DEACON FOR LIFE: BIG news from the Second Circuit

Thursday, June 3, 2021

BIG news from the Second Circuit

Dear Friends,

I have incredible news.

Back in April we requested an en banc review of our New York sidewalk counselor case by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

We asked the court to vacate the ruling of the 3-judge panel – which we thought was clearly erroneous.

Well, that’s not exactly what happened.

The 3-judge panel not only agreed to rehear the case -- but they completely vacated their own decision.

This means sidewalk counselors in New York will continue their life-saving work -- and the decision of the district court remains in effect.

Remember, the State of New York sued the sidewalk counselors for harassment when they did nothing of the sort.

And while the district court ruled in our favor, the 3-judge panel at the Second Circuit ruled against us and sent the case back the district court with instructions that would have gutted our victory.

Which is why we asked for an en banc review.

You see, the abortion lobby wants to ban sidewalk counseling in every form – and this was their chance.

But you and I both know the abortion lobby doesn’t want to ban sidewalk counseling because activists are doing anything wrong or criminal. They want to outlaw sidewalk counseling because it’s effective.

With every sidewalk counselor in front of their clinic, they see a threat to their bottom line.

So, while this is an incredible win -- we can’t afford to take anything for granted.

This case will have consequences all over the country, and this ruling is a historic victory for both the unborn and our First Amendment rights.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Gratefully,

Andrew Bath
Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Donate Now

The Thomas More Society is a not-for-profit, national public interest law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and religious liberty.

Please consider supporting our efforts with a generous, tax-deductible donation.

LIFE IS SACRED

An example of the traditional magisterial teaching which indicates that it is never morally licit to intentionally kill a child through abortion in order to “save the life of its mother” comes from the teaching of Pope Pius XII:

“Every human being, even the infant in the mother's womb, has the right to life immediately from God, not from the parent or any human society or authority. Therefore, there is no man, no human authority, no science, no medical, eugenic, social, economic or moral ‘indication’ that can show or give valid juridical title for direct deliberate disposition concerning an innocent human life-which is to say, a disposition that aims at its destruction either as an end in itself or as the means of attaining another end that is perhaps in no way illicit itself. Thus, for example, to save the life of the mother is a most noble end, but the direct killing of the child as a means to this end is not licit.”