ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, filed its opening brief earlier this week with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, seeking to overturn a lower court decision dismissing its federal lawsuit challenging the Federal Hate Crimes Act passed in 2009.
TMLC’s lawsuit was the first in the Nation to challenge the federal law. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Pastors Rene Ouellette, James Combs, Levon Yuille and the president of the American Family Association of Michigan, Gary Glenn, against U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Earlier this year, a U.S. District Court Judge dismissed the case on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked “standing” to bring the lawsuit, and that the case was not “ripe” for adjudication. TMLC is appealing this ruling.
The Hate Crimes Act was clearly intended to intimidate Christians and their religious leaders into remaining silent concerning their religious belief that homosexual conduct is an abomination and a sin.
According to the brief filed by TMLC with the Sixth Circuit, “This statute is all about elevating certain persons (homosexuals) to a protected class under federal law based on nothing more than their choice to have sex with persons of the same gender, while marginalizing strong religious opposition to this immoral choice.”
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of TMLC, commented: “Under the guise of enforcing ‘niceness’ and promoting ‘tolerance,’ homosexual advocacy groups have mobilized their financial power to purchase political clout which they now use to shut down any criticism of their deviant lifestyle. The truth is they are one of the most intolerant groups in our society and viciously attack anyone who opposes their point of view.”
Continued Thompson: “The sole purpose of this law is to use the threat of federal prosecutions and long jail sentences to silence Christians from expressing their Biblically-based religious belief that homosexual conduct is an abomination and a sin.”
According to statistics compiled by their own “gay rights” advocacy groups, the greatest threat of violence to homosexuals comes not from Christians, but from other homosexuals. Christians are taught to love the sinner, but to hate the sin.
Evidence clearly shows the Act will be used by federal prosecutors to intimidate Christians and shut down any speech critical of the homosexual life style. For example, the ACLU of Michigan hosted a forum on the Hate Crime Act for the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered) community that was attended by Barbara McQuade, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, and her assistants responsible for enforcing the Act.
McQuade told her audience, “We’re very eager to enforce the Act.”
Pam Thompson, another federal prosecutor said, “We are so excited about this new law and the enforcement opportunities it provides for us.”
A third federal prosecutor, Judith Levy, said, “Our office is open for business in enforcing and defending the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.” She encouraged the LGBT community to show up at court hearings for the Hate Crimes lawsuit.
Robert Muise, Senior Trial Counsel for TMLC who is handling the case, observed, “This new federal law promotes two Orwellian concepts. First, it creates a special class of persons who are ‘more equal than others’ based on nothing more than deviant, sexual behavior. And secondly, it creates ‘thought crimes’ by criminalizing certain ideas, beliefs, and opinions, and the involvement of such ideas, beliefs, and opinions in a crime will make it deserving of federal prosecution. Consequently, government officials are claiming the power to decide which thoughts are criminal under federal law and which are not.”
No legitimate law enforcement need is served by this Hate Crimes Act.
· All 50 states already have criminal laws punishing violence against all persons.
· Attorney General Holder told a Senate hearing that there was no evidence that “hate crimes” were going unpunished at the state level and that the states were doing a fine job in this area.
· In 2008, the FBI reported approximately 1.38 million violent crimes in the United States, out of which 243 crimes were considered “bias” motivated because of the victim’s sexual orientation. That amounts to a fraction of 1% of the crimes.
· According to the statistics compiled by a homosexual advocacy group, during the period from 1999 to 2003, a homosexual was 244% more likely to commit an act of violence against another homosexual than was a heterosexual.
Click here to read the entire brief filed with the Sixth Circuit
The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America’s Christian heritage and moral values, including the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life. It supports 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.
One message was loud and clear from yesterday’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) law: Secretary of Defense Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mullen care very little about what our combat troops think about the repeal of the law or its immediate harm to our national defense.
Earlier in the year, both the Commandant of the Marine Corps General James T. Conway and the incoming Commandant, General James Amos, informed the Senate Armed Services Committee that their best military advice was to keep the ban in place. Army Chief of Staff, General George W. Casey, told the Senate Committee that he had serious concerns about the impact of the repeal on a force engaged in two wars.
To go along with repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, the Department of Defense recommended elimination of longstanding military laws prohibiting consensual sodomy and adultery.
Daniel Glowacki, a 16-year-old junior at Howell High School in Howell, Michigan, has unexpectedly found himself at the center of a national firestorm and the target of homosexual activists across the country, including national lesbian TV host, Ellen DeGeneres. It came about when he defended another student’s free speech rights, and when confronted by his pro-homosexual teacher, Daniel ended up defending his Catholic faith that considers homosexual conduct a sin.
Predictably, homosexual activists across the country are hailing McDowell as a hero and vilifying Daniel and his family, describing them as “bigots” and referring to Daniel’s religious objection to the homosexual agenda as “hate speech”. McDowell is head of the school district’s teachers union; unsurprisingly, the Michigan Education Association, the state teachers union, has come to McDowell’s defense.
On October 3, 1789, President George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving Proclamation in United States history. (
So on this Thanksgiving Day, as you gather with family and friends, please thank God for this great Nation and for our amazing liberties; ask that He forgive our national sins and continue to bless America. Pray for the safe return of our men and women placed in harm’s way in distant lands defending the liberties we enjoy here at home.
What is the difference between the village of Itan Wali, Pakistan and the City of Dearborn, Michigan? If you criticize Islam in Itan Wali, you’ll be hung to death; if you criticize Islam in Dearborn, you’ll simply be thrown in jail and prosecuted for Breach of the Peace.
Because of worldwide protests and a personal plea from Pope Benedict XVI to release this Christian mother, there is a good chance that the Pakistani government will spare her life.