In The Wake Of Roe v. Wade, Attacks On Churches, Pregnancy Centers Escalate
Churches and pro-life or Catholic pregnancy centers and organizations are under continued attack following the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
Data compiled by CatholicVote found that at least 35 pro-life centers have been attacked since the the early May leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion indicating that Roe v. Wade might be overturned.
The monumental Supreme Court decision came down on Friday as pro-lifers braced themselves for violent attacks following threats from pro-abortion activists to “rage” in protest over abortion.
Less than a day after the ruling came down, authorities were alerted of a fire at Life Choices pregnancy center in Longmont, Colorado.
Longmont, Colorado
“The building sustained fire and heavy smoke damage,” police said of the pregnancy center. “At the arrival of police and fire staff, the front of the property had been vandalized with black paint. This fire is being investigated as arson.”
The center’s front door was also broken and the building was spray painted with the words, “if abortions aren’t safe neither are you,” as well as the words, “bans off our bodies.”
Both the FBI and Longmont Public Safety are investigating the incident.
“What we hope the perpetrators of this act understand is that an attack on Life Choices is ultimately not an attack on a political party or act of,” Life Choices Executive Director Kathy Roberts told the Times Call. “It is an attack on those who walk through our doors every day in need of diapers, pregnancy tests, limited ultrasounds, clothing, financial and parenting classes, support, and so much more. It is an attack on a place that is supposed to be safe for women, men, and their families.”
Photo courtesy of Longmont Public Safety
Photo courtesy of Longmont Public Safety
Lynchburg, Virginia
In Lynchburg, Virginia, police are investigating vandalism of Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center that also took place early in the morning on Saturday.
The pregnancy center’s windows had been smashed, photos posted by the Lynchburg Police Department show, and the building was spray-painted with graffiti that read “IF ABORTION AINT SAFE YOU AINT SAFE!”
Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, in Virginia, was vandalized last night by pro-abortion domestic terrorists.
This type of destruction does nothing to scare the #prolife movement. It only strengthens our resolve to love & serve. #LifeIsAHumanRight https://t.co/hmOOxlMIFM pic.twitter.com/ahBMeUygsm
— Rev. Dean Nelson (@RevDeanNelson) June 25, 2022
Security camera footage shows that the center was vandalized by four masked individuals.
“There is no room for this in Virginia, breaking the law is unacceptable,” Governor Glenn Youngkin said of the attack. “This is not how we find common ground. Virginia State Police stands ready to support local law enforcement as they investigate.”
There is no room for this in Virginia, breaking the law is unacceptable. This is not how we find common ground. Virginia State Police stands ready to support local law enforcement as they investigate.https://t.co/BONC83jKgj
— Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) June 26, 2022
Houston, Texas
Firefighters responded to a fire at Sacco Company Catholic Store on Saturday evening where a fire reportedly broke out around 8pm. The store, which was founded in 1956 and sells religious books, apparel, vestments, and church supplies, has had to shut its doors “due to fire.”
The Houston Fire Department told The Daily Wire that the fire is “currently under investigation” and a “cause had not been determined yet.”
The owner of the store did not wish to speculate on whether the attack was ideologically motivated or related to the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fr. Patrick Briscoe of the Dominican friars in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, shared Sunday that St. Patrick Parish had been vandalized overnight.
“Please pray for those who are afraid, whoa re suffering, for mothers who need our love and care, and for the conversion of hears and minds,” he asked in a tweet.
A spokesman for the Philadelphia Police Department told The Daily Wire on Monday that Central Detectives is investigating the vandalism, noting that the incident took place on Sunday, June 26.
St. Patrick Parish in Philadelpia, served by @opeast, was vandalized last night.
Please pray for those who are afraid, who are suffering, for mothers who need our love and care, and for conversion of hearts and minds. pic.twitter.com/TiajbSfpvJ
— Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP (@PatrickMaryOP) June 26, 2022
Reston, VA
Police are investigating after St. John Neumann Catholic Church was targeted Sunday with graffiti and possible arson.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department found smoking mulch at the church when they responded to a call early in Sunday morning, and found an accelerant that was likely used for a fire, as well as graffiti on the entrance sign and the back fo the building, reading “THIS WON’T STOP.”
NOW: @FairfaxCountyPD investigating vandalism at a Reston Catholic church tied to overturn of Roe v Wade. Police say this is also an arson investigation bc small fire set
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