Today Rev Pat Mahoney, Priests for Life Priests and pro-lifers gathered to be a voice in front of the White House to oppose the Obama contraception mandate. I will have more on this story later, but here are some of the first pics of the arrests. -

Update: 

Priests for Life reports:

Father Denis Wilde, OSA, associate director of Priests for Life, was among six people arrested today during a peaceful protest outside the White House.

Father Wilde was representing Priests for Life at an organized protest of the HHS  contraception mandate that violates the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of religion. Priests for Life yesterday filed a lawsuit against the Obama Administration that seeks to permanently block the implementation of the mandate because it imposes clear violations of conscience upon any American citizens who morally object to abortion and contraception.

Father Wilde and the other protesters, including the Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, were cited for “Failure to obey a lawful order” as they knelt in prayer in front of the White House. They each paid a $100 fine and were released from custody.

“Occupy Wall Street protesters have been occupying federal property for months, but when we kneel in prayer, the police are called in and we are arrested,” Father Wilde said. “We knew that was the risk when we gathered today, and we will do it again regardless of the risk. What people of faith – of every faith – need to do now is stand with us.”

Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, said the New York-based organization remains committed to battling the HHS mandate because it forces Americans to become morally entangled in practices they find objectionable.

“As an organization of Catholic clergy, as a corporation that employs 60 people of various religious backgrounds, and as a ministry whose very purpose is to protect and promote the pro-life teaching about the specific practices at issue in the HHS mandate, we are particularly well-positioned to fight against this intrusion of conscience,” Father Pavone said.

Lifesitenews.com reports:

Pro-life groups including the Christian Defense Coalition, Operation Rescue, Rock for Life, Students for Life of America, and Survivors of the Abortion Holocaust were all slated to join the prayer vigil.

“The faith community can never be silent or indifferent when it comes to matters of justice, human rights and religious liberty. We want to make it clear to President Obama that Christians would rather spend time in a jail cell than be coerced into complying with an mandate that violates our religious beliefs!” said Operation Rescue in a statement Tuesday.

Obama’s mandate that all employers cover all birth control, including abortifacients like ella, and sterilizations, has united Christians from numerous denominations in an unprecedented show of opposition. Despite an “accommodation” from the Obama administration last Friday ostensibly designed to appease religious-based opposition, the protests have only increased in vehemence, with the United States Conference of Catholic bishops denouncing the “accommodation” as insufficient.

Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church has said that he would “go to jail rather than cave in to a government mandate that violates what God commands us to do.” Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), has also said Christians would go to jail if the mandate was not changed.

Lifenews.com Reports:

Mahoney said the arrests were “in response to President Obama mandating religious institutions coverage of abortion-inducing drugs, sterilization and contraception in their health plans.”

He said the mandate “continues to involve needless government intrusion in the internal governances of religious institutions, and to threaten government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions. In a nation dedicated to religious liberty as its first and founding principle, we should not be limited to negotiating within these parameters. The only complete solution to this religious liberty problem is for HHS to the rescind the mandate of these objectionable services.”

“It is also important to send a clear message to the Obama Administration that the faith community will spend time in jail rather than be coerced into complying with an immoral and unjust mandate,” he added.

Phase 2 Protests will be March 23rd Nationwide - http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/Here is how you can get involved in this fight - http://www.priestsforlife.org/hhsmandate/index.aspx

Thank you Live Action for the photos.

In case you are not familiar with the latest on this situation - Update: President Obama’s FALSE accommodation on the birth control mandate – it is actually worse.

To start off I have to show you something that should always alarm us: Planned Parenthood likes his so-called “accommodation” - http://www.lifenews.com/2012/02/10/planned-parenthood-pro-abortion-groups-back-revised-mandate/

We have to understand what the actual battle is here: it is about our constitutional and our conscience rights.  This is not just about whether someone is for or against the pill; it is more about the government forcing people to pay for someone else’s birth control.

As of yesterday all companies would be required to pay for contraception and abortion-causing drugs to be included in their health plans.  Some religious organizations would have been given one year to “adapt” to this policy (not Stand True or Priests for Life; we would not even qualify for that one year to adapt).

What the Obama administration actually just did in their “reversal” or “accommodation” they announced today is to say that now it is the insurance company who is required to pay for contraception and abortion-causing drugs and offer them for free to all women.  The organizations that are opposed to paying for them will have no choice in the matter; the insurance companies they use will still cover these drugs.

Religious liberty is thrown out the window, conscience is trampled and the rights of the insurance companies are destroyed. Freedom does not seem to be a word that the Obama administration comprehends.

Think about this: the pro-abortion side has always cried for Christians to “keep your rosaries off my ovaries”, yet they want Churches and religious organizations to fund their sex lives. Do you see the irony in this?

Imagine if the President mandated that all companies pay for every employee’s Bible, religious supplies and gas money to get to church. It is ludicrous to think we can force anyone to pay for this, so why is it ok to force companies to fund its employees’ bedroom activities?

Those who call themselves pro-choice should be up in arms; they should be screaming at the top of their lungs about this violation of choice. The problem is that they are NOT pro-choice; they are pro-abortion and they can care less about the choices or beliefs of Christians.

Whether you believe in contraception or not, you must be outraged at what the Obama administration is doing. The rights and liberties of all Christians and religious people are at stake right now and we must stand against this injustice.

“You don’t adapt to injustice; you oppose it.” Fr Frank Pavone

Once again we see the beast that is the abortion industry and its champion, President Obama, trying to strong-arm Christians and pro-lifers.  Last week they acted like the mob or a school-yard bully when they tried to destroy the Susan G Komen Foundation over 1/6 of 1/1000 of Planned Parenthood’s budget.

We must be more resolved to stand up, be a voice and shine the light of truth in these dark times.  We must stand united together as we usher in a culture of life.  We must break the chains of apathy and let our roar be heard.

I, for one, would sooner be handcuffed and taken to jail before I allow any insurance coverage that included abortion-causing drugs to be given to any employee.

Alveda Kings Comments: http://www.priestsforlife.org/africanamerican/blog/index.php/the-obama-administrations-accommodation-better-or-worse

Also read this article by the Christian Medical Association on the matter: http://tinyurl.com/6wvy3jg

Have you heard that the Obama Administration is trying to force every company, organization and employer in America to pay for abortion causing drugs and birth control? This includes Stand True and Priests for Life.

Would this sit well with Liberals? President mandates tax money to pay for communion supplies for churches or President mandates employers pay for all employees Bibles and religious books. – Democrats, Planned Parenthood and most liberal organizations would GO BALLISTIC.

Father Frank Pavone gave me these comments today to share with you.

“The Obama administration’s mandate for employers to pay for coverage of abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives, and sterilization does not just affect Churches, religious groups, and health care institutions; it affects virtually all health care plans and all employers, across the board.

We at Priests for Life are opposing this mandate as employers, not as a religious group. Religious freedom is not a right just of religious groups; it’s a right of every American.

Moreover, the exemption for this mandate is so narrow that we have been informed by legal counsel that we do not even qualify for it.

When the announcement was made last month that the government was neither changing the rule nor expanding the exemption for those who object, but rather merely giving a year’s extension to those who qualify for the exemption, we knew we had to act immediately.

For our corporation, this mandate goes into effect for us this August of 2012, not next year.

Moreover, we don’t need a year, nor do we need a moment, to determine what we are going to do, or to “adapt” to the rule.  The rule is unjust. You don’t adapt to injustice; you oppose it.

That’s why we’re launching a federal lawsuit against the Obama Administration to block the enforcement of this mandate on us, and to declare it unconstitutional.”

Father Frank Pavone

Here is our official press release:

International Catholic Organization to File Lawsuit against Obama Administration for Conscience Violation Regarding Forced Coverage of Abortion and Contraception 

Staten Island, NY – Priests for Life, a New York based international pro-life organization of Catholic clergy and laity, today announced that it will be filing a lawsuit against the Obama Administration in an effort to seek injunctive relief from impending regulations that would require the organization to pay for employee health insurance that covers abortion-inducing drugs, contraception, and sterilization.

The Obama Administration’s rules – recently brought forth by a decree from the Department of Health and Human Services – are part of the controversial “ObamaCare” health insurance law (the so-called “Affordable Care Act”) that was passed by Congress in 2010 amidst endless ambiguities, confusion, and false assurances by President Obama himself that it would never be used to violate any organization’s or individual’s conscience on moral issues.

Now that the new HHS rules have been formally issued, however, Americans of all faiths are stunned that the Obama Administration is going to require employers to provide health insurance coverage for certain acts that go directly against their consciences or religious beliefs.

The lawsuit will seek injunctive relief from the HHS rules – first on behalf of Priests for Life, and hopefully extending universally since all organizations and companies will be affected by the tyrannical HHS decree. Priests for Life is particularly well placed to pursue this litigation because its primary purposes are to promote and protect life whereas the primary purposes of the contraceptive mandate are to prevent and destroy life.

According to Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, “It’s unthinkable that President Obama would force Americans of any faith to violate their consciences. Yet here he is, arrogantly imposing these regulations that clearly discriminate against Catholics and all Christians, as well as people of any faith who believe in the sanctity of innocent human life. This has clearly become a human rights case – and is no longer just a partisan political football.”

Priests for Life has retained noted civil rights attorney Charles LiMandri of San Diego to represent them in their lawsuit against Obama. LiMandri achieved national distinction by saving the famous “Mt. Soledad Cross” – a historic war memorial that had been erected on public property many decades ago, which local atheists sought to have torn down. He has also fought for the rights of San Diego firefighters who were forced to participate in a vulgar “gay pride” parade against their will or else face termination. He was also the General Counsel for the National Organization for Marriage–California during the successful Proposition 8 Campaign to save traditional marriage.

LiMandri remarks, “This is the first time in history any administration has used brute force to compel someone to violate his conscience or moral convictions. It’s unheard of. It’s also antithetical to the core American principles of religious liberty and freedom from invasions of privacy. We intend to fight the ill-conceived HHS edict and challenge it on constitutional grounds. This case could go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. And we’ll be happy to take it there if need be.”

Priests for Life is the largest Catholic pro-life organization in the United States. It is a private association of the faithful and an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit educational corporation. Under the Obama Administration’s new HHS rules, it is treated like any other corporation and therefore must comply with these conscience-violating mandates, decrees, and punitive measures.

Priests for Life applauds the members of Congress who have introduced legislation to address the HHS policy, and will also support the efforts of the Church, and many other groups, to pass such legislation.

Further details of the lawsuit will be forthcoming.

This just in from our friends at CEC for Life – Atlanta OB/GYN Will No Longer Commit Abortions in Birmingham

According to the pro-life group CEC For Life, an Atlanta OB/GYN, Dr. Ivan Diamond, will no longer commit abortions at the New Woman All Women abortion mill in Birmingham, AL.

Diamond was one of two known abortionists at New Woman–a clinic that made news Jan 21st for two botched abortions.

On the morning of February 2nd, after several unsuccessful attempts to contact Northside Women Specialists–Diamond’s employer–CEC For Life traveled to Atlanta with the intention of bringing public awareness to Diamond’s weekend abortion practice in Birmingham.

“We called Northside several times,” reports CEC For Life assistant Sarah Howell. “They didn’t call back, so we sent a letter. When that went unnoticed we knew we’d have to picket.”

But according to CEC For Life Director Fr. Terry Gensemer, the group arrived to discover that their picket would not be needed.

Before beginning their demonstration, Fr. Gensemer and two other members of CEC For Life decided to enter the building and make the OB/GYN office aware of their intent. The group was immediately ushered into a back office by the receptionist and amicably greeted by the Northside Practice Manager.

“We received a letter,” the Practice Manager explained, “and, in light of that letter, we would like you to know that Dr. Diamond will no longer be performing abortions in Alabama.”

“We were stunned at first,” Fr. Gensemer comments. “We assumed they had chosen to ignore our letter. We would really like to thank Northside for choosing life and the integrity of their practice over the atrocious ‘side business’ of Diamond. Hopefully Northside will continue in its mission to provide high-quality care for women and preborn children.”

The New Woman clinic is now down one abortionist, an encouragement to CEC For Life. Over the last two years, the pro-life ministry has focused many of its efforts on closing down this clinic, consulting with Operation Rescue President Troy Newman and coordinating events with ally organizations like Survivors.

Newman is responsible for the closing of dozens of abortion mills across the nation. He says, “In OR’s experience, clinics like New Woman have a narrow hold on staying in business. They have two possible botched abortions for which they are being investigated, a dilapidated building, and one of their abortionists jumping ship.”

Sarah Howell concurs with Newman. “CEC For Life is completely committed to seeing this abortion mill close its doors. Diamond’s leaving is just one more step in that process.”

CEC for Life is a ministry of the Charismatic Episcopal Church.

The past few days have been a roller coaster ride as we have watched the situation with the Susan G Komen foundation unfold.

When we first heard the news that they had defunded Planned Parenthood we were ecstatic; we worked hard at letting them know how proud we were of them. I personally spent a lot of time and effort in creating online petitions, getting the word out and even sent flowers to the President of Susan G Komen thanking her for what they did.  

Now today we see headlines appearing suddenly claiming that Susan G Komen has reversed their decision, yet the wording in their release doesn’t quite say that.  In fact several pro-abortion sites are publishing articles saying that the decision was not really reversed and that their side should tread carefully.

So what does this all mean?

After a heartfelt discussion today with many pro-life leaders this is a joint statement many are releasing right now.

———–

Pro-Life Statement

on the Susan G. Komen Foundation

and Planned Parenthood

Today the Susan G. Komen Foundation made an announcement that appears as if they have reversed themselves on funding of Planned Parenthood.

It is unclear at this time if they have in fact reversed themselves.

What we know has happened this week was nothing short of a Mafia shakedown by Planned Parenthood against the Susan G. Komen Foundation. It was little more than a hostage-taking by an abortion bully.

Planned Parenthood basically told the Komen Foundation,  “Either give us money or we will destroy you.”  They were aided and abetted in this hostage-taking by the mainstream media.

Susan G. Komen withheld Planned Parenthood funding for two laudatory reasons: they do not fund groups under criminal investigation and they do not support groups that do not actually help women in need of breast health care.

Planned Parenthood is under legislative and criminal investigations all over this country. What’s more, Planned Parenthood does not provide mammograms even though they claim they do.

What Planned Parenthood did this week was unleash their multi-million dollar fury and political might against a group wholly unprepared for such a political attack. The Susan G. Komen Foundation is a non-profit charity dedicated to curing breast cancer. Planned Parenthood is a political machine dedicated to attacking anyone and anything that stands in its way.

Planned Parenthood tried this week to utterly destroy the Susan G. Komen Foundaton and they were well on their way to doing just that. They made it abundantly clear they care more for abortion than for protecting women’s lives.

This is not the first time. When the country was debating national health care, Planned Parenthood was quite willing to kill the bill rather than allow even minor abortion restrictions in it. Later, Planned Parenthood pushed President Obama toward a government shutdown rather than allow Planned Parenthood funding restrictions in the federal budget.

Planned Parenthood has shown they care more about abortion and about protecting their funding streams than any other thing, including women’s lives.

At this point, pro-lifers should cease their support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. We should wait and see what happens. We know there are five more Komen grants to Planned Parenthood in the pipeline. If any more come up, we will know we have lost and Planned Parenthood has won and we will take appropriate actions at that time.

Pro-lifers should not regret the work we have done over the past days on this issue. We should only regret we could not have done more to make Komen strong and able to fight off the thuggish abortion giant, Planned Parenthood.

We should pray for Nancy Brinker and her colleagues at the Susan G. Komen Foundation, that they have the strength to stop funding Planned Parenthood. We should turn all of our fire on Planned Parenthood and show them for the criminal enterprise they really are.

———-

So here is my commitment as President of Stand True and Youth Outreach Director of Priests for Life: we will work harder then ever this year to expose Planned Parenthood for the beast it is. We will educate the youth of America and work harder then ever to end the reign of terror that Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry has loosed on this generation.

Mark my words. We will end the abortion holocaust.

For Christ I stand,

Bryan Kemper