rev. patrick mahoney
Give Us 1 Day: Day 8
October 15, 2012
Psalm 23:3: “He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
PRAYER: Lord, may our next president be a person who seeks the paths of righteousness personally and for our nation.
Please return tomorrow if you can join us for Day 9 in 30 days of prayer leading up to the presidential election.
Calling All Christians: Join Our Summer Mission!
July 23, 2012
Dear Friends,
Rev. Rob Schenck
While much of the nation bakes in summer heat, at Faith and Action our work among our elected and appointed officials is heating up as well. And you play a critical role in our efforts!
* Right now I am traveling almost every weekend, ministering in churches, commenting on the Supreme Court healthcare case and preparing Christians to prayerfully and actively engage in the political process. I am also calling on churches and Christian leaders to passively resist ANY healthcare action that violates our conscience as believers.
* One of our Faith and Action missionaries, Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, is leading an unprecedented national effort to replace Planned Parenthood abortion mills with Christian healthcare centers, offering women a true alternative to abortion. Stanton Healthcare Center, in Idaho, is the first clinic of its kind located right next to a Planned Parenthood business.
* Every week our staff plays an important role in a values action team that meets in the Senate offices. This important team of key leaders prays for and strategizes about the issues impacting our nation and through these meetings our staff offers spiritual guidance and strategic consultation to our national policymakers.
But there is so much more that needs to be done – and we can’t do it without you! At Faith and Action we are responding to the moral and spiritual vacuum facing America, as illustrated by the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado.
- In just a few days I will address pastors, ministry leaders, and civilian and military chaplains from across the country at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Church Alliance.
- I’m also planning to visit the pastor in Arizona who was jailed for holding a home Bible study, allegedly in violation of local zoning ordinances. Frankly, I’m weary of politicians using zoning as a way to discriminate against people of faith – whether at the national or local level.
- We will also continue our highly personal ministry work among top elected and appointed officials in all three branches of government.
- And with the Republican and Democratic conventions coming up as well as one of the most important presidential elections in a generation, we are gearing up for what will be one of the busiest fall seasons of ministry we’ve had in many years.
Why am I telling you all of this?
Because we’re counting on you to help us carry out our vital missionary outreach by contributing now to our SUMMER MINISTRY FUND. Your special gift of just $25 will help us enormously.
Quite frankly, these next two weeks will predictably be the lowest income weeks of our entire year – just at a time when our need is greatest. This is always a difficult time for us as so many of our friends enjoy vacations, travel, and have extended family time. We understand how important that is to everyone. At the same time, there’s never been a moment in history when ministry to our national leaders was more necessary.
That’s why I’m asking you to help us during these critical summer weeks as we work hard to build up our SUMMER MINISTRY FUND. We simply cannot do what we do without you! In the next 10 days I must raise $20,000 to carry out our missionary programs. Your gift of $25, $50, or even $100 WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE in how much we can accomplish in the Lord’s work. Will you help us right now?
To make your much needed, tax-deductible contribution of $25, $50, or even $100 or more, click here.
I need you to stand with us during these summer months. With the nation baking in record heat, your generous gift will be like an oasis in the wilderness to us.
Thank you for your friendship, prayers, and support. As the Apostle Paul said to his friends at Philippi, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:3), and I remain,
Your missionary to our nation’s capital,
Rev. Rob Schenck
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Notes Faith & Action ‘Prayer Circles’
June 16, 2012 – As the world awaits the Supreme Court’s decision on President Obama’s healthcare law, Kyle Cheney of Politico wrote about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg discussing rumors and the intensity of public interest, including the prayer circles led by Faith and Action:
“With a wry smile, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg laid waste Friday to all those rumors about the fate of the Affordable Care Act in the Supreme Court.
“’Those who know don’t talk. And those who talk don’t know,’ she quipped Friday night at a conference hosted by the American Constitution Society at the Capital Hilton.
“Ginsburg said she was responding to a ‘steady stream of rumors and fifth-hand accounts’ about the court’s deliberations on the law.
“Careful not to tip her hand on the court’s ruling — expected in the next two weeks — Ginsburg described the oral arguments in the case as unprecedented for the number of ‘press conferences, prayer circles, protests and counterprotests’ that occurred on the courthouse steps.”
Click here for Cheney’s entire article.
The prayer circles to which she refers are Faith and Action events, which you may see at the following links:
Encircle the Supreme Court with Prayer
Day 1 of Encircle the Supreme Court with Prayer
The Schenck Brothers at the Obama Health Care Hearings
Rob’s essay Being in the Supreme Court
Rev. Rob Schenck Makes News on His Knees
Rev. Rob Schenck’s Urgent Prayer Request for the Supreme Court
Please continue praying for the Supreme Court justices and our nation. Thank you!
Rev. Rob Schenck: Unity Is the Crux of Religious Liberty
June 7, 2012
As announced in our Headlines post, Paul Strand of CBN News interviewed Reverend Rob Schenck, president of Faith and Action. As Rob was being interviewed, one of our partners, Reverend Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, came along – so Paul interviewed him too. The video begins with Pat and Rob’s interview starts approximately 8 minutes into it. As Rob says, the response to President Obama’s orders mandating religious organizations to provide abortion-inducing drugs is escalating. Catholics, other Christians and Jews are united in standing for good conscience, free speech, and religious liberty. Enjoy Rob’s and Pat’s insights. Share this Faith and Action Video News with your family, friends and neighbors.
On Friday, June 8, Faith and Action’s Patty Bills will attend the Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally in Washington, D.C. Rallies take place at Noon in 155 cities and towns across the United States. See locations by clicking here.
Update on Freed Chinese Human Rights Champion
May 22, 2012 – As an update to our story Chen Guangcheng and Family Welcomed to the USA, Faith and Action’s Peggy Nienaber and our partner, Reverend Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, talk about the power of prayer and public witness in liberating Christians and human rights activists from government persecution.
On May 22, Peggy and Rev. Mahoney were also part Father Paul Schenck’s Christian delegation that welcomed and prayed for the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena from Mosul, Iraq. Click here for the story and video at our partner organization the National Pro-Life Center on Capitol Hill.
The Truth about Chen Guangcheng; Rev. Pat Mahoney Arrested at White House
May 4, 2012
Yesterday, Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey came to a meeting we were holding and updated us on the circumstances surrounding Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng. Chris is a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and chairs the Congressional-Executive Committee on China. He is also one of the boldest Christians in Congress and a longtime friend of Faith and Action. Moments after meeting with us, he went into a special hearing where he received a personal phone call from Chen. You probably saw this in the national news. Chris expressed alarm to us about Chen’s safety. He also conveyed profound concern about how Chen was handled by the State Department. Even though the State Department has now “arranged for Chen to come to the U.S.,” we know they already abandoned Chen once. We will not allow them to abandon him again. We will not stand by as our government plays political tricks with people’s lives in what former Governor Mitt Romney called “a dark day for freedom.”
C-SPAN covered Chen’s daring but diplomatic phone call to Congressman Smith:
Today, Faith and Action’s partner Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition knelt and prayed in front of the White House in solidarity with Chen. Among others, Pat was accompanied by his wife, Katie, Father Victor Salomon of Priests for Life, and Tina Whittington of Students for Life of America. We were there as a prophetic witness to remind President Obama it is unacceptable to sacrifice a hero of liberty and freedom on the altar of economic and political interests.
Some participants at our May 4 White House vigil for Chen (left to right) included: Charmaine Yoest, Tina Whittington, Rev. Pat Mahoney, Rev. Wiley Drake, Katie Mahoney, Fr. Victor Salomon (back turned in black cap).
As I write this, Pat, Katie, and Tina are in jail. Fr. Salomon, working in the United States on a visa from South America, had to step away because it wouldn’t be prudent to endanger his status. Likewise, Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life stood with Pat, but had children with her and couldn’t risk being arrested.
So we do face challenges: After all our programs on Capitol Hill this week, our efforts on behalf of Chen are straining us financially to the breaking point. Crises, like what’s happening with Chen, are things we can never plan for—they just happen. But we can never turn our backs on courageous heroes, like Chen, saying, “Sorry, we can’t afford to help you.”
WE MUST HELP THEM!
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. Proverbs 3:27 (NKJV)
We will do everything in our power to assist Chen. Of course, everything we do is the result of the prayers and financial support of our friends like you.
Your gift will help make certain we have the resources to stand as prophetic witnesses on behalf of Chen and his family to the President and to Congress. We will get the message through—but we need your help to do it!
Together we will make our stand in support of Chen and the principles of freedom and human dignity. To support Faith and Action’s work, please click here and make a tax-deductible donation.
Your missionary to our nation’s capital,
Rev. Rob Schenck
See more about our White House vigil for Chen Guangcheng below
Rev. Pat Mahoney on AFA’s Focal Point on May 3
Los Angeles Times: Second-guessing the administration’s Chen Guangcheng policy
Reuters Pictures at Daylife.com
LifeNews.com: Pro-Life Advocates Arrested at White House Backing Chen Guangcheng
Help Free Chen Guangcheng and His Family
May 3, 2012
Early today, the missionary team at Faith and Action gathered in the brisk morning air of our nation’s capital for the ONLY National Day of Prayer observance held at the steps of the United States Supreme Court. There, we fervently prayed on behalf of our nation and its leaders for the winds of revival to once again blow across America.
After our prayer at the court, our team attended the “by invitation only” National Day of Prayer meeting in the Canon Building of the U.S .House of Representatives.
We rejoice that pastors and leaders from diverse places like Arkansas, Illinois, and the State of Washington joined us in our efforts today to be a prophetic witness to our national leaders. We rejoice that God has uniquely positioned us right across the street from the United States Supreme Court, one block from the U.S. Capitol Building, and ten minutes from the White House. We take seriously our divine calling to challenge the hearts and minds of our national elected and appointed officials with biblical truth.
That’s why, in spite of my joy in our efforts in Washington today, I’m gravely concerned and deeply saddened.
What so distresses and alarms me is the cowardly way the administration sold out a hero of the faith. I’m speaking about Chen Guangcheng, the blind dissident in China who first revealed to the public the abhorrent practice of forced abortions and sterilization to sustain China’s “one child” policy.
Undated photo provided by the China Aid Association shows blind Chinese attorney Chen Guangcheng with his son, Chen Kerui, and his wife, Yuan Weijing, in Shandong province, China. (Photo from www.ChinaAid.org)
It appears the Obama administration has betrayed Mr. Chen by allowing him to be placed into the hands of the Chinese government without assuring that his rights and his safety would be protected. Tweets coming out of China from Mr. Chen and his wife make clear that the only reason Mr. Chen left the U.S. Embassy was because he was told that his wife would be beaten if he did not leave immediately. Our officials assured him that if he went to the hospital they would make certain he was safe. Once in the hospital, it seems our “officials” abandoned him.
Mr. Chen now wants to leave China and fears for his safety and the safety of his family. He expressed dismay that the American government failed him—even misled him. If that is true, and we have no reason not to believe that Mr. Chen is telling the truth, the actions of our “officials” are a national embarrassment, a national disgrace. WE CANNOT LET THAT STAND!
Blind lawyer Chen Guangcheng is handled by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell, right, and U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke as they leave the U.S. Embassy for a hospital in Beijing on Wednesday, May 2, 2012. (Photo by U.S. Embassy Beijing Press Office)
That’s why one of our Faith and Action missionaries, Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, will lead a prayer vigil and demonstration in support of Chen Guangcheng in front of the White House on Friday, May 4 at Noon.
The vigil will be at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW on the Lafayette Park side. We will be praying for Chen Guangcheng and his family and calling upon President Obama and the United States to ensure his safety and protection—just as we promised we would.
As Pat Mahoney said, “It is ironic that as President Obama has been touting his leadership in ‘getting’ Osama Bin Laden that he would now show no moral courage or leadership in standing up to the Chinese government and demanding the release and safety of Chen Guangcheng. It is critical that President Obama not betray Chen Guangcheng and the principles of justice for which he has been imprisoned, beaten and tortured.”
Now here’s what you can do:
1) PRAY! Wherever you are, take a moment on Friday at noon (Eastern Time) to pray for Chen, for his family and for our nation. These are critical moments in our nation’s history and they call for serious, united prayers. There is power in unified prayer! I still believe prayer makes a difference.
2) GIVE! Everything we do is the result of the financial support of our friends—friends like you. We have no other means of support. These events are critical and demand a response. But with the economy continuing to falter, we are financially strained. We simply do not have the funds to cover our costs. Right now we need your help to make certain we can remain your prophetic voice to our elected and appointed officials. Can we count on you?
Your gift of will enable us to effectively challenge the administration to stand up for Chen Guangcheng and stop betraying the principles of justice upon which our nation was founded.
To make your gift to Faith and Action in support of Chen Guangcheng, click here.
Thank you. We’ll keep you informed.
Your missionary to our nation’s capital,
Rev. Rob Schenck
March 28: Rev. Rob Schenck Makes News on His Knees
WASHINGTON, D.C. March 28, 2012 — Reverend Rob Schenck, president of Faith and Action and president of the National Clergy Council, led prayer with one of the council’s advisors, Reverend Patrick Mahoney, outside the Supreme Court on Day 3 of the historic hearings on President Obama’s healthcare law — and mainstream media noticed.
Rev. Rob Schenck leads prayer for and at the Supreme Court on March 28, 2012. Rev. Patrick Mahoney is at his side.
Click here for the Bloomberg News report.
Click here for the Washington Post report.
Click here for more of Rob in the Washington Post.
Click here for the Los Angeles Times report.
Click here for the National Journal report.
Click here for video Rev. Rob Schenck Prays for the Supreme Court
Click here for the World Report.
Excerpt from Rob’s interview in the Christian Post:
“On Wednesday morning, supporters of the law were chanting and banging drums near Faith and Action’s rally. As Schenck’s group began to pray, however, the counter-protesters became silent out of respect. Schenck described the scene as like the ‘sanctuary of a church.’
“‘I thought that was very impressive, very commendable of them to show that kind of courtesy even though they knew we were their opponents. … That was just a real gift to us,’ Schenck said.”
Click here for the entire Christian Post article.
Click here for Rob in the Bulletin.
After Monday’s Supreme Court hearings, the National Clergy Council’s executive committee held an emergency meeting that included briefings by Jordan Sekulow, executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice. The committee resolved to take action no matter which way the Supreme Court rules on President Obama’s healthcare law.
March 30 update: Click here for Jordan Sekulow’s Washington Post article ‘Why the health care fight is also about abortion.’
Click here for Rob’s audio interview by OneNewsNow.
Here’s video of Rev. Rob Schenck reading the National Clergy Council’s statement outside the Supreme Court with executive committee members and Jordan Sekulow
With the prayerful, moral and financial support of friends, we fought and won the First Amendment battle to preserve our right to proclaim the Gospel of Life on public sidewalks in our own Supreme Court case called Schenck v. Pro-Choice Network. Now we need to raise thousands of dollars to cover the financial expenses of speaking up and out for your constitutional rights during the Supreme Court’s Obama healthcare hearings, so we humbly request that you make a donation by clicking here.
Remember, the crisis isn’t over yet. We won’t know the fate of religious freedom in America until the Supreme Court rules on the Obama healthcare cases. Meanwhile, Faith and Action, the National Clergy Council, and the National Pro-Life Center on Capitol Hill must continue fighting against President Obama’s unconstitutional orders requiring us to provide insurance policies that cover abortion-inducing drugs. For more media coverage of our faith and action at the Supreme Court, click here for reports in our Faith IN Action section.
The Schenck Brothers at the Obama Health Care Hearings
WASHINGTON, D.C. March 26, 2012 — On the first day of the historic Supreme Court hearings over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama, Reverend Rob Schenck, president of Faith and Action and president of the National Clergy Council, was the first person granted a ticket to hear the oral arguments. The next three tickets were granted to Father Paul Schenck, Rob’s twin and chair of the National Pro-Life Center on Capitol Hill; plus longtime allies Reverend Myke Crowder of the National Clergy Council; and Jordan Sekulow, Esq., executive director of the American Center for Law and Justice.
Rob’s No. 1 ticket became a news story in and of itself. He and his fellow travelers were featured on numerous media outlets, including C-SPAN (video below), about what they think of Obama’s healthcare law and what they witnessed at the hearings.
Here we provide a multimedia post of the Schenck brothers’ day. However, first we’d like to let you know that Rob was interviewed by Griff Jenkins of Fox News and we expect it to be featured tonight on FNC’s On the Record with Greta Van Susteren at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Click here for the video Rev. Rob Schenck Reports Just Before Entering the Supreme Court.
Here’s Rob receiving the first ticket to the hearings
Click below to hear Rev. Rob Schenck and Rev. Patrick Mahoney on the Takeaway radio program
As the Schenck brothers were inside the court, National Clergy Council members knelt on the ground outside praying for God’s mercy on our nation. Click here to see a Kansas City Star photo essay featuring Pastor Mark Morrow of the CrossWalk Community Church in Williamsburg, Virginia (center) reading from his Bible with Pastor Robert Turrill of Washington, Pennsylvania, and Peggy Nienaber of Faith and Action and the National Clergy Council.
Immediately upon exiting the hearings, Rev. Rob Schenck was interviewed by a pool of reporters.
Click here for Politico’s report
Click here for Rob before and after the hearings on ABC News
Outside the Supreme Court, a coalition of groups yelled, marched, played loud music and made speeches in favor of Obama’s healthcare law. One group claimed to be “People of Faith for Health Care.” Now, of course people of faith are for health care. But mandated insurance, abortion drugs, and penalties for non-compliance are not health care. So Peggy Nienaber, chief of program for Faith Action, had a chance to converse with some people holding these signs. As it turned out, none could name his choice of religion or a church where he worshiped God. Most likely, as reported by the New York Times and explained by Rev. Mahoney, these demonstrators were part of President Obama’s efforts to imitate our Encircle the Supreme Court with Prayer vigils.
After members of this group spoke to media, Rob defended our First Amendment right to religious freedom before the TV cameras with Fr. Schenck and other National Clergy Council members surrounding him.
Here they are on C-SPAN
Below, Voice of America is interviewing Rob for viewers in China and Peggy is documenting it.
The action was nonstop — and so is our faith — including a two-hour emergency meeting by the National Clergy Council’s executive committee, who issued a new statement on defending religious freedom. Click here for video.
Meanwhile, as noted above, here’s Griff Jenkins interviewing Rob. Tune in to Fox News News Channel tonight at 10 p.m. ET/PT
At the Supreme Court, people of many religions — or no religion — stopped Rev. Rob Schenck to thank him for defending their constitutional rights. To help Faith and Action continue defending your rights, please click here to make a donation.
Day 1 of Encircle the Supreme Court with Prayer
WASHINGTON, D.C. March 25, 2012 – Some 200 faithful Americans assembled for Day 1 of Encircle the Supreme Court with Prayer.
Rev. Patrick Mahoney preaching
Our longtime partner, Reverend Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, led the two-hour vigil and, at certain points of prayer, asked us to humble ourselves by kneeling before the Lord God because the site would turn “into a circus” as the Supreme Court hears lawsuits against President Obama and his Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Faith and Action’s Chief of Program Peggy Nienaber and Supporter Relations Coordinator Patty Bills welcomed clergy and pilgrims, and assisted Rev. Mahoney. Patrick’s wife, Katie Kathleen Hennessey Mahoney, sang Christian songs. And Greg Cox of our communications team was on hand as well.
Rev. Mahoney opened the ceremonies by recognizing those who had attended the Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rallies on Friday.
He said, “But now we are coming to pray – to humble ourselves before God and asking God to intervene on what is arguably the most important case before this court since the Roe v. Wade decision.
“And so we are coming before God and asking God to superintend.
“Begin with this: The scriptures say, ‘This day I call the heavens and earth as witnesses against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; I say chose life.’ God says, “Now choose life – so that you and your children may live, and that you may love the Lord, your God. Listen to His voice and hold fast to Him, for the Lord is your life and he will give you many years in your land.’ (Deuteronomy 30)
“To the court, God has set before them, over the next three days of arguments, life or death. We pray that this court chooses life.”
Katie and Rev. Patrick Mahoney listen to Rev. Myke Crowder
Reverend Myke Crowder, senior pastor of Christian Life Center in Layton, Utah, came to represent the National Clergy Council.
Rev. Crowder said, “Now our focus today is exclusively prayer for the justices, along with the lawyers that are arguing the case – and especially, and most importantly, for the God-given right which is to practice our faith according to the dictates of our consciences and not the dictates of government or any other human agency.”
Rev. Crowder further prayed for President Obama and everyone assisting the Supreme Court justices.
Rev. Mahoney then read “Prayer for the Poor” by Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. In keeping with that prayer, he named each of the Supreme Court justices and asked the Lord to give them clarity; he also requested healthcare reform that doesn’t violate the Constitution and “provides true justice and care for every American.”
He told the crowd that as part of a public relations campaign, President Obama and the White House have attempted to organize their own prayer vigil at the Supreme Court. Someone in media had asked him if the opposing vigils were like two groups of fans praying for two sports teams.
“We are praying the First Amendment and religious liberty will be protected and honored,” said Mahoney. “This is not about a basketball team. We are praying that innocent lives are not destroyed and we don’t have to pay for this.”
He prayed for President Obama and Congress.
Patty led the pilgrims in laying 3,300 flowers around the court to represent the number of babies aborted every day in America.
Rev. Pierre Bynum preaching
As the pilgrims knelt around the court near the flowers, Reverend Pierre Bynum, chaplain for the Family Research Council, prayed for all public officials and the pastors of America. He said, “The action of the people of God in America is even more important than that of all of our elected leaders.”
Rev. Bynum said pastors are most important because they are supposed to preach and teach the truth, they are supposed to mobilize their flocks to do God’s will in all things.
Referring to President Obama’s law and mandates to pay for abortion-inducing drugs, Rev. Bynum prayed, “Let the power and Spirit of God come upon your pastors to cause them to teach and to preach like they’ve never taught before. Lord, we are on the verge of what could be the largest expansion of abortion since Roe verses Wade.”
He asked God to forgive His church for failing to rise up against the Supreme Court decriminalizing abortion 39 years ago. He asked the Lord to help everyone repent and fight for religious liberty, the foundation of human rights.
Father Marcel Guarnizo leads prayer. Peggy Nienaber stands to the right.
Father Marcel Guarnizo, a priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., led the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
The refrain to this prayer is: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
Throughout the vigil, many passersby stopped to listen and some joined in the prayers.
Members of media included radio, photographers, and TV reporters from local stations and networks.
Click here for AP’s photo gallery.
Click here for a Washington Times photo.
Faith and Action’s president, Reverend Rob Schenck, and his twin brother, Father Paul Schenck, chair of the National Pro-Life Center on Capitol Hill, will be at the Supreme Court on Monday. (Click here for The Schenck Brothers at the Obama Health Care Hearings.)
In fact, the New York Times interviewed Rob and apparently persons waiting in line for tickets to the hearings praised Faith and Action. Click here for Waiting (and Sleeping) in Line, for View of Health Care History
For the vigil schedule, please see March 25-28: Encircle the Supreme Court with Prayer.
