Catholic Students Threatened with Arrest at Catholic Cathedral in Los Angeles

US NEWSWIRE ^ | 07/1/05

[murphE]

To: National Desk

Contact: Amber Dolle of the American Life League, 540-903-9572 or adolle@ALL.org

LOS ANGELES, July 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- "Today's attempted arrest in Los Angeles of the student participants in American Life League's Crusade for the Defense of our Catholic Church is beyond scandalous," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. "Since when is it against the law for Catholics to defend the Catholic faith at a Catholic Cathedral? We are outraged at the situation."

Today's scene occurred when more than a dozen young people attempted to attend the inauguration ceremonies of Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor-elect of Los Angeles, who is a pro-abortion Catholic. The young adults are part of American Life League's 2005 Crusade for Life walks in which they are trekking from San Diego to Sacramento spreading the truth about the incompatibility of Catholicism and support of abortion.

The group planned to attend the inauguration ceremonies, beginning at the Cathedral, and peacefully protest with shirts and signs that read: you can't be Catholic and pro-abortion.

"It is an outrage that an event honoring a pro-abortion Catholic public figure that openly supports the killing of the preborn would occur at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral," said Brown. "It is even more shameful that Cardinal Mahony and others would attempt to censor faithful Catholic students from proclaiming the truth."

"American Life League calls for the immediate resignation of Cardinal Roger Mahony in light of his continued defiance of Church teaching," said Brown. "His coddling of pro-abortion Catholic public figures in California is beyond reproach and should not be tolerated by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church."

The young activists were eventually allowed inside of the Cathedral, but only after the Los Angeles Police Department intervened in the situation. "How ironic that the Cathedral security guards wanted to arrest the students and the LAPD had to step in and point out that such an act would be unconstitutional," said Brown. "The truths of the Church will always stand strong, regardless of who attempts to stifle them...even a cardinal."

For more information about American Life League's Crusade for the Defense of Our Catholic Church, see http://www.CrusadeForLife2005.com.

http://www.usnewswire.com/

[Pyro7480]

I met the Crusaders for Life from last summer. They had just finished walking from Maine to DC. They were a great bunch of young people. They stopped in front of St. Matthew's Cathedral on a Sunday afternoon, and they had their bright red "You Can't Be Catholic and Pro-Abortion" t-shirts on. They got some shameful treatment from people coming out of Mass there (then again, the infamous Dupont Circle neighborhood is within walking distance, and the "Human Rights Campaign" headquarters is just up the street from there.) I know one of the employees at ALL who coordinates these activities (I see he is walking with the California group.). God bless them!

[Iris7]

I have a source within the Church whom I trust totally. His description of Mahoney is very clear. Mahoney should be defrocked. Immediately. Not exaggerating.

[NYer]

Do you have the link handy for that LA Catholic blog?

They're all over this story. Posted on the blog .... from the LA Times ....

At the first event, readings and prayers were recited from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and other faiths.

The cathedral was infused with incense burned during a Native American prayer. Clerics in turbans and flowing orange gowns sat next to those in traditional Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Rite robes.

Attending were Jerry Brown, mayor of Oakland; former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan and his wife, Nancy Daly Riordan; U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi; California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez; Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante; United Farm Workers official Dolores Huerta; former Vice President Al Gore, and state Treasurer Phil Angelides.

The service ended in a prayer circle, with religious leaders surrounding Villaraigosa, and a concluding benediction by Cardinal Roger M. Mahony.

Mahony urged Villaraigosa to show "special concern for those residents of our city on the margins of life, of society and most in need," and "to strive for what is right and just."

To mariachi music, Villaraigosa then strode out of the sanctuary and onto the downtown streets at 9:09 a.m. for the short walk to City Hall.

"All of us were so moved by the spirituality of giving the strength to the mayor and his wife as they take on this unbelievably challenging role," said Nancy Riordan during the procession.

In his benediction back at the Cathedral, Mahony entreated:

"We pray for a new kind of politics -- focused on moral principles, not on the latest polls, on the needs of the poor and vulnerable, not the contributions of the rich and powerful."

AP - Fri Jul 1, 6:25 PM ET

Joining LA Cardinal Roger Mahony, at left, are various religious leaders representing the many faiths of the people of Los Angeles during the Interfaith Prayer Service for the Inauguration of Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa in Los Angeles, Friday, July 1, 2005. Villaraigosa formally took his oath as the city's 41st mayor on Friday, becoming the first Hispanic to hold the office since the 19th century.(AP Photo/Al Seib, Pool)

LA CATHOLIC blogspot.

[NYer]

Mr. Gore is not, nor has ever been, a Catholic. I believe that the former vice president, current psychotic, is a Baptist.

Sorry ... I meant to write Kerry.

[Pajamajan]

"I join you in praying that Roger Cardinal Mahony will have a change of heart. I add prayers that Benedict the XVI will see to it that he also has a change of hat, preferably something not red"

LOL. Well put. I'll join the change of heart and hat prayers for Mahony. I recall hearing something about him being involved in moving several pedophile priests to different parishes, and that he also tried to block, or stalled LE investigation into abuses. But, he seems to have escaped any culpability for his actions.

I can't see where he has been anything but a burden for the Church. He certainly is not a help. The Catholic Church in America is in shambles thanks to him, and people like him, with their wishy washy watered down Catholicism- All it does is confuse people.

I can't believe pro life protesters were arrested at the Catherdral for promoting life. We really need to start asking-"What's wrong with this picture?" and do something about it, before it's too late.

[maryz]

It was envisioned as a place for "LA to Celebrate" Yesterday there was a funeral for an LA Sheriff's Deputy.

I'm sorry -- that sounds funny!

Even politicians, though, have always been permitted to have funerals in churches. Political inaugurations are different.

[maryz]

Too showy? The classic black-and-white stripe seems to be no longer available.

[Desdemona]

The cathedral was infused with incense burned during a Native American prayer. Clerics in turbans and flowing orange gowns sat next to those in traditional Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Rite robes.

And we all wondered why that "cathedral" really doesn't look Catholic.

More and more, Mahoney is looking like an impostor of some sort. The more I read this it's sounding like a coronation.

[Unam Sanctam]

While these protesters are the good guys and Cardinal Mahoney ought to be ashamed of himself, I don't think there is or shoudl be a constitutional right to disrupt religious services. I'm thinking Rainbow Sash, ACT-UP or Voice of the Faithful here. I think demonstrations of any kind should be required to take place outside of the Church building.

[Conservative til I die]

And Roger Cardinal Mahoney should deny him Communion.

I think Mahoney should deny himself Communion while he's at it, apostate that he is.

[Conservative til I die]

It was envisioned as a place for "LA to Celebrate" Yesterday there was a funeral for an LA Sheriff's Deputy. I'm sorry -- that sounds funny!

Actually, technically a funeral is a celebration of the funeral Mass. It's a celebration in that we go through a lot of the normal parts of the Mass, including the Eucharist. It's also a celebration of the remembrance of that person's life and the hope that they are moving towards Heaven after their death.

[Conservative til I die]

The service ended in a prayer circle, with religious leaders surrounding Villaraigosa,

...and then they prostrated themselves before Villaraigosa and worshipped him.

[maryz]

I know that. But it doesn't sound like the meaning intended in "LA to celebrate"!

[RKBA Democrat]

I'll pray for the Roman Catholics in the L.A. Archdiocese. It seems at times that the lunatics have taken control of the asylum.

[Dominick]

In his benediction back at the Cathedral, Mahony entreated:

"We pray for a new kind of politics -- focused on moral principles, not on the latest polls, on the needs of the poor and vulnerable, not the contributions of the rich and powerful."

How about focused on preserving the lives of the most vonerable children, who can be murdered by those with a simple pill. How long do you think it is going to be before a man poisons a woman with a RU486 to kill her baby without her "consent"?

I truly think Mahoney has a serious problem.

[Aquinasfan]

"It is an outrage that an event honoring a pro-abortion Catholic public figure that openly supports the killing of the preborn would occur at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral," said Brown. "It is even more shameful that Cardinal Mahony and others would attempt to censor faithful Catholic students from proclaiming the truth."

Apalling. Cardinal Mahoney, tear down that cathedral!

[Mark in the Old South]

Re: ""pro-abortion Catholic" You're either one or the other, not both."

Tell it to Cardinal Mahoney.......humph! Perhaps you were.

The road to hell is paved with the skulls of Bishops.

[Pyro7480]

Apalling. Cardinal Mahoney, tear down that cathedral!

I'll gladly donate the money for the first stick of dynamite that will help implode that monstrosity.

[murphE]

I don't disagree.