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TMLC’s West Coast Director, Charles LiMandri, Speaks Out Against the HHS Mandate at Eagle Forum Rally

June 4, 2012 by

Thomas More Law Center’s West Coast Regional Director, attorney Charles LiMandri, spoke out against the Obama administration’s HHS Mandate at the Eagle Forum Convention held in San Diego this past Friday, June 1^st. The Forum’s theme was “Rise Up California” and included other national and local leaders such as Frank Gaffney, of the Center for Security Policy; and Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage.

LiMandri blasted the HHS Mandate as “the greatest threat to religious freedom in our lifetimes if not in the entire history of our nation.”

Continued Limandri: “The Obama Administration has taken governmental oppression to a new level by seeking to force many Americans to pay for goods and services that violate their deeply held religious convictions.”

The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, recently announced it filed a federal lawsuit challenging the HHS mandate, on behalf of Legatus, the Nation’s largest organization of top Catholic business CEOs and professional leaders. LiMandri is co-counsel in that lawsuit.

The Law Center’s lawsuit which was filed in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, challenges the constitutionality of the HHS Mandate under the First Amendment rights to the Free Exercise of Religion and Free Speech and the Establishment Clause. It also claims that the HHS Mandate violates both the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 and the Administrative Procedure Act.

Approximately 2000 guests attended Friday’s event. Many other important political and social topics were discussed as well. These included: an update of Proposition 8 – upholding the definition of traditional marriage; the threat of Sharia Law and radical Islam; and the right of personhood at conception.

The Thomas More Law Center Salutes our American Heroes this Memorial Day

May 26, 2012 by

Memorial Day is a time to remember the fallen heroes throughout our nation’s history “who gave the last full measure of devotion” to their nation. Mere words cannot capture the enormity of their sacrifice or the anguish of loved ones they left behind.

Honor those who serve today.

On this Memorial Day remember and pray for our troops who are in harm’s way today. And pray for their families and loved ones as they endure the hardship and uncertainty of deployment.

“As we honor their memory today, let us pledge that their lives, their sacrifices, their valor shall be justified and remembered for as long as God gives life to this nation.” Ronald Reagan

Click here to see Memorial Day tribute video.

May God continue to bless America

Tulsa Police Captain Paul Fields’ Litigation Heats-up; Media Focuses Its Attention – Click Image for Video

May 21, 2012 by

Tulsa, OK Police Captain Paul Fields’ lawsuit began to heat- up last week as several depositions were taken. Deposed were Tulsa police Chief Jordan, Deputy Chief Webster, a representative of the Tulsa Mosque, and our client Captain Paul Fields.

Tulsa TV station, News On 6, aired an exclusive interview regarding the case with Thomas More Law Center (TMLC) attorney Erin Mersino on Thursday, May 10, 2012. [click here for interview] Mersino, who was in Tulsa for the depositions, commented:

“This lawsuit is about a Christian who is standing up and saying he does not want to do something that violates his conscience.”

The Tulsa Beacon also covered the story in an article entitled; Thomas More Law Center fights the takeover of America which highlighted several other TMLC cases challenging the internal threat of Radical Islam and Sharia Law. [Click here for article]

You may recall that Captain Fields refused orders to attend an event dubbed, “Law Enforcement Appreciation Day” because it conflicted with his Christian faith and had nothing to do with any official police function. He also told his superiors that he would not require any of his subordinates to follow the order “if they share similar religious convictions.” As a result, Fields, a 18-year police veteran, was stripped of his command, suspended without pay, and prohibited from being promoted for one year—a career busting punishment.

In March 2011, the TMLC announced it had teamed up local Tulsa attorney Scott Wood to defend Captain Fields’ constitutional right to refuse to engage in conduct contrary to his religious beliefs.

TMLC is heavily involved in litigation defending the religious freedom of Christians as well as countering the infiltration of radical Muslims in America.

Please consider making a donation in support of TMLC’s legal efforts on behalf of Captain Paul Fields.

Legatus—Nation’s Largest Organization of Top Catholic Business Leaders Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging the HHS Mandate

May 8, 2012 by

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, today announced it has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the HHS mandate, on behalf of Legatus, the Nation’s largest organization of top Catholic business CEOs and professional leaders.

Also joining in the lawsuit as Plaintiffs are the Weingartz Supply Company, a Michigan retailer since 1945, and its President who is a member of Legatus. The 42-page Complaint was filed late yesterday afternoon against the Obama administration in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Legatus” is the Latin word for “ambassador”, and its members are called upon to become “ambassadors for Christ” in living and sharing their Catholic Faith in their business, professional and personal lives. It was founded in 1987 by Tom Monaghan, the former owner of Domino’s Pizza, to bring together the three key areas of a Catholic business leader’s life – Faith, Family and Business. The lawsuit was filed on the 25^th Anniversary of its founding. Legatus currently has over 4,000 members in 73 chapters located in 31 states.

The first paragraph of the lawsuit succinctly sets forth the nature of the case: “This is a case about religious freedom. Thomas Jefferson, a Founding Father of our country, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and our third president, when describing the construct of our Constitution proclaimed, ‘No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority.’”

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center commented, “Whether you are a Catholic or Protestant or have no religion at all, the free exercise of religion and right of conscience is our most fundamental human right and must be vigorously defended on behalf of all Americans. Or else our constitution becomes nothing more than a piece of paper with nice sounding words. That’s why I believe every American regardless of religious beliefs has a stake in the successful outcome of this lawsuit.”

The purpose of the lawsuit is to seek a court ruling that permanently blocks the implementation of the HHS Mandate requiring employers and individuals to obtain insurance coverage for abortions and contraception on the grounds that it imposes clear violations of conscience on Americans who morally object to abortion and contraception.

The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the HHS Mandate under the First Amendment rights to the Free Exercise of Religion and Free Speech and the Establishment Clause. It also claims that the HHS Mandate violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Administrative Procedure Act enacted by Congress.

Thomas More Law Center attorney, Erin Mersino, is the lead counsel in the lawsuit. Joining as co-counsel is the Law Office of Charles LiMandri, the Law Center’s West Coast Regional Director and a member of Legatus.

Named as Defendants in the lawsuit are Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services; Hilda Solis, Secretary of the Department of Labor; Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Department of Treasury; and their respective departments. Click here to read the Complaint.

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and moral values, as well as a strong national defense and an independent and sovereign United States of America. The Law Center accomplishes its mission through litigation, education, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

TMLC Files Lawsuit Challenging the HHS Mandate On Behalf of Legatus – Nation’s Largest Organization of Top Catholic Business Leaders

May 7, 2012 by

The first paragraph of the lawsuit succinctly sets forth the nature of the case:

“This is a case about religious freedom. Thomas Jefferson, a Founding Father of our country, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and our third president, when describing the construct of our Constitution proclaimed, ‘No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority.’”

Click here to read the Complaint.

Congressman Allen West Joins the Thomas More Law Center’s Citizens Advisory Board

May 2, 2012 by

Today, TMLC announced that Congressman Allen West (R-FL) has agreed to serve on the Law Center’s Citizens Advisory Board.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center stated,

“We are honored that Congressman West, a courageous American patriot, has agreed to serve on our Board. He has been steadfast and unafraid in his public opposition to the internal threat posed by radical Islam. He distinguished himself as a combat officer in the Iraq war, and he is now distinguishing himself as a representative of patriotic Americans throughout the nation. He symbolizes everything the Law Center strives to be, and as a member of the Citizens Advisory Board, he will help develop the Law Center’s national strategy to accomplish its mission.”

In accepting service on the Advisory Board, Congressman West stated,

“I know that the Thomas More Law Center is aggressively advancing in courtrooms throughout America the same principles I fought for as a soldier for 22 years, and what I’m fighting for now as a Congressman. I support their mission and I am honored to serve on their Advisory Board, which is chaired by a true American hero, retired Admiral Jeremiah Denton.”

Said West,

“What impressed me about the Law Center is that it knows the true threat to our nation posed by radical Islam and it has initiated and funded more cases challenging the Stealth Jihad being waged against our Nation than any other public interest law firm in America.”

Before retiring as an Army Lieutenant Colonel, West served as a Field Artillery Officer in several combat zones: in Operation Desert Storm, in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he was battalion commander for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, and in Afghanistan, where he trained Afghan officers to take on the responsibility of securing their own country.

Allen West was elected to House of Representatives in November 2010. As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman West advances the principle that peace is best kept through a strong national defense.

Some of the positions he has taken as a Congressman include:

The radical Islamist movement is one of the most dangerous threats we have ever seen, and too many government officials are ignoring the grave risks confronting the country.
We are a nation at war against a totalitarian theocratic political ideology that glorifies death rather than celebrating life. To defeat it, we must stay on the offensive. From Afghanistan and Iraq to the Greater Middle East and South America, radical Islam is on the march.
Political correctness cannot be part of our national security system.
Every time Congress takes for itself new powers, not enumerated in the Constitution, it chips away at freedom, individual liberty, and the right of the people to choose what is best for them, in their communities.
The 2^nd Amendment is an individual right.

For more information on Congressman Allen West and his positions on the important issues facing our nation, please visit his official website at: http://west.house.gov/