For many years, Mark has prayed outside Philadelphia-area abortion facilities and counseled women outside those facilities, while never interfering with a location’s operation. He has always respected laws that protect access to clinic entrances.
In 2021, Mark brought his 12-year-old son along with him to an abortion facility to pray.
While there, a facility volunteer started berating Mark for his activism. Mark shrugged it off until the man’s behavior became more aggressive, and expanded to include confronting Mark’s young son.
Stepping in to defend his son, Mark admittedly shoved the aggressive volunteer. It was an unfortunate choice, but an understandable response from a father who saw his son in a threatening situation.
What Mark’s response WASN’T was a violation of the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (the FACE Act). But that’s what the Biden administration’s Justice Department called it.
Federal agents raided Mark’s home, arrested him in front of his family (even though he had offered to surrender voluntarily), and prosecuted him under the threat of 11 years in prison.
Knowing he was being used as an example to intimidate the entire pro-life movement, Mark refused to fold under pressure. He stood up against such unjust weaponization of the law, fought for himself in court, and was declared not guilty by a jury. He then sued the government for its malicious behavior and won there, as well.
Mark Houck is an authentic hero. A true champion of the pro-life movement.
This week—on Wednesday, July 15 at 8 p.m. Eastern—one champion meets an audience of others when the monthly donors in our CatholicVote Champions Club tune in online for an exclusive Q&A with Mark, hosted by our own Josh Mercer.
If you’re a CatholicVote Champion, you already have the information you need to join us on Wednesday. If you’d like to become a Champion and get access to the livestream, please visit us here.
And let’s all pray that pro-lifers the world over will be blessed with the courage displayed by Mark Houck.
Go forward bravely,
