On this week's edition of The 3, featuring three stories of relevance to the Christian community, there is the story of a pro-life activist who was arrested by federal law enforcement in a particularly aggressive manner who has filed a lawsuit. Also, pro-abortion activists in Florida have crafted a new amendment that would create a constitutional right to abortion in the state and the state's Supreme Court has been petitioned to block the amendment from moving forward. Plus, thousands of former military members kicked out of the Army for refusing to take the COVID vaccine have been invited to come back or at least have records revised.
Pro-life activist acquitted, responds by suing Justice Department
By now you may have heard the story of Mark Houck, a pro-life Pennsylvania man who, along with his son, were outside an abortion clinic in Philadelphia, when a man began to accost his son. A CBN.com story stated:
As CBN News reported, Houck was charged by the Department of Justice with counts of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act after he shoved a pro-abortion volunteer escort who was harassing his young son outside an abortion clinic in Philadelphia.
Houck could have received up to 11 years in prison and forced to pay a $350,000 fine, according to the story, but he was "acquitted of all charges" back in January.
But, the circumstances of his being taken into custody were quite troubling. The CBN story states:
Mark Houck woke up on September 23, 2022, to an incessant banging on his door. When he opened it, he saw more than 15 FBI agents crowded on his front porch and the front lawn with guns pointed at him.The story says that Houck "...and his wife, Ryan-Marie, have filed lawsuits against the DOJ. Their complaints detail the extent of the emotional trauma their family has experienced since that day in September." This includes three miscarriages that Ryan-Marie has suffered.
"They were all the way lined down my driveway," Houck told The Daily Signal. "I had agents on my porch with long guns."
Despite putting his hands up and willingly cooperating, multiple agents pointed guns in Mark's face as his family – including his seven young children – were forced to watch their dad "shackled" and taken away, family representative Brian Middleton told CBN's Faithwire at the time.
Houck's lawsuit describes the arrest as an "unnecessary and unlawful show of force," and he accuses the agency of intentionally seeking to assault him and deprive him of his Fourth Amendment rights "by using excessive force to arrest him on non-violent charges when he had not threatened law enforcement, did not own a gun, and had offered to turn himself in to authorities if indicted."
Houck seeks $1.1 million for malicious prosecution, retaliatory prosecution, false arrest, abuse of process, and assault. Ryan-Marie is seeking $3.25 million in damages for herself and her children.
Florida pro-abortion activists draft sample amendment
Following the approval of Issue 1 in Ohio, creating a so-called right to abortion in the state's constitution, Focus on the Family's Life Issues Analyst Nicole Hunt appeared on The Meeting House on Faith Radio and warned against other states that may be considering similar amendments.
A group of pro-abortion organizations are proposing an abortion amendment to be sent to Florida voters. Liberty Counsel represents a group opposing the amendment, and states on its website:
The proposed amendment is sponsored by Floridians Protecting Freedom, Inc., a political committee supported by the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, the American Civil Liberties Union, and other groups that support the termination of preborn humans through unrestricted abortion on demand.
The piece on the website notes:
Liberty Counsel has filed a reply brief on behalf of Florida Voters Against Extremism (FLVAE) urging the Florida Supreme Court to not approve the wording of a proposed amendment that would codify unrestricted abortion as a right in the state’s Constitution. In the reply brief, Liberty Counsel argues that the initiative is misleading and deceptive and violates the single subject rule. In the brief, Liberty Counsel states the sponsor completely sidesteps these legal issues and fails to provide a meaningful rebuttal.
There was pro-life analysis about deceptive language in the Ohio amendment, and the deception seems to be occurring in the Florida process. Liberty Counsel states:
The proposed amendment misleads voters and hides the true purpose behind the amendment and its effect, which is to enshrine a right of abortion in Florida for any reason, at any stage of the pregnancy. The effect of the proposed amendment would prevent the State of Florida from regulating all abortions that a vague and undefined “healthcare provider” may deem “necessary” to protect the woman’s “health.”
Army invites members removed for not receiving COVID vaccine to re-enlist or have records revised
Well over 25,000 members of the U.S. military were reportedly denied religious exemptions from a requirement to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a report on the CBN.com website, which said: "A total of 8,945 soldiers, 10,800 airmen and guardians, 4,172 sailors, and 3,717 Marines tried to get religious exemptions from taking the shot but were denied, according to Task and Purpose." Task and Purpose is described as a "military information blog."
Task and Purpose reports that the Army is sending out invitations to return. It states:
The Army separated 1,903 active duty soldiers for refusing the COVID-19 vaccination during the nearly year and a half it was mandatory, the service said. Letters were sent to approximately 1,900 troops, according to an Army spokesperson.The article continues: "The letter comes as the Army is dealing with a recruitment crisis. The service missed its recruiting goals for this past year by nearly 15,000 soldiers. A lack of interest from Gen Z to join the military, with many citing factors as broad as the economy and job market to factors as specific as the service’s struggles with sexual assault and suicide in the ranks."
In October, CNN reported that only 43 of over 8,000 troops across the entire military had been discharged for refusing the vaccine and showed interest in rejoining. As of September, 19 soldiers returned to active duty, according to the Army.
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