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News & Herald Volume 3 Number 16 • December
Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
H'erving
17,
1993
Law 'Heavy Handed,
Obstruction
Unconstitutional/ Pro-Lifers say HAZARD
By CAROL
Associate Editor
—
CHARLOTTE
Five pro-lifers
including a Catholic priest and a Baptist
Monday, Dec. 6 law that makes it a crime to delay someone from entering "health care facilities," or more spe-
to five years in prison.
cifically abortion centers.
so oppressive.
minister filed suit on
challenging a
new
ture or talked with
It could, and that' s what' s so frightening about it, said plaintiff Diane Hoefling, Respect Life coordinator for St. Vincent de Paul Church, Charlotte. "This law is so broadly worded, it will put at risk people who want to demon-
Slenmary
Priest
It
"What they did by
The Year
plants or people
HAZARD
where few people have heard about
much
less Catholicism,
olenmary Father James Wilmes
is
a
Dioneer.
He's not there
to proselytize
nor
make converts to the The pastor of Holy Reieemer Church in Andrews and Prince
He
himself, always."
Father Wilmes, 66, helped
start the
Cherokee County Homeless Shelter in Murphy. Moreover, he opened a clothing thrift shop in Robbinsville and is active in the
and the Home Delivered Meal Program in Andrews.
in Robbinsville is
words, "a
paper. Every Sunday, he opens his par-
"Mustard Seed" column to be, in his
loving presence."
of the ministerial association.
His fellow pastors say they are grateFather Wilmes their friend
ful to call
in Christ.
is in
my
Presbyterian Church. "His
life reflects
not only the glory of God, but the humil-
of Jesus.
He
is
,
With
A
tives to abortion at abortion centers has
dwindled, Hoefling said. "The whole climate has changed for the pro-life
movement. Both
state and federal laws have frightened people away. But we still have a constitutional right to do what we are doing." The obstruction law replaces trespassing laws, which had been used to
deter pro-life people at abortion centers.
Father John Bradley, a retired priest
of the Diocese of Charlotte, says he is named in the lawsuit because he' s "willing to do anything to stop abortion,
anything within the law."
"They're not only trying to make abortion
Little Bit
Of
much
easier, but they're also
trying to have no one protest
it
despite
the great tradition in our country to have protests," Father Bradley said.
No
arrests
new
law. Before
have been made under it went into effect, Hoefling was charged with trespassing for stepping a foot or so onto the property of an abortion center and handing someone a leaflet. Father Bradley has never broken the law. The other plaintiffs are Trudie Matthews of Charlotte, Sharon Hoffman of Cabarrus County and the Rev Ronnie Wallace, a Baptist minister from Char.
lotte.
Help...
in the local
an Episcopal service. of the Church, oneness of Christ," he says. Through his compassion, Father Wilmes opens the door to Christianity and sows seeds for Catholicism. "This is the early Church," he says. Like the Apostles, he brings the Good News to people who have never heard it. "There is so much work to be done. Some folks have never heard about the Lord. We can't be satisfied with giving crumbs when so many are hungry for
well
loved; a pillar of the
"It's the spirit
the truth."
eyes one of the most
Godly men in this area I have ever met," said Rev. Frank Hamilton of Andrews
ity
effective
picket,
ish to
Recognized for his kindness and ompassion for the poor, Father Wilmes was named Pastor of the Year in November by the Cherokee County Minis•erial Association, an ecumenical group of 20 ministers. "This is one of the greatest public honors I have ever received," said Father Wilmes, immediate past president
and brother
1
The number of people who
pray or talk to couples about alterna-
participates in a hospital chap-
laincy program and started an ecumencial
possible.
"He
He
Emergency Food Pantry
way
here to evangelize in the gentlest
He's there
are for the ethical
imposes stiff penalties for repeat offenses. Sponsored by N.C. Sen. Leslie Winner, D-Mecklenburg, the law says first offenses are to be treated as misdeOct.
Catholic faith.
Peace Mission
doesn't
in front of power
The law, which became
thinks of others before he thinks of
lecessarily to
yf
who
It
treatment of animals."
ANDREWS —In an impoverished [Christianity
sit
law was
this
"We don' t need
an extra law," particularly not one that is
the
single out pro-life people.
Associate Editor
irea
upon the
she said.
bly,
apply to people who
By CAROL
infringes
constitutional rights of one group of people to freedom of speech and assem-
Named
ounty's Pastor Of
strate peacefully."
already have a law for tres-
passing," Hoefling said.
someone who was
entering an abortion center?
Joann Heane
"We
state
Moreover, the law says no one can block access to health care facilities. While concerned about the access issue, the plaintiffs are more troubled by what is meant by delay. "It's heavy handed and unconstitutional," said attorney Ray Warren, who filed the suit in U.S. District Court on behalf of the plaintiffs. "The law is so vague it could cover a lot of things." Does it mean pro-lifers would be breaking the law if they handed litera-
$rjoto
meanors. But a third offense within three years is a felony punishable by up
known and
well
community doesn't
say enough."
Said Rev. Jack Simonds of the Andrews Church of God, "I am very proud to be his friend. He is so humble.
For people Christ, Father
who
are interested in
Wilmes
helps them "find
happiness in the Lord," he says. For those who want the "total revelation of Catholicism," he offers instruction.
He
recalls
how
two or Andrews in came to North
there were
three Catholic families in
the 1950s
Carolina.
when he first The roster now
fluctuates be-
See Pastor, Page 2
With a St.
little
help from his friends, kindergartener Paul
Ann School
in Charlotte.
Hohman
"lights"
Photo by
Advent candle
at
CAROL HAZARD