Pro-Life Mark Houck Acquitted on Federal Charges: Arrested For Praying

A federal jury on Monday acquitted Catholic pro-life activist Mark Houck, who was arrested in front of his children after it was alleged he violated the FACE Act after getting into a small fight with no major injuries sustained with a Planned Parenthood volunteer. Neither Houck, nor Planned Parenthood volunteer Bruce Love suffered any major injuries during the fight, however, the response and unnecessary arrest from the FBI were at the center of controversy.

The FACE Act, Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, requires that doorways to Planned Parenthood facilities must not be obstructed. This can include physically obstructing the doors, damaging property so the doors are inoperable, or, even something such as “intimidation.”

According to National Review:

“Houck was accused of physically assaulting Bruce Love, a 72-year-old clinic escort, in October 2021. Love was attempting to escort two patients exiting the Philadelphia clinic when Houck “forcefully shoved” him to the ground, according to the Justice Department. On a separate occasion, Houck allegedly verbally confronted the escort and shoved him to the ground outside the clinic. Love sustained injuries that required medical attention.

However, Houck said he spoke outside of abortion clinics each week and sometimes brought his 12-year-old son along. He said he shoved Love after the clinic escort invaded his son’s personal space and yelled at him.”

During his arrest last September for the 2021 incident, Houck claimed his arrest was simply done “solely to intimidate people of faith and pro-life Americans.”

However, the arrest as well was controversial, as the FBI is alleged to have used unnecessary force, traumatizing the Houck family including his children, and unnecessarily destroying personal property.

Thomas More Society Vice President and Senior Counsel Peter Breen, the attorney representing Houck, claims “Rather than accepting Mark Houck’s offer to appear voluntarily, the Biden Department of Justice chose to make an unnecessary show of potentially deadly force, sending twenty heavily armed federal agents to the Houck residence at dawn this past Friday,” adding, “In threatening form, after nearly breaking down the family’s front door, at least five agents pointed guns at Mark’s head and arrested him in front of his wife and seven young children who were terrified that their husband and father would be shot dead before their eyes,”

The FBI has commented on these statements, calling them “inaccurate claims” however, no evidence has been brought forward showing that claims from Houck are incorrect, and there is conveniently no bodycam footage to support the FBI’s claims.

rjames