"St. Joseph Church plans June 8 rally to defend religious freedom" published June 7, 2012 Letters To The Editor in the Del Rio News-Herald



Defend Religious Freedom on June 8
Del Rio will once again be counted among the cities to join the nationwide movement to protect religious freedom. 
The first “Stand Up for Religious Freedom” prayer rally was held on Friday, March 23 at 12 noon at Greenwood Park.  The next prayer rally is set for Friday, June 8 for one (1) hour from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. at Greenwood Park in historic downtown Del Rio, located inside the intersections of Garfield – Greenwood – Griner Streets. Scheduled speakers include: Father Henry Clay Hunt, Pastor at St. Joseph Church and Dr. Irma Montemayor.
History plays an important and pivotal role in protecting our most prized First Amendment right of religious liberty in the United States of America.
Throughout our proud history as a nation under God, we have relished our rights and freedoms and have defended those under tyrannical regimes so that they too could be free to live out their religious convictions without political persecution and interference from governmental rules and regulations.
At this point and time we are facing a direct challenge to upholding what we have always cherished and treasured as our ability to live in a nation that respects our religious rights. 
Let us not simply be apathetic and acquiesce to unconstitutional mandates that force religious institutions to go against the tenets of their faith and against the moral convictions of individual consciences.
If we do not stand up for religious freedom, the first, foremost and most fundamental of all our freedoms today, then tomorrow we may find more and more of our rights eroding and being encroached upon. If one of our constitutional rights crumbles then all of our constitutional rights are in jeopardy.
Let the history lessons of the world teach us not to repeat their mistakes, not to remain silent, but to speak up and stand up for religious freedom before it is too late. 
Access more information at “Stand Up for Religious Freedom” website: www.standupforreligiousfreedom.com
In God’s Grace and For God’s Greater Glory!
Marian Casillas, Ed.D.