Arrested Development in California
December 05, 2016
If California wants to secede from the union, stories like this one will have more people cheering them on!
The Golden State hasn't exactly been hospitable to men and women of faith, and Father James Linton is the latest pro-lifer to find that out the hard way.
The Anglican pastor, who has stood and prayed with women outside a local abortion clinic for more than a year, was slapped with a hefty find -- and may even face jail time -- after being arrested in San Bernardino for offering comfort to the moms and dads entering the clinic. Officially, he was charged with "interference with a business," which is ironic since the "business," a Planned Parenthood facility, has full-scale wall around the facility.
Like most people, Allison Aranda, senior staff council for Life Legal Defense Foundation, thinks the charges are bogus.
"Father Linton simply offered assistance and alternatives to its patrons that could save the lives of their precious babies... In fact, the code section under which Father Linton was charged, specifically exempts from criminal liability those who are engaging in [free speech]."
FRC's Travis Weber thinks the case against Linton is on shaky legal ground at best. "There appears to be zero basis for prosecuting Father Linton," he explained. Though charged with interfering with a business under state law, he does not appear to have interfered with the abortion facility in any way.
Moreover, the state statute explicitly exempts activity (like Father Linton's public prayers) which is protected by the federal and state constitutions. There's no reason why this prosecution should have occurred at all -- whether due to animosity, ignorance, or something else."
Unfortunately, this is just part of a national strategy for cracking down on any speech that competes with the pro-abortion message.
For years, the Obama administration has teamed up with abortion groups to find ways to target and intimidate peaceful protestors. They don't seem to care that clamping down on pro-lifers is a violation of the First Amendment. But then, that's never been a concern of this White House. They'll use whatever tactics it takes to advance their pro-abortion agenda.
Tony Perkins' Washington Update is written with the aid of FRC senior writers.
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