Pro-life leaders ask Biden’s admin to address violence

Threats and intimidation appear to be ramping up against pro-life centers in the light of the anticipated Supreme Court decision addressing Roe v. Wade, which is expected to be released just prior to July 4 weekend. Groups such as Jane’s Revenge have vowed to continue doing additional damage.

Countless number of attacks and vandalism have happened against Catholic centers and pro-life organizations nationwide since the May 3 leak of the Supreme Court draft. Meanwhile, the federal government is silent, and their silence appears to send an endorsement of the actions, rather than a condemnation.

Jane’s Revenge proclaimed how “fun” it was to attack pro-life centers. "The infrastructure of the enslavers will not survive. We will never stop, back down, slow down, or retreat. We did not want this; but it is upon us, and so we must deal with it proportionally. We exist in confluence and solidarity with all others in the struggle for complete liberation," the group says. "Our recourse now is to defend ourselves and to build robust, caring communities of mutual aid, so that we may heal ourselves without the need of the medical industry or any other intermediary. Through attacking, we find joy, courage, and strip the veneer of impenetrability held by these violent institutions."

On June 16, multiple pro-life organizations joined forces and sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking for the Department of Justice to do their job and take a stand against the ongoing rash of violence and threats against these churches and pro-life groups. The letter, signed by 26 representatives of pro-life organizations, including Dr. Ben Carson from the American Cornerstone Institute, as well as representatives from the U.S. Conference for Catholic Bishops, United Nations Human Rights Commission, CatholicVote, and March for Life, requests the DOJ to take a stand against the violence.

“Since Mary 2020, over 130 incidents have occurred across 29 states and the District of Columbia at Catholic properties alone. Incidents include arson, statues beheaded, limbs cut, smashed, and painted, gravestones defaced with swastikas and anti-Catholic language and American flags next to them burned, and other destruction and vandalism. A number of these incidents appeared to express hostility toward the Catholic Church because of its beliefs on the sanctity of life in the womb.

Under 18 U.S. Code 247 it is the duty of the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute, when necessary for substantial justice, those who do damage to religious property or participate in the obstruction of persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs. We appreciate that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been assisting at least one affected religious organization on this matter, and we understand through media reports that the FBI is at least investigating the firebombing in Madison. However, the severity of the situation calls for your leadership. This continued assault on religious and pro-life groups because of their beliefs is a manifest injustice that requires prompt, comprehensive, and public response,” the letter reads. “We call on you to publicly condemn these unlawful attacks; to commit to vigorous efforts to prevent them, and to investigate and prosecute them; and to proactively engage with the affected faith communities to ensure their concerns and security needs are being met. We would request a meeting with your office as well as the Civil Rights Division to discuss what plans are in the likelihood these attacks will intensify.”

One African American church in Mississippi was attacked and spray painted with images of rape, according to the letter. Other churches and centers across the nation have been firebombed and received various forms of vandalism. These attacks are clearly hate crimes.

As Christians, it is our responsibility to defend life and that includes the unborn. Christians should join together to pray for the unborn, but specifically pray for those inflicting the violence and vandalism. Pray for their conversion and their repentance because we must always remember the Lord loves them just as He does us. His sacrifice on the cross was for them just as much as it was for us.