Cardinal Wilton Gregory condemned an activist group’s projection of pro-choice messages on the facade of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on the eve of the annual March for Life. Source: CNA.
“Those whose antics projected words on the outside of the church building demonstrated by those pranks that they really are external to the Church and they did so at night – John 13:30,” Cardinal Gregory, the Archbishop of Washington, said in a statement on Friday. The Bible quotation, referring to Judas Iscariot, reads: “He therefore having received the morsel, went out immediately. And it was night.”
Cardinal Gregory said, “The true voice of the Church was only to be found within The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception last evening. There, people prayed and offered the Eucharist asking God to restore a true reverence for all human life.”
Catholics for Choice was responsible for the images beamed onto the basilica on Thursday night for 90 minutes, while a prayer vigil to end abortion was going on inside.
In large letters visible blocks from the basilica, the messages read “Pro-choice Catholics you are not alone”, “1 in 4 abortion patients is Catholic” and “Pro-choice Catholics”.
Catholics for Choice President Jamie L. Manson said in a statement the activist group was opposed to the annual March for Life, which she said “twists our faith to villainise people who seek abortion services and silences the 68 per cent of Catholics who do not want to see Roe vs Wade overturned”.
Many pro-life Americans are hopeful that the United States Supreme Court will strike down the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalised abortion nationwide. A decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organisation is expected in June.
FULL STORY
Cardinal Gregory criticizes activist group’s ‘antics’ at basilica on eve of March for Life (By Joseph Bukuras, CNA)
RELATED COVERAGE
The Catholics for Choice basilica stunt was shocking. Sacrilege often is. (America Magazine)
UPDATE: Pro-life marchers’ energy, enthusiasm is ‘palpable,’ says march official (CNS)
