Pro-abortion activists have appeared before court on the charge of disrupting a pro-life Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio.

The incident took place on 22 January, on the anniversary of the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, which legalised abortion in the United States.

As the annual “Respect Life” Mass was performed, at least eight pro-abortion activists stormed the cathedral with protest placards and chanted such slogans as “two, four, six, eight, this church teaches hate”.

It is also reported that some protestors shouted obscenities. One pro-abortion activist was heard to say, “If Hell was real, you would burn in it.”

Bishop Robert Brennan, who celebrated the Mass that day, later issued a statement expressing his “great admiration and thanks to all those attending the Mass whose respectful and prayerful response reflects the joy, hope, and mercy that marks our pro-life witness”.

Referring to the protests and obscenities by pro-abortion activists, Bishop Brennan added: “I also apologise to the families present whose children were exposed to this.”

SPUC comment

A SPUC spokesperson said: “Premeditated disruption of Masses by pro-abortion campaigners is an increasingly common method used to intimidate pro-lifers, as we saw recently in Poland as well.

“Such bigoted and hateful attempts to openly insult and terrorise pro-lifers is indicative of the underlying disregard of the sanctity of life that typifies the pro-abortion movement.

“The only ‘hate’ exhibited that day was by the protestors themselves, who would do better to follow the loving and gracious example of Bishop Brennan and his congregation.

“After all, to be pro-life is to be pro-love.”

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