The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is being sued for inadequately responding to the violence against churches and pro-life pregnancy centers that have suffered increased attacks from pro-abortionists in recent years. According to the Christian Post, a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was made to investigate the failure of the DOJ to respond to the concerns. Some are suggesting that this case is an example of the politicization of the DOJ, citing that they favor pro-abortionists over those who are pro-life.
The conservative think tank Heritage Foundation and Mike Pence’s advocacy organization, Advancing American Freedom, are the ones who filed the lawsuit to hold the DOJ accountable for having an insufficient response to the concerns. Mentioned in the filing is the advocacy group, CatholicVote, which reached out to the DOJ in 2021 telling of their concerns “over the disturbing increase in attacks against Catholic symbols, shrines, statues and churches across the United States over the past year.”
In the aftermath of the leaked draft opinion of Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which eventually overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion across the United States, CatholicVote cited even more violence threatening churches and pro-life pregnancy centers.
The passion of abortionists for their cause has led to increased credible threats towards pro-life pregnancy centers and churches across the country. The Christian Post reports, “according to a report from the Christian conservative organization Family Research Council, there were at least 57 church vandalism incidents from January 2022 to September 2022 directly tied to pro-abortion protests or contained pro-abortion messages.“
Still, the DOJ failed to investigate the threats and violence. Several organizations joined the FOIA request, including Americans United for Life, the Center for Urban Renewal and Education, Concerned Women for America, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Family Research Council, Students for Life Action and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
The Christian Post reports that the FOIA request mentioned “serious concerns that the work of the DOJ is being inappropriately politicized, as investigations into these acts of violence against organizations disfavored by the current administration are being slow-walked or outright ignored.” The FBI did respond to the FOIA request, which also asked for access to internal communications, and denied it citing the lack of “descriptive information” to permit a search of their records.
While the Justice Department maintains that they are handling the concerns to the best of their ability, Attorney General Merrick Garland blamed the fact that most attacks on churches and pro-life pregnancy centers take place at night when photographs are not clear enough to find those responsible.
With attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers and churches still a threat, the hope remains that the attackers will be held accountable and that those fighting for life will not need to fear those who fight to end it.