House Democrats Block Resolution Condemning Attacks on Pro-Life Centers, Churches

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) speaks during a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, on July 14, 2022. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Democrat counterparts have blocked a Republican resolution that aimed to condemn the wave of violence and vandalism targeting pro-life groups and churches nationwide.

The resolution (H.Res.1233), introduced by Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) on July 19 and co-sponsored by 22 House Republican lawmakers, cited dozens of targeted assaults beginning May 3, a day after a leaked draft opinion suggested the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision that largely legalized abortion in the United States.

Over the past few months, pregnancy centers and churches have been set ablaze, with some having their windows smashed, walls defaced, and buildings firebombed.

“If abortions aren’t safe, neither are you,” and “Your time is up” were some of the threatening messages that the vandals left.

A message written on the wall of a pro-choice pregnancy resource center that was set on fire in Longmont, Colorado, on June 25, 2022. Longmont Police Department

“We shouldn’t be surprised that they’re occurring all across the country they’ve gone unchecked for far too long,” said Johnson on Tuesday as he and other House Republicans urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi (R-Calif.) to immediately bring the resolution to the floor for a vote.

The “radical leftists,” he said, have been emboldened and “targeted their violence against the very groups that care for women and their unborn children in their most vulnerable moments.”

Their request was rejected by a party-line vote.

‘Not Remotely Unexpected’

The outcome, while disappointing, didn’t come as a surprise, the Republicans said.

“In saner times, this resolution would have passed unanimously. But now, even the simple idea of standing up for those who assist expecting mothers with diapers, baby formula, and other necessities has become something that my Democrat colleagues cannot support,” Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told The Epoch Times. “It’s sad, but not remotely unexpected; I’ll pray for them.”

Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.), who said he was proud to have a “100% pro-life record,” took to the House floor on Tuesday pushing for the resolution to be considered.

“Denouncing violence should not be a party-line issue,” he told The Epoch Times.

A masked assailant winds up to swing a hammer at a pregnancy clinic in Worcester, Massachusetts, on July 7, 2022. Still from surveillance video/The Problem Pregnancy

According to Reschenthaler, over 70 churches, pregnancy care centers, and pro-life organizations have encountered violent threats or mob attacks since the leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion, actions he described as “despicable.”

“Radical pro-abortion groups have declared ‘open season’ on pro-life crisis pregnancy centers that are providing critical resources to pregnant women, infants, and families,” he said.

In face of the violence, some Democrats in both the House and the Senate have advanced calls to shut down crisis pregnancy centers, calling them “deceptive.” Such facilities are nonprofits founded to provide resources and services for women to persuade them against having an abortion.

Silence Emboldens

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), responding to the Democrats’ decision, mentioned the violence suffered by a crisis pregnancy center in her home state. The center has posted photos showing its Buffalo office window shattered after it was set on fire. The police are investigating it as arson and two firefighters suffered minor injuries, according to local media.

Damage from the attack “cost the center hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs—critical funds that could’ve saved lives,” Stefanik told The Epoch Times, noting that the instance was but “one of the many acts of violence and intimidation.”

“This cannot stand,” she said.

Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), like Roy, said that the refusal of Democrats to consider the resolution despite escalating violence was “all-too-predictable.”

“These attacks by radical pro-abortion activists are heinous, yet Democrats remain silent,” he told The Epoch Times, adding that the organizations “deserve our protection and support” for the crucial role they play.

The House Democrats’ failure to denounce the attacks will “only embolden abortion protesters to continue their violent rampage,” said Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.).

“The reality that states will once again have the opportunity to prevent abortion on demand has sent radical leftists over the edge,” he told The Epoch Times.