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ANN ARBOR, MI — The United States Supreme Court today issued a sharply divided 5 – 4 ruling upholding the Federal law that bans Partial-Birth Abortions. The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, had filed a “friend-of-the-court” brief with the Supreme Court supporting the Federal ban.  The brief was filed on behalf of the Law Center, the National Pro-Life Alliance, a nonpartisan coalition of over 600,000 pro-life Americans, and the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, the nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, commented, “Today’s Supreme Court decision may very well signal the willingness of the Court under Chief Justice Roberts to revisit its infamous Roe v. Wade decision and end legalized abortion in this country. Its immediate effect is to overrule the ‘undue burden’ test for facial challenges to abortion restriction statues.”

At issue in the case was the constitutionality of the 2003 Federal law that bans a particularly barbaric and gruesome abortion procedure used in the fifth or sixth month of pregnancy where the unborn child is removed from the mother’s womb except for the head. The doctor punctures the child’s head, sucks out the brains in order to collapse the skull, and then removes the dead child from the mother.

Immediately after the 2003 Act was signed into law by President Bush, pro-abortion groups filed federal lawsuits in New York, San Francisco, and Lincoln, Nebraska. Lower federal trial courts and appellate courts found the ban unconstitutional in all three cases and enjoined its enforcement. Those rulings have now been reversed by the Supreme Court, and the 2003 Act goes into effect.

The Supreme Court’s decision was authored by Justice Kennedy, who was joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Alito. Justices Ginsburg, Stevens, Souter, and Breyer dissented from the decision. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg read her bitter dissent from the bench.

Edward L. White III, trial counsel with the Thomas More Law Center, explained, “In our brief, we argued that the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 was constitutional and permissibly regulates abortion. We explained to the Supreme Court that to abandon this legislation would herald a new era in which the value of any pre-born human life would no longer be protected by our courts or our Constitution. I am glad the Supreme Court decided to support the culture of life and reject the culture of death that is spreading across this nation.”

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.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all; please be seated. Good morning. Thank you. It’s good to be with you. You know how to make a Methodist feel right at home. (Laughter.) I noticed that this year’s breakfast was the Friday after Lent — (laughter) — you can eat your bacon in good conscience. (Laughter.) And the priests can relax. (Laughter.)

I appreciate the opportunity to be with you, I really do. I thank you for having this prayer breakfast. Prayer breakfasts show the true strength of our nation. I am honored that people say to me and Laura, “We pray for you.” It means a lot. A prayerful nation is a strong nation. A prayerful nation is a nation, the true strength of which lies in the hearts of the men and women of our nation.

Our Declaration of Independence states that our freedom rests on self-evident truths about the dignity of the human person. Throughout our nation’s history, Catholic Americans have embraced, sustained, and given their lives to defend these truths. This morning, we give thanks for the blessings of freedom, and we ask Almighty God to guide us as we renew our founding promise of liberty and justice for all.

I’m sorry Laura couldn’t be here. She is by far the best representative of our family. Thank you for praying for her.

I appreciate my friend, Leonard Leo, for inviting me. I thank the leaders of the National Catholic Prayer breakfast. I’m honored to be in the presence of Archbishop Donald Wuerl. I have known the Archbishop for quite a while. I appreciate his strong and firm dedication to making sure every child in America gets a good education. (Applause.) I am proud to be here with Archbishop Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. I appreciate the members of the Catholic clergy. I am honored to be here with two members of our Supreme Court, the Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sam Alito. (Applause.)

I thank the members of my administration who have joined us, particularly our Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Jim Nicholson, and Suzanne, thank you for joining us. (Applause.)

I am in awe of people like Corporal Michael Blair, United States Marine Corps. (Applause.) I thank the members of our Armed Services who are here today. I appreciate the members of Congress who have joined us. Thanks for letting me come by to say, hello. (Laughter and applause.)

Of the 56 men who signed our Declaration of Independence, only one was a Catholic — Charles Carroll. In 1776, Carroll was one of the wealthiest men in America. But because he was a Catholic, he could not vote or hold public office in his native Maryland. John Adams noted that Carroll’s wealth and patriotism marked him for special vengeance if the Revolution were to fail. That is why when Carroll added his name to the Declaration, one bystander said: “There go a few million.” (Laughter.)

Carroll was willing to risk those millions because he knew that something far more precious was at stake: freedom. He believed that the self-evident truths of our Declaration would lead to religious as well as civil liberty. He knew that an America where people were free to worship God as they saw fit would be a land where Catholics would flourish and prosper. And he understood that whatever America’s failings, our founding promise would always be a source of hope and renewal for our country. And at this breakfast, we commit ourselves to renewing that promise in our own time.

Renewing the promise of America begins with upholding the dignity of human life. (Applause.) In our day, there is a temptation to manipulate life in ways that do not respect the humanity of the person. When that happens, the most vulnerable among us can be valued for their utility to others — instead of their own inherent worth. We must continue to work for a culture of life — where the strong protect the weak, and where we recognize in every human life the image of our Creator. (Applause.)

Renewing the promise of America requires good citizens who look out for their neighbors. One of the reasons that I am such a strong believer in the power of our faith-based institutions is that they add something the government never can, and that is love. (Applause.) Pope Benedict the 16th put it this way in his first letter as Pope: “There is no ordering of the state so just that it can eliminate the need for a service of love.” In parishes and neighborhoods across our nation, Catholics take this call to heart — and that is why we find so many of you leading America’s armies of compassion. You are changing America one heart, one soul at a time, and I thank you. (Applause.)

Renewing the promise of America also includes ensuring a sound education for every single child. America’s Catholic schools play a vital role in our nation. The schools were built by poor immigrants, they were staffed by legions of dedicated nuns, brothers, and priests — and they have given millions of Americans the knowledge and character they need to succeed in life. Today, these schools are also serving thousands of non-Catholic children in some of nation’s poorest neighborhoods. I appreciate the tremendous sacrifices that many dioceses are making to keep their inner-city schools going. I am worried that too many of these schools are closing — and our nation needs to do something about it. (Applause.)

This afternoon I’ll hold a meeting at the White House to discuss the difference America’s parochial schools are making in the lives of some of our neediest children. We see that difference right here in the nation’s capital. Pam Battle sat with Laura during my State of the Union address. She’s a mom of two, Carlos and Calvin. A few years ago, these boys were in a public school that was not meeting Pam’s expectations. We passed what’s called the D.C. School Choice Incentive Act — many of you in this room helped get that act passed. As a result of that act, her boys were able to transfer to Assumption Catholic School — a parochial school that serves an almost entirely African-American student body.

Carlos became an A-student and president of his 8th grade class. He now attends high school at Georgetown Day. Calvin is a 5th-grader at Assumption — I’m told he’s running for “Student of the Month.” (Laughter.) Something I never achieved. (Laughter and applause.)

Pam has a big smile on her face when she comes to talk about the education her boys are receiving. “The main benefit of this program is that I can drop off my sons at school with peace of mind. It’s safe, and I know they are working up to their level.” That’s what Pam said. I believe every parent in America should have that same peace of mind — and every school in America should ensure its students are working to their fullest of potentials. I applaud our nation’s Catholic schools. I will continue to work to help these schools reach more children in need, so that our children have the skills they need to realize the full promise of the United States of America.

Finally, to realize the promise of America, we must have comprehensive immigration reform that enforces our laws and upholds the dignity of every single person in the United States. (Applause.) And now is the time for the United States Congress to get a bill to my desk that I can sign. (Applause.)

I thank you for your fine tradition. I applaud you for the love of neighbor you show through your organizations and your churches. I ask that you pray for our soldiers and their families in harm’s way. And I ask that you pray that in a troubled world, America may always remain a beacon of hope and of freedom.

May God bless you all.

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, a national Christian legal advocacy group, today announced it has established a Lieutenant Colonel Chessani Defense Fund in response to the flood of calls and emails from people wishing to support this Marine Corps officer in his politicized legal battle.

Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Chessani is accused of criminal wrong doing in the high profile case arising out of a terrorist ambush in Haditha, Iraq on November 19, 2005 in which one Marine was killed and several others wounded. As Marines moved in on the attacking terrorists who were firing from nearby homes, several civilians were killed.

Months later, after inflammatory media articles and comments by an antiwar politician, LtCol Chessani, the battalion commander of the Marines involved in the fighting, was accused of failing to properly report and investigate the incident.

He faces a maximum punishment of three years in prison, dismissal (an officer’s equivalent of a dishonorable discharge), and the loss of his retirement benefits.

The Thomas More Law Center, based in Ann Arbor, MI, agreed to represent LtCol Chessani at no charge.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center commented, “LtCol Chessani is a devout family man and Christian, who dutifully defended our country for nineteen years, including three tours in Iraq. His wife and five young children should not have to worry about finances to ensure that he receives the best defense possible.”

Law Center spokesperson Brian Rooney stated, “Had LtCol Chessani hired a private for-profit law firm to represent him, his legal bills would already be astronomical – out of reach for a father of five young children surviving on military pay.”

“It is unfortunate that LtCol Chessani is being made a political scapegoat,” added Rooney.

Rooney is asking concerned Americans to help defend LtCol Chessani, “You can help in his defense by mailing a donation to the Thomas More Law Center at 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, P.O. Box 393, Ann Arbor MI 48106, or by simply visiting our website (www.thomasmore.org) and clicking on the ‘LtCol Chessani Defense Fund’ icon in the top right corner. Please indicate your donation is for the ‘Defense Fund.’”

The Law Center, collaborating with assigned military defense counsel, has already commenced its aggressive defense of LtCol Chessani by interviewing numerous witnesses, conducting discovery of crucial evidence, reviewing thousands of pages of investigative reports and documents associated with the case, and deposing many key witnessing who are redeploying back to Iraq.

The two Law Center attorneys assigned to handle the case, Robert Muise and Brian Rooney, are both former Marine officers. Muise is a former infantry officer and judge advocate, who served in the Persian Gulf War, and Rooney is a former judge advocate and Iraq War Veteran.

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

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – In a bold move yesterday, a bi-partisan group of Georgia legislators offered the nation’s first “Paramount Right to Life” Amendment, H.R. 536. If successful, Georgia will become the first “Pro-life” state in the nation establishing the “personhood” of each of its citizens from fertilization until natural death.

Using language provided by the Thomas More Law Center, an advocacy group for pro-life causes, H.R. 536 states, “Paramount right to life: (a) The rights of every person shall be recognized, among which in the first place is the inviolable right of every innocent human being to life. The right to life is the paramount and most fundamental right of a person. (b) With respect to the fundamental and inalienable rights of all persons guaranteed in this Constitution, the word ‘person’ applies to all human beings, irrespective of age, race, sex, health, function, or condition of dependency, including unborn children at every state of their biological development, including fertilization.” (http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2007_08/search/hr536.htm)

“It is time that the citizens of Georgia be able to speak decisively to this most fundamental right” says Caryl Swift, President of Georgia Right to Life (GRTL). “When is a person a ‘person’ under the laws of our State and therefore entitled to protection under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution? Let’s let Georgians decide… not the state Supreme Court. I commend this bi-partisan effort to protect all of Georgia’s citizens… all the time.”

“Two important pro-life objectives would be effected by this amendment to our state constitution,” says Daniel Becker, Vice President of GRTL. “It establishes and affirms in principal that Georgia is a “pro-life” state that seeks to protect all human life from fertilization as a matter of constitutional law; and it provides a direct challenge to the central holding of Roe v. Wade.” 410 U.S. 113 (1973). “In the Roe v. Wade decision, Justice Harry Blackmun wrote that, ‘(If the) suggestion of personhood [of the preborn] is established, the [abortion rights] case, of course, collapses, for the fetus’ right to life is then guaranteed specifically by the [14th] Amendment.’” Becker concludes, “Thus, the personhood of the preborn child is the single point on which the entire debate turns.”

Georgia law requires two thirds of both chambers to place a constitutional amendment on the 2008 ballot. “Building on the 116-54 victory yesterday of the passage of the GRTL endorsed Ultrasound Bill, we feel that we are within striking distance of the four votes needed to pass this common sense resolution out of the Georgia House. Our pro-life Senate bill “Saving the Cure Act,” passed today 39-15… two votes more than the 37 needed to pass this Resolution,” said Becker. “This landmark piece of legislation will be the centerpiece of our legislative efforts in the 2008 legislative session,” said Becker.

Georgia Right to Life is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian organization of diverse and caring people united to engage in actions that will restore respect and effective legal protection for all human beings from the moment of fertilization until natural death.

ANN ARBOR, MI – Six officers and one senior enlisted Marine gave sworn videotaped testimony last week that nothing they saw or heard concerning the so called “Haditha Massacre” of November 19, 2005 caused them to suspect that any Marine had purposely killed any Iraqi civilian or that any officer was involved in a cover-up of the incident.

The Thomas More Law Center is representing Marine Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Chessani, who is charged with failure to investigate and brief higher command of the incident. The defense team also includes Marine Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Jon Shelburne—a law professor at Roger Williams University School of Law, and Marine Captain Jeff King. The sworn videotape testimony for use at the proposed May 2007 Article 32 hearing was taken because the witnesses were being deployed out of the country and would not be personally present at the hearing.

The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan is defending Chessani at no cost. Law Center attorneys assigned to handle the case, Robert Muise and Brian Rooney, are both former Marine officers. Rooney served seven months in Iraq and Muise served in the first Persian Gulf War.

Brian Rooney, the Law Center spokesperson, commented, “The more evidence that is brought to light from key witnesses the better. There is so much misreporting and outright propaganda from the enemy presented as fact by news organizations like Time magazine that we have started in on the process of debunking false reports through the truth with these depositions.”

One key witness was the intelligence officer for 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines while the unit was deployed to Iraq. During his closed testimony, the officer testified for nearly eight hours, providing classified evidence of the enemy situation and their tactics, including their tactic of using civilians as cover for their attacks. Through this witness, the defense team presented over one hundred classified exhibits, including video.

Muise, the Law Center attorney who questioned the officer, commented, “The intelligence officer is a crucial witness in this case. During his testimony, he effectively described the enemy situation prior to, during, and after the November 19 terrorist attack, providing the necessary context for the decisions that were made as a result. His testimony shows the complexity of the attack this day, the callousness of the terrorists toward the local civilians, whom they use to their advantage, and the error of viewing this incident in a vacuum.”

The officer also showed how the insurgents used allegations of wrongdoing by Marines as propaganda to support their cause. In fact, another witness, who was the assistant intelligence officer during the attack and is now the current intelligence officer for the battalion, testified that since the Haditha incident received so much negative attention, terrorist propaganda alleging law of war violations against American servicemen in Iraq has “ballooned.”

Richard Thompson, the President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, expressed concern about this trend, “The government’s politicized quest to find wrongdoing in this case will ultimately harm the war effort, and it has already resulted in an incredible expenditure of time, money, and scarce resources, which could be better used fighting the terrorists.”

Another officer who personally witnessed the scene of the attack shortly after the fighting and assisted with removing the civilian bodies from the insurgent-occupied homes, confirmed that there was no evidence of “executions” and that he saw no evidence of misconduct. This officer was testifying under a grant of immunity by the government, adding further credibility to his testimony.

Lieutenant Colonel Shelburne, the military defense counsel who questioned this officer, noted, “This officer’s testimony is significant. He was on the scene shortly after the attack. He saw the location of the bodies. He personally observed the damage caused by the attack. And yet, he saw nothing that caused him to suspect any wrongdoing on the part of the Marines. Moreover, this officer was given immunity by the government, so the only way he can get in trouble is if he testifies untruthfully.”

Another key point shown by witness testimony was that there was absolutely no evidence of a “cover up.” The Marines promptly reported the attack, including the fact that civilians had been killed, up the chain of command. In fact, a briefing was given to a high-ranking general officer just days after the terrorist attack, informing the general of the civilian deaths. And the witnesses uniformly recounted being instructed by senior officers in the battalion, including Lieutenant Colonel Chessani, to tell the truth when questioned about the incident—the battalion had nothing to hide. As one witness told the attorneys, the notion that there was any sort of a cover up is “ridiculous.”

Said Thompson, “Our job is to allow the facts of November 19, 2005 and beyond to be presented to the investigating officer rather than the scurrilous and unfounded accusations from anti-war politicians and media who rely on insurgent sources for their stories about our decent and hard fighting men in uniform.”

The maximum punishment at a General Court-Martial that Lieutenant Colonel Chessani could face is dismissal (an officer’s equivalent of a dishonorable discharge), loss of retirement, and imprisonment of up to 3 years.

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

ANN ARBOR, MI – The Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has submitted a friend of the court brief supporting the right of physicians to refuse to perform medical procedures that violate their sincerely held religious convictions. The brief was filed in a case pending before the California Supreme Court, North Coast Women’s Care v. Benitiz.

In that case Guadalupe Benitez, a lesbian, sued two doctors who refused to artificially inseminate her—alleging that the doctors discriminated against her because of her sexual orientation in violation of California’s civil rights act. The doctors assert that they cannot be held liable for refusing to provide treatment based upon their sincerely held religious convictions because California’s constitution protects their right to the free exercise of religion. Benitez is represented by the LAMBDA Legal Defense Fund, one of the leading organizations promoting the homosexual agenda.

According to Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel for the Thomas More Law Center, “Forcing doctors to violate their conscience smacks of Nazi Germany. Doctors are not ‘needles for hire.’ Benitez received treatment from other doctors. Her effort to punish these doctors is a mean-spirited effort to exact a pound of flesh from those who refuse to bow to the homosexual agenda based on sincerely held religious conviction.”

Patrick T. Gillen, the attorney who authored the brief for the Law Center, observed that the case has broad implications for religious liberty. He noted, “if the California Supreme Court accepts Bentiz’s argument, the protection that California’s constitution provides to the free exercise of religion will be practically meaningless. The California Supreme Court should hold that California’s religious liberty provision bars Benitez from holding these doctors liable for their refusal to provide medical care based upon their sincerely held religious convictions.”

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.