IN THEORY:

On Easter Sunday, six protesters interrupted Mass at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago to protest the Iraq war. The Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War shouted opposition and squirted fake blood on themselves as security led them away. The protesters said they chose Holy Name Cathedral because they could guarantee a large audience with parishioners and the media. They also pointed out that Cardinal Francis George and Mayor Richard Daley met in Chicago in January with President Bush, whom they blamed for starting the war. George emphasized the church’s opposition to the war, but said Easter Mass was an inappropriate place to protest. Do you think it’s ever appropriate to stage a protest at a religious service?

Those who claimed to publicly demonstrate for peace were disturbing the peace.

The female students who identified themselves as “Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War” professed that they selectively recall from their Catholic education (if indeed, they are Catholic school graduates) one phrase of the post-Resurrection appearances, namely Jesus’ thrice repeated greeting to His disciples, “Peace be with you.”

One’s church is the temple that houses Jesus, the Prince of Peace, where people come to seek His peace in the midst of the battles of their lives.

Those who would disrupt this tranquil ambience might more profitably listen to the word of God rather than attempt to silence the voice of the proclaimer of the Good News.

The stage blood they sprinkled within the sacred precincts of Holy Name Cathedral mocks the real blood Christ shed for our sins in the divine drama of Good Friday, an oblation offered that all may be messengers of His peace.

Monsignor Lawrence J. Baird

Pastor, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church

Administrator, St. John Vianney Chapel

The celebration of the triumph over death by the Prince of Peace is the perfect time to pray for and witness the priority of peace with justice; but interruptions are seldom tasteful or appropriate. These seemingly immature protesters were surely counterproductive, doing more harm than good to their cause; even those who agree with them would not take favorably to praise of the Resurrected Prince of Peace being interrupted so inappropriately.

It could have been done well. I have participated in quiet witness to similar concerns in worship spaces. Such testimony has ample support in biblical traditions: Prophets ran around naked outside the first temple in Jerusalem; this was appropriate in that time and place. Jesus didn’t worry about disrupting worship to protest; please see the story of his cleansing of the second temple in Mark 11:15-17. Jesus avoided sensationalist, publicity-seeking tactics for more effective ways of turning our world views upside down.

The Very Rev’d Canon Peter D. Haynes

Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church

Corona del Mar

Although one can sympathize with the wish to demonstrate against an unjustified and calamitous war, and against the president who started it, interrupting a legitimate meeting of any sort is not the proper way to object.

In a civilized world, people should be able to go to restaurants without worrying about suicide bombers, people should be free from having their homes blown up by rogue missiles, people should be able to go to abortion clinics without being hassled, and abortion doctors should be able to perform without being killed by those opposed to abortions. And except for actions against the law, like ritual sacrifices, religious ceremonies should be free of disruptions by outsiders.

Demonstrating against the disastrous actions of some of our politicians would seem to be most effective near election time, and in open public spaces. And even the most corrupt or fanatically ideological politician will usually pay attention to mass objections received by phone, fax, or mail. However, the use of impeachment should be encouraged when the populace has been purposely lied to about serious government business such as war, or if significant corruption has occurred, particularly if waiting for the next election period could allow more harm.

Jerry Parks

Member, Humanist Assn. of Orange County