Red Rose Rescue (with whom I’ve been arrested twice for peaceful counseling inside an abortion center) has some important news. Usually our jail time is only a short time. But my friends Fr. Fidelis, Will and Matt (see above) just got 90 days in jail in New York for a rescue this summer. Fr. Fidelis and I discussed this on the phone for awhile just a few weeks ago. Now he’s in jail for three months. Red Rose Rescue reports:
Father Fidelis, Will Goodman, and Matthew Connolly have all been sentenced to 90 days in jail. They were given a $200 surcharge, a $500 fine, and a $50 DNA charge...Quotes were hastily written down since electronics were not allowed to be in use during the sentencing. All quotes are the gist of what was said, most of them are close to accurate but some may be slightly off.…Will Goodmans closing statement – “We are here for the equality of all people from the beginning of life to the end of life and for the solidarity we can share with the mom, the child, and the father and we are here to help…” As Will Goodman was escorted out of the courtroom he proudly said – “Vivo Christo Rey!” Mathew Connolly refused to speak to be in solidarity with the unborn whose voices were unjustly taken from them…. Father Fidelis said in his closing statement – “Isaiah said woe to those who call good evil and evil good. Woe to those who call abortion a right. (Addressed to the judge) You disallowed the justification defense and that injustice was compounded by the jury and also by the sentencing you have given, I plead the blood of Jesus on this court room”
The judge replied – “You quoted judgement day in your case and today is your judgement day”
Will Goodman and Mathew Connolly are open to visitors but Father Fidelis is not. Please keep these heroes in your prayers.
Notice the judge in NY said to my friend Fr. Fidelis while sending him to jail for 90 days: “Today is your judgment day.” The judge said something much more profound than he realized. Fr. Fidelis can only hope that being arrested for peacefully stopping the slaughter of babies is counted against his day of judgment. Why? Because the Sermon on the Mount seems to imply that to be ill-judged by man on earth greatly increases the mercy God will show us when we are judged by God at the end of our lives:
Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.—Lk 6:22-26