Participants at the events were urged to take action in the weeks and months to come, by raising awareness among their friends and neighbors and calling on members of Congress.
Public education is “critical” in fighting the mandate, Scheidler said.
“There's been so much misinformation. This controversy has been so falsely presented to, and by, the mainstream media. We really have to work very hard to educate our neighbors and fellow church-goers.”
He said public officials should also be called upon to defend conscience rights, whether or not this goal can be secured in the short-term.
“We realize that with Barack Obama in the White House, our chances of a legislative victory on this issue are perishingly thin.”
“Yet every time we can raise this issue, every time there's a vote against the mandate – even when we lose a vote … that gives us yet another opportunity to publicly educate on this issue, and apply greater political pressure to have it overturned.”
More than 60 organizations have joined the Pro-Life Action League and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, in the Stand Up For Religious Freedom movement's “Coalition to Stop the HHS Mandate.”
As that coalition grows, Scheidler encouraged supporters to turn to God in prayer – for their cause, and for those who oppose it.
“Pray for those forces in our culture that have been fighting for this mandate,” the Pro-Life Action League's executive director said, citing Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and the Feminist Majority Foundation.
“Pray for our president – that he will have a conversion of heart, that he will relinquish this drive to push religious institutions out of the public square.”