Photo by: cforc.com
Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in Mel Gibson's 2005 biblical epic The Passion of the Christ, is slated to speak before Issue 1 supporters during the rally.
Catholics for Catholics, a 501c4 organization that campaigns for pro-Catholic policies, said it will hold a "Rosary Rally for Ohio’s Children" on Aug. 6 in Norwood to spur on supportive turnout for Issue 1.
"Join the movement in Ohio to save children from abortion up to birth and genital mutilation as we VOTE YES on Issue 1 to truly protect the State Constitution and Ohio’s children," the event description reads.
Well, sort of. Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in Mel Gibson's 2004 biblical epic The Passion of the Christ, is slated to speak before Issue 1 supporters during the rally. Quick rundown on Issue 1
Republicans brought forward the Aug. 8 special election just for Issue 1, which makes it harder for voters to amend the Ohio Constitution by raising the threshold of approval from 50% to 60%. Passing Issue 1 would make it much harder for voters to legalize abortion in Ohio, which voters will get to decide this November. At first, Ohio Republicans argued the change was to protect the state from outside interference, but Secretary of State Frank LaRose has said Issue 1 is “100%" about keeping abortion illegal in the state. Abortion is currently legal in Ohio since a Hamilton County judge temporarily blocked a six-week "heartbeat" ban.
Jesus himself is coming to the rosary rally
Caviezel is also known for starring in the 2023 Christian conspiracy hit, Sound of Freedom. The film, which is very loosely based on a true story, has become a phenomenon among moviegoers who believe there is an international organized crime ring kidnapping children for sex trade. But it's Caviezel's casting in the role that deepens the connection between the film's plot and the QAnon mindset. Caviezel has a well documented history of crusading for violent QAnon conspiracy theories including the claim that an international cabal of elites is abusing and killing children to harvest their blood for a substance called adrenochrome.
Caviezel once recited the famous monologue from Braveheart at a Las Vegas “For God & Country: Patriot Double Down” rally, which included known QAnon figureheads as speakers. Reports indicate Caviezel wrapped his fiery speech with the QAnon battlecry, “Yes, the Storm is upon us.” The "storm" is a theory among Q believers that Trump himself will arrest members of a deep-state Satanic cabal that control the world.
The abortion amendment voters will decide in November has nothing to do with gender-affirming care for children or adults. The proposed abortion rights amendment would give Ohioans the right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to . . . contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion.”
Cooke reportedly told WCMH the “including but not limited to” language would give way to "sex change, gender affirming care, and all those surgeries."
Flynn is now the senior advisor for Catholics for Catholics, the group organizing the "Rosary Rally" in Norwood.
Between the first day of early voting on July 11 and July 20, a total of 9,082 Hamilton County voters cast their ballot. And that doesn’t even account for the absentee votes. Another 13,465 voters have returned absentee ballots for Issue 1 so far. Of those, 6,405 were from registered Democrats, 2,471 were Republicans and 4,589 were from independent voters. The August primary in 2022 only brought in 8,651 absentee votes during the entire election.
A controversial new law requires voters to present a valid ID to vote in person in Hamilton County. Acceptable forms of ID include:
Caviezel once recited the famous monologue from Braveheart at a Las Vegas “For God & Country: Patriot Double Down” rally, which included known QAnon figureheads as speakers. Reports indicate Caviezel wrapped his fiery speech with the QAnon battlecry, “Yes, the Storm is upon us.” The "storm" is a theory among Q believers that Trump himself will arrest members of a deep-state Satanic cabal that control the world.
Jim Caviezel gives a speech riddled with religious fanaticism and Q propaganda at the QAnon conference in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/9gugWfoyaG
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) October 25, 2021
Last week, Trump hosted a private screening of Sound of Freedom at his private club in New Jersey, where Caviezel was in attendance.
"President Trump is going to save Children the likes of which you have never seen!" Caviezel said on Instagram. "You might even say he is the new Moses telling Pharaoh (World Cabal) to let the children Go Free!"
This save-the-children rhetoric has been deeply enmeshed in Republicans' pitch to vote "Yes" on Issue 1. In an ad titled "Your Promise" released by Protect Women Ohio, a dark money 501(c)(4) organization founded in February, a female narrator says, “You promised to keep the bad guys away. Protect her. Now’s your chance." The script is read over the image of a drag queen reading to children.
“Transgender surgeries and allowing for that type of activity of our children is [on the ballot], so this ad exposes that,” Mehek Cooke, a spokeswoman for Protect Women Ohio, told WCMH on July 20.
The abortion amendment voters will decide in November has nothing to do with gender-affirming care for children or adults. The proposed abortion rights amendment would give Ohioans the right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to . . . contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion.”
Cooke reportedly told WCMH the “including but not limited to” language would give way to "sex change, gender affirming care, and all those surgeries."
Other speakers
The "Rosary Rally for Ohio’s Children" will also feature speeches from anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson and former director of the federal Defense Intelligence Agency and former United States National Security Advisor, Ltg. Michael Flynn. In 2017, Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador, but ultimately rescinded his guilty plea, accusing the federal government of trying to frame him. He was pardoned by Trump in November 2020.Flynn is now the senior advisor for Catholics for Catholics, the group organizing the "Rosary Rally" in Norwood.
Who's voting?
The rally will take place two days before the August 8 election day. Turnout for the election was expected to be historically low, but early voting numbers show many more Ohioans than expected, especially Democrats, are lining up at the Board of Elections office in Norwood.
Between the first day of early voting on July 11 and July 20, a total of 9,082 Hamilton County voters cast their ballot. And that doesn’t even account for the absentee votes. Another 13,465 voters have returned absentee ballots for Issue 1 so far. Of those, 6,405 were from registered Democrats, 2,471 were Republicans and 4,589 were from independent voters. The August primary in 2022 only brought in 8,651 absentee votes during the entire election.
When and how to vote
Early voting for Hamilton County residents has started and is taking place in one location only, the Board office: 4700 Smith Road in Norwood. All absentee ballot applications must be turned in by Aug. 1. Election day is Aug. 8, and the polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Absentee ballots are due by close of polls.A controversial new law requires voters to present a valid ID to vote in person in Hamilton County. Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Ohio driver's license
- State of Ohio ID card
- Interim ID form issued by the Ohio BMV
- U.S. passport or passport card
- U.S. military ID card
- Ohio National Guard ID card
- US Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
- An expiration date that has not passed
- A photograph of the voter
- The voter’s name, which must substantially conform to the voter’s name as it appears in the poll list or in the poll book.
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