Fr. Fidelis Moscinski faces charges under the FACE Act. But some say it doesn’t apply.
Newsroom (11/01/2022 18:17, Gaudium Press) Allegedly, last July 7, Father Fidelis Moszynski of the Franciscans of the Renewal put several padlocks on the door of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York’s abortion clinic in Hempstead. He reportedly did this in civilian clothes. Later the friar would have put on his habit and stretched out on the floor in front of the clinic door.
By his actions, the friar would have violated the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE), providing penalties of up to one year in prisonfor those who violate this law for the first time. Recidivism becomes a felony.
But for Terrisa Bukovinac of the pro-life group Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, FACE does not apply in this case. FOr her, FACE was created to created to quash the so-called Operation Rescue, seeking to physically prevent women from entering abortion clinics.
In turn, Bukovinac accuses Attorney General Merrick Garland’s office of weaponizing his agency, “unfairly attacking peaceful pro-life activists like Mark Houck, Father Fidelis, Lauren Handy and others. Alternatively, Garland’s Justice Department allowed violent pro-abortion groups to continue to terrorize churches and pregnancy centers across the country,” as happened after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Bukovinac also pointed out that in 2022 alone, at least 16 peaceful advocates for life have been charged under the FACE Act.
With CNA information.
Compiled by Teresa Joseph
