How could a lawmaker who calls himself a "champion of women" do so after filming himself harassing women who were peacefully praying outside of a Philadelphia Planned Parenthood clinic? So asked Philadelphia's Archbishop Charles J. Chaput in a hard-hitting statement wherein he called the outrageous conduct of Rep. Brian Sims (D) “unbecoming of an elected official.”

“Over the past few days, videos have gone viral on social media featuring State Representative Brian Sims aggressively harassing young and elderly women who were peacefully praying outside of a Planned Parenthood Clinic in Philadelphia,” the Archbishop said.

“These videos, which Representative Sims took himself, have rightly sparked broad outrage and garnered much attention in the press. His actions were unbecoming of an elected official. There is much bitter irony that he claims to be a champion for the rights of all women yet he trampled on the rights of others and disgracefully shamed them in public. It was particularly disdainful that he offered a bounty for the identity and home addresses of three young ladies in order to encourage protests at their homes.”

Our country is one founded on democratic principles and civil discourse in the public square and elected officials are supposed to represent all of their constituents—not just the ones with whom they agree, the Archbishop wrote.

“Representative Sims spoke often of shame and there was plenty of that to be found in his actions, which demonstrated a complete disregard for civility and basic human decency.”

As a result of the firestorm of indignation over Sims’ behavior, national pro-life leaders are amassing a huge crowd at the same Planned Parenthood where the lawmaker filmed his shameful attacks. It will take place on Friday, May 10th, outside the clinic located at 12th and Locust at 11:00 a.m.

“I’m calling on all people of good will to channel their indignation into right action and prayerful witness,” the Archbishop wrote. “I’m encouraging broad participation in this peaceful initiative. Let us meet the hateful actions of Representative Sims with the love of Christ and let us fervently pray for respect for life from conception to natural death.”

For more information about Friday’s rally, please visit this Facebook page.

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