Craven-Pamlico Christian Coalition Meeting May 16, 2011

Craven-Pamlico Christian Coalition meeting reminder:


Today (Monday) May 16th, Golden Corral in New Bern
Meeting begins promptly at 7:00pm

For those who wish to eat dinner, please arrive between 6:00 & 6:30. 
Agenda: 
* Discussion of the God & Country Banquet in September
* Update on the Crist Clinic abortion clinic vigil and pending litigation (see below)

ABORTION CLINIC VIGIL:

Last month there were several of us that had a prayer vigil near the Crist Clinic in Jacksonville where abortions are performed. Dr. Bart Spano, Pro Life Chairman of the Knights of Columbus at St. Paul Church in New Bern, obtained a permit from the Jacksonville Police Department. There were several members of our CPCC group, the Knights of Columbus and the Coastal Carolina Right to Life, based in Jacksonville.

Shortly after we arrived taking our places near the main entrance of the clinic, two Jacksonville police officers arrived. Dr. Spano showed them our permit and the officers said everything was in order and departed. Not long after that, two other officers arrived and asked us to move from the main entrance to another location which was on a sidewalk. Dr. Spano asked why they wanted us to move but they did not provide any specific reason. However, we did abide by their request. We were still located across from the clinic, but away from the main entrance. We were there for 4 hours, until noon.

A few days later, Dr. Spano contacted the Thomas More Society in Chicago and inquired about the legality of our request to be across from the main entrance of the clinic. Their attorney said that we indeed did have the legal right to be across from the main entrance and agreed to help with an appeal of the permit decision. Dr. Spano appeared before the Jacksonville City Council, but the Council upheld the permit denial, citing "safety reasons". It should be noted that we were not denied the right to protest, but the right to locate immediately across the main entrance. It should also be noted that there was no map or reference of where we could stand in the original permit, and no mention of a problem when the police first visited us the morning of the protest.

Litigation has been drafted by the Thomas More Society and should be filed by the first of June. At this point, it has not been decided which individuals and/or groups that will be named as plaintiffs. We will update as information becomes available. Since the purpose of a vigil in front of an abortion clinic is to save babies, location is critical.

There were 6 members of the Craven-Pamlico Christian Coalition at the vigil.

An article was printed in the Jacksonville Daily News about the permit issue, but it has several factual errors in it. Here is the link:  http://www.jdnews.com/articles/-90815--.html


MISSION STATEMENT:  To inform and educate the public on issues of moral & political concern.  To restore to all levels of government the Judeo-Christian values upon which this nation was founded.  To encourage and activate pro-family voters.