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TMLC Files Federal Lawsuit Against Detroit Police On Behalf Of Pro-Life Demonstrator

May 30, 2007 by

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor Michigan, announced today that it has filed a federal lawsuit against the Detroit Police Department, Police Chief Bully-Cummins, and other officers in order to vindicate the First Amendment rights of Monica Miller, a pro-life demonstrator who was told to go home and threatened with arrest while engaged in peaceful pro-life activities.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, commented, “Abortion is one of the greatest evils in our nation, and those who continue to protest abortion must be given the full protection of the First Amendment, regardless of the popularity of their message.”

The suit arose when Miller and others were engaged in a peaceful pro-life counter- demonstration near a pro-life pregnancy center that was being picketed by pro-abortion protestors. Miller called for police assistance when she witnessed pro-abortion protestors assaulting a pro-life protestor. When the police showed up, they told Miller she had to march in a circle in the same area as pro-abortion demonstrators and said her pro-life poster violated Detroit’s sign ordinance. When Miller objected, she was ticketed for violating the sign ordinance and “failing to obey a lawful order.”

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Detroit, and seeks a declaration that Miller’s First Amendment rights were violated, an injunction prohibiting the Defendants from applying Detroit’s sign ordinance to Miller and others engaged in similar activities, as well as damages and fees.

Patrick T. Gillen, the Law Center’s attorney who will represent Miller at trial, expressed concern that the violation of Miller’s rights is part of a larger and more disturbing pattern. “There is reason to believe that Detroit’s Police Department has decided that the best way to deal with pro-life protestors is to keep them off the street. This suit should put the department on notice that there are consequences for disregarding the First Amendment rights of those who seek to speak out on behalf of the most vulnerable.”

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through education, litigation, 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.

Thomas More Law Center Will Never Forget Our War Dead: Wishing You and Yours A Blessed Memorial Day

May 25, 2007 by

It Is the Soldier

It is the Soldier, not the reporter Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer, Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag, And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protestor to burn the flag.
By Father Dennis Edward O’Brien, USMC

One of Marine’s Most Effective Combat Commanders in Iraq Sidelined by US; Hearing to Start Next Week

May 23, 2007 by

ANN ARBOR, MI – His official 2006 Combat Fitness Report from Colonel Davis declared Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Chessani “A superb leader, who knows his men, knows the enemy, knows his business,” and recommended him for promotion. The reviewing Major General Huck added, Lieutenant Colonel Chessani has “unlimited potential and value to the Marine Corps,” and also recommended him for promotion.

Although his superiors considered him one of the most effective combat commanders in Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel Chessani is now facing criminal charges arising out of the so-called “Haditha massacre” of November 19, 2005—even though he was not at the scene. He is the highest ranking officer charged. If convicted, this 19 year Marine veteran and the father of 5 young children, who served in the Panama Invasion, the Persian Gulf War, and three tours in Iraq, could be dismissed (dishonorable discharge) from the Marine Corps, lose all his retirement benefits, and possibly serve 3 years in prison. His preliminary hearing (equivalent of a grand jury hearing) on the charges will begin May 30th in Camp Pendleton, California.

The following are excerpts from Lieutenant Colonel Chessani’s Combat Fitness Report (a required annual evaluation of a Marine officer’s performance) prepared by his superiors for the reporting period of September 2005 to February 2006 (This time period includes the date of the incident for which Lieutenant Colonel Chessani is facing criminal charges):

“Leads Marines from front in every operation. Demonstrates moral courage everyday. Doesn’t hesitate to report bad news fast or contest unrealistic plans/poor concepts. Despite the complexity and size of his AO (area of operations), he always maintains a calm, cool demeanor.”
“Always seeks advantage over complex, diverse insurgent enemy. Truly one of the finer thinkers in this COIN {counterinsurgency) environment.”
“One of the top 3 infantry/Cav Bn cmdrs of 13 who have served with RCT –2 (the regiment) during OIF. A superb leader, who knows his men, knows the enemy, knows his business. Doesn’t attract a lot of fanfare; just gets the job done to an exceedingly high standard.”
“Long ball hitter; recommend selection for promotion to Colonel and TLS [Top Level School].”

The Reviewing Officer, Major General Huck added his comments: “Top notch officer with outstanding potential. Promote and select for TLS (top level school). Post TLS slate for Regimental command and subsequent joint tour. Unlimited potential and value to the Marine Corps. Capable of the most challenging assignments.”

The charges against Lieutenant Colonel Chessani were incited by an inflammatory Time magazine headline accusing Marine enlisted men of “massacring innocent civilians.” The story was planted by a known terrorist propaganda operative—since discredited. Anti-war Congressman John Murtha, with influence over military appropriations, in an unprecedented action, publicly accused Marine officers of a “cover-up” even before the investigation of the incident was completed. The subsequent investigation specifically found no “cover-up” at any level of command.

Nevertheless, Lieutenant Colonel Chessani was charged with failing to investigate and properly report the incident to his superiors. The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is defending Lieutenant Colonel Chessani against the charges, and believes he is being sacrificed for the sake of placating anti-war critics.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, commented, “We are eating our own, and the terrorists are laughing in their caves. Because of them one of the most effective Marine combat commanders in Iraq has been eliminated by his own government. The testimony we will elicit at the Article 32 hearing, which begins on May 30th, will show just how ridiculous and politically motivated these charges are.”

TMLC Informs MI Legislators: Catholic Teaching Declares Adoption by Homosexuals is Gravely Immoral

May 22, 2007 by

ANN ARBOR, MI – Supporters of Michigan House Bill 4259, which would legalize adoptions by homosexual partners, point to the lack of public opposition by the “Michigan Catholic Conference” as reason for hope that the “Bill” will pass the legislature and be enacted into law. Free Press Columnist Brian Dickerson recently wrote, “The church’s neutrality underlines the fact that adoption and gay marriage are separate issues, practically as well as legally.”

To counter this false impression, the Thomas More Law Center revealed today that it has sent a letter to over one hundred members of the Michigan state House of Representatives informing them of the Catholic Church’s unequivocal opposition to adoptions by homosexual partners. The Thomas More Law Center is a national Christian legal advocacy group based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Law Center’s letter extensively quotes from a 2003 document issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith headed by then Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. The document entitled Considerations regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to unions Between Homosexual Persons, intended to give direction to not only Catholic politicians, but also to all persons committed to defending the common good of society, states:

“Allowing children to be adopted by persons in such [homosexual] unions would actually mean doing violence to these children, in the sense that their condition of dependency would be used to place them in an environment that is not conducive to their full human development.”

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center commented, “Not only does this House Bill violate Catholic doctrine, but it is a disguised effort to do an end-run around the state constitutional ban on same –sex marriages overwhelmingly passed by Michigan voters in 2004. Every citizen concerned with the common good of the community and our vulnerable children should oppose this Bill.”

The Law Center’s letter also expressed concern that if HB 4259 passed, it would cause Christian adoption agencies to withdraw from adoptions altogether rather than violate their religious principles. Typically, these Christian adoption agencies handle the hardest to place children.

Thompson added, “Although the Catholic Church teaches respect for homosexual persons, the Church is emphatic that that respect ‘cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behavior or to legal recognition of homosexual unions.’ Allowing homosexual partners to adopt children would be giving them such recognition.”

Public High School Prevents Student Christian Bible Club; Thomas More Law Center Sues

May 21, 2007 by

ANN ARBOR, MI – For over nine months Aaron Grider, a sophomore at Farmington High School in Michigan, has been unsuccessfully trying to get his Christian Bible club recognized by the school as an official noncurriculum-related student club in order to receive the same benefits as other student clubs at the school. School officials told him that because his group’s purpose was religious, and not secular, it would not become a recognized student group. Aaron contacted the Thomas More Law Center, a national Christian legal advocacy group based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The Thomas More Law Center announced today it has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Aaron, his parents and the Bible Club, “ALIVE,” in the Federal District Court in Detroit. The lawsuit alleges that the Farmington Public Schools and several school officials violated Aaron’s constitutional and statutory rights by refusing to give a student-led Bible club the same rights as other student-led groups.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, stated, “The policy and attitude of Farmington High School represents the extreme secularism that has captured many public school systems in America. In this case the school policy not only violates the U. S. Constitution, but also federal and state Equal Access Laws. Farmington High School has not provided ‘ALIVE’ and its members the same access to school facilities it allows other non-religious student groups, and we intend to rectify that problem.”

Farmington High School has recognized several noncurriculum-related student groups, including the Gay Straight Alliance, R.E.A.C.H. (a diversity club), R.H.U.B.A.R.B. (Rockin’ High-Schoolers Unite Because Art Reflects Beauty), the Equestrian Club, and S.A.D.D. (Students Against Drunk Driving). Recognized groups are permitted to advertise their meetings over the school’s public address system, appear in the school’s yearbook, and receive other benefits denied to “ALIVE” and its members.

According to Edward L. White III, trial counsel with the Thomas More Law Center who is representing “ALIVE” and the Griders, “The Federal Equal Access Act was passed, in particular, to prevent the type of discrimination against Bible clubs that is taking place at Farmington High School. ‘ALIVE’ and its members have the legal right to receive the same benefits and treatment that other noncurriculum-related student groups receive at Farmington High School.”

Thomas More Law Center Offers Deepest Sympathy

May 15, 2007 by

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, a national Christian legal advocacy group based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, offers our deepest sympathy to the family of Jerry Falwell and thousands of others deeply touched by the death of this gracious Christian gentleman.

We saw Jerry Falwell as a capable defender of decency and godly values, a man who inspired Christians to look past their religious groups and stand together. In 1979, he established the Moral Majority and brought millions of Christians into the center of political activism.

Richard Thompson, President of Thomas More Law Center said, “I had the opportunity to meet this human dynamo of Christian leadership on several occasions and I am better for it.”

Jerry Falwell was a supporter of the Law Center and a Christian leader dedicated to his faith. His legacy will continue and it is up to each of us to continue his work in our own way. We are left to exude the courage, dignity and religious leadership he taught us. Although his life on earth is fulfilled, his eternal life in Heaven awaits. We will miss him.