Rally on contraception mandate draws hundreds to downtown Scranton [The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.]

March 24--A rally backed by abortion foes Friday railed against the controversial federal requirement that religiously affiliated employers such as schools and hospitals provide health insurance coverage that includes birth control.

"Stand Up for Religious Freedom" rally at Lackawanna County Courthouse Square in Scranton drew hundreds of people who depicted the contraception mandate as a violation of their religious freedom. The Pro-Life Action League backed the event, held in more than 100 cities nationwide.

Although contraception services are paid for by the government or an insurance company, speakers said religious liberties are violated if their tax dollars or premiums are used indirectly to fund the services.

"Whether it's the insurance company or the government, we are forcing people to pay for something that is contradictory to their religious beliefs," said Allen Mickle, pastor of the Tunkhannock Baptist Church, to the audience. "This is not a birth control issue, it's a First Amendment issue."

Some attendees said they felt that the mandate is the beginning of future infringement on religious freedom. "This is the start," said Michele Mikolosko of Shavertown. "If this mandate is allowed to stand, the government will go beyond birth control."

Joseph Dalimati was with 55 boys in blue blazers from St. Gregory's Academy in Elmhurst. He said access to birth control promotes the spread of diseases.

"Women don't have a right to what they are calling health care; birth control is not health care," the senior, from Montana, said. "Society is not obligated to provide it."

Down the sidewalk from the rally, Giovanna Rappa and Matthew Hubbell of Scranton stood behind a table with printed-out brochures, a dish of condoms and a hastily painted sign that said "Reproductive Rights."

Mr. Hubbell saw an event flier touting "religious freedom" and was interested in attending. But upon investigation, he concluded that the rally was about denying women -- and men -- reproductive choices.

"We are here to provide information and let people know the facts and let them know they have choices," Mr. Hubbell said. The two said they weren't representing any group and printed the information out on their home computer.

The executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, the Rev. Barry Lynn, said the issue is "nominally" about religious freedom. He said the event would be better called "the anti-contraception rally."

"Under their argument, federal funding would have to be denied to all religiously affiliated institutions because their tenets won't match the religious belief of others. Scientologists would deny psychiatric care, the Jehovah's Witnesses would deny blood transfusions, and these churches and schools would be able to trump the religious convictions of their employees and students," he said. "That's not how society should operate."

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