Priest ordered to stay away from Travaglini home

The Boston Globe ^ | April 24, 2005 | Suzanne Smalley

[CatQuilt]

Priest ordered to stay away from Travaglini home Was protesting stem cell measure

By Suzanne Smalley, Globe Staff | April 24, 2005

The Archdiocese of Boston has ordered a priest to stop praying outside of Senate President Robert E. Travaglini's home, where he and several followers had been protesting the senator's position on embryonic stem cell research, church officials and the priest said yesterday.

The Rev. Thomas DiLorenzo and several parishioners from his parish, Holy Rosary Parish in Winthrop, spent several days over recent weeks singing hymns in front of Travaglini's East Boston home, brandishing rosary beads, and carrying signs with slogans such as, ''Stop Playing God," and ''This is all about money."

DiLorenzo said in an interview yesterday that he was told to stay away from Travaglini's duplex after he sent a letter to the senator that mentioned one of the senator's children as well as his position on embryonic stem cell research.

DiLorenzo said that, while he did not consider the letter threatening, church officials told him the senator's wife took it seriously enough that she delivered it to the East Boston police station.

''I'm a marshmallow," DiLorenzo said. He added that the Travaglini children's apparent fear did not stop at least one of them from throwing snowballs at him. ''I wouldn't hurt anybody," he added.

[CatQuilt]

Imagine that, a priest with a voice. Did anyone hear him on John Depetro's show on WRKO? He was on for over an hour...

[Robe]

brandishing rosary beads..?????????

Now there's a threat !!!!

[inquest]

This wouldn't be the same Thomas DiLorenzo who writes articles and gives lectures on the Civil War, would it?

[CatQuilt]

I doubt it... If you go to the parish website,
http://www.holyrosaryparish.net/ you'll see a link for Father Tom's bio...

[loborojo]

Were they loaded? I think it would be more serious if you "brandished" loaded ones. Not beneath the Globe to sensationalize Rosary Beads.

[St. Johann Tetzel]

From the article:

An adviser to Travaglini who asked not to be named said Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley called the senator recently to acknowledge he regretted DiLorenzo's conduct.

It was O'Malley himself called this priest on the carpet, over a month ago. O'Malley appears to be a wolf in sheeps clothing. This is appalling!

[6SJ7]

brandishing rosary beads...

Interesting word choice by the "NYT Jr." reporter. "Brandish" implies carrying something threatening, such as a weapon. Of course to an MSM reporter, I'm sure a rosary is threatening! :-)

[Romulus]

Catholics in a mood to take it to the streets would get a lot more bang for their buck if they'd move their demonstrations to the houses of their own bishops.

[Lazamataz]

"I'm a marshmallow," DiLorenzo said.

That's supposed to be good?

[drjimmy]

It's interesting that DiLorenzo won't tell what he wrote in the letter about Travaglini's kid. If it was so innocent, DiLorenzo should have no problem letting everyone know what he said. Methinks he realizes he might have crossed a line into indefensible territory.

[raccoonradio]

The last question posed to the priest on WRKO was "Did you stand outside Cardinal Law's house and pray/protest?" He replied that he did not, but he had talked about Law's actions (protecting pedophile priests) on a radio interview, and he said he deplored Law's action. He added that he is praying for Cardinal Law (whose "punishment"
for all this was a transfer to a post in Rome).

--
Every sperm is sacred
Every sperm is great
If a sperm is wasted
God gets quite irate

[massgopguy]

I did. I sent the e-mail that if they had thrown snowballs at Black people, it would be a Hate Crime.

[massgopguy]

I did. I sent the e-mail that if they had thrown snowballs at Black people, it would be a Hate Crime.

[COBOL2Java]

I'm familiar with Fr. Tom, I contribute to his radio ministry. He's a good man.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

Since they had multiple beads, I would assume that these were "assault rosaries". "When rosaries are outlawed, only outlaws will have rosaries."

[COBOL2Java]

Forgot to include his website:

www.inseason.net

[St. Johann Tetzel]

I heard about this story over a month ago, before it became public. O'Malley told this humble priest to stop his peaceful protest, stating "The world is changing."

I don't think the priest knew what O'Malley meant by that, and neither do I, but to say it seems inappropriate would be an understatement.

I'm REALLY disappointed by O'Malley.

[Diamond]

"DiLorenzo said that, while he did not consider the letter threatening, church officials told him the senator's wife took it seriously enough that she delivered it to the East Boston police station."

The wicked flee when no one is pursuing.

Rev. DiLorenzo had a radio show that was on here about 18 years ago. I don't know if it's still on, but at that time I listened regularly and I always liked him even though I'm not R.C.

Cordially,

[katana]

Time to bring in the Boondock Saints

[american colleen]

Shoot! I missed it... I like John DePetro a lot... during the Terri Schiavo battle he was one of the few stand up guys around these radio parts.

Wish it'd be repeated sometime after midnight when I get out of work but I don't think they do repeats.

I cannot believe all these 'Catholic' polititians and the postions they take - and hardly anyone pays attention. If I were O'Malley (glad I'm not) I would have asked for a private visit with Travaglini and maybe Delorenzo. And as for that weasel Finneran.... 30 pieces of silver all around.