More on "John Doe", incarcerated on Rikers for one person rescue

We posted about this six days ago. LifeNet: Arrested "John Doe" currently incarcerated on Rikers for conscience protest

Here's a bit more in this article, written by John Zmirak, which actually links back to our posting above -

InsideCatholic.com - Rescue Me?

Since he'd rather remain anonymous, let's call him Crouchback -- more musical than "John Doe M9," which is what they're calling him at Rikers Island these days. He sits there awaiting trial for conducting a one-man rescue at an abortion clinic in Manhattan. He refuses to cooperate with authorities enforcing unjust laws that allow the murder of children, so he won't give his name. When brought to trial, he will say that his actions were justified, and if released he will do it again. The authorities must choose whether to let him go forth and rescue, or leave him in prison for life.

 

Crouchback doesn't view himself as a lone, quixotic figure; he invites others to follow him, and in fact hopes to form an order of hermits, whose habits will be orange prison jumpsuits, and cells America's prisons. He calls his group the Order of Mercy at Gethsemane. It is modeled on the Mercedarian order, a group of priests founded by St. Peter Nolasco that also devoted itself to rescue -- of Christian hostages captured by Muslim bandits. Hundreds of priests of that order volunteered to take the place of Christian slaves in Arab countries and died in chains in alien lands so that ordinary, unlucky Christian laymen could go back home to their families.

 

For the record, I can't decide if my old friend is crazy or a saint.

 

One of the original apostles who joined Joan Andrews in organizing Operation Rescue, Crouchback has never reconciled himself to the movement's collapse -- under the pressure of madly punitive laws that make abortion clinics "speech-free" zones, as sacrosanct as the Lincoln Bedroom. At what other business in America is it a felony to engage in civil disobedience? A tobacco company? An arms manufacturer making landmines? Not a chance. It's better to be a former Weatherman terrorist these days than someone engaged in non-violent, pro-life sit-ins.

Comments

[Rosemary Hunt]

Praying for your prompt release. God speed. Your example is great. It makes me realize how prayer and fasting isimportant to end this horror of abortion. Thisis the least I can do while being at home caring for my family.God bless you.