COLUMBUS – On January 22nd, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church was the scene of an attack by abortion activists during an annual memorial service for the unborn on the 48th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade. While one dozen riotous protestors burst into the service with signs, bullhorns, shouting profanities at attendees, the Columbus Police were contacted, but no citations were given.
But last week after public scrutiny, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein finally filed charges against four individuals involved in the disruption of the Respect Life Mass.
The City Attorney is proceeding with criminal charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass against J. Close, M. Davis, M. Hickman, and Disorderly Conduct, Criminal Trespass, and Criminal Damaging against A. Morrice. The abortion group has stated on their Facebook page they plan to return to the church.
“We appreciate the immediate work of the Columbus Police to remove those involved from the Cathedral and the efforts of the Ohio State Highway Patrol to keep participants at the Roe Remembrance safe,” commented Beth Vanderkooi, Executive Director of the Greater Columbus Right to Life. “We will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement and continue to review our legal options.”
According to Vanderkooi, Greater Columbus Right to Life (GCRTL) organizes and participates in peaceful prayer, protest, and ministry on the sidewalks around Ohio’s abortion clinics. Hundreds of women and children have expressed gratitude for the work that GCRTL has done to invite women to consider a life choice.
“I am just appalled. My heart goes out to the congregants. I actually feel bad for the protesters since there is something twisted in their hearts that they were not able to recognize the American value of the freedom to worship. It’s a sign of the times, a growing tolerance for Christian viewpoints in the marketplace, an accelerating trend. I think we need to move now, rather than later to protect religious freedom.”
Ohio Attorney General David Yost
“GCRTL volunteers are held to extremely high standards of behavior, and any volunteer who does not abide by those standards is invited to either change his or her behavior or withdraw from our program. Such an attempt to chill free speech by these abortion activists is shameful and manipulative. For a group of self-described militant abortion extremists’ to enter into private property with the intended purpose of disrupting and blaspheming a religious observance and disrupting a private event cannot and should not be justified by pointing to the actions of law-abiding persons exercising their First Amendment rights by peacefully protesting abortion.”
Last month on his radio show, Ohio Christian Alliance President Chris Long hosted Ohio Attorney General David Yost to discuss the incident at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
“I am just appalled. My heart goes out to the congregants,” Attorney General David Yost said during the interview. “I actually feel bad for the protesters since there is something twisted in their hearts that they were not able to recognize the American value of the freedom to worship. It is a sign of the times, a growing tolerance for Christian viewpoints in the marketplace that is accelerating. I think we need to move now, rather than later to protect religious freedom.”
Long added, “The Bible may talk about turning the other cheek and praying for your enemy, but the Bible also talks about civil authorities and executing judgement on evildoers; there is a balance. We have not seen this in Ohio-this incident is a new watershed moment and an alarming one at that, I have not seen this in twenty years. I believe that It is important that not just trespass laws and violent entry laws were broken, but there are possibly federal laws that were broken.”
According to 18 U.S. Code § 247, whoever damages religious property, obstructs the practice of religion , and/or injures anyone is guilty of a Federal Offense.
Following the announcement of the charges, Long commented, “I am pleased City Attorney Zach Klein has responded to this serious assault against Saint Joseph Catholic Church, a house of worship in the City of Columbus. The free exercise and practice of worship should be protected at all costs. The freedom of worship is our First Amendment right, and elected officials are obligated by law and the U.S Constitution to protect and defend it.”
The Bottom Line:
“Notice how GOD is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in His kindness.” Romans 11:22
