In a previous post, I published the story of three Catholic pro-life activists who were harassed by a parish priest for putting pro-life bumper materials on the windhshields of cars parked in the lot at St. Jude's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Florida. You can see the flyer here.
As I said before, this happens all over America. I have distributed flyers on cars in church lots both here and in San Diego. Our instructions were always the same: Be courteous, and if a church official asks you to leave, do so.
Evidently that is not enough to satisfy the Diocese of St. Petersburg. They are actually bringing charges against one of the activists, Joseph Landry, and he is to stand trial for "criminal trespassing" tomorrow, June 18, at 8:30 am.
Why? Is the diocese afraid that fake Catholics who support abortion might be offended after their kumbayafest? Does the diocese fear offending pro-abort politicians if their parishioners start to actually let their faith inform them in the voting booth? Are they afraid that readers won't understand the use of satire in the flyers and take offense?
One thing is clear. They are trying to make an example of Mr. Landry as a warning to other activists and he needs our support.
This is an incredible embarrassment to Bishop Lynch and his entire diocese.
EVIDENTLY THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT THAT LANDRY IS ON THEIR TEAM.
IF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WILL NOT SUPPORT PRO-LIFE ACTIVISM, THEN WE ARE COOKED.
IF THEY ARE GOING TO HINDER AND PUNISH PRO-LIFE ACTIVISM, SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG.
Again,
1) Call Bishop Lynch's office and ask him to drop the charges.
call (727) 344-1611 AND BE POLITE.
2) If you are anywhere near Clearwater Florida, attend the trial and show Mr. Landry your support. Here's the address:
14250 49th St N, Clearwater, FL 33762
Be there at 8:30 am
3) Pray for Bishop Lynch and Joseph Landry.
4 comments:
The flyer does give a 'smack in your face' kind of wake up call - and it's argument is clear, but I could understand how people may be offended by the way it uses race & the history of slavery. This is an ugly part of our history, and I personally don't think I would be happy with a satire that included references to drunken Irishmen with pugilistic tendencies.
I honestly can't think of a better parallel in our history than the shame of slavery and the infamous Dred Scott decision. Just as Roger B. Taney ruled that black people were not complete human beings--isn't that just about what the court has said about a fetus? Roger B. Taney wrote that black people, even FREE black people were not U.S. Citizens! Are unborn children protected by their right to Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? No. The only right protected is that of an irresponsible human to eliminate an inconvenient life.
Roe V. Wade will go down in history as just as big a national disgrace as Dred Scott v. Sandford.
This is not Lynch's biggest embarrassment. I don't think anything will outdo the shame he heaped upon himself during the Terri Shiavo ordeal. Remember that her murder happened in his diocese. He actually gave approval for Michael Shiavo to commence with the murder. He forbade his priests to visit her or the Schindler family. He left the country while she was dying during Holy Week; no bishop can leave his diocese during Holy Week, by Canon Law. He wouldn't let any service for Terri be conducted in any church; HOWEVER - he did allow Michael to subsequently marry his shack-up girl friend in a Church.
Lynch badly needs to be retired. If he can give approval for murder, he can sink to anything.
It is amazing how *offended* people get by the parallels between legalized abortion and slavery, or between legalized abortion and the holocaust.
We have a bumper sticker that says "Abortion? The Supreme Court also legalized slavery!"
Liberals are actually astonished by this. One time, I saw a column by some liberal that started discussing how he and his comrades had been scratching their head for years as to why Pres. Bush always makes references to Lincoln when talking about abortion. Then, he said, he discovered a website with the absurd notion that pro-lifers compare abortion to slavery!
However, back then, we *did* have Catholics who supported the Confederacy "for other reasons than slavery," and today, those Catholics are used as a lightning rod by people who try to say, "The Catholic Church once supported slavery but changed its position." Nevermind that the Church has *always* opposed slavery, outlawed slavery in Europe centuries ago, and tried its best to squash slavery in the colonies.
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