Pro-lifer charged with FACE Act violations in Tennessee: ‘The goal is just to be like Christ’

In March of 2021, Paul Vaughn, the president of Personhood Tennessee, was one of several pro-lifers who entered a Carafem abortion facility in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, in an effort to persuade the abortion-seeking mothers inside to change their minds and choose life for their children. Personhood Tennessee describes itself as “a Christ-centered, biblically informed organization dedicated to the non-violent advancement of the recognition and protection of the God-given, inalienable right to life of all innocent human beings as legal persons at every stage of their biological development.” 

In an interview with WZTV, Vaughn described the Mt. Juliet outreach effort, saying: “It was like church service in there, people sitting in the floor in the hallway, people singing hymns, reading scripture, praying. The purpose is to try to save babies today and most importantly be obedient to Christ.”

Over a year and a half later, on October 3, 2022, Vaughn — a husband and the father of 11 children — was federally indicted on charges of conspiracy against rights and FACE Act violations, along with 10 other individuals. Two days later, around 7:20 am, FBI agents armed with drawn assault weapons raided the Vaughn home, placing Vaughn in handcuffs in front of his terrified children and taking him away. The arresting agents refused to provide any information or explanation to Vaughn’s bewildered wife. Video of the incident can be viewed here. (If this scenario sounds familiar, that’s because pro-life sidewalk counselor Mark Houck received similar treatment from the FBI. Houck was eventually acquitted of FACE Act charges.)

Over a year after that, Vaughn was tried and convicted of both charges in a Nashville federal court. He is currently facing up to 11 years in prison. Sentencing will be held on July 2.

Live Action News recently spoke with Vaughn and his attorney, Steve Crampton of the Thomas More Society, about Vaughn’s case, the FACE Act, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) apparent policy of targeting pro-lifers for draconian prosecution, and how pro-lifers should respond. 

“CONSPIRACY AGAINST RIGHTS” AND THE HISTORY OF THE FACE ACT

Addressing the recent string of convictions of pro-life rescuers, Live Action News asked for insight into how it is possible for these individuals to be convicted of so-called “conspiracy against rights” violations in light of the Supreme Court’s finding in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that there is no such thing as a “right to abortion” in federal law. 

Crampton replied: 

I would say you’re exactly right, that this is a charge hanging by a thread. And the legal theory, as articulated by the judge, is that the right [in question] isn’t the right to abortion. It’s the right to access “reproductive health services.” So, it’s really tenuous, but it’s enough, according to the judge.

Asked if this is a subject that could be pursued on appeal, Crampton said: “Yes. One of our major arguments on appeal is the unconstitutionality of FACE altogether, in light of the fact that abortion has been erased from the legend of constitutional rights.”

Crampton went on to explain more about the history of the FACE Act (emphasis added):

From its inception [in 1993]… it was all about abortion. And it expressly stated that it [concerned] abortion services. It was only late in the process that they tweaked it to say “reproductive health services.” That’s just the fig leaf that they’re using to cover the fact that it’s always been about abortion.… There has never been a case in the country where pro-lifers, or anybody else for that matter, came in and tried to do a rescue for somebody seeking an ultrasound. It’s just preposterous on its face.

A BROKEN JUSTICE SYSTEM

Live Action News noted that these prosecutions have had a negative impact on the morale of many pro-lifers. Vaughn agreed, stating:

We know the DOJ came in specifically in my case with the heavy-handed arrest because they wanted to scare, and intimidate, and discourage people. And so, the reality in responding to that is understanding that we must be doing something right. God must be winning and pushing back the forces of evil here. So, that’s an encouragement. The harder they fight in desperation just shows that it’s a losing battle for them…. People in America are waking up[.]

Crampton concurred, stating: “I think that was always the intent of the Department of Justice and the Biden White House. It’s an interim tactic to instill fear into other pro-lifers and cause them not to take a stand for life.” He added: 

The other irony I would point out is that FACE purports to prohibit intimidation of those rendering counseling services in the arena of reproductive health services. Well, guess what? That’s exactly what Paul and other pro-lifers do, is render real counseling to folks in that situation. And yet, it’s the government, not Paul and the other pro-lifers, that’s really engaging in acts of intimidation.

Crampton went on to state: “There’s something drastically wrong at the root of our system…. Never before in the history of our nation has the government brought any conspiracy charges, let alone felony conspiracy, against peaceful, nonviolent civil disobedience like this.” He added: 

So we’re kind of through the looking glass. And well-meaning believers sitting in the pews [might be] saying, “Well, I don’t go out to abortion clinics, and it doesn’t affect me.” Wrong. It affects all of us at the end of the day…. I feel like our system is broken. Well, we know that it’s broken.

REFLECTING THE IMAGE OF CHRIST TO THE CULTURE

In light of these intimidating circumstances, Live Action News asked Vaughn how he would advise young pro-life activists. Vaughn replied by noting that the term “activist” can be problematic due to the connotations that have become associated with it as a result of the violent tactics of groups like Antifa. He then added:

[Young people] need to step back from the culture that we’re all swimming in in modern America, and go back, maybe even to the first century, and look at the Book of Acts and look at faithful Christianity.… 

[T]here were multiple periods and times where Christians were just living faithful lives – serving the widows and the orphans, serving the poor, ministering, and just trying to exemplify Christ. And that’s really what a Christian is called to do. 

We’re not called to be activists, but when our government steps in and makes something that is immoral legal, we have a duty to respond to that.… And the goal, again, is not activism, and not even necessarily overturning bad laws – although I think that’s a fruit of it. But the goal is just to be like Christ, and to show the world that picture.

Vaughn also emphasized the spiritual nature of the battle in which we are engaged, and the need for pro-lifers, particularly Christians, to take a step back and analyze the bigger picture:

[Abortion advocates] were created by the same God that we’re created by. So what is it about our national character that is allowing these things to happen? And that’s the question I think would be beneficial for the church to be examining and looking at…. [I]t’s an opportunity for the church to see exactly what’s going on in our land. 

“In a lot of cases,” Vaughn said, “it’s us – it’s our own character weakness that is the issue.” 

Vaughn encouraged those who wish to make things right in our nation and our culture “to take an extra moment this week in prayer,” and to “get on your knees before God and say, ‘God, show me my weaknesses, where I’m not reflecting You well in the culture.’ And if a handful of people would do that,” Vaughn concluded, “I’d say that this has all been worthwhile.”

The DOJ put a pro-life grandmother in jail for protesting the killing of preborn children. Please take 30-seconds to TELL CONGRESS: STOP THE DOJ FROM TARGETING PRO-LIFE AMERICANS.