The Houck family / Photo credit: Thomas More SocietyPhiladelphia, Pa., Jan 26, 2023 / 17:45 pm (CNA).On the second day of witness testimony in the trial of Mark Houck, a pro-life father of seven charged with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, defense lawyers argued that the federal case against their client be dismissed.Eastern District of Pennsylvania Judge Gerald Pappert himself raised that possibility, asking the prosecution at one point whether the federal law didn t "seem to be stretched a little thin here?" Before the court adjourned to consider dismissal, arguments from the prosecution and defense focused on two questions. First, did Houck, a longtime sidewalk counselor outside of the Elizabeth Blackwell Health Center Planned Parenthood clinic in Philadelphia, shove a volunteer clinic escort because he was trying to interfere with that escort s provision of reproductive health services?And second, did the clinic escort, 73-year-ol
A woman attends a rally for Mark Houck outside the James A. Byrne United States Courthouse in Philadelphia on Jan. 24, 2023, while holding a sign that says "Justice for Mark Houck!" / Joe Bukuras/CNAPhiladelphia, Pa., Jan 24, 2023 / 16:00 pm (CNA).Opening statements for the trial of Mark Houck, a pro-life advocate charged with violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, won t begin until tomorrow, but that didn t stop a crowd of about 50 supporters from gathering in front of the federal courthouse in Philadelphia on Tuesday to rally for Houck s acquittal.Houck, a Catholic father of seven, was arrested at his home in front of his terrified wife and children by federal agents last September and is being charged under a controversial law known as the FACE Act.The FACE Act prohibits "violent, threatening, damaging, and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate, or interfere with the right to seek, obtain, or provide reproductive health se