Franciscan Friars Arrested for Giving Roses to Women at Abortion Clinic

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, reports ucatholic.com (January 2).

The incident happened 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.”