Matthew Connolly
A petition has been filed with the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the conviction of a Christian monk jailed for silently praying near an abortion clinic, challenging a vague ordinance and a sweeping nationwide gag order that violate his First Amendment rights.
Advocates for Faith & Freedom and the American Freedom Law Center have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of Mr. Matthew Connolly, a Christian monk sentenced to jail for peacefully praying in a public hallway near an abortion clinic. Charged under a vague ordinance that criminalizes subjective “annoyance,” Mr. Connolly was denied probation after refusing to accept a nationwide ban on pro-life speech within 500 feet of any abortion facility, a condition so broad it would have even barred him from entering hospitals for medical care. The petition argues the ordinance violates the First Amendment and was unjustly upheld under a now-overturned legal standard, urging the Court to restore constitutional protections for public prayer and pro-life expression.
Press Release
ADVOCATES FOR FAITH & FREEDOM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, JULY 28, 2025
CONTACT: Nicole Velasco at
media@faith-freedom.COM
CHRISTIAN MONK JAILED FOR PRAYING: SUPREME COURT ASKED TO STOP NATIONWIDE GAG ORDER ON PRO-LIFE SPEECH
For Immediate Release, Washington, D.C. - Today, Advocates for Faith & Freedom and the American Freedom Law Center filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Mr. Matthew Connolly, a Christian monk and peaceful pro-life advocate who was convicted and sentenced to jail. His only alleged offense: quietly kneeling in prayer in a public area near an abortion facility.
The City of Southfield, Michigan, charged Mr. Connolly with violating a vague ordinance that criminalizes undefined behaviors such as causing “annoyance” or “disquiet” in public places. Mr. Connolly never entered the abortion clinic. He never raised his voice or disrupted any activity. He prayed silently in a common area open to the public. Law enforcement described his actions as “peaceful.” Nonetheless, he was arrested, convicted, and denied probation after refusing to accept a sweeping condition that would prohibit him from engaging in peaceful pro-life speech anywhere within 500 feet of any abortion facility in the United States. Had Mr. Connolly agreed to the terms, he would have been barred from seeking routine medical care at any hospital that provides abortions, an impossible condition for any citizen.
“This case is not just about Mr. Connolly,” said Advocates for Faith & Freedom attorney Erin Mersino. “It is about whether the government can silence pro-life Americans and criminalize public prayer. If this unconstitutional gag order is allowed to stand, then no one’s speech is safe.”
The petition challenges a vague and overbroad ordinance that criminalizes free expression based on someone else’s subjective feelings, as well as a nationwide probation condition that strips Mr. Connolly of his First Amendment rights across all fifty states.
Because Mr. Connolly refused to forfeit his constitutional rights, the court sentenced him to 90 days in jail and imposed monetary penalties. The ordinance in question criminalizes “annoying” behavior in public places, a subjective and ever-shifting standard that chills lawful expression and opens the door to arbitrary enforcement.
“We are asking the United States Supreme Court to do what the Constitution already demands: protect the right of Americans, especially those who advocate for the sanctity of life, to speak freely, assemble peacefully, and pray publicly,” Attorney Erin Mersino continued.
This case is a pivotal moment for religious liberty and free speech. If prayer can be prosecuted, preaching can be banned. Silence now will only embolden government suppression of faith-based expression.
Advocates for Faith & Freedom and the American Freedom Law Center are committed to defending Mr. Connolly and standing firm for the rights of all Americans to proclaim the truth, defend the unborn, and exercise their faith without fear.
Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts. Our mission is to engage in cases that will uphold our religious liberty and America’s heritage and to educate Americans about our fundamental constitutional rights.
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Matthew Connolly
About Advocates for Faith & Freedom (www.faith-freedom.com): Advocates for Faith & Freedom is a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting constitutional and religious liberty in the courts.
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