Usually Libraries Oppose Censorship Not Encourage It

In this case, since the subject abortion & looks at Planned Parenthood in a less than positive, but truthful light a library decided the movie Blood Money was not appropriate. Yet this same Marathon County Library has The Handmaid's Tale as 1 of the books for its April book club discussions. The American Library Association (ALA) lists the book as number 37 on the "100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000". 1 of the reasons is because of how it attacks Christianity. Attacking Christianity in a slanderous way OK, telling the truth about Planned Parenthood not an OK use. Can you say hypocricy? Can you say double standard?

Wisconsin Library Engages In Censorship

Wisconsin Library Censors Showing of Pro-Life Film in “Public Meeting Room” National Law Firm Demands Wausau Library Cease Discrimination Against Local Pro-Life Organization


March 25, 2011—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.”

Read the entire letter here

For more information or to speak with Peter Breen, please contact Tom Ciesielka at 312-422-1333 or tc@tcpr.net
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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 http://www.thomasmoresociety.org/.