logo
Brief Publisher Logo
FACT BRIEF

Have dozens of attacks on churches and pro-life clinics occurred since last summer?

By Jacob Alabab-Moser
View this fact brief on Wisconsin Watch
Copy link
email
Copy featured image
email
YES

More than 100 attacks on churches and pro-life clinics have occurred since May 2, 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked. 

At least 147 attacks on Catholic churches have occurred since the leak, with most consisting of property destruction, according to a tracker by the conservative group CatholicVote. 

A report by the conservative Family Research Council examining attacks against all denominations of churches found at least 57 incidents from January 2022 to September 2022 contained pro-abortion messages or were linked to pro-abortion protests. An FRC tracker also shows that 64 pro-life organizations have been attacked in the period between the leak and March 2023. 

Only a small proportion of the attacks have been linked to documented arrests, though Attorney General Merrick Garland has said that the FBI is putting its "full resources" into prosecuting attackers of pro-life pregnancy centers.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Catholic Vote Tracker: Over 300 attacks on US Catholic churches since May 2020
Family Research Council Hostility against churches is on the rise in the United States
Family Research Council Tracker of attacks against churches and pro-life organizations (as of March 16, 2023)
Fox News More than 100 pro-life orgs, churches attacked since Dobbs leak
Fox News AG Garland claims FBI has put 'full resources' into tracking attacks on pro-life centers, despite few arrests
Politico Supreme Court has voted to overturn abortion rights, draft opinion shows
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Wisconsin Watch
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
FACT BRIEF BY
Brief Publisher Logo
Latest fact briefs from Wisconsin Watch
facebook
twitter
email
email
About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.