Archive for the ‘General’ Category
Posted by Thomas More Society (August 20, 2010 at 4:32 pm)
Today, Thomas More Society attorney Tom Brejcha, along with representatives from several pro-life organizations, testified at the Iowa Medical Board hearing to argue against the performance of “telemed” abortions in the state. The Thomas More Society submitted a letter from special counsel Paul Benjamin Linton that outlined the case against this type of abortion, in which a patient is administered an abortion-inducing drug, RU-486, after meeting with a physician remotely via video conference.
“Telemedicine abortions are a clear violation of Iowa law, as an abortion can only be performed by a physician, and the drugs used to induce abortion can only be administered in a physician’s office,” said Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society, who appeared at the hearing at the request of several Iowa pro-life organizations and leaders. “We hope the Iowa Medical Board will properly honor the law of the state and public health will not be put at risk by allowing remote control abortions.”
Under current Iowa law, the performance of an abortion by anyone other than a physician is a Class “C” felony. Brejcha adds that “telemed abortions” flout the protocol for administration of the drugs approved by the FDA, Mifeprex and misoprostol.
The chairman of the Board, Dr. Siroos Shirazi, announced after hearing the arguments that the Board will take all comments into consideration and render a ruling, which could come at the Board’s October meeting.
Posted by Thomas More Society (August 19, 2010 at 12:41 pm)
This morning, Thomas More Society attorneys delivered the justices of the Illinois Supreme Court a motion to immediately transfer the legal case pending against the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995 from the Appellate Court to the Supreme Court. Arguing that pregnant minors at risk for abortion suffer harm every day that the Act is not enforced, the Society invoked the Supreme Court rule allowing transfer of an appeal when the “public interest requires prompt adjudication.” The pending appeal, brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), is currently in the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, where a decision is not expected for a year or more.
“More than fifteen years ago, with overwhelming bipartisan support, parental notice was supposedly made the law in Illinois, but as we sit here today, secret abortions on pregnant minors continue unabated,” said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society executive director and legal counsel. “With this motion to transfer, the Supreme Court has the opportunity to immediately and definitively decide the constitutionality of parental notice in Illinois.” (motion after the jump)
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Posted by Thomas More Society (August 18, 2010 at 4:50 pm)
The Thomas More Society won a big victory this morning in the case of Cheryl Kennedy, a veteran sidewalk counselor at one of the largest abortion facilities in Dallas, Texas. Cheryl was falsely accused of assault by a guard at the abortion facility where she counsels. The charges stemmed from an incident where Cheryl was speaking with a couple driving into the abortion facility, and as she attempted to hand literature to the willing couple through their car window, the guard for the clinic – a much larger man – attempted to slap the literature out of Cheryl’s hand. Their forearms brushed, and the guard called the Dallas police and swore out a complaint against Cheryl for assault.
Thomas Brejcha, TMS President & Chief Counsel, was in court this morning, along with ace defense attorney Patrick Mclain, who volunteered his services to defend Cheryl. “Thank you to Patrick Mclain for his selfless service to assist Cheryl Kennedy to get back on the sidewalk and save more babies,” said Brejcha. Mclain, a former federal prosecutor and former Marine Judge Advocate General officer, had recently contacted Thomas More Society seeking to assist in the pro-life law center’s work.
Posted by Thomas More Society (August 13, 2010 at 4:20 pm)
This afternoon, the City of Chicago dismissed its case against the second arrestee charged with disorderly conduct under Chicago’s controversial “Bubble Zone” ordinance. Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society represented David Avignone, an MBA student at Loyola University Chicago, who was arrested on July 8 while standing outside Planned Parenthood’s Near North Side clinic.
“We are pleased that for the second time, the City of Chicago has dismissed the false charges of disorderly conduct against a man who was properly and legally exercising his First Amendment rights on the public way,” said Breen, executive director and legal counsel at the Thomas More Society. “We hope these two baseless cases involving alleged ‘Bubble Zone’ ‘infractions’ show the Chicago City Council why it should repeal this controversial ordinance altogether and cease efforts to scare pro-life people away from Planned Parenthood.”
The “Bubble Zone” ordinance applies outside local abortion clinics to prohibit approaching within eight feet of a person to present a leaflet, sign or oral message to that person. The Thomas More Society challenged the constitutionality of this ordinance, in agreement with the ACLU, in 2009.
Avignone’s case is the third “Bubble Zone” case, all of which have been dismissed. On August 3, the City of Chicago dismissed its case against Joe Holland, a Northwestern University graduate student arrested while praying the rosary outside the same Planned Parenthood clinic.
Posted by Thomas More Society (August 13, 2010 at 12:21 pm)
Today, Thomas More Society attorney Peter Breen will once again be in a Cook County Circuit Court to enter a “not guilty” plea on behalf of a man arrested for standing on the sidewalk outside the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Chicago. David Avignone is the second arrestee under Chicago’s controversial “Bubble Zone” ordinance, which applies outside an abortion clinic to prohibit approaching within eight feet of a person to present a leaflet, sign or oral message to that person. Avignone, an MBA student at Loyola University Chicago, was arrested on July 8 and has been charged with disorderly conduct.
“David did nothing wrong – he was exercising his First Amendment rights on a public sidewalk, and this arrest is another sad attempt at scaring pro-life people away from Planned Parenthood,” said Breen, executive director and legal counsel at the Thomas More Society. In 2009, Breen presented testimony on behalf of the Society that the “Bubble Zone” ordinance is unconstitutional during committee hearings.
On August 3, the City of Chicago dismissed the same charges against Joe Holland, a Northwestern University graduate student who was arrested as he prayed the rosary outside Planned Parenthood’s Near North Side facility. Video of the incident showed Holland standing outside the entrance to the facility and praying, not approaching any individual to leaflet, picket or engage in “sidewalk counseling.”
Breen commented, “David and Joe, arrested within a week of one another, were arrested even though they were both standing still, which is perfectly legal under the ordinance. We call on the City of Chicago to end this pattern of illegal arrests and repeal its ‘Bubble Zone’ ordinance.”
The court previously granted the Thomas More Society permission to serve subpoenas on Planned Parenthood for relevant security footage and on the City of Chicago for relevant “911″ call tapes. The responses to those subpoenas are due today in court.
Posted by Thomas More Society (July 27, 2010 at 1:22 pm)
Recently the ACLU publicly attacked Catholic hospitals, asking federal officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to investigate and take action against the Catholic facilities for their alleged misconduct in violation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act and conditions for participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
What was their alleged “misconduct”? According to the ACLU, the Catholic hospitals have “inappropriately and unlawfully den[ied] pregnant women emergency medical care.” How so? Because, the ACLU complains, the Catholic hospitals decline to provide “reproductive services” to women. What “reproductive services” aren’t provided? The answer, says the ACLU, is that—as if this were only recently discovered!—Catholic hospitals don’t provide abortions!
The ACLU’s complaint focused on the recent demotion of a nun, Sister Margaret Mary McBride, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, for her role in the hospital’s performing an abortion allegedly to address a serious health problem on the part of the baby’s mother — an event that drew a formal statement of opposition from the ordinary of the Diocese. [Continue reading ...]
Posted by Thomas More Society (January 26, 2010 at 11:25 am)
Indiana attorney Tom Dixon, who represents the “Notre Dame 88,” just learned that Judge Jenny Pitts Manier has formally accused him of violations of Indiana lawyer disciplinary rules, because he argued that she should “recuse” or remove herself from the cases. Dixon argued that a reasonable person may view the judge as biased against the “ND 88,” due to the judge’s husband having financial ties to Notre Dame, where he is a noted emeritus professor and outspoken opponent of Catholic teaching on human sexuality.
After briefing and argument in the Trial Court, Judge Manier denied the initial request for recusal, but agreed with the ND 88 attorneys that the issue should be certified for immediate consideration by the Indiana Court of Appeals. After the appeal was underway but before it was decided, Manier reversed her earlier decision and recused herself.
Details to follow as we learn more…
Posted by Thomas More Society (December 11, 2009 at 11:35 am)
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tom Brejcha, Thomas More Society, 312-782-1680 (office), 312-590-3408 (cell); Melissa Harman, TC Public Relations, (312) 422-1333
Chicago, IL—At noon this Saturday, December 12, the Thomas More Society (TMS) will co-sponsor a Catholic Mass which will be celebrated at Federal Plaza, 50 W. Adams St., (Map) in honor of this Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
This public Mass evidences the recently increased recognition by Chicago and federal officials that private citizens are constitutionally entitled to proclaim their religious faith in the public square, so long as such events are privately sponsored and funded and where government’s role is only that of a neutral gatekeeper.
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Posted by matt (September 28, 2009 at 5:27 pm)
Attorney Tom Dixon today filed a second motion for recusal in the “ND 88″ case [PDF] in which he provides detailed support for his assertion in his previous recusal motion that there exists sufficient actual and perceived bias that Judge Jenny Pitts Manier, the judge assigned to the “ND 88″ case is required by Indiana state law to recuse herself in the matter.
Unlike the original motion, the new motion goes into great detail about the rabid pro-abortion, anti-episcopacy views of Edward Manier, Judge Manier’s husband, a Notre Dame professor and raises serious doubts about claims made by Judge Manier in her previous denial of Dixon’s motion to recuse.
Motion to Reconsider Motion for Change of Judge
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Posted by matt (September 23, 2009 at 5:30 pm)
Father John Jenkins will be in the Windy City this Thursday to address the City Club of Chicago during one of their regular Public Policy Luncheons.
Public Policy Luncheon: Thursday, September 24, 2009
Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
President, University of Notre Dame
Location: Maggiano’s Banquets
111 W. Grand Avenue (click here for directions)
Time: 11:30 a.m. Reception / Check-In, 12:00 p.m. Lunch
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