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Pastor 'dis-invites' pro-aborts after e-mail and fax protest

In what may have been the first pro-life protest launched, organized and carried through largely bye-mail, pro-lifers defeated plans by the pastor of St. Mary's Church in Rockville to feature two pro-abortion speakers at a Mass commemorating victims of 9/11.

When Defend Life columnist Janet Baker heard by word of mouth on September 7 that Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan and D.S.Rep. Connie Morella were scheduled to speak after the 9/11 Mass at St. Mary's, she first confirmed it on St. Mary's website. Then, at 3:02 p.m., with the speed of a mouse click, she sounded an alert to the dozens of pro-lifers on her e-mail list.

"Both these politicians are rabidly pro-abortion. What do promoters of death have to say to faithful Catholics?" she wrote.

"They will only make a mockery of this Mass, because their public policy stances promote '9/11s' every day in abortion mills throughout this nation." Janet proposed a "simple picket" before the Mass. With only four days before the event, there wasn't time to prepare printed signs; everyone would have to make their own, or "just come with your Rosaries and pray," she suggested.

Still almost in disbelief, Janet went to the 5 o'clock Vigil Mass at St. Mary's that evening.

Sure enough, she reported in a follow-up e-mail, the pastor, Ft John Myslinski, announced the event, and commented "rather dismissively" about the protests he had already received from some parishioners.

"The Church is not a single issue Church," and Duncan and Morella had done a lot of good for the Church, he said.

Clearly, a few objections by pro-life parishioners had not swayed him.

E-mails now began to fly through cyberspace. In addition to the picket, why not, when Morella and Duncan began to speak, stand and turn one's back on them in silent protest?

How about handing out leaflets? Was there time to write and print them up?

Maybe, suggested - Protestant pro-lifer Forest Grauel, all the emailers with color printers could print 30 or so each of a piece he had attached to his e-mail and bring it to the picket for a hand-out.

Better yet, said Forest, a "firestorm" of e- mails and faxes raining down on St. Mary's might persuade Father to publish a "dis-invite," making the picket unnecessary and sending "a really strong message." To that end, he e-mailed St.

Mary's e-mail address, fax and phone numbers to the several hundred folks on his e-mail lists.

But, he said, if the two "honored guests" are not "un-invited" by, say, noon of 9/11, then the order should go out, "Gentlemen (and ladies), start your printers!" "So," Forest advised, "keep your paper dry and your print cartridges full!" Only God (and Father Myslinski) know how many faxes, emails and phone calls came pouring in, in protest.

John Marcus sent the following: "Dear Father John, "Perhaps you should announce to your parishioners at your 9/11 Mass, 'As you know, over 3,000 Americans were killed on this day last year during the terrorist attacks.

" 'Perhaps you are unaware that 4,000 Americans are killed everyday of the year through legal abortion, and we have two conspirators of that holocaust here, Connie Morella and Doug Duncan. ", Sue and Mike Manley, who learned of the planned speakers via e-mail, were on the phone to the archdiocese chancery early Monday morning, August 9.

Speaking to Bishop Kevin Farrell and Msgr. Godfrey Mosley, they learned of these archdiocesan policies:

1. No pro-abortion speaker is permitted to speak in any Church facilities.
2. No politician whatsoever may speak in a Church when elections are to be held shortly thereafter.

At 1:44 p.m. that afternoon, less' that 48 hours after Janet Baker had sounded the e-mail tocsin, Father Myslinski threw in the towel-via e-mail.

"Thank-you for your recent e-mail concerning the Mass of Remembrance on Sept. 11," he wrote.

"I have decided that it would be inappropriate for County Executive Doug Duncan and Representative Connie Morella to be a part of this program." Their presence and remarks, he said, "would politicize a ceremony which should be of a spiritual nature." Janet observed in a final email, "Often charity demands that we make sinners, and those who publicly condone sin, uncomfortable, for their own good as well as that of others.

"It is a false, deadly counterfeit of 'charity' that would cause people to shy away from such a task" She e-mailed her thanks to the pastor and asked others to do so also.

The Power of Pro-Life broadcast and e-mail fax alerts is clearly evident from this article! If you want to receive such alerts give us your e-mail address and fax # today! 410.296.LIVE (5483)  or info@defendlife.org