Friar charged with blocking access to Long Island Planned Parenthood clinic

CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CNS) — Father Fidelis Moscinski, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, has been charged with violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, or FACE Act, for allegedly blocking access to a Planned Parenthood of Greater New York facility in the Hempstead section of Long Island, N.Y.

Father Moscinski, known as Christopher Moscinski in court documents, was arrested Sept. 29 and made his initial court appearance in federal court in Central Islip the same day.

“The defendant attempted to prevent women from accessing their legal right to vital reproductive and pregnancy services,” stated U.S. Attorney Breon Peace of the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York.

The 1994 FACE Act prohibits intentional property damage and the use of “force or threat of force or … physical obstruction” to “injure, intimidate or interfere with” someone entering an abortion clinic.

The 52-year-old priest allegedly padlocked the clinic’s entrance gate and blocked access to the clinic with his body.

“This office will enforce federal law to protect clinics and staff that provide reproductive health services while safeguarding the rights of their patients,” Peace said in a statement.

“I commend the local police, firefighters and bystanders who came to the health center’s aid to ensure that it could continue serving the community,” he added.

Months earlier, Father Moscinski was arrested in a similar incident at a Planned Parenthood facility in Westchester County, N.Y.

After that arrest, the priest told EWTN that his “main motivation was to try to keep that Planned Parenthood closed for as long as possible so that I would have an opportunity to talk to the mothers who were coming in that morning.”

The New York Post said records show that Father Moscinski, who lives in the New York borough of the Bronx, has been arrested several times in recent years in New York and New Jersey for similar actions.

Read More Respect Life

Missouri bishops back amendment to limit abortion, gender transition for minors

Senators seek information from FDA and abortion drug manufacturers on mifepristone

Life must be defended in a world wounded by warfare, pope says

Gosnell death brings closure, renewed pro-life commitment, says investigating detective

Vatican diplomat decries ‘eugenic’ termination of Down syndrome pregnancies

Illinois advocates warn against effort to enshrine abortion, gender transition in state constitution

Copyright © 2022 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

 Print