DETROIT — More than 100 cities are signed on to participate in another round of protests against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ contraception mandate, according to StandUpForReligiousFreedom.com, the umbrella group that organized more than 140 rallies across the U.S. in late March.

According to the website, nine Michigan cities, including Detroit, will participate in another round of demonstrations, which will begin at noon on June 8.

Archbishop Allen Vigneron is scheduled to address the Detroit rally, as well as popular Ave Maria Radio host Teresa Tomeo and others, including some Protestant clergy.

The Detroit rally will again take place at the McNamara Federal Building, 477 Michigan Ave., in downtown Detroit. Other rally sites include Howell, Flint, Saginaw, Midland, Lansing and Ann Arbor.
The rallies will be held in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling — expected in June — of the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

“The rally is intended as a clear message to the federal government, that it has no business defining the scope of religious ministry and that faith-based institutions and even private businesses affected by the mandate will simply not comply with the government’s unjust intrusion into the affairs of religion and freedom of conscience,” said Monica Miller, director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society and a co-organizer of the national rallies, in a statement.

“Even should Obamacare be ruled unconstitutional, these rallies are necessary to ensure that freedom of religion will be protected in any possible subsequent health care legislation,” Miller said.

The court is expected to rule on the legality of the entire legislation, not just the HHS mandate, but several groups have filed lawsuits challenging the contraception mandate in case the law — or parts of it — are upheld.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have called for a “Fortnight for Freedom,” including prayer, fasting and action, from June 21 to July 4.

The first religious freedom rallies March 23 drew more than 63,000 protesters across the country, including about 1,000 in Detroit. The rallies are organized by the Pro-Life Action League and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society.