Bishop Thomas John Paprocki will lead a prayer rally in support of religious liberty at noon Monday, July 2, at the foot of the statue of Abraham Lincoln on the grounds of the Illinois State Capitol at South Second Street and East Capitol Avenue.

The rally is being held as part of the Fortnight for Freedom, which began on the evening of July 21 and will run through Independence Day, July 4. The Fortnight for Freedom is sponsored by the Catholic bishops of the U.S., and is dedicated to prayer, education and public action to help Catholics and the rest of the country understand how the federal contraceptive mandate violates religious liberty.

"The purpose of this effort is to issue a nationwide call to defend religious liberty and to urge the laity to work to protect the first freedom of the Bill of Rights," Bishop Paprocki said.

In case of rain, participants will congregate in the Hall of Flags.