Brian

Link: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-000028676apr22.story?coll=la%2Dheadlines%2Dpe%2Dca lifornia" target="_blank">Anger Greets Church Picketers</a>

A group of people who have survived sexual abuse by Catholic priests held a protest at a Catholic church in Azusa, CA when the LA Sheriffs started investigating allegations of abuse by the churches' priest.

The response by the parishioners of the church is fairly sickening.

[Edited to fix link]

[ April 22, 2002: Message edited by: Bree ]</p>

Bree

Interesting how suddenly swearing, vulgarity and insensitivity can be examples of Christian morality, depending on who the 'enemy' is.

ManM

Meh, the entire situation is sickening. People picketing a Church with signs that say "House of Rape"? What did they hope to accomplish by making such a scene? And then the Church members shouting profanities and physically assaulting people? They gave the SNAP folks just the fight they were trying to incite. Dumb... Real dumb...

Vorkosigan

I suspect it is not long now before the Church starts claiming that the problem is minor and all these cases are "bandwagon" effects and false memory syndrome, etc.

Michael

Debbie T

It looks like they are finding someone to blame it on:

<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/today/News_and_Views/City_Beat/a-148459.asp" target="_blank">http://www.nydailynews.com/today/News_and_Views/City_Beat/a-148459.asp</a>

Bill Snedden

I have to say that I agree. I can't believe the SNAP group hoped to accomplish much by disrupting a worship service. The parishoners are most likely confused and saddened by the developments within and without their own community; what they need is constructive advice and counsel, not protesters.

Besides which, the parishoners have almost no say in how the hierarchy functions, anyway. SNAP should be picketing the Bishop's residence, or the diocesan house. Their attacks (non-physical, of course!) should be directed towards those in power, those who make the decisions, not the average parishoner on his way to church.

Unfortunately, the most likely response to their activities will be yet more circling of the wagons by parishoners, who may feel that this is an attack on them and their church because of the way they have been treated.

Regards,

Bill Snedden