Rally in SF for Women's Rights

Please Join Us for a Rally Against the Attack of the

Catholic Church on Women's Rights

The Religious Right has initiated an all out attack on women's rights in this country. Rush Limbaugh calls a college activist a "slut" because "she wants to be paid for having sex" –– i.e. she thinks that insurance plans should include contraception coverage. The more "respectable" Catholic Conference of Bishops sponsors the “Respect for Rights of Conscience Act" to overturn Obama's mandate requiring employers to offer employees full contraceptive health care coverage. As Annie Gaylor of FFRF notes, "Churches and denominations, such as Catholic parishes, are already exempt from this mandate."

Gaylor further states: "Any private employer claiming a religious or moral objection to particular health care coverage would be able to legally deny it to employees. Jehovah's Witnesses could refuse coverage of blood transfusions. Scientologists could refuse mental health care coverage. Pious employees, for example, could deny contraceptive or maternity coverage for unmarried employees, or vasectomies for divorced men. Employers having a religious objection to gays could deny AIDS screening, anti-abortionists could oppose genetic screening of pregnancies, etc. The legal precedent would be terrible and the ramifications unending."

The Women's movement is fighting back. On April 28th, a grasroots organization called "We Are Women--March (http://www.wearewomenmarch.net/)" is organizing major protests in cities around the country. Nothing is planned in the Bay Area; rather they are focusing on busing supporters to the Sacramento rally.

American Atheists, along with Atheist Advocates of SF, SF Atheists and East Bay Atheists is calling for a supporting rally on April 28th at the primary Catholic Church in San Francisco. Not only is it important that there be a rally for those who cannot make it to Sacramento, but it is vitally important that we point to the obvious elephant in the room: the Catholic Church, which uses its vast wealth and power to oppose women's rights throughout the world.

Our movement is growing rapidly. The Reason Rally established us as a force to be considered for millions of Americans. Now we need to support our women allies in their fight for equal rights. And we need to make clear the role that religion plays in suppressing their, and others', rights.

We will provide some signs. Feel free to bring your own, but please make them on topic. This is about the religious oppression of women.

Where: St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Church, 1111 Gough St., San Francisco (assemble at front on Geary Street)

When: Saturday, April 28th, 10:00 to 11:30 AM

BART Access: Take the 38 Geary Muni bus from the Montgomery BART station. From the Civic Center BART: Walk north up Hyde Street to Geary, then left about 5 blocks. (Warning: Funky Neighborhood)

Further Info: Larry Hicok, CA State Director of American Atheists, lhicok@atheists.org , 510-222-7580