Participants in the Freedom Prayer Rally for Religious Liberty will assemble at the Lincoln statue on South Second Street and Capitol Avenue.

“May our gathering, solidarity and prayers be strengthened by the grace of the Holy Spirit to continue proclaiming the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death, the unique meaning of marriage and the importance of religious liberty for all,” said Bishop Paprocki.

The rally is part of the third annual Fortnight for Freedom observed throughout the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois from June 21–July 4 and is sponsored by diocesan Office for Social Concerns and Respect for Life. The theme of this year’s Fortnight is “Freedom to Serve” and will focus on the freedom to serve the poor and vulnerable in accord with human dignity and the Catholic Church’s teaching.

Bishop Paprocki created the idea of Fortnight for Freedom at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in November 2011 which resulted in the first Fortnight events taking place nationwide in 2012.