On the second anniversary of President Obama’s healthcare reform act, more than 100 people gathered Friday in front of the McDowell County Courthouse to protest the sweeping legislation and its effects, saying it is an attack on religious freedoms.

“It’s against the First Amendment,” said participant Judith Williams of Old Fort.

The demonstration was held mainly to protest the healthcare reform act and a subsequent mandate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This mandate, the protesters said, requires all employer health plans to provide free contraceptives, sterilizations and abortion-inducing drugs, regardless of any moral or religious objections. For example, Catholic institutions would be forced to provide these services that directly contradict the teachings of their faith, opponents say. Protesters said it also results in the federal government deciding what constitutes a ministry for a religious institution.

“It’s about the sacred right of each church to defend its own teaching and ministry,” said the Rev. Carl Kaltreider of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church.

Kaltreider quoted former presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who is also a Southern Baptist minister. When commenting about the law and the HHS mandate’s effects, Huckabee said, “In this, we are all Catholics.”

The president offered last month an “accommodation” where insurance providers, rather than employers, would pay for services like free contraception and abortion-inducing drugs. Protesters at Friday’s demonstration said this does not solve the problem and the attack on religious freedom continues.

“Let us continue to pray and continue to work for the maintaining of our religious freedoms,” said Kaltreider.

The crowd next sang “God Bless America.” The event was led and organized by Phyllis Ryan, who is a member of Our Lady of the Angels and the ProLife Action League. Although Catholics took the lead in holding this event, Baptists and other evangelicals voiced their support for religious freedom and repealing “Obamacare,” too.

“We are living in a very serious and critical time in our history,” said the Rev. Tom Walker of Zion Hill Baptist Church. “Are we going to have religious freedom or not? Our government has gone too far. Truth does not change. Society changes for the good or for the bad. What America has got to do today is do what is right. We need to stand up and not lie down and be a doormat for whatever Washington wants. Stand up and be counted and let your voice be heard.”

Local resident Ben Gibbs, who stood by and listened, didn’t quite see eye to eye with the protesters.

“It’s good they’re speaking their voice, as long as it’s open-minded and includes everyone,” Gibbs said. “All I’m hearing though is the Christian view. You know, I get put off by everyone saying how hard it is to be a Christian in today’s world. If you were a kid at East Junior High right now who said a prayer during lunch, the worst thing that could happen to you is suspension. Two thousand years ago, you were eaten by a lion or nailed to a cross for that faith.”

 Doug Crosby is the regional campaign coordinator for Mark Meadows, Republican candidate for the U.S. House. Crosby said Friday was picked for this event because of the second anniversary of “Obamacare.”

He added the church was silent when prayer, the Bible and the Ten Commandments were removed from the public schools through court rulings.

Crosby also voiced his support for passage of Amendment One to the N.C. Constitution, which would define marriage in North Carolina as consisting of one man and one woman.

“We have to send a message to liberal politicians,” he said.

Commission Chairman David Walker also spoke at Friday’s demonstration. “Our nation is at a crossroads,” he said. “We as Christian people need to get out and vote. We are a great nation but our help comes from the Lord. I am going to vote for what the Bible says is right.”

Sheriff Dudley Greene said there are aspects of the healthcare reform that are just now coming to light. He urged folks to contact their lawmakers and let them know how they feel about this law.

“Pray for guidance and vote,” he said.

“This is not the end,” said the Rev. Tony Shirley of New Manna Baptist Church. “This is only the beginning.”

Ryan and another organizer of Friday’s demonstration said similar events were held in 139 cities and towns across the nation to protest “Obamacare” and the HHS mandate. Only three of them were held in North Carolina. They were Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Marion.

Holly Ramsey contributed to this report.