On Friday morning eight abortion rights protesters stormed a Catholic Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Columbus, Ohio. They were carrying signs, chanting, and screaming until police and a couple diocese officials forced them out. The protesters can then be seen giving them the finger as they continued chanting.
“Two, four, six, eight, this Church teaches hate,” went one of their chants. They also shouted about how abortion rights are under siege while holding signs that read “Fund Abortion, Not Cops” and “Abortion On Demand, End Hyde Now.” The latter refers to the Hyde Amendment, a provision dating back to 1976 that blocks federal funding for the overwhelming majority of abortions. The only exceptions: if the mother’s life is in danger or if the pregnancy involved rape or incest.
The Mass, presided over by Bishop Robert Brennan, took place on the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children. This special day of prayer occurs every January 22, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal designates the day as one for “prayer and penance.”
“[It] shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion,” the missal reads.
Bishop Brennan later released a statement on the disruption: “Today during our Respect Life Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral, a group of protesters entered this sacred space in an attempt to disrupt our worship. I am deeply thankful to the Columbus Police, assisted by diocesan staff, for the quick response without injury to anyone present.
“I want to express my 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. I also apologize to the families present whose children were exposed to this.
“On this day, in remembrance of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision, I ask all to continue to pray for the unborn who died, for all those who have experienced the pain of abortion, and for those who cannot understand our divine and steadfast calling to champion this cause.”