By Eric Olson
Special Guest Columnist

MELBOURNE – May 26, 1994 is a day that will live in infamy for a long time to come. On that day, Bill Clinton signed into law the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (F.A.C.E.) Act. The passage of this law highlights the promotion of big government, double standards, and religious discrimination by the Clinton administration.

I spent almost five months of 1995 locked in a federal jail. My crime: violating F.A.C.E. On March 4, 1995, I non-violently blocked the entrance of an abortion clinic. Had this occurred one year earlier, I would have been charged with a simple trespass – a state misdemeanor – and probably sentenced to community service and court costs. Yet, because of this pointed attack on only pro-life demonstrators by the liberal legislators in Washington, I am now a federal criminal, have been interrogated by the FBI and the ATF, spent nearly five months behind bars, and am currently on one year federal probation. But F.A.C.E. does not only affect me, literally every pro-life ministry is in danger: crisis pregnancy centers, side walk counselors, post-abortion programs, etc. Anyone who might “interfere” with a woman getting an abortion is in jeopardy of federal sanctions, civil or criminal.

I praise God that in November of 1994, many Christians prayed, campaigned, and voted for Godly men and women of character – the result was a conservative landslide! As F.A.C.E. has demonstrated, unjust laws are much harder to repeal once on the books. Let’s make sure no more F.A.C.E.-like laws are passed. I pray that you will continue to stand up for Jesus in your community as well as in your church. Let’s make the 1996 election an even bigger landslide for Christ and His Kingdom!