Fr. Frank Pavone Comments on Scheidler
Victory
February 28, 2006
Scheidler Victory
We rejoice today with Joe Scheidler and the Pro-life Action
League, who were again victorious at the Supreme Court in the Scheilder vs.
NOW case. What this means is that the Supreme Court has again reaffirmed our
First Amendment rights to protest at abortion mills, and that we can do this
without being afraid that laws originally designed to stop organized crime will
be falsely applied to us.
This was the third time that this case went before the
Supreme Court – an historical record in itself – and the second time in a row
that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the pro-life activists. Our press
release from Priests for Life can be
viewed here.
Now it is up to us to make sure this is not a hollow victory.
If pro-life people just want to fight this battle from the sidelines, staying
within the security of their homes, schools, and Churches, and not venturing out
to be at the killing centers in solidarity with the children and their families,
then this victory does not have the full strength that it should. The Supreme
Court respects our First Amendment rights. So should we. The victory given to
Joe Scheidler today is a result of his decades of persevering presence at
abortion mills throughout the nation, and is evidence of something I have always
said: The best way to defend our First Amendment rights is to exercise them
without fear! Joe’s victory today is our victory, too, and our clear
invitation to be present at the places of death – to pray, protest, preach,
counsel, intervene, and educate.
The pro-life movement needs no lectures about being
“non-violent.” Our entire message is non-violence. We know it far better than
those who want to preach to us. We don’t have to be reminded that we do not
advance our cause by violence. Nor does Joe Scheidler have to be reminded of
that.
What many grassroots pro-life citizens do have to be
reminded of is that we have a right and a duty to be at the places where our
unborn brothers and sisters are being killed today. When we are there,
counseling and praying, holding signs and singing, preaching and handing out
fliers, then lives are saved. We invite all pro-life people to study our
booklet Our Media is the Streets,
available at
www.priestsforlife.org/brochures/ourmedia.html, to learn the many forms of
peaceful presence that our Constitutional rights allow us to practice.
Along these lines, let me make a special plea to priests and
pastors. We have to lead our people in fighting for justice and witnessing to
truth. Being present at abortion mills is a key way to do this for the cause of
saving the unborn. People will be reassured when their priest or pastor calls
them to this activity, and even more so when he comes with them! So often, it is
an exaggerated concern with legal ramifications that keeps us within the
security of the sanctuary. But today, the highest Court in the land again
reaffirms that we are on solid legal ground when we exercise our peaceful
protests. Let’s not put obstacles in our own way that the Supreme Court itself
is removing! Let us lead our people without hesitation or fear!
Congratulations to Joe Scheidler and the Pro-life Action
League! And as someone who has prayed at abortion mills in every major city (and
many smaller cities) across our land, I also congratulate the faithful pro-life
people who have come out and continue to come out in solidarity with their
smallest brothers and sisters. Continue to do what you are doing! There is no
work on earth more important than this!
Supreme Court Syllabus of the Scheidler Case (PDF Format)
Justice Breyer
Opinion on the Scheidler Case (PDF Format)
