(LifeSiteNews) — Following last week’s dramatic FBI raid on a pro-life speaker’s home, generous supporters have donated over $330,000 to his family.
Catholic speaker and author Mark Houck was arrested last Friday after allegedly violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. Fellow pro-life advocate Ashley Garecht and her husband started a GiveSendGo fundraiser to support the Houck family confront expected forthcoming expenses.
“Planned Parenthood and its pro-abortion allies want to send a message of fear to the pro-life community of Pennsylvania,” the couple wrote in the campaign. “But we have a different message to share: We will not back down, we will not stop fighting to protect the lives of Pennsylvania’s unborn children, and we WILL NOT TOLERATE the harassment of our leaders by a corrupt and politicized justice system.”
“Please help us now by supporting the Houck family with a donation of any amount,” the message continues. “The next few days and weeks are unclear. Funds raised through this campaign will go to help the family with any necessary expenses.”
The couple are asking supporters to “show the Houck family they are not alone” and respond to the attack with a statement that “the pro-life community will not be silenced by fear and intimidation.”
UPDATE (01/30/23): Mark Houck has been AQUITTED on both charges!
Thanks be to God LifeSiteNews can report that Mark Houck has been found "Not Guilty" on all counts today.
In a statement to LifeSiteNews, Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania spokeswoman and Houck family friend Ashley Garecht said “We rejoice and celebrate that Mark Houck has been found not guilty on all counts.”
“This case was always about a father’s right to protect his son, and never had anything to do with the FACE act,” she said. “We are grateful to the judge for his integrity, and to the jurors for their thoughtful deliberations. We are grateful to Mark’s attorneys who labored so diligently in his defense. And we are grateful for all of those who surrounded and supported Mark and his family in prayer through this challenging ordeal.”
“Most of all we praise and thank God for his protection and provision,” Garecht added. “To Him be all the glory.”
The Thomas More Society is set to hold a press conference today on the 6th street side of the James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia.
Monday’s verdict came after a tense weekend wait following a deadlocked jury on Friday.
Several hours into Monday’s deliberations after the jury reconvened, an alternate was chosen to replace one of the jurors. Just before 3:00 p.m. EST, the jury delivered its verdict, acquitting Houck on both charges.
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Mark Houck, a pro-life Catholic father of 7, became the latest victim of an FBI raid and arrest on the morning of Friday September 23 — for supposed “FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) Act” violations — at his rural home as his children looked on “screaming.”
The arrest and raid stems from an altercation with a Planned Parenthood worker.
According to Mark’s wife Ryan-Marie, a “pro-abortion protester” would verbally harrass Mark's 12-year old son — hurling vulgar and derogatory statements.
When the protestor encroached in the boy's space, Mark defended his son. At that point, “Mark shoved him away from his child, and the guy fell back,” Ryan-Marie recounts.
The protestor was not injured, but he tried to sue Mark Houck for the assault but his case was thrown out of court in the early summer.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THE LEFT TO HARRASS PRO-LIFE ADVOCATES THIS WAY!
It's vital to stand in solidarity with a pro-family and pro-life man being unjustly persecuted - please SIGN & SHARE our message of support now.
In case you hadn't caught on already, the satanic Biden administration is waging war on Christians. https://t.co/E6ChpZVDYW
— Michael (X) Knowles ✊ (@michaeljknowles) September 24, 2022
The description of this arrest sounds like it took place in a totalitarian state. A tragic unraveling of Justice in America. https://t.co/e3vEID7E39
— Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) September 25, 2022
If convicted, Houck faces up to a maximum of 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $350,000, according to the Justice Department.
Additional conservative pro-life leaders have weighed in — this is why we need your support ASAP.
“Just in the last few days we’ve seen some pretty glaring examples of what appear to be instances of DOJ [Department of Justice] overreach. You’ve got a Catholic father of seven who formed a group designed to encourage young men to be faithful to their commitments, arrested in front of his seven children just recently. You’ve got all these instances of overreach. It’s deeply concerning to us all. These are all things we’re gonna be looking into.” — US Senator Mike Lee
Tell the Houck family that you stand by them!
SIGN: We stand with pro-life Catholic dad of 7 raided by Biden’s FBI
Please share this petition widely. Let's stand in solidarity with Mark Houck and his family.
Thank you.
Since the campaign was launched, over 95 percent of the $350,000 goal has been donated by over 5,000 supporters. The GiveSendGo platform also includes a feature for people to send prayers. So far, 4,624 prayers have been publicly offered to the family.
Houck was arrested at around 7 a.m. on September 23, with all seven of his young children watching and “screaming,” as previously reported by LifeSiteNews. The grounds for the warrant stemmed from an incident which took place in 2021 outside an abortion clinic in Philadelphia. Despite the issue being dropped in the District Court, it is now being revisited by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Several political figures have condemned the actions against Houck and are demanding an explanation. Sen. Josh Hawley (R–MO) sent a letter to the DOJ following the arrest, saying that he “want[s] to know from Merrick Garland directly why Biden’s DOJ is arresting Catholic protestors like terrorists – complete with SWAT-style tactics – while letting actual terrorist acts like firebombings go unpunished.”
Similarly, Chris Swecker, former assistant FBI director with experience as a SWAT team member, denounced the response as one that does not “in any way justify the use of a SWAT team” based on the nature of the complaint.
Republican congressmen united to release a letter to attorney general Merrick Garland, saying that “we request an explanation for the excessive level of force used by the FBI in this case, and why the power of federal law enforcement was once again used against an American citizen in what should be a state and local matter.” They asked for a “written letter in response” by Friday.
Since the arrest, Houck has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges against him. The man who complained that Houck assaulted him after he verbally harassed the pro-lifer’s son outside an abortion clinic, triggering the FBI raid, is alleged to have a history of drug misuse and disorderly conduct.
On Wednesday, official documents in the case were unveiled, revealing the conditions for Houck’s release. The demands include limiting his travel to within the local district and surrendering or refraining from obtaining a passport or firearms.
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Mark Houck needs support after FBI raid! Add your name to this LifeSite petition