(LifeSiteNews) — Pro-life author and father of seven Mark Houck will attend President Joe Biden’s second State of the Union address tonight, one week after he was acquitted of federal charges for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act.
READ: Mark Houck acquitted on both charges in major pro-life victory
Biden will address the Joint Session of Congress tonight at 9 p.m. EST, delivering remarks about how to manage key issues in the country at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Houck was invited to join the event last week by Republican Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania.
On Monday, Houck told Erika Ahern of CatholicVote about his plans to attend the State of the Union and expressed his surprise upon receiving the invitation.
“I asked him why, why me?” Houck explained on a podcast interview which has not yet been released. “And they told me that I’m the face of the weaponization of the government.”
UPDATE (01/30/23): Mark Houck has been AQUITTED on both charges!
Thanks be to God LifeSiteNews can report that Mark Houck has been found “Not Guilty” on all counts today.
In a statement to LifeSiteNews, Pro-Life Coalition of Pennsylvania spokeswoman and Houck family friend Ashley Garecht said “We rejoice and celebrate that Mark Houck has been found not guilty on all counts.”
“This case was always about a father’s right to protect his son, and never had anything to do with the FACE act,” she said. “We are grateful to the judge for his integrity, and to the jurors for their thoughtful deliberations. We are grateful to Mark’s attorneys who labored so diligently in his defense. And we are grateful for all of those who surrounded and supported Mark and his family in prayer through this challenging ordeal.”
“Most of all we praise and thank God for his protection and provision,” Garecht added. “To Him be all the glory.”
The Thomas More Society is set to hold a press conference today on the 6th street side of the James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse, 601 Market Street, Philadelphia.
Monday’s verdict came after a tense weekend wait following a deadlocked jury on Friday.
Several hours into Monday’s deliberations after the jury reconvened, an alternate was chosen to replace one of the jurors. Just before 3:00 p.m. EST, the jury delivered its verdict, acquitting Houck on both charges.
—————————-
Mark Houck, a pro-life Catholic father of 7, became the latest victim of an FBI raid and arrest on the morning of Friday September 23 — for supposed “FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) Act” violations — at his rural home as his children looked on “screaming.”
The arrest and raid stems from an altercation with a Planned Parenthood worker.
According to Mark’s wife Ryan-Marie, a “pro-abortion protester” would verbally harrass Mark’s 12-year old son — hurling vulgar and derogatory statements.
When the protestor encroached in the boy’s space, Mark defended his son. At that point, “Mark shoved him away from his child, and the guy fell back,” Ryan-Marie recounts.
The protestor was not injured, but he tried to sue Mark Houck for the assault but his case was thrown out of court in the early summer.
WE CANNOT ALLOW THE LEFT TO HARRASS PRO-LIFE ADVOCATES THIS WAY!
It’s vital to stand in solidarity with a pro-family and pro-life man being unjustly persecuted – please SIGN & SHARE our message of support now.
In case you hadn’t caught on already, the satanic Biden administration is waging war on Christians. https://t.co/E6ChpZVDYW
— Michael (X) Knowles ✊ (@michaeljknowles) September 24, 2022
The description of this arrest sounds like it took place in a totalitarian state. A tragic unraveling of Justice in America. https://t.co/e3vEID7E39
— Bishop J. Strickland (@Bishopoftyler) September 25, 2022
If convicted, Houck faces up to a maximum of 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $350,000, according to the Justice Department.
Additional conservative pro-life leaders have weighed in — this is why we need your support ASAP.
“Just in the last few days we’ve seen some pretty glaring examples of what appear to be instances of DOJ [Department of Justice] overreach. You’ve got a Catholic father of seven who formed a group designed to encourage young men to be faithful to their commitments, arrested in front of his seven children just recently. You’ve got all these instances of overreach. It’s deeply concerning to us all. These are all things we’re gonna be looking into.” — US Senator Mike Lee
Tell the Houck family that you stand by them!
SIGN: We stand with pro-life Catholic dad of 7 raided by Biden’s FBI
Please share this petition widely. Let’s stand in solidarity with Mark Houck and his family.
Thank you.
CatholicVote has shared – prior to the full episode’s release – that Houck is planning to participate in “Republican efforts to investigate the apparent targeting of pro-life activists under the FACE Act.”
“We have an interview with the Judiciary Committee on February 22,” he said. “That’s in advance of a potential hearing before the subcommittee that Congressman Jim Jordan is chairing.”
Houck added that “hopefully my testimony will be a benefit and bless others.”
READ: Mark Houck says he ‘most definitely’ will press charges for FBI raid that ‘terrorized’ his children
During an exclusive interview with LifeSiteNews, the pro-life advocate said that his family can “still feel the effects” of the September FBI raid and that he plans to “bring that to Congress.”
“We will testify to that and let them know that the DOJ and those who approved this really terrorized our children.”
Houck was targeted by the Biden administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) in September, 2022, when he was aggressively arrested by the heavily armed FBI while his young children stood by, screaming. The pro-lifer was slapped with federal charges after supposedly violating the FACE Act in 2021, when he pushed a Planned Parenthood escort who refused to heed Houck’s warnings to avoid speaking with his then 12-year-old son.
Backed by pro-lifers across the country and represented by attorneys from the Thomas More Society, Houck was found not guilty and acquitted of all charges on January 30.
RELATED
Mark Houck encourages pro-lifers to continue mission in the face of persecution
Mark Houck reveals he refused plea deal with FBI ahead of trial