Ani-war protesters attack Catholic parishioners in Chicago Update: Bail set a little … high
posted at 7:39 am on March 24, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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A group of anti-war protesters interrupted an Easter Mass in Chicago yesterday, stunning parishioners with their shouts during Cardinal Francis George’s homily. They then squirted stage blood on the congregation, leading to their arrest and an angry confrontation in the gathering space outside the hall. As it turns out, the protesters not only were mostly incoherent, but also very, very late (via Memeorandum):
Six people were arrested at Holy Name parish’s auditorium Sunday after disrupting an Easter mass to protest the Iraq war.
The group—whose female and male members identified themselves as Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War—stood up at the beginning of Cardinal Francis George’s homily and shouted their opposition to the conflict, which marked its fifth anniversary last week. As security guards and ushers tried to remove them from the service, the demonstrators squirted fake blood on themselves and parishioners dressed in their Easter finery.
The red substance, which one protester later described as “stage blood,” initially drew gasps and a few terrified yelps from the 600 worshipers at the mass. The shock, however, quickly transformed into anger as people booed the six while they were escorted from the parish auditorium.
Why did they target the Chicago cathedral? Almost three months ago, Cardinal George met with President Bush. The protesters explained (much later) that the Cardinal should have challenged Bush to end the war during that private meeting. They failed to explain (a) how they know that Cardinal George didn’t do that, and (b) why it took them ten weeks to protest the meeting.
I warned people three weeks ago that the anti-war movement was going to start getting violent. Alan Colmes scoffed at the notion, but assaulting people sitting in church demonstrates that the fringe of the movement has no sense of boundaries, and their frustration at losing in the political process keeps growing. Instead of peacefully protesting outside the cathedral, which is their right to do, they insisted on breaking the law and conspiring to commit multiple acts of battery. This time, they used fake blood. How long before that won’t be enough, and they start trying to draw real blood instead?
Jim Hoft has a roundup of links relating to the story. It turns out that one of the apparent sponsors of this attack is the International Solidarity Movement, a pro-Palestinian organization. Why is a sponsor of the Palestinian cause sponsoring or at least offering apologetics for an attack on a Catholic Mass? One might expect the news media to ask that question, and to ask whether this is just an anti-war attack or whether it is an anti-Catholic, anti-Christian hate crime.
If that’s not clear enough, let me ask readers what kind of coverage this would have provoked had it been conducted against the worshipers at a mosque. If a group of anti-terrorist protesters had broken into Friday prayers at a Chicago mosque to spray stage blood all over Muslims in protest of al-Qaeda and the Taliban — a little stronger connection than that between the Catholic Church and the war in Iraq — the newspapers would have trumpeted it as a hate crime against American Muslims, followed by weeks of human-interest, anecdotal accounts of how terrible America is to its Muslim citizens.
Update: Via Jim and Carl in Jerusalem, here’s the video:
Notice the little bit of performance art in the middle of this protest, when they fall down shrieking. I’m assuming that’s when they threw stage blood on the parishioners. I’m heartened that they have been charged with a felony in connection to this protest, although I doubt that Chicago will actually follow through on prosecuting it.
Update II: Via Jim again, the bail for these “Holy Word 6″ got set a little higher than they expected:
A judge set bond at $25,000 to $30,000 today for six anti-war protestors following an Easter service disruption at Holy Name Cathedral in the Loop Sunday morning. …
Bond was set at $35,000 for Donte D. Smith, 21 and $25,000 for the five others including: Ephran Ramirez, Jr., 22, and Ryane J. Ziemba, 25, Mercedes Phinaih, 18, Regan Maher, 25, and Angela Haban, 20. Smith has served time in a federal prison in Texas for trespassing on a Native American reservation.
All six protestors were charged with two counts of felony criminal damage to property and two counts of simple battery.
They may have to stay in jail for a while, or some of their lunatic-fringe friends will have to find about $20,000 to spring all of them. Either sounds good to me. The judge is treating this seriously instead of winking over the assault on religious practice that this represented — at least for now.
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They’re animals, just animals. I’m an atheist and I wouldn’t do something like this. Shameful behavior.
RWLA on March 24, 2008 at 7:44 AM
They should have taken these idiots ‘out back’ and seriously kicked their asses. A few demonstrations of just how we will treat them in the future would stop all this nonsense.
DoctorDentons on March 24, 2008 at 7:46 AM
I warned people three weeks ago that the anti-war movement was going to start getting violent.
Why no link to that warning?
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 7:46 AM
Unreal. And maybe I missed it, but I didn’t catch this story on any of the morning cable news shows. Typical.
Strange too…since Pope John Paul II was very vocally against the Iraq war.
JetBoy on March 24, 2008 at 7:52 AM
That was the ugliest group of young people I’ve seen in a long time.
Blake on March 24, 2008 at 7:52 AM
Jim Hoft has a roundup of links relating to the story. It turns out that one of the apparent sponsors of this attack is the International Solidarity Movement, a pro-Palestinian organization. Why is a sponsor of the Palestinian cause sponsoring or at least offering apologetics for an attack on a Catholic Mass?
Ed, let me ask you, what’s so wrong about opposing the Israeli occupation of the West Bank? And how does that make a group a “sponsor” of Palenstine?
And, again, there’s a tenuous link between the groups (was it sponsorship or just suppor?) and you’re looking to make this out into some “terrorist” funded event.
And this isn’t a hate crime against Catholics. They’re pissed becaues the Cardinal didn’t challange Bush more, they didn’t attack these people because they are Catholic.
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 7:55 AM
Uh-huh, sure, Tom. Except that the protest was about the war in Iraq and not about the Palestinians. And throwing blood on Catholics to protest … Israel? How does that compute?
Ed Morrissey on March 24, 2008 at 7:57 AM
But, I will agree this “protest” was stupid. Spraying fake blood does cross a line (not to mention that the Church does oppose the war) BUT, it’s a big stretch to say this will most likely lead to actual violence in protests.
I know it was hard finding out that the Times Square bombing wasn’t the work of an anti-war group, but you’re going to have to wait until one actually does use violence to attack them for doing so.
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 7:58 AM
Further proof of the lack of respect they have for anything or anyone. as I am sure not all in attendance were in support of the war, yet they chose to disrupt their services as well.
Taken out back and scourged is what needed to be done with them.
Viper1 on March 24, 2008 at 8:00 AM
Let me clarify,
I don’t think they were protesting Israeli’s occupation of the West Bank with this protest, but that is the mission of the International Solidarity Movement (which includes Israelis, American and Palestinians). That group is not a “sponsor” of Palestine, but exists to oppose the West Bank “occupation.”
This group doing the anti-war protest is seemingly linked to the group, but you can’t say whether the ISM sponsored or just offered support for the protest. It just seems a stretch to tie them to this group and a stretch to make that connection such a bad thing.
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 8:03 AM
Two things. One: It got violent along time ago (see Berkley and New York). Two: I’d hate it for them (love it for me) if they’d come to my church. All the parishioners are either police officers, retired police officers, retired military and/or their families.
srhoades on March 24, 2008 at 8:03 AM
What these little no-dick antiwar protesters need is some real blood - THEIR OWN - flowing down their faces. I’d be happy to oblige.
jimbo2008 on March 24, 2008 at 8:06 AM
Fuckin hippies. Anyway yeah I’m guessing the Cardinal is more likely to be on the side of ending the war than anything else, so this is doubly idiotic.
Dash on March 24, 2008 at 8:06 AM
Then why did they choose to attack parishioners, on the holiest day of the year?
JetBoy on March 24, 2008 at 8:07 AM
Freedom of speech is reaching a bizarre level of exercise in this country. It was never meant to to be used to terrorize people, which is what happened here. These people are desperate for attention, and are lucky that none of the elderly in the church didn’t suffer a heart attack or stroke. It is getting to a point that there needs to be security presence in church.
Instead of addressing the Bishop, these jerks have to accost a local parish, disrespect a church service, and have clearly made The Factor.
Hening on March 24, 2008 at 8:08 AM
The US Constitution gives citizens of this country the right to gather and worship in their pursuit of happiness. These people attacked that right and their presence and activities threatened and assaulted the worshipers. You seem to defend their actions which makes you no better than they or someone who takes pictures of little girls on playgrounds because they are “pissed” at child porn or stalking laws. And further, do you know who committed the bombing in Times Square?
wepeople on March 24, 2008 at 8:12 AM
Can I bust into your house at a family reunion and make your lives miserable for some disagreement we have?
Would that be OK with you?
drjohn on March 24, 2008 at 8:12 AM
Where does freedom of speech grant freedom from decency? Where do you want to draw the line? If you piss us off enough, can we visit you and beat the snot out of you as a protest? Would you defend that?
drjohn on March 24, 2008 at 8:14 AM
Punks.
If the Mohammed cartoons are any indication, there would be riots around the world, and the perpetrators would have to go into hiding for the rest of their lives.
Crackpot logic.
Buy Danish on March 24, 2008 at 8:15 AM
what a bunch of gutless little worms, lucky for these fools they weren’t in the pew next to me! Hey Jimbo-i’m with you!!
And yes Tom_ S, by all the definitions the liberal establishment has established over the years this is a “hate” crime. It’s just that in this case they find it justified because they are hating on America and the Catholic church.
StuCon on March 24, 2008 at 8:16 AM
This is not really about ‘peace’; it’s rabid anti-Americanism, led by remnants of socialist groups from the Cold War era, in some cases funded by North Korea. David Horowitz has done a lot of work exposing these networks and affiliations.
So anti-Iraq-war = anti-Bush = anti-Israel = pro-Palestinian = pro-terrorist-attackers-of-Israel-and-America. These useful idiots are no more for ‘peace’ than Trotsky, Stalin, Mao, Che, Osama, Chavez, etc., etc.
MrLynn on March 24, 2008 at 8:17 AM
“It just seems a stretch to tie them to this group and a stretch to make that connection such a bad thing.”
You make a great point Tom. Why would a group protesting for peace inside a church on easter sunday have any problems being sponsored by an organization that supports people who fire rockets everyday to kill innocent civilians, while hiding amongst their own civilians for protection? Because its like…peaceful…and it like helps the world when you kill Jews, right?
Peace2Israel on March 24, 2008 at 8:18 AM
Why would a group protesting for peace inside a church on easter sunday have any problems being sponsored by an organization that supports people who fire rockets everyday to kill innocent civilians
See Ed, this is why I challanged your description of the ISM.
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 8:21 AM
So anti-Iraq-war = anti-Bush = anti-Israel = pro-Palestinian = pro-terrorist-attackers-of-Israel-and-America.
And this…
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 8:21 AM
Because its like…peaceful…and it like helps the world when you kill Jews, right?
And this…
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 8:22 AM
What these little no-dick antiwar protesters need is some real blood - THEIR OWN - flowing down their faces. I’d be happy to oblige.
I’d join you in this pursuit.
RWLA on March 24, 2008 at 8:23 AM
The Anti fringe could go to a daycare center and indulge in their performance art on a few three-year-olds to highlight the “human cost” of war and some nutsoid would be here excusing their actions.
Simply put, this was beyond the pale. And I fear things like this will get more frequent.
Easter is the holiest day on the calendar for Catholics. To turn it into a target for a “protest” is inexcusable.
JohnTant on March 24, 2008 at 8:24 AM
As a Catholic myself, I would have to simply tell them to go with God, His grace be upon them.
JetBoy on March 24, 2008 at 8:26 AM
Here is Discover The Networks dossier on the ISM.
Buy Danish on March 24, 2008 at 8:29 AM
These people deserved to be dragged out and severely, severely beaten.
That they didn’t get what they surely deserve, is only because of the grace of Catholics.
And the little cowards knew that nothing would happen to them and that they would ultimately be protected by the police that they despise.
Like all far leftists, they are gutless idiots.
NoDonkey on March 24, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Talk Radio here in Chicago has been all over these idiots this morning. They think the only reason they chose to do it where they did was because they knew the Easter mass would be televised. What they did here was completely beyond stupidity and because they did this in Holy Name Cathedral, which is the main Catholic Church in the city, you can bet they are going to get nailed big time. They could have easily held this goofy protest of their in Daley Center or Grant Park and not caused any ruckus. But because they are dummies, they wound up upsetting a lot of people in the church, including children. You can bet they will pay for their stupidity. This is after all Chicago.
pilamaye on March 24, 2008 at 8:31 AM
To answer Ed’s question about what would have happened if this was an anti-terrorist protest at a Mosque…
Historically speaking there’d be violent protests around the world in the defense of the religion of peace. Embassies would burn, people would throw things, Americans would be warned not to travel, and there’d be terrorist attacks in response.
In contrast the effect of such antics at a Catholic Church on the most revered day in the Christian religion is an old media news blackout, some political embarrassment for Howard Dean, and a fine.
This is not the start of their getting violent. It’s not the end either.
scottm on March 24, 2008 at 8:33 AM
It also needs to be said that the far left hates the Catholic Church, because these insane people all belong to the Democrat Party, whose national anthem is “Abortion Uber Alles”.
Never mind that the Catholic Church gives billions of dollars in aid and in time to help the poor.
Nothing trumps the murder of children in the womb for the far left, it is the holiest sacrament for the lunatic left.
NoDonkey on March 24, 2008 at 8:33 AM
I hate to break it to them but the ‘war’ ended about 6 weeks after we entered Iraq.
These geniuses who ‘oppose the war’ think that no one ever died(or was tortured, raped, etc) while Saddam was in office huh?
These people are like zombies, but instead of brains they mumble Code-Pink slogans.
DavidM on March 24, 2008 at 8:33 AM
Tom,
In all conflicts, you could make a case for how one side has wronged the other. Take Kosovo, for ex. Who’s right? The Serbians or the Kosovars? Take our own civil war. The federal gov’t decimated the states rights issue with reverberations to this day. Same with Palis and Israel. Reasonably intelligent people like you can make semi-decent and coherent arguments on either side of these issues. But thats where you libs get lost. You think that just because something is not entirely black or white, that we must forever live in the grey.
Here’s how other people work. They weigh the two sides and see who is the bigger piece of shit. Then they support the one that is the lesser shit. So Israel wins over the Palis, the North wins over the south, the Serbs/Kosovars–haven’t gotten my scale out yet.
Same with you and your comments. They have some validity in some ways at some times. But generally speaking, they are more full of shit than most of the others, so you get dismissed. That’s the way it works on the right.
So continue with your moral equivalence on everything. Throwing fake blood at an Easter service is sorta OK because the protestors sort of have a point. Tom, I am so sorry for you. To exist every day with these sort of half this, half that ideas, seeing the validity in all points of view. Makes me sad. I have more respect for the protesters who aren’t but should be off to jail.
Do the people in your personal life, wife, kids, co-workers, friends, appreciate your indecisiveness? I wonder how they stand it. Come on Tom. Be a man. Stand up for the Palestinians finally, and for the other Muslim victims of western oppression. Don’t pull your punches so much. There are plenty of people with plenty of different opinions. That’s how the weighing gets done. But you need to just have one opinion, not all of them. If Israel is the main obstacle to ME peace, and the primary source of the conflict there, simply say so. If the Catholic church could end the war in Iraq but chooses not to, say so. Stop picking around the edges. These gotchas are tiresome.
JiangxiDad on March 24, 2008 at 8:36 AM
I’m a Liberal/Democrat, because…
like, my friends violatin’ on the Christers is, like, totally Cool…Dude.
franksalterego on March 24, 2008 at 8:38 AM
I’m very glad to say there was nothing like that at all during Easter Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral yesterday. No moonbattiness at all, actually, no mention of St. Al of Gore, or greenhouse gasses, or “social justice,” just the resurrection of Our Lord and Savior.
rightwingprof on March 24, 2008 at 8:39 AM
Oh I’m sure they would have loved that. Think of all the press it would have gotten and how they could talk about the “love” they were shown in a christian church.
The left will keep going further and further outside the boundaries of normal behavior and no one in the media will say a thing but if we step out of line I guarantee it will be front page news.
Benaiah on March 24, 2008 at 8:39 AM
You ain’t seen noting yet. This was just fake blood. Wait until Wrights protege loses the election to McCain. It’ll be a hot time in the ol’ town that night - and the weeks to follow.
Rod on March 24, 2008 at 8:42 AM
Like all far leftists, they are gutless idiots.
NoDonkey on March 24, 2008 at 8:30 AM
Amen….
What’s up with the people of Illinois? Why do they “look the other way” while allowing such behavior to go unanswered?
Tom Shipley,
Your mask came off here on this thread. Defending such behavior tells us much about you.
Keemo on March 24, 2008 at 8:45 AM
Good grief, man. And I’m sure a few weeks ago watching the news from Berkeley, you must have been thinking: “Gee. They’re kinda crossing a line. BUT it’s a big stretch to say all of this will lead to the invasion of religious sanctuaries to spray worshippers with fake blood.”
scatbug on March 24, 2008 at 8:46 AM
Throwing fake blood at an Easter service is sorta OK because the protesters sort of have a point.
I didn’t say it was OK and I did say it crossed a line. I just don’t believe it was and “anti-Catholic” act.
Tom, I am so sorry for you.
Don’t be, seriously.
I have more respect for the protesters who arena’t but should be off to jail.… Do the people in your personal life, wife, kids, co-workers, friends, appreciate your indecisiveness?
I have more respect for people who argue points instead of trying to delve into my personal life to try and insinuate that I’m not “a man.”
You don’t know me, I don’t know you. What’s tiresome are people I’ve never met projecting what THEY want me to be onto me. Now that’s idiotic.
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 8:48 AM
Your mask came off here on this thread. Defending such behavior tells us much about you.
Where do I defend this behavior?
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 8:49 AM
Typical liberals. The more idiots like this that are exposed, can only help with the opinion that we need to finish this mission. Has anyone asked the retreat and defeat crowd what they think Iraq would look like if we had followed their defeatist policies. Get ready for a full onslaught today, since they have reached the much anticipated 4000 dead milestone. The left will use the death of a hero today to advance their political agenda, as they have waited for this grim milestone for months. God bless our troops, their families, and their mission.
chief on March 24, 2008 at 8:50 AM
First Wright, now this. What’s in Chicago’s water that’s made every one go mad?
TheBigOldDog on March 24, 2008 at 8:53 AM
That’s it Tom! Now you’re getting the hang of it. You chose one side (in this case you), and defended it. Good boy. Now try these exercises:
Choose:
America vs. Muslim Terrorists
Palestinians vs. Israel
Liberals vs. Conservatives
Gays vs.Straights
Catholics vs. War Protesters
Marines vs. Gitmo prisoners
Soon, you’ll be just like everybody else. How does it feel big boy? Good I bet. Bet there are alot of people proud of you today.
JiangxiDad on March 24, 2008 at 8:54 AM
This makes me so angry. I can only imagine what the people in the pews were thinking when those idiots sprayed fake blood all over them!
It makes me even angrier that the media isn’t reporting this. If a Christian group were to do this to anti-war protesters, we would never hear the end of it!
Jodella on March 24, 2008 at 8:56 AM
I don’t understand the point of this “protest.” I don’t get it. Will they do the same thing at Ramadan in a mosque? Will they yell and scream at Muslims for the fact that “Fatah wants peace” when there are still suicide bombings and massacres in Israel? Will they yell and scream at them for the killings in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc etc? Will they protest the fact that Gaza, Bethlehem, Bethany, and Jericho whilst under the control of the Palestinians are like the Wild West? Will they protest the fact that Christians and Jews are being driven out of Gaza, Bethlehem, Bethany, and Jericho by Muslim extremists? How about Honor killings? Female Genital Mutilation? Killing of gays? The selling of “Mein Kampf”? The Hamas TV show with the bee which talks about Itbach al Yahud (Slaughter the Jews, for the uninitiated)? How about the Mosques that sermonize finishing what Hitler started?
I suppose that since Christians and Jews aren’t going to kill obnoxious protesters for interrupting religious services and Muslims just might for “disrespecting Mohammed”, it’s just easier to protest at a church. And less painful.
mjk on March 24, 2008 at 8:56 AM
Brilliant! Any chance this was a Clinton stunt??(~snark) The only thing missing were screams against the secret govt HIV/AIDS campaign to infect the African-American community.
No better way to piss off the democratic labor vote than to bust into a church and act like a jerk.
We know what time it is, but what’s the weather report? Was William Ayers part of the gaggle?
The nut fringe will help sink the Democrats in the general election. This might shape up to be a really entertaining election year. With a little bit of luck we might be able to combine the theatrics of 1968 with the blow out of a 1972?
Pass the salt!
moxie_neanderthal on March 24, 2008 at 8:58 AM
JiangxiDad on March 24, 2008 at 8:54 AM
JD, if you look around HotAir, you’ll see I take many stands. But glad to see you’re just catching on now. Welcome to the party.
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 8:58 AM
Too bad these guys didn’t try to pull this stunt somewhere like here in Texas. Like most churches, ours are packed for Easter mass… often with guys who don’t go to church that regularly and not that big on the whole, “turn the other cheek” idea. Believe me, fake blood wouldn’t have been the only thing on these punks’ faces and they would have found themselves PRAYING for the police to arrest them and get them out of here.
Sugar Land on March 24, 2008 at 9:01 AM
“No better way to piss off the democratic labor vote than to bust into a church and act like a jerk.”
Sadly, since the RNC is perpetually asleep at the wheel, we won’t hear anything more about this.
What the RNC should do is to tie this lunacy to the Democrat Party and force Clinton and Obama to comment on it.
Or McCain could specifically denounce it which would force the Democrats to comment on it.
Because if the Democrats defend this action, they will sink themselves in the general election.
If they disavow it, they will enrage their lunatic base and their anti-American benefactors like George Soros.
NoDonkey on March 24, 2008 at 9:03 AM
Tom, you’re my rock.
JiangxiDad on March 24, 2008 at 9:03 AM
Do_not_feed_the_troll!
OldEnglish on March 24, 2008 at 9:05 AM
Tom, you’re my rock.
Sorry, man, I’m not into that kind of thing.
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 9:06 AM
And don’t forget, (c) they knew they had nothing to fear from Christians retaliating.
4shoes on March 24, 2008 at 9:09 AM
P’haps, the Cardinal recognizes Separation of Church and State?
Unlike, the well publicized
hate-mongerpastor of another well knowncellchurch.According to your logic, I can go in to Trinity United, and violate THEIR space…No Harm…No Foul.
franksalterego on March 24, 2008 at 9:11 AM
You forgot to add that you think it’s fine for others. Otherwise, someone might think you discriminate against gay people. Maybe you truly are on the road to change.
JiangxiDad on March 24, 2008 at 9:12 AM
Tom_Shipley = Troll
Don’t feed the Trolls!
traderdfw on March 24, 2008 at 9:13 AM
Whoa, what’s with all the violence, Christians? (paraphrasing) “If they did that in OUR church we would’ve beaten them up!!!”
At our (Catholic) church, the service would stop, they would be escorted out, we’d make sure everyone was OK, and then the priest would lead us in some prayers to refocus our attention, give people time to clean up and calm down, and maybe get some Jesus into those confused kids.
Certainly wouldn’t pummel them.
tlynch001 on March 24, 2008 at 9:17 AM
What is it then, an act of love? All crime is hate you dope. When are these hose bags gonna invade a mosque in protest of Muslims being Muslims? At least it would have a point, which the crime at issue doesn’t.
Dope.
Akzed on March 24, 2008 at 9:19 AM
The other day, a liberal guy I know related a story about a friend of his who shot and killed his ex-wife and then committed suicide in front of his kids.
He literally defended the mans actions as “selfless” because he was messing up his kids lives and wanted to spare them.
That how these idiots think. It’s scary.
GoodBoy on March 24, 2008 at 9:20 AM
The liberal mind is so very childish in every way.
Grafted on March 24, 2008 at 9:22 AM
I know. But he’s so amazingly shitty at it.I thought this was a high class site.
JiangxiDad on March 24, 2008 at 9:22 AM
They need to make sure to add hate crime charges because they specifically targeted this church and its followers. I also hope they do not allow any plea bargain and prosecute them to the full extent of the law.
JeffinSac on March 24, 2008 at 9:24 AM
My emnity for these types is greta.
I dont practice a religion, but I would certainly have loved tovisit such a church where such an act was occuring.
I would give these little bitches a real reason for a nose-job.
Sonosam on March 24, 2008 at 9:29 AM
At the time, you wouldn’t have known it was fake blood, or that no one was going to be seriously injured. Aren’t there innocent people in that church, children, elderly and so forth, that look to others for their physical protection?
Please explain.
JiangxiDad on March 24, 2008 at 9:30 AM
Tom_Shipley do you even read what you write?
They SPECIFICALLY stated they attacked this Cardinal and CATHOLIC Church because don’t preach the message they wanted to hear. Yes this is a hate crime based on the laws. Thanks for the laugh this morning where you state this fact then still claim to deny it is a hate crime.
JeffinSac on March 24, 2008 at 9:31 AM
Yeah, the RNC could do more, but this sort of stuff tends to make the nightly news. No reasonable person likes this sort of stuff. But it tends to do 2 things: one, encourage other stunts from attention-getting goofballs and two it not so subtly underscores the rift within the party both of which are good news for John McCain.
I hope the left goes gonzo with anti-war protests (so long as no one is hurt and property damage is kept to a min). The Democratic party establishment will then be in the difficult position of fighting a multi-front war within their party. The party establishment will attempt to quell the most vocal members of the anti-war left while not alienating the base while at the same time attempting to disarm the race time bomb that will surely go off if Clinton gets the nod over Obama. Against this backdrop the super delegates are watching Obama’s polling numbers decline and Clinton wins big in the heavy labor democrat state elections coming up….
I call it the Perfect Storm Party or simply PSP.
If you’re going to have a dinner party where the guests are going to get into a knife fight, you only want to provide plastic spoons and lots of napkins.
moxie_neanderthal on March 24, 2008 at 9:35 AM
This is despicable.
Such disregard for other’s rights and freedoms
maynila on March 24, 2008 at 9:36 AM
Idiots.
They need to do time.
If only for being total Idiots.
bridgetown on March 24, 2008 at 9:36 AM
The Left’s narcissism never fails to amaze me. Bourgeois laws are meant to be broken for the sake of “making a statement” and “speaking truth to power.”
I hope Chicago follows through with the prosecutions.
irishspy on March 24, 2008 at 9:37 AM
Super delegates will be watching Obama’s poll numbers decline and at some point they will tell him he either needs to fish or
racecut bait.I know…does that make me bad?
moxie_neanderthal on March 24, 2008 at 9:40 AM
This is just a buildup for Synagogues. Unfortunately for the anti-war left there’s a little organization called the JDL. The parallels to the Nazis and Kristalnacht continue to grow…And they call Conservatives Nazis.ha.
adamsmith on March 24, 2008 at 9:40 AM
Time was, if this had happened, Donte D. Smith, Ephran Ramirez Jr., Ryane Ziemba, Mercedes Phinaih, Regan Maher, and Angela Haban, would’ve been found, the next day, floating, face down in the Chicago River, with fish stuffed in their mouths.
franksalterego on March 24, 2008 at 9:42 AM
Sir! We need your invisible hand! We haven’t a moment to loose!
moxie_neanderthal on March 24, 2008 at 9:43 AM
They SPECIFICALLY stated they attacked this Cardinal and CATHOLIC Church because don’t preach the message they wanted to hear.
Uh, no they didn’t. They verbally attacked Cardinal George because they believe he didn’t take a hard enough stand on the war when he met President Bush earlier this year.
Again, this was not an attack on Catholic ideology or the religion itself.
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 9:44 AM
Do these morons not even begin to understand that they are alienating the very people they need along side to effect the changes they want?
They and their fruitloop coaltion have all the clout of just that, a bowl of fruitloops, so the decide that the most important day on the Christian calender, in a house of the oldest Christian religion is where they will make their “statement”?
Even this atheist sees the stupidity there…….
Jim708 on March 24, 2008 at 9:47 AM
Tom, you took the devil’s advocate position on an utterly indefensible act.
It was execrable, pure and simple. There is no discussion. There is no “understanding” them.
That’s drivel.
drjohn on March 24, 2008 at 9:50 AM
Yes! Isn’t that the beauty of it all! I love the narcissism!
A Dick Nixon dirty trix outfit would be handing out a suggestion sheet to the direct action types with maps and press telephone numbers….
moxie_neanderthal on March 24, 2008 at 9:53 AM
So it was on the Cardinal that they sprayed “blood”?
They physically assaulted the parishioners, not the Cardinal. I hope they are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
And then sued.
drjohn on March 24, 2008 at 9:54 AM
This is a civil rights violation.
drjohn on March 24, 2008 at 9:55 AM
Tom, you took the devil’s advocate position on an utterly indefensible act.
Uh, no I didn’t. I just stated what I thought was the motivation behind the protest. But I didn’t defend it. And I didn’t try to put forth an argument defending the protest…
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 9:55 AM
It is by definition anti-Catholic, as the utter disregard for the Church and its service is obvious. The statement itself doesn’t have to be an attack on Catholicism for the act to be anti-Catholic.
JohnTant on March 24, 2008 at 9:57 AM
They physically assaulted the parishioners, not the Cardinal. I hope they are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
As I said before, I think the protest was stupid and crossed a line it shouldn’t have (namely spraying the fake blood). I have no problem with these guys being prosecuted for it.
Tom_Shipley on March 24, 2008 at 9:57 AM
If they had real balls they’d try this stunt at an ABA conference!….”add that to the suggestion sheet”
moxie_neanderthal on March 24, 2008 at 9:57 AM
I wish the peace activists would give peace a chance.
jgapinoy on March 24, 2008 at 9:58 AM
Well, I just took my invisible hand over to HuffPo, and nothing on this story over there(surprise!) I guess the story on how Kate Beckinsale would rather eat “vajayjay” than sushi is way more important. Or maybe it’s the cheerleading headline on the death count of 4000 for our military(no kidding, it looks like a victory headline)If McCain loses to these idiots, something is way,way off. The anti-Americanism is stunning…………….Screw the honorable “Reverend Run”, where are the reporters asking the empty suit or the empty pant suit what they think of their anti-American supporters?…Maybe they are just letting them run loose practicing up for the Commie takeover…What’s a capitalist to do???????????
adamsmith on March 24, 2008 at 9:59 AM
This scene reminded me of things I’ve been seeing for years. On campuses all over the country, when consertative speakers appear students have been disrupting and ending their speeches. I’ve never been aware of any college doing anything to defend freeedom of speech by giving these thugs any kind of punishment or even giving much protection to speakers who offentd the liberal sensibilities of our institutions of higher “learning.” I suspect these idiots learned this behavior in college, had the pathology reinforced and now think they can do it where ever they want. Because of the abdication of responsibility by the “intellect” elite we are probably in for many years of childish, entitled behavior.
snaggletoothie on March 24, 2008 at 10:05 AM
The question is, how did they come to think this kind of behavior is acceptable? Think Pink….
ronsfi on March 24, 2008 at 10:08 AM
How about instead of what you thought was the motivation, you go read the articles and actual statements by these people about what THEY STATED is their true motive. Let me quote it for you again because even after it was posted you are choosing to ignore it.
Notice nothing stated about them wanting to target just this cardinal as you seem to want to believe?
Tom_Shipley thanks for now proving the following true.
JeffinSac on March 24, 2008 at 10:09 AM
One can parse words all day long, but their actions cannot be disputed: They invaded a church, during a worship service, on the holiest day of that religion’s year, and then proceeded to disrupt it and spray people with stage blood.
If this attack occurred during a secular event, such as a public meeting to discuss the war, then that would be another matter. That’s clearly not the case here.
Dave Shay on March 24, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Clomes is an idiot. He adds nothing to Hannity and Colmes but stupid DNC talking points. Colmes has defended Medea Benjamin and Code Pink’s harrassment of wounded soldiers outside Walter Reed. Colmes has joined our good “friends” on this forum who excoriated Romney for his faith but defend Jeremiah Wright as a “pastor.”
I’ve long ago given up any expectation of fairness in the media. I don’t think this was a hate crime per-se (the Christ bashers on this forum are far more focused in why they hate the followers of Jesus than this crowd). Nevertheless, to intentionally disrupt Easter services just shows the intolerance of liberals and so-called moderate conservatives. They show no respect for others.
highhopes on March 24, 2008 at 10:14 AM
I don’t believe in free speech, I believe in responsible speech. Apparently, not the done thing anymore.
OldEnglish on March 24, 2008 at 10:20 AM
I agree with “lynch” on this.
.
There are people out there who are convinced that Christianity is just as violent, hateful, destructive, etc. as Islam. So what do many of us do (& yes I am including myself)? We prove them right by wishing these people came to our church so we can show them how different we really are by beating the snot out of them? Really?
artlover on March 24, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Came into work this morning, and all the Catholic boys were talking about this. These cowards pick their spots. Nice quiet Holy Name…downtown. If they would have tried this in some Beverly or Mt Greenwood parish they’d be lucky if the police got to them first.
LtE126 on March 24, 2008 at 10:30 AM
They physically attack catholics while they were worshiping and disrupted their practice of their religion. No court or jury will buy your spin.
Blake on March 24, 2008 at 10:31 AM
Yes you are.
You’re defending a hate crime.
And I HATE that phrase.
N. O'Brain on March 24, 2008 at 10:37 AM
If I had been there instead of saying “thou shalt not kill” they would be saying “please stop kicking my ass”.
If ONE DROP touched my daughter, I would be in jail right now.
ArmyAunt on March 24, 2008 at 10:39 AM
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