DEACON FOR LIFE

Were there to be no support in the whole history of ethical and moral thought, were there no acknowledged confirmation from medical science, were the history of legal opinion to the contrary, we would still have to conclude on the basis of God's Holy Word that the unborn child is a person in the sight of God. He is protected by the sanctity of life graciously given to each individual by the Creator, Who alone places His image upon man and grants them any right to life which they have.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Obama's Call to Ban Counseling Therapy would Violate Constitutional Rights

Refusal to recognize the rights of Americans to seek help is nothing new, but in this case it is also unconstitutional

Rancho Santa Fe, California – Today, President Obama injected his views into the personal decisions of private individuals seeking counseling, calling for a ban on conversion therapy for minors.

“President Obama and politicians in Washington have no place prohibiting teens and parents across America from seeking counseling. Dictates from Washington that prevent free people from exercising their First Amendment rights to make these personal decisions without government interference are repulsive,” said Maggie Gallagher, Chairman of the Board of Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund.

The Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund will defend these First Amendment rights in court this summer by defending JONAH (Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing), a Jewish group which helps those who deal with unwanted same-sex attractions by providing a community with educational outreach services, including counseling referrals, for affected individuals and their families.

“Seeking counseling is a very private and personal decision people make and coercive tactics to shut down all alternatives for people with same-sex attraction is simply wrong. The President’s refusal to recognize the rights of Americans to seek help is nothing new, but in this case it is also unconstitutional,” Gallagher noted.

The Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund is a nonprofit, public-interest law firm which defends the conscience rights and religious freedom of those of all faiths and no faith. The Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund's mission is to defend religious freedom by providing protective legal services at the trial level to persons whose religious liberty and free-speech rights have been attacked. Located in San Diego and led by experienced trial attorney Charles LiMandri, FCDF assists individuals and organizations nationwide with pro bono services.

Maggie Gallagher, Chairman of the Board of Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund, is available for commentary. Please contact Ryan Hughes at RHughes@SBPublicAffairs.com, by phone at (703) 739-5920 or by cell at (224) 723-8688 for more information.

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Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

For Life and Freedom,

Scott Maxwell

Executive Director

Freedom of Conscience Defense Fund

858-759-9948