112 Clergy warn upcoming election for Ohio Supreme Court ‘a matter of life and death’

NORTH CENTRAL OHIO — While GOP candidates have fared well in statewide races, Democrats have won three of the past four Ohio Supreme Court elections. With the issue of abortion now going to the states and a slim 4-3 conservative majority on the Court, this midterm election is one of the most important Ohio Supreme Court races in memory.

A group of clergy believe the magnitude of just one court decision illustrates the importance of electing Pro-Life state and local judges. Presently, the Ohio Heartbeat Law has been put on hold by a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court judge. With all of the courtroom drama, the clergy have released an open letter endorsing five judicial candidates, hoping to keep a Pro-Life majority.

“Based on merit, we promote candidates who represent the best interests of faith, family, and freedom.  As 112 leading clergymen in our state, we encourage Ohioans to show up at their polling places in person on Tuesday, November 8th, 2022 and vote in favor of the following…”

The clergy formally endorsed the re-election of conservative Justices Sharon Kennedy, Pat Fischer and Pat DeWine for Ohio Supreme Court for 6-year terms. They also supported the re-election of Justice Craig Baldwin for Ohio Court of Appeals 5th District and the election of Atty. Beth Owens for Richland County Domestic Court Judge. The candidates made the clergy list after a review of candidate websites and a review of voter guides Buckeye Ballot and ivoterguide.

The clergy believe abortion strips the autonomy of millions of babies in the United States, in particular those coming from households with low incomes and those belonging to racial and ethnic minorities.

“While judicial activists are producing a two-tiered system of justice, we believe Judeo-Christian values establish a framework of morality necessary for limited government. There is no constitutional right to abortion,” says Pastor Steve Schag, one of the cosigners of the open letter.

“As GOD says in the Book of Isaiah, ‘I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”

The clergy co-signers of the open letter are from fourteen counties throughout the state. Counties with the most clergy represented include: Richland (66), Crawford (10), Ashland (6), Trumbull (6), Wayne (6).

The faith leaders are convinced the endorsed candidates can be judged by their record.  All three Supreme Court Justices running for office have ruled in favor of the sanctity of life on two critical occasions.  Once in 2018 to reinstate the order of the Ohio Department of Health revoking and refusing to renew the license of a Toledo abortion clinic, and in 2016 stating a Cleveland abortion clinic did not have standing to challenge a state budget bill which included additional requirements for abortion providers.

Liberal Justice Jennifer Brunner who is running for the Chief Supreme Court Justice seat believes the State of Ohio should follow the United Nations which says abortion is a ‘human right.’ Pastor Mark Wireman disagrees with this premise.

“Founding Father John Adams stated the U.S. Constitution was made ‘only for a moral and religious people and is wholly inadequate for any other government.’ Herein lies the problem. We have Godless people reinterpreting the Bible and the Constitution to destroy the morality which our freedom and rule of law was founded on.”

The clergy contend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are GOD-given inalienable rights for all people, even those without a voice.

“Elections have consequences,” adds Bishop Sylvester Ginn. “With three of the seven seats up for election, the next term of the Ohio State Supreme Court will decide if the barbaric abortion of children is a constitutional right.  There is no question, this Ohio election is a matter of life and death.”

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The Bottom Line:

The Bible says in Isaiah Chapter 1, “I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning: afterward you shall be called, the city of righteousness, the faithful city.”