In a “Red Rose Rescue,” Franciscan Friars in New Jersey were arrested for giving roses and words of encouragement to women at an abortion clinic.
Last week in the city of Trenton, New Jersey, brothers from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal were arrested at a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic: they were giving out red roses and words of encouragement in a pro-life demonstration.
Inside the clinic, they distributed red roses with a card attached. The card read “a new life, however tiny, brings the promise of unrepeatable joy,” and included phone numbers for local pregnancy care centers.
Father Fidelis Moscinski and three other red rose rescuers participated, giving women and couples there words of encouragement. During their time there, one couple scheduled for an abortion got up and left the clinic.
“That was a victory to us that they did leave. They were filing the paperwork for an abortion. We don’t know if they are going to go back; all we can say is they have left during the time of the rescue. We were very encouraged by that. If we hadn’t gone in there and that couple was not spoken to, that baby would probably be dead.”
When police arrived on the scene the four refused to leave, instead continuing conversations or sitting on the floor praying quietly and singing hymns. Engaging in “civil disobedience” they said:
“We cannot leave. Innocent unborn children are about to be put to death and we have opted to stay with them.”
In attendance but not arrested was Rev. Stephen Imbarrato, who said in a statement that:
“We will go into the very places where the unborn are put to death and extend help to the moms. Should this help be refused we will not leave the abortion centers but remain in solidarity with the helpless victims oppressed by the injustice of abortion.”
The pro-life society says that a “Red Rose Rescue” has two goals:
“1. To offer help and words of encouragement to the mothers, to persuade them to turn away from their abortion decision and
2. to offer a loving act of defense on behalf of the unborn about to be aborted—to abide with them in the moment of their abandonment.”
You can read the official statement from the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal on “Red Rose Rescues” here.
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May the good Lord who rescued Peter, Paul and Silas from prison, give rescue to these Franciscans and other people who are suffering for the sake of spreading the Gospel amen.
They were not arrested fir handing out roses but for civil disobedience.
They should have remained outside on the sidewalk- probably would have accomplished more.
I agree 200% with their mission but the law must be respected as well.
Prayer to God the Father of all Life
Eternal God, You have revealed Yourself as the Father of all Life. We praise You for the Fatherly care which You extend to all creation, and especially to us, made in Your image and likeness.
Father, extend Your hand of protection to those threatened by abortion, and save them from its destructive power. Give Your strength to all fathers, that they may never give in to the fears that may tempt them to facilitate abortions.
Bless our families and bless our land, that we may have the joy of welcoming and nurturing the life of all children.
exactly
No the law must be treated with contempt when it is an unjust law…let’s imagine that the Government decided to kill people over 80 years of age and one of those was your elderly mother…what then?
Sorry Mary,.
Stupid Laws unjust laws do not deserve respect much less obedience.
Have you heard the saying “THE LAW IS AN ASS” look it up on google very interesting.
It is high time Catholics heck Christians as well challenge these draconian laws once and for all!
Mario
I’m Sorry But I Think That This Is So Wrong That They Got Arrested For Trying To Save The Unborn ! Those Mom’s Can Have The Babies And If They Don’t Wanna Take Care Of Them After Their Born They Can Put Them Up For Adoption And Then That Child Can Live A Whole Good Life !
Im pro choice and i believe a woman has a right to make that very very difficult decision and if all these men are doing is giving these women a rose and a card with loving words instead of hateful horrible threats that most women get when going into the clinic they are doing a great service some women dont have the financial or moral support when they find out they are pregnant or are being pressured into having one by the father of the baby or by their parents and if they are offering the support they need to keep their baby or at least support after going through with it these men are heros not criminals
If these Franciscan’s were outside the clinic just when my mom was about to abort her first child she would have repented and kept the baby!! She was young she was forced to abort by my father and his family. What’s bad was she had two abortion she was forced to abort them so that he’ll marry my mom..no one gave her counselling. They never got married because my father died young in his late thirties. May God have mercy on my mom.
Nothing would have happened if they were promoting sex for underaged kids. The world is so controlled by the devil, and all acts of God through His people are condemned. I know someone who told me “people make the devil look bad, but he’s not actually bad, he has good in him” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I am laughed at and persecuted because I’m a staunch catholic, working in a predominantly atheist environment.