Religious freedom at 'crossroads'

Melissa Schechinger doesn't consider herself a political activist. But just before noon Friday, the mother of three from West Peoria found herself in Downtown Peoria, as part of a national Rally for Religious Freedom.

"I want to make sure we can practice our religion and not be infringed upon," Schechinger said as she stood aside a stroller that carried her 10-month-old daughter Mariah. "We're really at a crossroads right now with religious freedom."

The Schechingers joined about 250 others gathered at Main Street and Jefferson Avenue, in front of the Peoria County Courthouse.

As they stood near a statue of former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, speakers criticized a contraception-coverage mandate endorsed by the current Oval Office occupant, Barack Obama.

The mandate issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would require the health plans of many religious institutions and employers to include free contraceptives, sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs.

Employers with religious objections to contraception will not be required to cover birth control for employees. But employees will be able to obtain contraceptives directly from their insurers at no additional cost.

"I'll go to jail before I pay for abortion," said one rally participant, Don Castelli of rural Edwards.

Defiance also was evident in the public remarks of Bishop Daniel Jenky, the leader of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria.

"No government can tell us what our ministry is and what our ministry is not," Jenky told the crowd. "We will not cooperate."

Catholics have been perhaps the most vocal foes of the HHS mandate. But Jenky said 52 Eastern Orthodox Church bishops also have expressed opposition.

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Religious freedom at 'crossroads'