Human Life International Austria director and colleagues face $10,000 fine or jail time for peaceful sidewalk counseling
VIENNA, Austria, July 21, 2011 /
Christian Newswire/ -- A ruling by a judge in Graz, Austria is a case of blatant persecution of pro-lifers, says Human Life International (HLI) Interim President Monsignor Ignacio Barreiro-Carambula.
"The complete bias and disregard for the facts in this ruling shows the extent to which anti-life advocates, including judges, will go to perpetuate the culture of death," said Msgr. Barreiro. "This is the kind of persecution HLI's pro-life missionaries around the world face on a daily basis."
A
report released this week by the Catholic video website Gloria.tv helps explain the "contradictory" and "bizarre" nature of Judge Erik Nauta's ruling against four pro-life advocates, including Dietmar Fischer, director of HLI Austria. Judge Nauta fined Mr. Fischer an astonishing $10,000 for his pro-life advocacy, and also charged pro-life sidewalk counselors fines between $600 and $1,200 each for what the judge considered to be "stalking" of the Graz-based abortionist, Johannes Hanfstingl.
Judge Nauta's ruling occurred in early April, and the case is currently under appeal. If the appeal fails, Fischer can face up to three months in jail if he does not pay the fine, and his colleagues also face jail time.
"From our affiliate we have learned that the original charge was a lesser one brought by the abortionist against the three pro-life sidewalk counselors in 2009. After some time, the case reached an agreement and was sent to the Ministry of Justice in Vienna. It is that court that found the verdict unsatisfactory, sending it back to the Graz court, at which time Judge Nauta unilaterally elevated the charges to 'stalking', which is much more serious, and extended the charge to include Mr. Fischer, who was not even in Graz at the time of the supposed offense. The appeal currently underway is based on the fact that all of the witnesses for the prosecution, including the abortionist, admit that Mr. Fischer did not stalk the abortionist, but merely supplied leaflets and materials to the counselors," said Monsignor Barreiro. "There is no basis for the case as it currently exists, but that does not necessarily mean that justice will prevail in this case. America is not the only nation whose judges do not see themselves as being constrained by evidence, the nation's constitution, or natural law."
"Dietmar is accused of offering, for free, eleven week old baby models, support flyers for pregnant mothers and rosaries for the pregnant counseling centre in Graz," said Joannes Bucher, HLI's regional director for Europe, who is based in Austria. "These pro-life resources were given as support from HLI Austria, but Dietmar himself was never in Graz to counsel women in front of this abortion centre."
"Look at the testimonies," said Mr. Fischer. "The abortionist Dr. Hanfstingl told the court that we did not 'stalk' him, and that we only wanted to inform the women going to the clinic about pro-life resources."
"As Our Lord says in the Gospel of Matthew, 'Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,'" said Msgr. Barreiro. "We pray not only that our brothers be delivered from this injustice, but that the Lord of Life may use this event to achieve greater protection for the unborn in Austria and around the world."
Human Life International has established a
donation page to help defray the legal fees and associated charges for Mr. Fischer and his colleagues. The fees currently stand at 5,500 Euro, or $7,200US. If the appeal fails, the defendants face a fee of 7,200 Euro, or $10,300US.
About HLI: Human Life International: Pro-Life Missionaries to the World. Founded in 1981, HLI is the world's largest international pro-life organization and has affiliates and associates in over 100 countries on six continents.
