Tag Archives: Thomas More Society
SCOTUS Affirms First Amendment Freedoms!
This morning, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) handed down a highly anticipated ruling that affirmed First Amendment protections of religious liberty and freedom of conscience. In this particular ruling it means that our government does not have the authority to force family businesses like Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Woods to provide abortifacient drugs and contraceptives in their health care plans.
The Illinois Family Institute celebrates this important decision in favor of religious liberty and freedom of conscience. The Court ruled that private companies cannot be forced to comply with onerous federal government mandates that violate their religious …
Chicago Tribune Hosts Revealing Marriage Forum
In a stunning public admission during a debate on the future of marriage in Illinois, the chief sponsor of SB 10, the proposed bill to legalize same-sex “marriage,” homosexual State Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago) acknowledged that the bill does not provide religious liberty or conscience protections for individual Christian business owners. Further, it was clear that both he and homosexual Chicago Alderman Deb Mell (a former state representative and co-sponsor of of SB 10) oppose any such protections.
In the unfortunately titled “Marriage Equality” debate, sponsored by the Chicago Tribune, moderator Bruce Dold asked Harris about the absence …
‘Marriage Equality’ Isn’t the Only Goal
In their efforts to redefine marriage, most homosexual activists become apoplectic at the suggestion that there is more to their efforts than just their purported goal of achieving “marriage equality.” They dismiss the comments of homosexuals like lesbian journalist Masha Gessen who states that the institution of marriage “should not exist,” and that homosexual activists are “lying about what we are going to do with marriage when we get there,” as the extreme views of just a few radicals.
What cannot be dismissed, however, is that time and again homosexual activists have proven through their actions that the redefinition of …
Broadening IRS Victims Include Pro-Life Advocates, As Congress Investigates
Thomas More Society Cases Demonstrate Conservative Bias Only “Tip of Iceberg”
The Thomas More Society is speaking out about blatant bias by the supposedly apolitical tax-collection agency. Cases handled by the Chicago-based public interest law firm support mounting accusations that demonstrate the agency’s abuse of pro-life organizations, in addition to those identified as ‘tea party’, ‘patriot’, or ‘government spending’ groups. Outrage spurred by recent revelations of IRS discrimination against these groups has also led the Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus to announce a full investigation into the matter.
In one case, the IRS withheld approval of an application for …
Judge Halts Illinois Mandate of Contraceptives and Abortifacients Coverage in HHS Lawsuit
Thomas More Society Says Triune Health Group’s Religious Liberty Protected
Today, Judge Terence M. Sheen of the DuPage County Circuit Court granted Triune Health Group’s motion for a temporary restraining order against Illinois’ contraception mandate, which forces coverage of abortifacients and contraceptives in group healthcare plans. This temporary restraining order comes on the heels of a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve, granting Triune Health Group temporary relief from the federal HHS mandated healthcare coverage of abortifacients, sterilizations, and contraceptives.
“The ruling today is a victory for religious liberty and the right of conscience,” said …
No Room for Jesus in the Inn or a Public Park
Nativity Display Will Mark its Fifth Christmas Season in Illinois’ State Capitol Rotunda
Tuesday, November 27, 2012, will mark the launch of the fifth annual Christmas Nativity display in the Rotunda of the Illinois State Capitol. The Springfield Nativity Scene Committee (SNSC) will unveil the Nativity exhibit at a public “opening day” celebration to be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda, at South 2nd Street and East Capital Ave. in Springfield.
Event Details
- What: The Fifth Annual State Capitol Christmas Nativity Display
- When: Tuesday, November 27, 2012, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Where: Illinois State Capitol Rotunda, 301 South 2nd Street (at Capital Avenue) in
Constitution Week at York, Waubonsie, and Downers Grove North High Schools
September 17 marks the beginning of Constitution Week, a commemoration of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Three area high schools are celebrating this historic occasion by inviting atheist teenager Jessica Ahlquist to speak to students in American government and history classes about her successful lawsuit against her high school. Last year, she successfully sued her Rhode Island high school to force it to remove a banner on which a prayer was printed. The prayer was written by a 7th grade student, placed on the banner, and presented as a gift to the school 49 years ago.…
11 State Lawmakers Step Up in Support of Natural Marriage
This week, a bipartisan group of 11 members of the Illinois General Assembly filed an amicus curiae brief defending the constitutionality of Illinois law defining marriage as the union of a husband and a wife. Led by Senator Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont) and Senator Bill Haine (D-Alton), the legislators’ brief supports a motion to dismiss the ACLU and Lambda Legal lawsuits filed by Thomas More Society attorneys, on behalf of downstate county clerks who were allowed into the case to defend the law.
“We welcome the bipartisan support for Illinois’ marriage law offered by this respected group of legislators,” said Peter …
Defending Illinois’ Marriage Law
On Friday, Thomas More Society attorneys filed a motion to intervene, asking the Cook County Circuit Court to allow them to defend Illinois’ marriage law in the same-sex marriage lawsuits filed by the ACLU and Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund. The motion to intervene was filed on behalf of Christie Webb, Tazewell County Clerk, and Kerry Hirtzel, Effingham County Clerk. Attorneys with the Thomas More Society have been appointed Special Assistant State’s Attorneys to represent Ms. Webb and Mr. Hirtzel in this litigation.
“When the ACLU and Lambda Legal brought plaintiffs from across the State of Illinois …
U.S. Congress Agrees: Defense of Marriage Act is Constitutional
House Attorneys Support Thomas More Society’s DOMA Case
This week, the Thomas More Society secured support from the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the U.S. House of Representatives in a same-sex marriage case that involves the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The case asserts that the parents of attorney Sarah Farley, who died of cancer, should get her profit-sharing plan proceeds instead of Sarah’s “wife”, Jennifer Tobits.
The House’s Legal Advisory Group filed a motion to intervene in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Motion available here and Memorandum available here), supporting the position …
Illinois Parental Notice Case
Chicago “Bubble Zone” Case Burst For The Third Time
Those who will do anything possible to quash dissent regarding the issue of abortion were foiled once again on Wednesday, August 18, 2010. The case against David Avignone, an MBA student at Chicago’s Loyola University, was dropped by the City of Chicago. Avignone was originally charged with disorderly conduct due to his alleged violation of a controversial ordinance referred to as a “Bubble Zone”. The ordinance applies outside local abortion clinics to prohibit approaching within eight feet of a person to present a leaflet, sign or oral message to that person. Avignone was arrested while praying the rosary in …
Time to Push the Illinois’ Parental Notification Act
Thomas More Society Files Motion for Immediate Transfer of Parental Notice Challenge to Illinois Supreme Court
Our friends at the pro-life Thomas More Society law firm just delivered the justices of the Illinois Supreme Court a motion to immediately transfer the legal case pending against the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995 from the Appellate Court to the Supreme Court. Arguing that pregnant minors at risk for abortion suffer harm every day that the Act is not enforced, the Society invoked the Supreme Court rule allowing transfer of an appeal when the “public interest requires prompt adjudication.” The …
Attorney General Now Claims Illinois Constitution Contains Right to Abortion
Thomas More Society Responds by Seeking Leave of Court to Defend Parental Notice
Chicago, Illinois March 12-Reacting to the recent claim by the Attorney General that the Illinois Constitution contains a right to abortion, attorneys from the Thomas More Society will appear in Cook County court on Monday, March 15, again seeking to intervene in the latest American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawsuit, challenging the Illinois Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995.
In Hope Clinic, et al., v. Brent Adams et al. (No. 09 CH 38661), Thomas More Society attorneys are representing Illinois State’s Attorneys Stu Umholtz (R-Tazewell), Ed …
