Breen last person I'd contact for First Amendment rights

A line in the Daily Herald article about the Illinois GOP House District 48 Primary race between incumbent Sandy Pihos and challenger Peter Breen caught my eye. Breen, current Lombard Village Trustee is also described as "Vice President and senior counsel for the Thomas More Society, which defends First Amendment rights." Given that the Tho...mas More Society has an ultra conservative agenda of preventing freedom of gays to marry, denying women reproductive freedom including the right to safely access abortion facilities, and injecting religion in public places, I found that statement both false and preposterous.

Let's restate the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Trying to prevent gays from marrying may satisfy a twisted religious notion of what constitutes moral conduct and marriage, but it has no more validity than arguing their imaginary GOD didn't intend for blacks and whites to marry, something phony Christians did for centuries. Working to prevent human beings from enjoying the fruits of American democracy is a mockery of First Amendment rights.

We know the Thomas More Society is a haven for Americans who promote government interference with women's reproductive health, including abortion services. Again, that has everything to do with religious fanaticism and nothing to do with the First Amendment. If a female Thomas More Society member doesn't want an abortion, she may exercise her right not to have one. But she should stay clear of other women's lady parts. Attorney Breen might argue that the First Amendment involves the right of protesters to picket abortion facilities. Of course, peaceful protest that respects rights of those entering such facilities is not in question. It's the buffer zone set up to protect the rights of already traumatized women Breen wants to abridge. Thomas More Society abortion clinic protesters have no more First Amendment rights to terrorize those women than they have First Amendment rights to yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater.

Let's not forget Breen and the Thomas More Society's obsession with allowing religious expression in public places. This non-theist is profoundly grateful the first item in the First Amendment is "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion". If Breen and his acolytes wish to pray in a public place, have at it. But for God's sake, keep you religious stuff out of my face and in your church where it belongs.

As one who exercises his First Amendment rights in the public forum on a daily basis, I fret about their possible abridgment. If I have an issue with my free speech rights, I won't reach out to VP and senior counsel of the Thomas More Society Peter Breen. I'll contact the premier First Amendment defender; one I've been a proud member of since 1967: The American Civil Liberties Union.