Catholic Priests, Activists to Stand Trial for Pro-Life Witness Inside Abortion Facility

LifeSite News ^ | 11/17/17 | Staff

[marshmallow]

November 17, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – On Monday, November 20, six pro-lifers will stand trial in a State of Virginia courtroom for their defense of the unborn—facing a possible jail term of up to 90 days.

On Friday, September 15, 2017 in three different cities across the United States, pro-lifers entered abortion centers to talk to women scheduled for abortions. By refusing to leave the clinics when told to do so by law enforcement, they offered an act of non-violent defense of unborn children about to be aborted, resulting in the pro-lifers’ arrests. This defense of the unborn is called the Red Rose Rescue—as pro-lifers offered red roses to the women inside the abortion clinics. Attached to each rose was a card with words of encouragement and phone numbers to local pregnancy help centers. The goal of the Red Rose Rescue is to persuade women in the waiting room to reconsider their decision to abort and leave the clinic with at least one of the rescuers. The remaining rescuers choose to stay in the clinic in solidarity with the unborn about to be aborted.

Altogether 10 pro-lifers were arrested—six who entered the Alexandria Women’s Health Clinic, 101 S Whiting St. #215, Alexandria, Virginia, and four who entered Northland Family Planning, 3810 17 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights, MI. Those arrested at the Virginia clinic included two Catholic priests: Fr. Stephen Imbarrato, associate with Priests for Life; and Fr. Fidelis Moscinski, of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Pro-life heroine Joan Andrews Bell also took part, along with three other women: Julia Haag, Bonnie Borel Donahue and Joan McKee.

Those arrested at the Michigan clinic are Monica Migliorino Miller, director of Citizens for a Pro-Life Society, Will Goodman, Matthew Connolly and twenty-year-old Abby McIntyre who attends Indiana State University and interned with......

[Arthur McGowan]

It is the obligation of the local bishop (of Arlington) to teach the police, the judges, the prosecutors, and the governor (McAuliffe—and pro-abort “Catholic”) that removing people who are preventing abortions, or deterring people from preventing abortions, are mortal sins.

One of the ways of making oneself an accomplice to a crime is to remove an obstacle that is preventing a crime. Thus, every cop who assists in removing people who are preventing abortions makes himself an accomplice to the abortions.

Prediction: The bishop will say nothing.

Reason: He views the rescue as a “political statement.” He will not perceive himself obligated to “endorse” that particular “political tactic.”

The reality is that the rescue is a life-saving action. The bishop is actually OBLIGATED to teach the police, and every other public official involved, that their activities—thwarting a life-saving action—are mortally sinful. This is a grave obligation, which means that silence is mortally sinful.

[CondorFlight]

If the police can’t “legally” refuse orders to remove the protesters, they can certainly be “incompetent”; that is, they arrive late, they try (sort of), but never quite get the job done.

That’s similar to the midwives who when ordered by Pharaoh to drown the Hebrew babies, explained that they tried, but the Hebrew women have given birth so quickly before they got there, that they weren’t able to do so.

[Mrs. Don-o]

This actually happened, once at least, in a way that benefited me.

I was in a rescue at a 3th floor abortion suite in (if I remember correctly) Pittsburgh. After arrest, being taken down to the ground floor in an elevator, I politely told the (handsome young black) cop he shouldn't have arrested us. He replied that sorry, he had to.

I said, "Well, you could still help us."

"How?"

"First, you could figure out some way to empty the building."

"So, that's first. And?"

"And, at the trial, you could say you don't recognize me."

We arrestees were stowed in the police van when we heard the fire alarm go off in the building. Lo and behold, the clinic had to suspend operations and everybody had to evacuate. We learned later they weren't allowed to go back in until Monday (the rescue was early on a Saturday morning.)

Later, when we went to trial, this same cop looked me straight in the eye and told the judge, "I'm sorry, your honor, I'm not able to make positive identification."

Hah!

Dear Lord, a higher place in heaven for that guy, OK?

[Arthur McGowan]

I have no objection to that kind of incompetence.