Wisconsin Library Censors Showing of Pro-Life Film in 'Public Meeting Room'
by Staff
March 28, 2011
MARATHON COUNTY, Wis., (christiansunite.com) -- Thomas More Society attorneys issued a letter today to Marathon County library officials demanding that the library rescind its decision to cancel a showing by the Wausau "40 Days for Life" group of the pro-life documentary, "Blood Money." The director of the library, Ralph Illick, had cancelled the showing of the movie in one of the library's "public meeting rooms," because he determined that the film's topic -- abortion -- would "interfere with normal use of our library.""Having to demand that a library not engage in censorship is outrageous," said Peter Breen, executive director and legal counsel for the Thomas More Society. "The library's own policy declares that meeting rooms are to be allocated without regard to the beliefs of those using the rooms, but here, the sincerely held religious beliefs of Wausau '40 Days for Life' that all life is sacred has barred this group from use of these purportedly 'public' rooms. We stand ready to take immediate legal action if the showing of the film is not allowed."
In the letter written to Director Illick, Thomas More Society attorneys cited the library's own "Bill of Rights," which guarantees that, "VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use."
About the Thomas More Society: Founded in 1997, the Thomas More Society is a national public interest law firm that exists to restore respect for life in law. Based in Chicago, the Thomas More Society defends the sanctity of human life, the family and religious liberty in courtrooms across the country. The Society is a nonprofit organization wholly supported by private donations. For more information or to support the work of Thomas More Society, please visit www.thomasmoresociety.org.
