LEGAL HELP FOR PRO LIFE AMERICANS AND CHURCHES FROM ABORTION TERRORISTS
Thomas More Society is here to Defend Prolife Americans: CONTACT HERE:
Although pro-abortionists have been targeting pro-life and Christian individuals, organizations, and churches in the U.S. for quite some time, their attacks have increased considerably over the last two years.
Since May 2020, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has documented at least 134 incidents of vandalism, arson, and other hate crimes directed at Catholics across 35 states and the District of Columbia. ¹ In particular, since the leak of the U.S. Supreme Court’s draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, pro-abortion extremist attacks have begun to escalate in intensity and increase in number. ²
The Thomas More Society is a national public interest law firm dedicated to defending pro-life Christian individuals, organizations, and churches. During this period of unrest, we’re here to stand beside you as your pro-life legal advocates. We will gladly represent people who experience unlawful discrimination for being pro-life.
How the Thomas More Society Can Protect Pro-Life Advocates:
Represent clients harassed for pro-life work;
Assist clients with damaged or stolen property;
Assist churches that experience disruption during religious services;
Help clients get police to enforce existing laws;
Protect clients’ free speech rights.
Know Your Rights:
Many of the incidents happening across the country by pro-abortion activists are illegal, and the Thomas More Society wants you to understand your rights. If you, your pro-life organization, or your church experiences attacks by pro-abortion extremists, know that there may be federal criminal and civil laws that protect you. In addition, there may be state laws that provide legal remedies. Even if hostile pro-abortion acts do not rise to the level of a hate crime, they could still subject pro-abortion activists to significant legal liability under federal law.
The Rights of Church Pastors and Church Security Volunteers
It is illegal for any person to destroy or damage the property of a place of religious worship. It is also unlawful for any individual to physically obstruct, injure, intimidate or interfere (or attempt to do these things) with any person who is exercising their First Amendment right to worship at a church. Disruption of religious services by pro-abortion extremists is illegal.
Under 18 U.S.C.A. § 248 “Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances” (the “FACE Act”), anyone who engages in the below behavior is subject to penalties:
(2) by force or threat of force or by physical obstruction, intentionally injures, intimidates or interferes with or attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship; or
(3) intentionally damages or destroys the property of a facility, or attempts to do so, because such facility provides reproductive health services, or intentionally damages or destroys the property of a place of religious worship.
Those who violate the FACE Act have civil liability and can be sued for statutory damages, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees. ³ The FACE Act was signed into law in 1994 by Bill Clinton and was first proposed by then-Congressman Chuck Schumer as a pro-abortion bill to shut down pro-life advocates’ presence outside of abortion clinics. However, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) recognized that the bill was biased and he is credited with including in protection for religious freedom in the FACE Act.
Additionally, federal civil rights statute 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) authorizes lawsuits against groups of people who either conspire or go in disguise onto someone else’s property in order to deprive a class of people (including religious classes) of their equal rights under the law. Those who suffer personal or property injury, or are deprived of their rights, can sue for damages. There are also various other common law remedies.
Churches do not have to allow entry to hostile individuals who they perceive will act in an unlawful manner inside the church. If extremists in costumes approach, entrance can be denied to the protesters.
In general, it is illegal to use force against another person if you are not immediately threatened with physical harm. Therefore, it is not advisable to respond with the use of force if you are not in immediate physical danger.
The Rights of a Pro-Life Counselor or Pro-Life Organization
It is illegal for pro-abortion extremists to:
Cause you physical harm
Threaten your safety
Harass you or your organization
Damage, destroy, or steal your property
Law Enforcement Must Enforce Existing Laws
In general, it is illegal to use force against another person if you are not immediately threatened with physical harm. Therefore, it is not advisable to respond with use of force if you are not in immediate physical danger.
Federal civil rights statute 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) authorizes lawsuits against groups of people who either conspire or go in disguise onto someone else’s property in order to deprive a class of people (including religious classes) of their equal rights under the law. Those who suffer personal or property injury, or are deprived of their rights can sue for damages. There are also other various common law remedies.
The aggressive actions of pro-abortion extremists may in certain circumstances be acts of domestic terrorism. ⁴
According to 18 U.S.C.A. § 2331:
(5) the term “DOMESTIC TERRORISM” means activities that;
(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended–
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or
kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States…
If you experience hateful activity against you by pro- abortion extremists:
Remain calm;
Call the police;
If assisted by law enforcement comply immediately with their directives;
If possible, document the incident. (For instance, if safe to do so, record the
activity or have someone else record);Afterwards, reach out for legal assistance if you believe it is necessary.
Safety Tips
Every leader, organization, and church should take appropriate security measures and implement security protocols in the case of a pro-abortion attack.
Utilize security cameras outside your building and hire a security company that will alert you of any threats.
Make sure security set up is connected to windows as well as doors.
Document death and other threats of violence by saving voicemails, emails, and/or letters.
Being stalked when leaving the office is a tactic for intimidation that is sometimes used by extremists. Be aware of your surroundings when entering or exiting a pro-life office.
IT and computer security should be amplified in order to prepare for IT hacks.
Planned pro-abortion protests outside the office and/or church may be able to be monitored online to know if extremists are coming in advance. If so, notify law enforcement ahead of time.
Make sure your building is up to code with Fire Department regulations. Be aware of fire escape doors and where the fire extinguishers are.
Alert the local police that possible threats could arise so they can be aware and do drivebys if necessary, even before a hateful incident occurs.
THOMAS MORE SOCIETY LETTER TO RUTH SENT US:
Via E-Mail Only
Ruth Sent Us info@ruthsent.us
May 6, 2022
Re: Planned Disruption of Religious Worship Services Dear Ruth Sent Us:
Since the police brutality protests in May 2020, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has been tracking hate crimes committed against Catholic properties. To date, the Bishops have identified 129 incidents of vandalism, arson, and other hate crimes directed at Catholics.1 The most recent of these occurred on the evening of May 3, and appears to have been a direct response to the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, No. 19-1392.2
It has come to our attention that on February 28 of this year, you chose to trespass at and disrupt a Catholic Mass being held in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco. You recorded the abusive event and then promoted it on various social media platforms, including Twitter.3
Then, on May 3, you re-posted a portion of the same video, and explained, “Whether you’re a ‘Catholic for Choice’, ex-Catholic, of other or no faith, recognize that six extremist Catholics set out to overturn Roe. Stand at or in a local Catholic Church Sun May 8.”4 In a separate tweet on the same day, you wrote, “We’re calling for interrupting mass or picketing churches nationwide on Mother’s Day.”5 Finally, on May 4, you again tweeted the video and explained, “We protest at churches, to make sure people understand why Roe is falling – extremist Christians plotted it, and all extremist church-goers are complicit.”6
1 https://www.usccb.org/committees/religious-liberty/Backgrounder-Attacks-on-Catholic-Churches-in-US.
2 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251145/colorado-parish-defaced-with-pro-abortion-graffiti-for-
second-time-in-seven-months.
3 https://twitter.com/RuthSentUs/status/1498599272266153987;
https://twitter.com/RuthSentUs/status/1498396056622551042.
4 https://twitter.com/RuthSentUs/status/1521566593850826752.
5 https://twitter.com/RuthSentUs/status/1521562023661764608.
6 https://twitter.com/RuthSentUs/status/1521873744976748546.
Ruth Sent Us
Re: Planned Disruption of Religious Worship Services May 6, 2022
Page 2
___________________________
We write to inform you that even if your planned protests do not rise to the level of a hate crime, they could still subject you to significant legal liability under both California and federal law. Under both the California and federal FACE Acts, the following activities are illegal:
(b) By force, threat of force, or physical obstruction that is a crime of violence, intentionally injures, intimidates, interferes with, or attempts to injure, intimidate, or interfere with a person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.
(d) By nonviolent physical obstruction, intentionally injures, intimidates, or interferes with, or attempts to injure, intimidate, or interfere with, a person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.
(f) Intentionally damages or destroys the property of a place of religious worship.7
A violation of these provisions can be enforced in civil litigation by churches or church attendees, with statutory damages, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees available.8 Indeed, because disruption of religious services is so heinous, courts are instructed that they “shall” issue restraining orders preventing future disruptions.9
Please be advised that for the past 25 years, we have defended the pro-life cause and represented churches and people of faith across our nation, successfully vindicating the legal rights of pro-life and religious individuals at all court levels. We will gladly represent any church or person of faith who seeks legal recourse against you or your protestors for your unlawful disruption of any religious worship services.
Sincerely,
THOMAS MORE SOCIETY
Thomas Brejcha
Charles S. LiMandri
Paul M. Jonna President Special Counsel Special Counsel