Last April Fr. Norman Weslin, founder of the Lambs of Christ, was charged with violating the Federal Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) law. The law passed in the early 1990s' and is aimed directly at pro-lifers who protest at abortion "clinics".
Father was facing 18 months in jail, three years on probation, and a $25,000 fine.
Here is newspaper coverage:
Omaha.com Metro/Region Section
Weslin, 76, was arrested April 24, 2006, when he entered the Bellevue abortion clinic run by Dr. LeRoy Carhart.
The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act forbids the use of "force, threat of force or physical obstruction" to prevent someone from providing or receiving reproductive health services.
Weslin had faced 18 months in a federal prison, three years of probation and a $25,000 fine if convicted.
Weslin, who listed a Council Bluffs address upon his arrest, is described as a missionary anti-abortion Roman Catholic priest who preaches across the country. He is founder of an anti-abortion group called the Lambs of Christ. According to the group's Web site, Weslin has been arrested between 60 and 70 times, and served four months in prison for the 1996 blockade of a clinic in Rochester, N.Y.
He is a member of the Society of the Oblates of Wisdom, a clerical association in La Crosse, Wis.
Weslin's defense attorney, Martin A. Cannon, said that in the Bellevue incident, the priest had knelt in prayer inside a security vestibule and never entered the clinic's office. While inside he occasionally spoke to women "asking them not to kill their baby," Cannon said.
"He also spoke to clinic workers telling them not to work at the clinic and that he would help them find other jobs," Cannon said. "He actually is a kind man, who wouldn't hurt anyone."
U.S. Attorney Joseph Stecher did not return a call seeking comment.
Cannon and co-counsel Matthew F. Heffron said the case came down to a "he said-she said sort of case" with clinic workers testifying that Weslin had blocked the door, making it hard to open, and the elderly priest testifying that he moved out of the way when he felt the door shove up against his shoe.
"Father Weslin is a rather likeable man, and I think the jury just accepted his testimony that he wasn't purposely blocking the door," Cannon said.
Here is the report on the Operation Rescue website:
Operation Rescue » Blog Archive » Pro-Life Priest Found Not Guilty Of Federal Charges
Weslin was arrested last April when he entered the Bellevue abortion mill run by LeRoy Carhart, the nationally known abortionist who has twice defended partial-birth abortion to the U.S. Supreme Court. Weslin had knelt in prayer inside a security vestibule and never actually entered the clinic’s office. While inside he occasionally spoke through a mail slot asking women to spare their children from abortion.
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