
"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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