NYC Friar Charged With Blocking Access To LI Planned Parenthood

HEMPSTEAD, NY — A Franciscan friar from New York City was arrested today and charged with violating the Freedom of Access To Clinic Entrances Act for blocking access to a Planned Parenthood clinic in Hempstead earlier this year.

Christopher Moscinski, 52, of the Bronx, who is also known as Father Fidelis Moscinski, was arrested today and will be arraigned later this afternoon in federal court in Central Islip.

“The defendant attempted to prevent women from accessing their legal right to vital reproductive and pregnancy services,” said United States Attorney Breon Peace. “This office will enforce federal law to protect clinics and staff that provide reproductive health services while safeguarding the rights of their patients. I commend the local police, firefighters and bystanders who came to the health center’s aid to ensure that it could continue serving the community.”

According to Peace, at 6:22 a.m. on July 7, Moscinski arrived at the Hempstead Planned Parenthood, located at 540 Fulton Ave., wearing civilian clothes. Peace said he attached five padlocks and bicycle locks to the gated entrance of the center, and filled some of them with glue to stop them from opening.

Police and firefighters were called to the scene and were able to cut away the padlocks. As the locks were being removed, Moscinski returned to the clinic, wearing a grey religious robe, and laid down in front of the gate to stop cars from entering the property. He was arrested by the Hempstead Police Department.

Court documents show that Moscinski is currently serving a three-month sentence in state jail for trespassing at an abortion provider in White Plains.

In 1994, Congress passed the Freedom of Access To Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act in response to an increase in violence toward patients and providers of reproductive health services. The FACE Act prohibits violent, threatening, damaging and obstructive conduct intended to injure, intimidate or interfere with an individual’s right to seek, obtain or provide reproductive health services. First-time convictions of the FACE Act are misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in prison. Subsequent convictions are a felony.

“Our patients — and all people — deserve safe access to health care services, including abortion, free of harassment or intimidation," Samuel Mitchell, chief operating officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, said in a statement. "Over the years, we have witnessed anti-abortion extremists spew lies and use physical force to threaten our staff, bully our volunteers, and demoralize our patients. Nationwide attacks on abortion rights have fueled their vitriol. We will not allow our communities to fall victim to extreme hate. Planned Parenthood of Greater New York will not be intimidated by Christopher Moscinski or any individual who attempts to prevent our patients from accessing the care they need. We will pursue every avenue of legal recourse to ensure the safety and security of patients, staff and volunteers."