PRO-LIFE ACTIVIST PRIEST CONVICTED OF VIOLATING FACE ACT

LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK—Today, January 23rd, 2023, pro-life priest Father Fidelis Moscinski was found guilty of a federal FACE violation for an alleged “lock and block” rescue at a Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Hempstead, NY on July 7, 2022.

PAAU activists and leaders packed the court to support the Franciscan Friar and his actions.  

According to court testimony, during the one-man rescue action Father Fidelis placed multiple locks on the gate leading into the only entrance of the Planned Parenthood facility. Once the locks were cut off by the local fire department, Father Fidelis physically lay in the driveway obstructing cars before being taken into custody by local police.  

An interview Father Fidelis recorded for EWTN’s show Pro-Life Weekly was played in court as evidence of his intent to block access, however the defense argued the interview proved his intent was to help parents considering abortion not to disrupt staff or services. 

Pictures of the rescue featured on the PAAU Instagram account were on the EWTN video. 

The defense argued that because the rescue resulted in only a 10 minute traffic obstruction it should be treated as a local misdemeanor and should not be prosecution, noting that there were no complaints from patients entering Planned Parenthood that day.

Jennifer Bono, Director of health center operations at the Planned Parenthood in question located at 540 Fulton Avenue contradicted herself when she said there were complaints, when earlier she had told the FBI there were none.

Lastly, the defense argued that the government was discriminating against Father Fidelis based on his viewpoint which the judge ignored.

Terrisa Bukovinac, founder and executive director of PAAU said “It is outrageous that the FACE Act is still being employed to target pro-life activism in a post Roe vs. Wade America. There is no federal right to an abortion! Father Fidelis is a hero for putting his body in between the babies and their killer and we encourage others to do the same.”

Father Fidelis is facing a maximum penalty of 6 months in federal prison and will be sentenced on April 24th. 

Press Contact: Caroline Taylor Smith 919-525-4431 carolinesmith@paaunow.org