Posted on 06/14/2011 4:29:59 PM PDT by wagglebee
PALATINE, Illinois, June 14, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A Catholic group in Palatine, Illinois has been banned from participating in the upcoming Palatine Jaycees Hometown Fest parade on July 2 because their banner displays a picture of an unborn child.
“They decided that an unborn baby is too offensive,” said Martin Kelley, co-founder of Palatine Area Catholics Respect Life. “It’s an ultrasound photo. It’s not a picture of an aborted baby.”
The banner displays a picture of the unborn baby and an elderly woman with the words “Palatine Area Catholics Respect Life ... from Conception ‘til Natural Death.”
The group marched with the banner last year, but this year organizers informed them they would not be allowed unless they removed or changed the picture of the unborn baby.
“Changing the photo would defeat the whole purpose of expressing our point of view that life does begin at conception,” said Kelley. “It’s a stand on principle. It kind of defeats the purpose to have a newborn baby or a three-year old. It was necessary for our message.”
The parade will take place July 2 and organizers have already approved approximately 80 groups for participation. It is sponsored and organized by Palatine Jaycees, a private service organization.
“The Respect Life Group was denied participation in the Hometown Fest parade because [they] refused to work with festival organizers regarding their display materials,” the Jaycees said in a statement. “Unlike other groups who fully cooperate regarding display materials, the Respect Life Group refused to make any changes to the banner or even have a discussion about it.”
While the Jaycees maintain they are a non-political organization that does not reject the banner for its message, they retained the right to refuse admission based on the manner in which the message was displayed. According to the Jaycees’ board of directors, the banner was offensive.
“What is offensive is subjective,” said Bill Pohlman, spokesperson for the Jaycees. “Everyone’s trying to promote their message. What crosses the line? The event organizers felt this crossed the line.”
Pohlman said they made a mistake last year in allowing the group to march with their banner. He claimed the pro-life group sent in a blurred image of the banner and the organization did not attempt to obtain a better one. It was only at the parade that the Jaycees saw the entire banner.
Spectators, said Pohlman, expressed their outrage at the pro-life banner to him personally. If they would change the image, he added, they would be allowed to march.
Meanwhile, Kelley challenged Pohlman’s claims and said the pro-life group received tremendous applause the entire route last year.
He said the Jaycees have utilized a double standard in censoring the pro-life message. The organizers have permitted other organizations, he added, such as Parents and Families of Lesbians and Gays, while not allowing the pro-life group.
Kelley requested that the entire Jaycee membership vote on the matter.
Contact:
Palatine Jaycees
Email form.
Palatine Township
Paul Pioch, Administrator
Phone: 847-358-6135
Email: ppioch@palatinetownship.com
Freepmail wagglebee to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.
FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
How did a picture of an unborn child cross ANY line?
Oh this is just disgusting & outrageous!!
They’ll be getting a polite but firm phone call from me tomorrow. I’m curious why an ultrasound photo is offensive, yet hospitals routinely give them to parents for them to cherish. I’d like an explanation.
Good question, especially when you consider that an unborn child is "legally" murdered EVERY 24 SECONDS in the United States.
There's a double standard! Worse at the site -kill, hang, shoot...Bush! http://www.binscorner.com/pages/d/death-threats-against-bush-at-protests-i.html
THE CULTURE OF DEATH!!!
Acts of the Apostles 5:41 “And they indeed went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus.”
Offensive as they might be - thanks for posting them. The contrast needs to be shown.
Spectators, said Pohlman, expressed their outrage at the pro-life banner to him personally. If they would change the image, he added, they would be allowed to march.What a bunch of bullcrap. Chances are a significant percentage of men and women who will be at that parade have already destroyed at least one child through abortion. THAT'S why the banner was refused. Can't have happy parade-goers feeling any pangs of guilt. Shame on Palatine! Shame on America!
Defense of precious babies and the elderly is offensive to those with cold and hardened hearts. Now, why ruin a perfectly good parade? /s
It’s a sign of the times.
>> “What is offensive is subjective,” said Bill Pohlman
Punk.
Catholics are in denial that they have no place in the larger “culture” of the United States; they should expect no understanding from avowedly secular governments. We can live and work here, but at the end of the day we return to a group of like-minded people; the internet has made this easier than ever, with social networking sites and such. At the most basic level the parish community should be more closely aligned with what these parade-goers believe.
Hey Alex, The left have double-standards for everything due to their “liberal tolerance” blarney which makes one pause and debate reasonably but this is an area where I’ll be confrontational with them upfront and in their faces.
I agree. Since at one time every person on the face of the earth was an unborn child, how can that possibly be offensive?
Horrible. Just the very message of pro-life and images of living human beings is deemed offensive. These hateful people want hell on earth.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.