TORONTO, March 17, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — A Toronto judge has convicted pro-life prisoner of conscience Mary Wagner today of one account of mischief for her December 2015 attempt to counsel women against abortion at Toronto’s Bloor West Village Women’s Clinic.
Judge Katrina Mulligan ruled that it was “proven beyond reasonable doubt” that Wagner was well aware that she was unwelcome at the clinic and that she “only left when she was removed” by police.
“[Wagner] interfered with the lawful operation… some patients left, some were upset,” the judge stated, as reported by Toronto Catholic Witness.
More than a dozen supporters were present for Wagner’s sentencing, including fellow pro-life heroine Linda Gibbons.
The judge threw out two charges that Wagner was in breech of her probation at the time of her entering the clinic, stating that she was “not satisfied that Miss Wagner is bound by the probation order introduced into evidence.”
Wagner, 41, has been arrested an estimated ten times and spent almost four years in jail over the last 16 years for her peaceful attempts to save women and their unborn children from the violence of abortion. She often enters the clinics with roses which she hands out to the women. Wagner had chosen December 12 to attempt to counsel women at the abortion facility because it is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Catholic tradition, the patroness of the unborn.
Abortion workers testified last week that Wagner had entered the abortion center's waiting room, asking the women present questions such as, “Are you sure you want to kill your baby?” “Why would you choose to take the life of your unborn child?” “Do you realize you’re killing your baby?”
She also told the women: “Jesus loves you.”
One abortionist testified that Wagner’s presence was “stressful, it’s upsetting.”
“There’s nothing to say to Mary to make any difference, so basically we have to wait for the police to come. In the meantime the women are upset,” he told the court.
Wagner had chosen to remain silent during the proceedings, even when asked direct questions, as “the best way… [to be] in solidarity with unborn children.”
Wagner will be sentenced on April 25. The Crown is seeking the maximum sentence of six months jail time. But, with the 1.5 calculation for the days Wagner has already been held without bail, she should be released on the day of sentencing.