| April 7, 2008 | Volume 83, Number 12 | |
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Protest at Easter MassProtests of what one believes to be unfair policies do have their place, but such demonstrations should not occur during the celebration of Mass. But such was the scene Easter Sunday this year in Chicago at the parish center of Holy Name Cathedral where Easter worshippers gathered instead of the Cathedral itself which had been closed for repairs since Feb. 26. The congregation had just sat down after proclamation of the Gospel to hear Cardinal Francis E. George give his homily at the 11 a.m. Mass. But as the Cardinal started to preach his homily to a packed house, six young people — all between the ages of 18 and 25 — left their seats and got into the aisle and started shouting slogans decrying the Iraqi war. Things soon escalated. When it was all over the group known as “Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War” had spattered fake blood on themselves and worshippers. They also caused an estimated $3,000 in damages to chairs and carpeting which the Cathedral will now have to replace. The demonstrators shouted that Cardinal George had made a mistake when he met earlier this year with President George W. Bush, whom they called “the chief architect of the war,” and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. The Jan. 7 visit actually had nothing to do with the Iraqi war, but with the anniversary of the passage of No Child Left Behind, a federal education program. “Even the pope calls for peace,” one demonstrator shouted as police officers removed the group. Yes, the protestors were correct. Cardinal George himself as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has also opposed the war along with the Vatican. They have stated good reasons for their opposition and they need to be taken seriously. But staging a protest at a religious worship service is wrong. Spattering fake blood on people who have come for Mass is wrong. The protestors argue that the war in Iraq is wrong and no doubt many in the congregation at the Cathedral would agree. But this was not the time or place for such a stand. “It’s an act of violence to come among a group of believers and try to manipulate worship to your own purposes, no matter how noble and good they are,” Cardinal George said later. Amen.
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