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Return to main pagePosted on 05/18/2004 10:53:27 AM PDT by Polycarp IV
Editor's Desk: 'Descent into Hell'
By Michael F. Flach
Herald Editor
(From the issue of 5/13/04)
The recent March for Women’s Lives in Washington received lots of positive media attention. Counterdemonstrations involving pro-life supporters often took the form of silent witness (see ACH 4/29/04, page one). But first-hand reports from these pro-life demonstrators paint a disturbing portrait of verbal abuse at the hands of the pro-abortion majority.
Karen A. Torres and her two daughters attended one of the counterdemonstrations. She was startled to find herself separated from the pro-abortion mob surging up Pennsylvania Avenue by a thin, waist-high temporary fence. She assumed the two opposing camps would be kept apart.
"We walked up to the group praying a rosary and holding large signs of babies in the womb on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street after the march had all ready begun," she said. "Between the noise and the intensity of the moment, no one introduced themselves. We just pulled out our rosaries, grabbed pro-life posters and joined in."
Torres said at the center of the group (which included several Christendom College students) was a young priest who led the rosary while holding up a heavy wooden crucifix. The priest recited the Divine Mercy Chaplet and "faithfully, calmly and courageously" recited all the prayers on a special pro-life handout.
"I never learned (the priest’s) name," she said. "I would like to write to him and tell him how deeply impressed we were by his courage and calm as we all descended into hell together."
Torres said the crowd in the street "went crazy" at the sight of a crucifix and roman collar, coupled with the recitation of the rosary. "It was too much for them," she said. "Women naked from the waist up (except for NARAL stickers) came as close as possible to the priest to scream obscenities and block sight of the crucifix with their signs promoting sex-ed.
"Young men skipping hand-in-hand stopped to ostentatiously give each other big sloppy openmouthed kisses. One enraged man began banging his sign hard against an oversized poster of a baby in the womb, attempting to topple it and possibly its holder," Torres said.
"One man who appeared to be quite serious told us repeatedly that he worshipped Satan and was putting a curse on us. Over and over again we were told that Jesus hated us, God was pro-choice and we were bad Christians who were going to hell.
"But the most hated and attacked target was the priest," Torres said. "For major portions of the march, we could not hear the rosary over the microphone, even though we were only five feet away. At the sight of the priest and his crucifix, people cursed, taunted and chanted slogans, but mostly they just screamed and shrieked incoherently. Between the decibel level and the hate, that sustained screaming was unnervingly like a tidal wave coming at you."
Despite having the worst verbal abuse directed toward him, Torres said, the priest never lost his calm or prayerful focus. He exhibited "patient compassion" in the face of unremitting hate.
"In my 47 years I have never witnessed a better example of grace under pressure — better known as courage — and I would like to write and tell him so," Torres said.
Anyone who recognizes this priest can write to the HERALD at 200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 600, Arlington, Va. 22203.
Copyright ©2004 Arlington Catholic Herald. All rights reserved.
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Hate is not a family value, but it is one that liberals cherish.
It sure sounds that way. People scoff when I tell them that I've encountered groups of people who I believe to be satanists at pro-life marches. You have to experience it to fully appreciate it. And then, how do you explain homeless-looking people holding signs saying "Kill Jesus" and "Eat Babies"?
"The demons were out in force that day. Let those who are not blind, see them for what they really are"
Normally I find that "demonizing" the oppostion is dishonorable.
But in this instance, I think you're dead on target. Demons indeed.
How does it feel to look into the eyes of someone who's demon-possessed?
Rosaries and crucifixes do not belong at public group protests against abortion and do far more harm than good.
God also admonishes us to be cunning in battle.
And at protests opposing abortion all completely ineffective so they are inappropriate. I know many devout and holy Catholics who feel similarly.
The above is a complete TURNOFF to many people who are open to prolife opinion but who may not share the Catholic faith and for that reason is also a TURNOFF to many prolife Catholics who might be otherwise willing to participate in prolife events.
I myself would prefer to protest against against abortion, the way I have protested for or against other issues.
Please, can anyone help me locate a girl named Katie? I think she was from Christendom College but I am not certain. I know she was wearing a blue t-shirt(probably American Collegians for Life) and a demin skirt....bit of acne on her face but still very pretty---prayed unceasingly. When she had paused foir a bit, I told her how wonderful her witness was, and how I admired her prayerfulness, to whgich she replied, "well, what else can you do?" I would love to try and locate her to tell her how proud I was to stand beside her that day. That goes for all the magnificent people that were there in defense of the unborn. In a way, it was one of the most wonderful days of my life. If anyone needs clarity on what I actually mean, do not hesistate to e-mail me at jmusumeci@hotmail.com
I talked to various college students but we did not have any travelling with us, though some stopped to pray with us at Pennsylvania and 15th.
American Collegians for Life can be contacted at
ACL@aclife.org
American Collegians for Life
PO Box 1112
Washington, DC 20013
Christendom College can be contacted at info@christendom.edu
I'm sure they would forward any request to the proper club or leader.
Thank you for your ping to this old thread from this new thread on a similar topic: http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/2918127/posts?page=62
You are absolutely right. The hatred shown toward the priest is very likely demonic. We cannot take lightly the Word of God and what it says about demons hating God and His Word.
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