several busloads of Catholic parishioners, and members of evangelical and Protestant churches — at the rally. The event was part of a two-week campaign called "Fortnight for Freedom" launched June 21 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The bishops called for prayer, penance, education and action in defense of religious freedom. (Notice the Star-Advertiser chose not to mention voter registration? That tells you what the gay-atheists fear most!)
The rally, emceed by former Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona, was organized by the Hawaii Catholic Conference — the public policy arm of the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, the Hawaii Family Forum and Hawaii Family Advocates.
Related: Star-Adv Tries to Talk Down Christian Voter Registration Drive
read … The federal health act violates religious freedom, critics say
Rally Flyer: PDF
USCCB: Fortnight for Freedom June 21 – July 4
USCCB: Dioceses Gear Up For Fortnight For Freedom, June 21-July 4
RALLY FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
June 30, 2012, Hawaii State Capitol Ground, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
News Release from Hawaii Family Forum
Co sponsored by the Hawaii Family Forum, the Hawaii Catholic Conference and Hawaii Family Advocates.
Please join emcee James "Duke" Aiona and the panel of GREAT speakers, including Very Rev. Gary Secor (Vicar General from the Roman Catholic Diocese), Kahu Curt Kekuna (Kawaihao Church), Pastor Kuna Sepulveda (Word of Life Christian Center), Pastor Kelekona Bishaws (Real Life Christian Center), Dr. Russell Stewark (The Ark Christian Center), Jerry Coffee (Hanoi Hilton Survivor), Jim Hochberg (local Alliance Defense Fund attorney), Frtiz Rohlfing (Attorney and member of the LDS), Brad Dacus (founder of the Pacific Justice Institute), and Steven H. Aden (Alliance Defense Fund, Senior Legal Counsel). There will be fun activities for our keiki including free popcorn, shave ice, cotton candy and slushies.
We are hearing that some churches are busing in congregants for this exciting event. (NO CANDIDATE SIGNS OR CAMPAIGNING WILL BE ALLOWED AS THIS IS AN EDUCATIONAL EVENT ONLY!)
Come and support our RALLY FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY in Hawaii. We hope to see you there!
PDF: Religious Freedom Rally (June 30, 2012)
VIDEO: http://hictv.com/2012/06/rally-for-religious-liberty/