Posted by Helen on: 03.24.2008 /
(h/t Julie Clawson)
A few anti-war protestors interrupted an Easter service in Chicago’s Catholic cathedral yesterday. They were quickly removed from the service by security guards after they shouted their message and squirted fake blood.
The Cardinal, who was presiding at the service, responded: “We should all work for peace but not by interrupting the worship of God.” Julie is unimpressed by this comment and I understand why - it almost sounds like the opposite of something Jesus would say. When would Jesus have ever let ritual get in the way of something that is really important to people, right now?
But I wonder if what he was really trying to say is “disrupting a service is not an effective way to protest”. And if that’s what he meant I agree that, based on the article and my knowledge of the way people are, this protest probably didn’t win over anyone attending that service. They were annoyed at the disruption rather than paying attention to the message, as best I can tell.
I admire the courage of people who are willing to act on their concerns - I admire the protestors for that. I don’t think this was the best way to do it but I realize they might feel otherwise since it did get them some publicity.
Comment by: Ryan
1 04/3/08 2:43 PM | Comment Link |My question would be what does a Catholic Easter service have to do with the war?
Why didn’t they squirt their fake blood at a military recruitment facilty or something like that?
Comment by: Helen
2 04/3/08 3:32 PM | Comment Link |I’d have to reread the news articles again but as I recall, they were upset at a failure of the Cardinal officiating at the service to protest against George Bush’s pro-war activities. That’s why they did it in the service.