Date: January 31, 2005

Contact: Jerry Horn 540-785-4733

National priests group demands first amendment rights

New York City- National anti-abortion group Priests for Life has urged the state of Montana to avoid proposed buffer zones around its abortion clinics, such as Missoula's Blue Mountain Clinic.

"All civil rights movements have brought their message to the streets to educate the public through our first amendment rights," said Fr. Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life. "I urge the state of Montana to avoid the unnecessary buffer zones now being considered. The pro-life movement is a peaceful movement. Others who are not peaceful will not be deterred by buffer zones. If you're willing to inflict violence, you're certainly willing to transgress a buffer zone."

"Peaceful protestors from around the country are ready and able to travel to Montana to help protect our youngest brothers and sisters, and to ensure the protection of our first-amendment rights," said Fr. Pavone.

[Priests for Life networks tens of thousands of Catholic priests and hundreds of thousands of lay activists nationwide to fight abortion. For more information about Priests for Life, please visit www.priestsforlife.org.]