Hawaii Family Forum, Hawaii Family Advocates and the Hawaii Catholic Conference are sponsoring the Rally for Religious Liberty at the state Capitol June 30 to protest federal health care mandates on church-affiliated institutions.

The event, which lasts from 1 to 4 p.m. and features live music, hula, speakers and food, is being held in conjunction with a two-week nationwide campaign waged by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops called Fortnight for Freedom, according to the Respect Life Office of the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu on its website, www.catholic­hawaii.org.

In support of the campaign, Bishop Larry Silva will celebrate Mass and lead evening prayer today at 5:30 p.m. at Star of the Sea Parish, 4470 Aliikoa St.

The Fortnight event was prompted by Catholic bishops’ opposition to a recent U.S. Department of Health and Human Service mandate requiring hospitals, universities and charities affiliated with a religion to provide employees with free birth-control coverage as part of health insurance. Churches may still claim a religious exemption.

The period of prayer, penance, education and action started Thursday and runs through July 4. It began with Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption in Baltimore, and ends on Independence Day at noon, when churches nationwide will ring their bells in solidarity. Visit the bishops’ website at www.usccb.org.