Posted on 12/18/2001 9:07:46 AM PST by Cicero
A longtime Planned Parenthood fighter, 71-year-old Fr. Norman Weslin, O.S., is imprisoned at McKean Federal Prison at Bradford, Pa. Fr. Weslin is serving five months in federal prison for "criminal" contempt. His crime? Kneeling in silent prayer on a public sidewalk in full priestly vestments inside a 60-foot "banned free speech and religious expression zone," set up by Judge Richard Acara outside a Buffalo, N.Y., abortion center
Please pray for Fr. Weslin, and please take a moment during this Christmas season to write a letter to Fr. Weslin. His address is: Rev. Norman U. Weslin #08149-055, McKean Federal Correctional Institution, PO Box 8000, Bradford, PA 16701. Remember that all mail is recorded, read and censored.
Fr. Weslin was not allowed to bring his rosary to prison, but he told friends he could simply count the prayers on his fingers.
That is simply outrageous.
I know with everything going on this doesn't seem to be very important, but I know it is to God. Let's face it, there's not many folks out on the front lines doing spirtual warfare and sidewalk counseling at the abortuaries.
God bless Fr. Norman! Say a prayer for him on Christmas day.
In the words of a former freeper, "Have you ever committed sodomy?".
He broke the law but does he require imprisonment?
Memo to Sandra:
President Clinton is no longer in office and Fr. Weslin's imprisonment has been and will be entirely within Bush's Presidency. I wonder why President Bush does not grant Fr. Weslin a pardon?
Yes, priests with rosaries are very dangerous to the pro death movement.
I'm sure his prayers will be more effective now. I will pray for him also.
Eliot Spitzer, the pro-abortion Attorney General of New York and the abortion industry of Western New York filed FACE charges and asked for a "temporary" restraining order for a specific pro-life Buffalo weekend event. Father Weslin and some named defendants settled without any admission of guilt. How could they be guilty if there was never any police complaint?
When the event was over, Eliot Spitzer and the abortion industry asked for a preliminary restraining order. During this time, Pro-Life prayer vigils were pushed across the street with no amplification.4 defendants sought an appeal after being dragged through this judge's courtroom for 23 days!!
By his actions, Father Weslin challenged the constitutionality of this court order and was willing to go to jail to defend all of our free speech rights and the rights of women to make "better choices". He is a retired Lt. U.S. Colonel who defended with his life the Free Speech Rights of every American while serving in the military. Bogus charges and a punitive buffer zone (200' in Buffalo!!)both designed to prevent one abortion mill customer from changing her mind and making another "choice!!"
I find it amazing that we celebrate the chaplains who were there for New York City's firefighters and police officers. We respect Chaplains who serve our military and Congress. But God forbid, a chaplain should have the audacity to make himself available to a pregnant unwed mother -- on his knees no less -- outside a New York abortion mill!!!
Just recently the appeal was decided. New York's 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals said Judge Arcara's and Spitzer's order did not merit FACE charges and ruled the judge's BANNED FREE SPEECH AND RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION ZONE was UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Exactly what Father Weslin knew and was willing to defend with his challenge.
Father Weslin was given 5 months in federal prison (which he started serving on Nov. 5) for four hours of silently kneeling prayer. If the Circuit Court declared The Judge's order UNCONSTITUIONAL, why is Father Weslin still in jail?
Where's Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton eating this Christmas?
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