Posted on 07/14/2008 7:00:52 PM PDT by kristinn
The funeral service for former White House spokesman Tony Snow will be open to the public. The service will be held Thursday morning at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
The White House announced earlier today that President and Mrs. Bush would attend the service.
Details as announced by the Shrine:
Mass of Christian Burial for Tony Snow
Thursday, 17 July 2008
10:00 am - Funeral Mass - Great Upper Church
Open to the Public
Doors open at 8:00 a.m.
(Will Need to Pass through Security Checkpoint Magnetometers)
The Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl
Archbishop of Washington
Presider
Reverend David O'Connell, CM
President of The Catholic University of America
Celebrant & Homilist
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20017
Metro: Red Line – Brookland/CUA
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to:
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
44 Binney Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
Hopefully, the Secret Service will be doing the smell test that day. If you smell like you haven't showered in days, or you are female and smell like you have hairy armpits, that's a sure sign of a disrupter and you don't get in.
On another note, the celebrant and homilist, Rev. O'Connell, was my moral theology professor back in college. Back then (17 years ago), he was the "hot priest" all the girls (okay, yes, including yours truly) swooned over. But, that said, he was an excellent professor (and, actually, probably the most conservative I had in college), an excellent priest, and a good man. I was very happy to see his academic career take off and happier when he became CU's President. I am sure he will be excellent as the homilist, as he was both a funny and wise man as a professor.
Thank you.
I've heard the Notre Dame alma mater played at enough funerals to know that that Canon is particularly bendy...and if Beats Workin (which is his band) played a religious song, why not?
Cammie, bless your heart - nice posting. So you’re still a youngin’! my college days were a little longer ago than yours:-))) so glad you’re a good conservative already!
seriously, though, hope you’re right and pretty sure you are, regarding the security at the service thursday.
BTW, bill o’reilly did another exceptionally good show tonight, all about Tony, many wonderful clips, and showed his great musician side a little more. another most affectionate tribute, but also started out with blasts from many, including bill, about the Shameful AP write-up on Tony, and most deservedly so.
I would like to participate too if this can be done.
Why would you make such an unsolicited comment? No one questioned their Christianity before you did.
I know how you feel I wish I could be there also but of course it is impossible my thoughts and prayers will be with the family and hoping that some idiot does not do something silly.
I like the idea though it is open to the public as I believe within reason all funerals should be so that anyone can pay their respects.
I agree often unless it affects you most people ignore these sort of demos.
It can work both ways the President being there is can bring out the loons or it can discourage due to the heighten security.
The problem can be just one person showing a placard or shouting could be upsetting to the family.
Will the service be televised for the viewers?
If this has been mentioned earlier - I didn’t see it because I’m in tears again - but if there is an opportunity to watch a broadcast I don’t want to miss it.
I am doing the dose on Thursday if I find any photos or video clips I will link them to the thread I will also ping you as well.
Don't forget that the President was at Monticello on July 4th and a bunch of Code Pinkos got inside and disrupted the President's comments to the audience; one of them, Desiree al Farooz, got within a few feet of the President. She is also the mental case (with "bloody" hands) that charged Condi Rice on the Hill.
I hope the Secret Service is all over the grounds of the Shrine, to keep the troublemakers away.
All that said, I have been to a bunch of local high school graduations at the Shrine, including my own, many years ago. It is a beautiful church, and a wonderful place to celebrate the life and faith of Tony Snow. I hope Fox News will cover the Mass so that faraway Freepers can watch.
Thanks so much for attending, Kevin. You will represent the SNOW-Flakes well!
Thank you thank you for taking that extra time - it is so very much appreciated.
“I read earlier that the Westboro Phelps were gonna show up.”
I don't know where they will protest.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is on private property. If the protesters tried to protest directly in front of the basilica's front doors, the basilica's rector could ask the police to arrest them for trespassing.
The front entrance of the basilica is set hundreds of feet back from Michigan Avenue, up a long private drive. Thus, protesters at the front of the drive would be a few hundred feet away, much lower than the front steps of the basilica, with a wall of greenery between them and the private property of the basilica, pretty much unnoticed at the steps of the basilica.
As well, the sidewalk in front of the front drive is narrow. The police could likely ban protesters from the sidewalk for simple safety issues. With even a few stationary protesters on the sidewalk, it would be nearly impossible for pedestrians to pass.
There is a side entrance on Harwood Rd that isn't quite as unworkable for protests, but it's not much better, and it's also set in such a way as to be entirely blocked from the front entrance of the basilica. On the other side of the basilica is the mall of The Catholic University of America, which, again, is private property. As the president of the university is also the celebrant for the Mass, I'd be willing to bet that he, too, would be perfectly content to call the police on these mutants for trespassing.
If one doesn't have permission to be on the property of the basilica, or failing that, adjacent Catholic University, this is a very poor place at which to mount a protest.
sitetest
Thank you very much for this information, kristinn. I sure hope that no nutcases (ie Code Pink, Westboro and other trash) don’t show up...
I called the Alexandria PD...the Wash DC PD...and talked to a great guy at the Secret Service.
They are all aware of the problem and were VERY nice and supportive.
Since the President will be there, you can be assured the security will be tight.
THANK YOU for making those calls, paulat...
You can do extra music in a Mass. There are several places to fit something in. The Kiss of Peace, meditation after Communion, before, during, and after the Offertory, before Mass begins, and after it ends.
It would be so great if Ian Anderson showed up and did a solo for Tony. He would love that.
They COULD play, but I doubt they will. They’re grieving, too.
The Basilica is such a perfectly proportioned building that it is hard to comprehend its true size by looking at a photograph. The steps up to the front door, which is, as you say, a long way from Michigan Avenue, almost resemble the steps up to the Capitol when you are there. The westboro freaks would not get anywhere close.
Code pinkoes however could get in. I hope they have a little tiny bit of fear of being struck dead if they try to desecrate a funeral Mass, and decide to give this event a pass.
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