On March 14, 2025, a significant legal and spiritual event unfolded in Morristown, New Jersey, as pro-life priests and activists faced a court trial stemming from their 2019 peaceful pro-life rescue at Garden State Gynecology, an abortion facility. The trial, which drew national attention from pro-life advocates, concluded with a surprising and celebratory outcome, while a simultaneous Rosary Rally outside the Morris County Courthouse underscored the faith and determination of supporters.
As the trial commenced, Catholics for Catholics organized a Rosary Rally outside the Morris County Courthouse at 56 Washington St., Morristown, from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. on March 14, 2025, Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows.
The Rosary of 200 Ave Marias and other powerful prayers was led by Fr. Nolan and apologist & CforC contributor, Jesse Romero. More than 75 people, including Franciscan priests and other pro-life activists such as Joe Bell, recently pardoned by President Trump, showed up to rally in support. Fr. Fidelis, Fr. Nix and Will Goodman also joined the prayer briefly right before they entered the court.
The trial’s conclusion, announced later on March 14, 2025, brought relief and joy to pro-life supporters. As first reported by Catholics for Catholics, the court found them “guilty” but decided that the pro-life priests and activists—Father Fidelis Moscinski, Father Dave Nix, Will Goodman, and the anonymous fourth pro-lifer—would not face jail time. The judge imposed on all defendants a sentence of 18 months of probation, with the condition of no further arrests in New Jersey, and a minimum fine of $158. If a defendant violates probation, they will receive 30 days in jail.
BREAKING NEWS FROM MORRISTOWN NJ COURTHOUSE: Despite what was expected…Pro-life priests, Will Goodman and a Sister are not going to jail! Praise God!!!
Here is the full verdict:
– No jail unless probation violated (by arrest for trespass)
– All assigned $158 fines minimum
-… pic.twitter.com/JFvkCsYLQh— Catholics for Catholics 🇺🇲 (@CforCatholics) March 14, 2025
This outcome was celebrated as a “small victory” by Jesse Romero in his testimony, though he acknowledged that more battles lie ahead for pro-life advocates. The decision aligned with the prayers and hopes expressed during the Rosary Rally, with Romero attributing the result to divine intervention through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Michael the Archangel.
“I arrived with my wife at the Morristown Courthouse at about 6:45am. We were met with the Catholics for Catholics team to set up a stage and podium. About 75 people showed up. At 8am I hopped on the stage, made some preliminary remarks, welcomed the crowd and reminded them why we were there, to pray for justice and to accompany 4 heroes (Fr. Nix, Fr. Fidelis, Will Goodman and a Nun) as they entered the courtroom and faced unjust charges at the hands of a weaponized court system against “pro-lifers.”
We prayed the sorrowful, luminous, joyful and glorious mysteries led by Fr. Nolan (FSSP) Priest. He also did a binding prayer of protection for all of us before we started the rosary and gave us a benediction at the end. I have no doubt that the prayers from all people in front of the courthouse, including 4 other Franciscan Priest who showed up, plus countless people around the country praying specifically for these heroes, that did NOT receive jail time, were answered by the Queen of Heaven.
Let’s savor this small victory. There will be more battles. Our Virgin Most Powerful – the 12 STAR GENERAL showed up! Let’s continue uniting our prayers to the heel of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let’s continue uniting our prayers to the Sword of St. Michael and continue delivering powerful blows to the kingdom of darkness & tear down the gates of hell.
The Holy Bible says to “pray for those in authority” (1 Tim 2:2), we prayed for the Judge because we know that “even a Kings heart is in the hands of the Lord, and He will direct it where ever he wills’ (Proverbs 21:1). All the Lord needs is for us to show up and 75 Catholics suited up, brought their beads for the battle, stormed heaven with prayer and left the rest up to Our Lord and Our Lady. Action item to all my fellow Catholics: Trust God, pray the rosary, pray the divine mercy chaplet every day. This is a great time to be a Catholic Christian. We know that we are on the winning side. God is not dead, Nietzsche is dead, God is not even tired…”
Catholics for Catholics also promoted a petition to spare the priests and activists from jail time, emphasizing the cultural stakes: “The day our society can get ‘used to’ the fact that Catholic priests are being imprisoned for saving babies is a death sentence for the culture.”
The Morristown trial and rally reflect ongoing tensions between pro-life activism and legal restrictions, particularly the FACE Act, which has been a focal point of contention in the U.S. The recent pardons by President Trump for 23 pro-life activists, including Father Fidelis and Will Goodman, have emboldened the movement, but cases like this one demonstrate that persecution and legal challenges persist at the state level.
Catholics for Catholics framed the event as part of a larger cultural and spiritual battle, with the Rosary Rally symbolizing resistance against the persecution of religious and pro-life values. The organization’s call to action: prayer, petitions, and public support —underscored the grassroots nature of the Catholic Patriotic movement and its reliance on faith and action mobilization.
WATCH PRO-LIFE DEFENDANT WILL GOODMAN AND JOHN YEP ON WAR ROOM AFTER THE COURT’S DECISION >
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