South Bend Prosecutor Presses Trespass
Charges Against Prominent Pro-life
Advocates
Chicago-based Thomas More Society assembles a
"Fighting Irish" legal defense team
Contact: Tom Brejcha, Thomas More Society, 312-590-3408;
Tom Ciesielka, TC Public Relations, 312-422-1333
NOTRE DAME, Ind., May 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Thomas
More Society attorneys appeared in St. Joseph County Criminal
Court to defend two prominent pro-life advocates against
trespass charges brought this morning by local prosecutors in
the wake of protests at the University of Notre Dame.
Laura Rohling and Jane Brennan went onto the Notre Dame
campus to educate students about the after-effects of abortion,
based on their own personal experiences with abortion. Ms.
Brennan, author of "Motherhood Interrupted," is a frequent
guest on Catholic TV and radio. She serves as regional
coordinator in Colorado of "Silent No More," a group which
brings public attention to the plight of women who have
experienced emotional and other pain after abortion. Ms.
Rohling serves as assistant regional coordinator of that group.
"The Thomas More Society is urging the University to request
that these trespass charges be dropped," said Tom Brejcha,
President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Society.
"Such a magnanimous gesture will go far toward healing the
divisions that have arisen between Notre Dame and the pro-life
movement, in light of recent events."
The Society has assembled an all-"Fighting Irish" team,
including President and Chief Counsel Thomas Brejcha, Notre
Dame class of '65, Executive Director Peter Breen, Notre Dame
Law class of '00, and South Bend attorney David Wemhoff,
Notre Dame class of '79, in defense of Ms. Rohling and Ms.
Brennan.
"What's vitally needed is dialogue about pro-life issues of
abortion, stem-cell research, euthanasia, marriage, as well as
about capital punishment and peace issues rather than
confrontation in South Bend's criminal court," Brejcha
continued. "The pro-life movement is the next stage of
America's civil rights movement, and Notre Dame is not
Birmingham."
The Thomas More Society has a history of partnership with the
University of Notre Dame. The late Fr. Ned Joyce, former
Executive Vice President of the University, was a regular
financial supporter of the Society. Fr. Theodore Hesburgh,
former President of the University, wrote fundraising letters in
support of the Thomas More Society's successful defense of
peaceable, non-violent abortion protests in the landmark United
States Supreme Court case, NOW v. Scheidler.
About the Thomas More Society
Founded in 1997, the Thomas More Society, Pro-Life Law
Center, is a not-for-profit, public interest law firm based in
Chicago and dedicated to fighting for the rights and dignity of
all human life. The Society vigorously defends clients in state
and federal courtrooms around the country, addressing vital
issues across the pro-life spectrum, including pregnancy
discrimination, end-of-life health care, the right of conscientious
objection for medical workers and freedom of speech for
peaceable nonviolent protest.
As a public interest law firm, the Thomas More Society is a
nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, supported solely
by private donations. Visit www.thomasmoresociety.org for
more information.
Charges Against Prominent Pro-life
Advocates
Chicago-based Thomas More Society assembles a
"Fighting Irish" legal defense team
Contact: Tom Brejcha, Thomas More Society, 312-590-3408;
Tom Ciesielka, TC Public Relations, 312-422-1333
NOTRE DAME, Ind., May 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Thomas
More Society attorneys appeared in St. Joseph County Criminal
Court to defend two prominent pro-life advocates against
trespass charges brought this morning by local prosecutors in
the wake of protests at the University of Notre Dame.
Laura Rohling and Jane Brennan went onto the Notre Dame
campus to educate students about the after-effects of abortion,
based on their own personal experiences with abortion. Ms.
Brennan, author of "Motherhood Interrupted," is a frequent
guest on Catholic TV and radio. She serves as regional
coordinator in Colorado of "Silent No More," a group which
brings public attention to the plight of women who have
experienced emotional and other pain after abortion. Ms.
Rohling serves as assistant regional coordinator of that group.
"The Thomas More Society is urging the University to request
that these trespass charges be dropped," said Tom Brejcha,
President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Society.
"Such a magnanimous gesture will go far toward healing the
divisions that have arisen between Notre Dame and the pro-life
movement, in light of recent events."
The Society has assembled an all-"Fighting Irish" team,
including President and Chief Counsel Thomas Brejcha, Notre
Dame class of '65, Executive Director Peter Breen, Notre Dame
Law class of '00, and South Bend attorney David Wemhoff,
Notre Dame class of '79, in defense of Ms. Rohling and Ms.
Brennan.
"What's vitally needed is dialogue about pro-life issues of
abortion, stem-cell research, euthanasia, marriage, as well as
about capital punishment and peace issues rather than
confrontation in South Bend's criminal court," Brejcha
continued. "The pro-life movement is the next stage of
America's civil rights movement, and Notre Dame is not
Birmingham."
The Thomas More Society has a history of partnership with the
University of Notre Dame. The late Fr. Ned Joyce, former
Executive Vice President of the University, was a regular
financial supporter of the Society. Fr. Theodore Hesburgh,
former President of the University, wrote fundraising letters in
support of the Thomas More Society's successful defense of
peaceable, non-violent abortion protests in the landmark United
States Supreme Court case, NOW v. Scheidler.
About the Thomas More Society
Founded in 1997, the Thomas More Society, Pro-Life Law
Center, is a not-for-profit, public interest law firm based in
Chicago and dedicated to fighting for the rights and dignity of
all human life. The Society vigorously defends clients in state
and federal courtrooms around the country, addressing vital
issues across the pro-life spectrum, including pregnancy
discrimination, end-of-life health care, the right of conscientious
objection for medical workers and freedom of speech for
peaceable nonviolent protest.
As a public interest law firm, the Thomas More Society is a
nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, supported solely
by private donations. Visit www.thomasmoresociety.org for
more information.
Our Letter to The President of Notre Dame
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| At Notre Dame University May 8th, 2009 |
Notre Dame, Our Mother Notre Dame, our Mother Tender, strong and true Proudly in the heavens, Gleams thy gold and blue. Glory's mantle cloaks thee Golden is thy fame, And our hearts forever, Praise thee, Notre Dame. And our hearts forever, Love thee, Notre Dame. |
