Youth groups affiliated with Pinecrest Academy, an independent Catholic school affiliated with the Legionaries of Christ, and youth groups from other denominations are holding a prayer rally on Wednesday, Oct. 24, in Fowler Park, Cumming.

The youth groups will hear music and spend time in prayer focusing on the 2012 election and on public policies regarding marriage, abortion and religious freedom. The U.S. Catholic bishops and other religious leaders and business owners are seeking relief in the courts after a federal mandate required all employers, including religious institutions, to give free contraceptive, sterilization and abortifacient coverage in all employee health care plans, even if to do so conflicts with the moral teaching of the denomination.

Taking part are Challenge and Conquest youth teams, the Parkview Presbyterian Church youth group and other area youth groups, according to Tina Gannon.

“Our goal is to unite with other Christian youth in the Atlanta area to worship, pray and fellowship,” she said.

The schedule includes music at 4 p.m., prayer led by youth from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and food and fellowship until 6 p.m.