You remember Cindy Sheehan, the anti-war activist. Well, she was scheduled to appear April 9 at St. John the Evangelist Church hall in Scranton to speak with Pax Christi of Northeastern Pennsylvania. That is, until the Diocese of Scranton got wind of it. Then…not so much.
Never one to shy away from publicity, Sheehan, a former Catholic, now has plenty to say about the Church because of it. And as you can imagine, she’s not being so nice. According to published reports she’s calling the Church not truly pro-life and hypocritical.
The Diocese of Scranton issued this statement:
The March 11 issue of The Catholic Light contained a notice about an upcoming appearance by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, who was scheduled to speak at St. John Hall in Scranton on April 9.
This notice was published in error. Neither Cardinal Justin Rigali, Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Scranton, nor Bishop-elect Joseph C. Bambera had authorized the use of a Diocesan or parish facility to host this speaker. Although Mrs. Sheehan is well known for her anti-war stance against the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq , she also supports positions that are contrary to Church teaching regarding life and marriage issues.
Therefore, her appearance at St. John Hall has been cancelled and she will not be allowed to speak at any other Diocesan or parish facility.
And now it’s like the diocese lit the Sheehan fuse because now she’s attacking the Church calling it not really pro-life, hypocritical and not caring about people who have already been born.
The Standard Speaker reports:
She said this is the first time a diocese has banned her from speaking at a Catholic venue.
She has received awards from a Catholic organization because of her anti-war views and spoke inside a Catholic church in Columbus, Ohio, and at a Catholic church hall in Cleveland, Ohio, she said.
“Those bishops didn’t make a big deal about it,” she said.
Sheehan, a former Catholic parish youth minister, said she left the church years ago because of its willingness to cover up sexual abuse by priests.
“Every time the church does something like this, it enrages me because first of all I feel I’ve dedicated my life to peace,” she said. “I don’t go to my events and say, ‘I’m for a woman’s right to choose’ or ‘I’m for marriage equality.’ That’s not what I speak about. I speak about ending these unjust wars that killed my son.”
The church has failed to “take a lead role in demanding the U.S. end its military misadventures around the world,” which would be a pro-life position, she said.
“Whenever they do something like this, they just call more attention to the hypocrisy of their positions,” she said. “To me, it’s more like they want to protect the unborn than they want to protect the people who are already born.”
So let me get this straight. She’s telling a newspaper that she’s for a woman’s right to choose and gay marriage to explain that she never talks about a woman’s right to choose and her support of gay marriage. That make sense to anyone?
I’m sure we’ll hear more about this from Ms. Sheehan. I’m sure that if she thinks there’s publicity to be had she’ll show up at Cardinal Rigali’s office like she did near Dick Cheney’s house a few months ago.
March 14, 2010 at 3:02 am
Pax Christi is a radical leftist activist agitating organization posing as a Catholic peace movement.
March 14, 2010 at 3:10 am
If Ms. Sheehan can be believed, what I find extremely irrating is that other Catholic Churches have allowed her to speak at their locations. In this way alone the Catholic Church looks hypocritical. I am happy that the Cardinal and Bishop stepped up in this case but I have to wonder where the other Bishops/Cardinals where when she was speaking at the other Catholic Churches?
By the way, why is she not protesting Obama? He is keeping troops in Afganistan. She goes to the former Vice President's house why is she not protesting at the White House?
March 14, 2010 at 3:25 am
I believe the war in Iraq and Afghanistan should be fought but I also believe others have the right to their opinion. I think it is wrong to lie about the church because they won't let her speack at Christian facilities. There are other places she can speak.
March 14, 2010 at 5:54 am
In fairness to Ms. Sheehan, the Church should have taken a far firmer stance against the Iraq War…
March 14, 2010 at 12:58 pm
I always find people like Sheehan interesting. I don't doubt that when people left the Church because of the scandal that they did so out of a genuinely deep disappointment with the Church. And then I think of my friend, one of the most practical women I know. This woman has had tremendous heartache in her life. Her inability to NOT be scandalized by the worst of human behavior is to be admired. Through her, I've come to learn that when we are scandalized by terrible behavior, such as the scandal, then we not only fail to remember that we have original sin and that humans are capable of anything, but that we also commit the sin of piety, just like the Pharisee over the tax collector. We become so scandalized that we leave the Church exactly when She needs us most.
March 14, 2010 at 3:57 pm
I find it weird,her comment "Every time the Church does something like this, It enrages me….because I've dedicated my life to 'peace'." Say whaaaa?
Only a radical loon would include rage and peace in the same sentence, as if it were a virtue.
She left the church because of it's stances on abortion etc, and now she feels entitled to speak……in a CHURCH???
This is the same liberation theology that is spewed from the America hating minister of Barak Obama, the so called Rev. Wright.
She seems weirdly captivated by attention of any kind, and is not taking her being pushed out of the limelight gracefully.
But sad to say, there are a lot of professed Catholics who would line up to see her.
March 14, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Oh, Cindy…blah blah blah blah. Just wish you could get a life.
March 14, 2010 at 4:18 pm
This one is to you G, she has her life dedicated to peace, she has her goals straight, she thinks she's doing the right thing she's just doing it wrong.
March 14, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Does she realise her son volunteered and understood the risks .that he died serving his country faithfully and that he died because it was his time. That he is being dishonored by his mothers actions. Perhaps she should look at Mary Our Blessed Mother whose Son died unjustly before her eyes.Did Mary protest against the Romans or abandon her faith because of the treasonous Rabbis that handed Him over?Hey Cindy you are so lost take some time out for deep reflection and prayer..let God heal you and open your eyes you are a walking contradiction a banging gong.
March 14, 2010 at 5:07 pm
HOW THE HELL IS SHE SPEAKING AT ANY CATHOLIC CHURCH. MANY PRIESTS AND BISHOPS ARE ON THE ROAD TO HELL AND THEY ARE TAKING MANY SOULS WITH THEM….Our Lady of Garabandal!
March 14, 2010 at 5:07 pm
A life dedicated to peace by going around as an enraged dissident, causing dissension and spewing hatred and bitterness against anyone who doesn't agree with her — you know, she's guided by the truth that we just are not blessed enough to know. How unique. The Church has never encountered forces like this before!
March 14, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Poor Cindy Shehan has allowed herself to be duped into thinking that she's an advocate for peace. She carries a hatred in her heart and is so puffed up with pride that she can't think straight. She in fact needs our prayers so she will be open to the Holy Spirit touching her heart and healing her. Only then will she be qualified to speak of peace.
March 14, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Why ANYONE pays any attention to this woman is totally beyond me. Just pray for her…
March 14, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Precisely hate is not the cure for your pains Mrs.Sheehan. If you believe your political afilliation, and not God is the cure for our times illnesses ,you totally lost your mind. The same way you were wounded by war,you are wounding and hurting a lot of people with your extreme partisanship. I'm praying for you . Let our God,the all Powerful One, from the silence of His Will judge you.
March 14, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Rule #54B–Never let a nut speak at your church.
I agree wholeheartedly with Sandra.
March 14, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Kim Luisi,
Piety is not a sin, it is a virtue.
That statement is indicative of the underlying root of the problem – poor catechesis. There is an ongoing "practical schism" in the Catholic Church – watch here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE-f5RNlQyg&feature=PlayList&p=ADD2A63E2916A73F&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15
It's a shame that most of the hierarchy are either too afraid to oppose or are deliberately complicit in perpetuating false "Catholic" ideology. Even EWTN has become infected – read more here: http://catholicforum.fisheaters.com/index.php/topic,3428235.0.html
Kyrie eleison!
March 14, 2010 at 10:08 pm
Another Saul Alinsky-ite posing as a Catholic! Hooah to the Bishop! The Church also needs to clean house at CCHD (Catholic Campaign to Help Democrats). Check out Real Catholic TV report. Thanks be to God for Biship Ricken in Green Bay to suspending contributions to CCHD. To be Catholic is to accept the Church teachings without heresy of liberalism/progressivism. Pius XI condemned socialism. It was correct in the 1930s; it's correct now.
March 14, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Your man Obama has expanded the wars of agression and is now openly speaking about attacking Iran, He's included abortion as part of pre-natal care for "potential" mothers as as a choice that must be available in his health care plan. Barry spoke at Notre Dame and the school officials had arrested former alumni who tried to protest for trespassing. But Cindy Sheehan they stop from speaking, and by the way, she's against Obama's wars, but of course you won't know that since they won't allow her to speak. Satan really has entered the Church, and he won't be leaving anytime soon.
March 14, 2010 at 10:21 pm
I would like to know just where exactly she was in Cleveland, Ohio. Does anyone know how I could find out?
Thanks!
March 14, 2010 at 10:34 pm
Why bother letting a former Catholic speak at a Catholic church? It's like asking someone to punch you.