Catholic priest and pro-life activist Father Fidelis Moscinski, CFR, has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for obstructing access to a Planned Parenthood abortion facility by placing locks and chains on the gated entrance.
Newsroom (03/07/2023 08:36, Gaudium Press) The maximum available sentence for this particular crime was imposed by Judge Steven Tiscione, who found Moscinski guilty of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. The FACE Act imposes severe penalties for impeding access to abortion facilities or pregnancy centers.
During the court proceedings, Moscinski, a member of the pro-life organization Red Rose Rescue, stated that his actions were motivated by his belief that Planned Parenthood is involved in the business of killing. He argued that his efforts were solely aimed at preventing the deliberate killing of innocent unborn children and the harm inflicted upon their mothers by abortion procedures. Moscinski’s defence emphasized that his actions were not sanctioned by Red Rose Rescue, as members of the organization act as sole agents when engaging in pro-life activism outside of their formal activities.
The priest also expressed criticism of the FACE Act, referring to it as a pseudo-law that attempts to legitimize and protect actions he views as intrinsically evil and unjust. Moscinski called for leniency from Judge Tiscione, urging him to mitigate the perceived injustice perpetrated by the court. However, the judge cited Moscinski’s prior arrests for pro-life activism as a justification for imposing the maximum sentence.
Moscinski’s act of pro-life activism occurred on July 7, 2022, at the Planned Parenthood of Greater New York clinic in Hempstead, New York. By placing locks and chains on the entrance and covering some with glue, he effectively shut down the clinic for approximately two hours. Authorities eventually cut through the locks, after which Moscinski positioned himself in front of the entrance to prevent vehicles from entering.
This is not the first time Moscinski has been arrested for his pro-life activities, but it is his first conviction for violating the FACE Act. In a separate development, New York Attorney General Letitia James has recently filed a lawsuit against Red Rose Rescue, seeking to prohibit Moscinski and other members of the organization from approaching within 30 feet of abortion clinics. Although Moscinski’s FACE Act violation was unrelated to Red Rose Rescue, the attorney general cited the incident as part of the justification for the lawsuit.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA