{"id":1469781,"date":"2022-05-10T08:16:02","date_gmt":"2022-05-10T12:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1469781"},"modified":"2022-05-10T08:16:28","modified_gmt":"2022-05-10T12:16:28","slug":"peaceful-legal-ways-states-churches-and-pro-lifers-can-stop-abortion-radicals-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/peaceful-legal-ways-states-churches-and-pro-lifers-can-stop-abortion-radicals-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"Peaceful, Legal Ways States, Churches, And Pro-Lifers Can Stop Abortion Radicals\u2019 Violence"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpeaceful-legal-ways-states-churches-and-pro-lifers-can-stop-abortion-radicals-violence%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1469781&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/image-2022-05-09T171618.314-1024x576-1.png\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" alt=\"image\" \/><\/div>\n<p>Pro-abortion groups this past week have called for increased lawlessness to express their opposition to the expected reversal of the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in <em>Roe v. Wade.<\/em> Apparently having failed to persuade either the court of the soundness of their legal position or Congress of the necessity of codifying <em>Roe<\/em> in a federal statute, these groups are committing, or threatening to commit, hate crimes targeting churches and worshippers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The real or intended victims of these outrages are not defenseless. The legal system affords them robust protections against violations of their right to free exercise of religion. These include both federal and state criminal and civil remedies and private civil actions under federal and state law.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Churches and congregants alike should make full use of our legal system to protect themselves against pro-abortion forces that are vandalizing church property and attempting to intimidate believers as they worship. Not only do they owe it to themselves to defend their religious liberty, they have a duty to the larger community to combat these unmistakable hate crimes.<\/p>\n<p>To date, President Biden has failed to personally denounce these threats to religious liberty by the pro-abortion forces that are Democrats\u2019 political allies and core constituents. So has his Justice Department, which was quick to condemn parents appearing at public school board meetings. An unnamed White House official made a meaningless comment, and Press Secretary Jen Psaki finally condemned \u201cviolence, threats, or vandalism\u201d on Twitter Monday, but the president himself has yet to speak out against pro-abortionists\u2019 recent violent tactics.<\/p>\n<p>Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland should be publicly shamed if their inaction continues. And if the administration chooses to turn a blind eye as the legal rights of American believers are trashed, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.13newsnow.com\/article\/news\/local\/virginia\/ag-miyares-statement-potential-roe-v-wade-protests-churches\/291-09dd1da1-a4d2-472b-8853-51a8711a1cc5\">state attorneys general can and should fill the breach<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Private persons can also bring tort actions under federal and state law, and if successful might obtain monetary damages in amounts that could be a significant blow to the pro-abortion movement and its <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2022\/05\/06\/the-kavanaugh-circus-continues-more-dangerous-than-ever\/\">(often undisclosed) donors<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><\/figure>\n<h2>Two Forms of Attack on Religious Liberty<\/h2>\n<p>The assaults on religious liberty are coming in two forms. One is the vandalization of church property, such as happened in Boulder, Colo., soon after the leak of the draft Supreme Court opinion in <em>Dobbs. <\/em>Vandals broke the windows and spray-painted over the doors of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtontimes.com\/news\/2022\/may\/5\/colorado-catholic-church-vandalized-pro-abortion-m\/?msclkid=9cc19906ce4911eca42d0884dd9c59cd\">the Sacred Heart of Mary Church<\/a> and left pro-abortion messages, including \u201ckeep your religion off our bodies\u201d and \u201cmy body, my choice.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Over the past two years, Colorado has seen a series of attacks (not all proclaiming pro-abortion views) on Catholic churches. These attacks include one last October on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/249250\/denver-cathedral-vandalized-with-anti-catholic-slogans#:~:text=St.%20Louis%20Parish%20in%20nearby%20Louisville%2C%20Colorado%20was,Conference%20of%20Catholic%20Bishops%E2%80%99%20Committee%20for%20Religious%20Liberty.?msclkid=9cc2fbb0ce4911ec892cc50649093db8\">Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception<\/a> in Denver, and another in September on St. Louis Catholic Church in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianpost.com\/news\/colorado-church-vandalized-with-pro-choice-graffiti.html?msclkid=dee2690cce4c11ec957a97583ed09b47\">Boulder suburb<\/a> (involving pro-abortion graffiti).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>What is happening in Colorado unfortunately has been happening throughout the country. In January, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usccb.org\/committees\/religious-liberty\/Backgrounder-Attacks-on-Catholic-Churches-in-US\">reported<\/a> that there had been at least 129 attacks on Catholic churches in 35 states and the District of Columbia since May 2020. Secular sources like The Wall Street Journal have noted the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/desecration-of-catholic-churches-across-u-s-leaves-congregations-shaken-11595451973\">increase in desecration<\/a> of Catholic churches as well. If <em>Roe <\/em>is indeed overruled, expect worse.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In a second line of attack, the shadowy pro-abortion group Ruth Sent Us has called, not only for demonstrations outside the homes of six Supreme Court justices, but also for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@ruthsent\/video\/7092155999200529710?\">disruption<\/a> of services in Catholic churches on Mother\u2019s Day during Sunday mass. The group <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ruthsentus\/status\/1521566593850826752\">posted<\/a> a message on Twitter, stating \u201cWhether you\u2019re a \u2018Catholic for Choice,\u2019 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Protesters disrupted planned services at Old St. Patrick\u2019s Cathedral in New York City, some engaging in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/corner\/abortion-enthusiasts-block-the-front-door-of-lower-manhattan-church-saturday-morning\/?\">grotesque pantomimes of abortion<\/a> immediately outside the church grounds.\u00a0Christopher Plant, whose bio says he is the pastor of St. Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church in Katy, Texas, took to Twitter on Monday to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FrPlant\/status\/1523669071975563265\">report<\/a> that the church\u2019s tabernacle had been stolen the night before.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"krEqdb6jUkTABNbaZFAlGuCchWMxsCtqHXxeDfpYtlI87seSYZo51SgVmOm2WvLJE37nrzz35pwjRVTKdXQR0JhvLi\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019m killing the babies\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A protester held a bundle of baby dolls as she led a protest at the doors of the Basilica of St Patrick&#8217;s Old Cathedral in Manhattan, NYC. She was blocked from going inside by a group of praying men. Vid posted by <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ScooterCasterNY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ScooterCasterNY<\/a>:<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uIaFXBJpxR\">pic.twitter.com\/uIaFXBJpxR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Andy Ng\u00f4 \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@MrAndyNgo) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MrAndyNgo\/status\/1523036388492337152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 7, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Meanwhile, a Molotov cocktail was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/251174\/threats-to-catholic-masses-mothers-day?msclkid=8128c194cf2b11ecac8fcca1027ef7a8\">thrown<\/a> into the headquarters of pro-life group Wisconsin Family Action in Madison, Wis., with the words \u201cIf abortions aren\u2019t safe you aren\u2019t either\u201d graffitied outside. A pro-life center in Denton, Texas was also defaced.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Federal Remedy:\u00a0The FACE Act <\/h2>\n<p>These dangers to the peaceful exercise of religious liberties must be confronted and overcome. Even if the Biden administration refuses to quell threats and intimidation, believers have \u2013 and should use \u2013 the remedies that the law provides for them.<\/p>\n<p>Of these remedies, one powerful option is, ironically, The Freedom of Access to [Abortion] Clinic Entrances Act (FACE). In an obvious legislative compromise, FACE <a href=\"https:\/\/www.law.cornell.edu\/uscode\/text\/18\/248\">protects<\/a> not only abortion facilities, providers, and clients, but also criminalizes actions or attempts intended \u201cby force or threat of force or by physical obstruction\u201d to injure, intimidate or interfere with \u201cany person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.\u201d Likewise, FACE criminalizes the actions of anyone who \u201cintentionally damages or destroys the property of a place of religious worship.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Enforcement of these criminal provisions is, however, in the hands of the vehemently <a href=\"https:\/\/pjmedia.com\/election\/tyler-o-neil\/2020\/08\/07\/why-is-joe-biden-silent-on-the-attacks-against-catholic-statues-churches-and-beliefs-n762118?msclkid=60609752ce5511ec979eb411039f1b86\">pro-abortion Biden administration<\/a>, which can be expected to tailor the execution of the laws to its political ends. Even so, FACE offers other means for vindicating religious liberties. <\/p>\n<p>This is because FACE also authorizes churches and individual worshippers injured by the relevant misconduct to bring private actions on their own behalf. If entitled to relief, they may obtain either (or both) an injunction against the misconduct or \u201ccompensatory and punitive damages,\u201d along with an award of reasonable legal fees. These legal awards, especially if they include punitive damages, could be crippling for pro-abortion defendants.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Finally, FACE authorizes state attorneys general who find \u201creasonable cause to believe\u201d that a violation \u201cis being, has been, or may be\u201d occurring, to bring civil actions. The Virginia attorney general has already signaled his intention to refer any criminal violations for prosecution. Concerned citizens should demand that their state attorneys general follow suit.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>State Criminal Law Protections<\/h2>\n<p>States also commonly have hate crimes statutes that are similar to these federal civil rights laws. Colorado, for example, has <a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.law.ucla.edu\/c.php?g=589923&#038;p=4078036\">at least two statutes<\/a> that might apply to the vandalization of a Catholic church in that state. <a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/co\/title-18-criminal-code\/co-rev-st-sect-18-9-113.html?msclkid=9428eca4ce3f11ec9d2eed4ac840568b\">One statute<\/a> makes it a crime knowingly to \u201cdesecrate\u201d (which includes defacing) \u201cany place of worship.\u201d It will be interesting to see if the state\u2019s Attorney General Phil Weiser, who served in the Clinton and Obama administrations, will bring a case under the state\u2019s anti-desecration law on behalf of the Catholic churches in his jurisdiction.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Privately Enforceable State Tort Laws<\/h2>\n<p>Lawsuits against the pro-abortion extremists who attack churches or worshippers can also be brought under state tort laws by the injured parties. Professor John Banzhaf of George Washington University Law School has argued that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.valuewalk.com\/2020\/06\/civil-law-suits-deter-riots\/\">civil actions, especially if class actions, can bring justice<\/a> to those who suffered injuries when \u201cpeaceful protests\u201d have turned into violence that damaged their lives or property. For instance, journalist <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oregonlive.com\/portland\/2020\/12\/andy-ngos-lawsuit-against-rose-city-antifa-protesters-can-move-forward-judge-decides.html\">Andy Ngo<\/a> sued those who beat when while he was covering a \u201cpeaceful protest\u201d that turned into a riot, <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/or-state-wire-american-protests-lawsuits-us-news-donald-trump-9c484adddf335e79be648e70406622ca\">alleging<\/a> the torts of assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress as well as a violation of the state\u2019s anti-racketeering act.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Legal Self-Defense <\/h2>\n<p>Finally, churches and worshippers should remember that they have a legal right of self-defense against threats to life and limb.\u00a0The choice of forms that self-defense should take \u2013 churches might install security cameras, provide cans of pepper spray to their congregations, or even bring in defenders who openly bear arms \u2013 is best left to the consciences of pastors and congregants within the confines of applicable law.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n<p>\n  Robert Delahunty is a Washington Fellow of the Claremont Institute for the American Way of Life. Teresa S. Collett is a Professor of Law at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, where she directs the Pro-Life Center.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pro-abortion groups this past week have called for increased lawlessness to express their opposition to the expected reversal of the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Roe v. Wade. Apparently having failed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":767,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1469781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1469781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1469781"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1469781\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1469781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1469781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1469781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}