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Churches Brace for Potential Protests by Pro-Abortion Activists

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Lawmakers and faith leaders are urging activists to cease pro-abortion demonstrations outside churches and to remain peaceful while families take part in Mother's Day celebrations in the wake of warnings that churches will be the target of protests.

Ralph Reed, chairman of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, shared a statement Saturday, saying, "An attack on any church is an attack on the entire faith community, and represents anti-Christian bigotry that is a cancer on the body politic. It may also be a federal crime, depending on the level of vandalism or violence."

Reed added, "I call on Attorney General Garland and the Justice Department to take whatever steps are necessary to defend churches and ministries from all threats of harassment, vandalism and violence."

Vandals attacked a Catholic Church in Boulder, Colorado, earlier this week, spray-painting pro-abortion graffiti on the church building and defacing the statues of saints. In New York City Saturday, pro-abortion protestors demonstrated outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Texas Rep. Chip Roy and Utah Sen. Mike Lee sent a letter to Garland Saturday asking him to assemble the necessary resources to protect churches at risk of vandalism and protest, Fox News reports.

"We write to you today extremely concerned by multiple reports surfacing that left-wing activists intend to protest, and possibly disrupt, church services this weekend in direct response to the leaked opinion authored by Justice Alito that would overturn Roe v. Wade," Lee and Roy wrote.

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, senior pastor at New Season Christian Worship Center in Sacramento, CA told Fox News Digital this weekend, "Protest and disruptions to churches by pro-abortion advocates on Mother's Day will result" in several things.

"Protesters filled with anger will be met by worshippers filled with love," he said. "Disrupters attempting to cause harm will be met by people of faith committed to saving lives."

Rodriguez continued, "If these activities do take place, it will present a clear picture of the sharp ideological contrast that undergirds this very delicate conversation."

Debbie Wuthnow, president of iVoterGuide in Austin, Texas, told Fox News Digital, "While abortion groups are targeting our churches and justices who have yet to hand down a decision on a case, may the attention of Americans go to the two bedrocks of freedom that are under attack: freedom of religion and the family."

And Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares warned that his office will be on alert for anyone who considers interrupting Catholic Masses on Sunday with illegal abortion rights rallies.

"I deeply respect the First Amendment rights of speech and assembly," Miyares wrote in a statement. "But no one has the right to interfere with the fundamental and natural right of all Virginians to practice their religion in peace."

Miyares added, "Federal law makes it a felony to intimidate, interfere with, or obstruct any person who is seeking to exercise his or her First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship. Similarly, Virginia criminal law prohibits obstructing the free movement of other persons, trespassing on church property, or obstructing proper ingress to and egress from a church."

Miyares also said he "will not hesitate" to pursue legal action against violators.

On Saturday, Evangelist Franklin Graham tweeted, "Pro-abortion protests at churches this Sunday? MOTHER'S DAY IS ABOUT LIFE—NOT DEATH."

CBS News reported that all nine justices have been given extra security since general threats of violence against the justices have increased since the draft opinion was leaked and reported by Politico.

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About The Author

Andrea Morris
Andrea
Morris

Andrea Morris is a Features Producer for The 700 Club. She came to CBN in 2019 where she worked as a web producer in the news department for three years. Her passion was always to tell human interest stories that would touch the hearts of readers while connecting them with God. She transitioned into her new role with The 700 Club in August 2022.