Posted on 10/02/2012 6:35:07 AM PDT by NYer
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 1, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Over the weekend, 54 pro-life activists were arrested outside the White House. Their crime? Kneeling to pray.
Bryan Kemper, the founder of Stand True Pro-life Outreach, told LifeSiteNews.com (LSN) that dozens of activists were breaking an ordinance that bans protesters from remaining stationary - allowing them to carry signs in front of the White House, but not to kneel in prayer - to draw attention to the Obama administration’s assault on religious liberty through the HHS mandate.
The event’s organizer Rev. Pat Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, told LSN, “In the HHS mandate, we see the greatest assault on religious freedom the history of our nation…We sensed there had to be a response from the church.”
The arrests, which are scheduled to continue Tuesday at noon, were the first part of a strategy “to send a clear message to President Obama and our elected officials that we can never comply with an unjust or immoral government mandate, which forces us to violate our core convictions, and we would rather to go jail before we comply. We will not comply.”
The HHS mandate, requiring all employers to provide contraceptive and abortifacient coverage to their employees, is seen by many as a prelude to state-funded abortion, a violation of religious principle that is part of the Democratic Party platform and already a reality in many Western nations.
“I was here because I want my children to grow up in a country I love and be able to practice their faith, be able to have their religious freedom,” Kemper said. “And if I’m not willing to stand up for my own children, no one else is going to.”
Kemper was arrested both Saturday and Sunday, as he had written he would be. Some 22 people were arrested Saturday, with another 32 arrested on Sunday and more arrests taking place Monday at noon. Most of those arrested today were young people affiliated with Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust.
One of them was Jayne White, a 21-year-old college student from California, who told LSN she was “motivated by the past history of the church.” She said those who had withstood state encroachment on their faith – like the Cristeros popularized in the film For Greater Glory – showed the importance of resisting tyranny.
“If we back down now, we are going to be overrun,” White said. “It is a time to take action…It is time to be outwardly pro-life, to be outwardly Christian, to stand up for our religious freedoms. That’s why I’m out here today. ”
White said, “The D.C. police were very courteous. They even said, ‘Good job. Thanks for being out there’ – I got that from one officer. That was very encouraging. I know they were just doing their jobs.”
Others who were arrested originally had no intention of getting involved. Kemper told LifeSiteNews one woman who witnessed the arrests said, “I want to jump in there and get arrested with them.”
“There were several people who were in D.C. for other reasons who ended up joining us and getting arrested, because they were inspired by our willingness to say, ‘No, you can’t take away our religious freedom,’” Kemper said.
The ongoing event was organized by ActsFive29, a religious freedom organization based on the Apostle Peter’s response to state authorities who told him not to preach the Gospel: “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
The group held a Religious Freedom Rally adjacent to the White House on Sunday, where a crowd of hundreds heard from Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life, Bryan Fischer of AFR Talk, Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life, Lila Rose of Live Action, and many others. Fr. Pavone then led a rosary service.
“We want a national conversation to begin today,” Rev. Mahoney told LifeSiteNews. “How do people of faith respond when the government begins to encroach into the private affairs of their lives and their families and their values and their beliefs? We felt here from Lafayette Park this movement would begin to spread nationally, and we’re looking to do a whole series of conferences and events.”
He said the group hopes religious freedom becomes a major issue in the 2012 election. “Our hope and prayer is that the president not be reelected, but a very real possibility exists that President Obama may get elected to a second term,” he said.
In addition to Kemper’s ministry, the CDC, and Survivors, ActsFive29 is sponsored by the American Family Association, Operation Rescue, Priests for Life, Pro-Life Action League, CEC for Life, and Foot Soldiers for Life.
22 arrests (so far) - say, isn’t that about as many as all of the OWS foolishness combined?
Did they have a permit? If so, for what?
Can’t be stationery? OK, bring knee pads and crawl on your knees, as one would over broken glass to vote against Obama’s regime!
HF
The “remain stationary” crap is an example of a law that is enforced when the politicians want, against whoever they want. If they don’t like what you represent, they arrest you. If you are on their side, they ignore you.
The “occupy” crowd was allowed to do whatever they wanted, with the blessing and support of the administration. Pro-lifers are hated by the raging feminazis, who dictate to the administration what it must do.
Either walk or get arrested. If you sit, it is a signal that you want to be arrested. That’s the point of sitting.
Only one protester is allowed to sit and he has been there since the 70’s. He’s grandfathered in.
Just....WOW!
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Heroes!
God bless these people!!
Serious prayer for our country and the election:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2925356/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2938961/posts
Our church group went down to that rally and protest, partly to support the noble effort, of course, but partly because our beloved priest was among the speakers. The rule about continuing to move when in front of the White House is not actually a bad one because it keeps Occupy and similar groups from just setting up shop there and blocking access for everyone else. For protesters, Lafayette Park, a completely legal place to demonstrate, is just across the street, a few feet way.
People sat down on the sidewalk in front of the White House with the deliberate intention of getting arrested. The cops were friendly, supportive, and agreeable. Many of them already knew Reverend Patrick Mahoney, who organized all of this and is an old hand at rallying the troops and getting arrested. He was laughing merrily with the joy of the Lord through the whole thing, serious though the subject is and passionate though he is about it. He has also recently organized demonstrations and speeches in front of HHS headquarters and in front of the US Supreme Court. Great guy, a real man of God.
Good. A conscientious citizen should know the rule he is willing to disobey. “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
We have laws protecting abortuaries, too.
Correct and our unwillingness to fight to change those laws is why they are there.
Yes.
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