WASHINGTON, Oct. 18, 2012­ /PRNewswire/ -- With the religious liberty of all Americans under assault from the Obama Administration's brazen attempts to regulate the operations of the Catholic Church and its institutions, American Catholics for Religious Freedom is proud to announce the support of former governor Mike Huckabee, conservative commentator and son of President Ronald Reagan, Michael Reagan, Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and other prominent leaders in the fight to defend our religious freedom.

American Catholics for Religious Freedom is presently mobilizing field staff and volunteers in high-profile states such as Ohio, Iowa, Virginia, Florida and Wisconsin in an effort to encourage Catholics to stand united against the federal government's mandates and other threats to religious liberty. ACRF's Catholic Unity Pledge has been signed by thousands of concerned Catholics and Americans of other faiths who stand with the Catholic Church against the secular agenda of many of Washington's elected officials and bureaucrats.

Included in those ranks is former governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.  Huckabee who made his solidarity with the Catholic Church clear in his remarks to the Republican National Convention in late August stating, "The attack on my Catholic brothers and sisters is an attack on me...This isn't a battle about contraceptives and Catholics, but of conscience and the Creator." Huckabee, a Baptist minister, was among the first non-Catholics to sign ACRF's Catholic Unity Pledge.

A long-standing defender of religious liberty, Michael Reagan has also joined the cause stating, "My father believed that when government expands, liberty contracts.  This can be seen no more clearly than in this Administration's aggressive attacks on religious freedom.  ACRF's work is ensuring we have a strong, united voice to protect Americans from the government overreach that will ultimately lead to a limiting of our religious institutions' ability to serve God as they choose."

Popular Iowa Governor Terry Branstad has embraced ACRF's efforts.  "Our religious liberty is under attack like never before. The idea that an unconstitutional mandate can force our hand, against our will and religion, should frighten us all.  Unfortunately, this is precisely what we face," stated Branstad.  "ACRF has been working hard here in Iowa to ensure that Catholics and people of faith never take this sacred right for granted.  Their efforts and those of so many others will send a powerful message to Washington about the inalienable rights of religious liberty and freedom of conscience."

The Iowa mobilization has benefitted from the support of prominent Church leaders including Monsignor Frank Bognanno, who has been an outspoken critic of the Obama Administration's assault on the Church.  "With an organization like ACRF working not only here in Iowa but across the nation, we can win this fight to protect the rights of the Catholic Church and its institutions from this unconstitutional assault," states Bognanno, pastor of Christ the King Parish in Des Moines.  "We're up against powerful forces that want to reduce the role of the Church and faith in our society.  Our challenge is to make all Americans understand the danger of allowing government mandates and regulations to come between us and our faith." 

Demonstrating the non-partisan nature of the fight for religious freedom, former Iowa state representative Dolores Mertz (D-Algona) has joined ACRF's Iowa outreach efforts. "Freedom of religion is not a partisan issue.  It's an American issue.  I'm proud to support ACRF's efforts to help challenge this damaging assault on the Catholic Church and all people of faith.  Our freedom to worship and serve God as we choose is one of the rights that makes America a truly great nation.  Permitting this kind of attack on that right would be a tragedy for every American.  Failure in this cause is not an option."

Watch ACRF's latest video HERE.  For more information about American Catholics for Religious Freedom, to volunteer or sign the Catholics Unity Pledge, visit www.AmericasCatholics.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN CATHOLICS FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
American Catholics for Religious Freedom ("ACRF") was founded to educate Catholics about the increasing threats to religious freedom from an overreaching and intrusive federal government.  ACRF believes the fundamental religious freedom of the Catholic Church, its charitable institutions and the conscience of the faithful have been infringed upon by a flawed political agenda.  A national organization, we actively encourage fellow Catholics and people of all faiths stand united by signing the Catholic Unity Pledge, and proactively raise awareness about the dangers of government intervention in the affairs of the Church.  ACRF organizes and mobilizes its supporters across the nation to ensure defenders of the Church and religious liberty have a powerful voice at the ballot box.  ACRF is a registered 501 (c)4 organization.

SOURCE American Catholics for Religious Freedom