"Let everyone who is Godly pray to you while you may be found"  (Psalm 32:6)

ASHCROFT ACTION COULD PUT PRO-LIFE PREACHER IN PRISON

[The king issued a decree that] "anyone who prays to any god or man during the next thirty days [except to the king] shall be thrown into the lions' den..." Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before (Dan 6:5-15).

On Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003, a day after the anniversary of Roe v Wade, Rev. Pat Mahoney, Presbyterian minister, director of the Christian Defense Coalition (CDC) and close friend of The Capitol Hill Prayer Alert, may be jailed for up-to six months for violating an injunction barring him from prayer on a public sidewalk outside a DC abortion clinic.

--In 1998, the Christian Defense Coalition organized a peaceful prayer vigil outside a now-closed DC abortion clinic. Rev. Mahoney prayed and read Scripture on the public sidewalk outside the clinic. No one was denied entrance to the clinic. Yet, Rev. Mahoney was arrested and charged under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrance Act (FACE).

--Attorney General Janet Reno and the Department of Justice pressed their case against Rev. Mahoney even though there had been no complaints. For the first time in history, the U.S. DOJ filed charges under FACE on their own initiative with no injured party having come forward.

--Federal Judge Gladys Kessler found Rev. Mahoney guilty. At the DOJ's request, Kessler issued an injunction forbidding Rev. Mahoney from praying, preaching, counseling or conducting any other activity within 25 feet of any Washington, DC abortion clinic.

--The American Center for Law & Justice appealed on Rev. Mahoney's behalf and, in 2001, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sent the case back to the lower court stating that the injunction was overbroad and unconstitutional.

--In January 2002, Rev. Mahoney informed the Bush DOJ of his plans to hold another vigil. Just as Reno had done, the Ashcroft DOJ took initiative to prohibit Rev. Mahoney from exercising his constitutional right to free speech. Judge Kessler granted an injunction, without any public complaint or injured party.

--On Thursday, June 20, 2002, Rev. Mahoney prayed on the public sidewalk outside another DC abortion clinic. Rev. Mahoney was arrested and now faces the possibility of a jail term.

As a Christian activist, Rev. Mahoney believes he is called of God to use every peaceful, constitutional means to stand against abortion. He is determined to challenge this and every unlawful, unconstitutional and discriminatory effort to restrain peaceful pro-life activity. The precedence of this case will have serious repercussions for all involved in the Pro-Life movement whatever happens.

Join Us in Interceding for Rev. Mahoney:

-God, please, GRANT FAVOR to Rev. Patrick Mahoney & to all who peacefully stand against Abortion injustice across our nation. May Rev. Mahoney remain free to care for his family & to carry on his Biblical pro-life ministry.

-May Attorney General Ashcroft & the DOJ reverse themselves. May the DOJ do what is RIGHT - under the law & in Your sight. In Jesus' Name, AMEN! (1 Kings 3:12; Ps 31:19-20; Pr 29:25; Is 51:7; Jn 7:24; Rom 8:37; Jas 1:5; Rev 12:11)

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