HOLYOKE – The St. Patrick’s Parade Committee will suspend its long-standing tradition of having the Roman Catholic bishop present its highest award after learning that the honoree supports abortion rights.
Thomas J. Ridge, who served from 2001 to 2005 as the nation’s first chief of homeland security, still is slated to receive this year’s John F. Kennedy Award, which honors someone of Irish heritage for distinguished achievement.
But, when Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell of the Springfield Diocese voiced his objections to Ridge, the parade committee agreed that its president, David J. O’Connor, will make the presentation.
Committee members said that despite any problems, they are still excited to have the country’s first chief of homeland security visit Holyoke.
Thank you Bishop McDonnell for your stand against a pro-abortion Catholic politician. Unfortunately for Ridge he did not care that the terror alert level for children in the womb was always maxed out. That everyday we murder as many children through abortion as killed on 9-11.
6 comments
I guess it’s easier to scrap the bishop than the “honoree”? If only the bishop could refuse them permission to use “St. Patrick” in the name of their parade. Because, like many other parades that use his name, it’s probably just an “Irish Pride” Parade. Just an excuse to drink too much, dance around in Irish-flag-colored fright wigs and practice the traditional martial art of Irish pub fighting.
Wait a minute. I thought it was only Democrat politicians that the Catholic bishops “pick on” when it comes to abortion.
Good on the bishop.
If only the bishop could refuse them permission to use “St. Patrick” in the name of their parade.
He can’t of course. But he could write a pastoral letter and have it read in Churches explaining that so long as this parade should be regarded as an attempt to praise and honor abortion, and that no Catholic should attend or have anything to do with the parade or any organization that participates in it.
Next, he could try and launch his own parade, namely a Eucharistic procession in reparation for the sins of all those who claim to be in the Church but deliberately and willfully refuse to live by her teachings, and for the sins of all those who praise and honor that behavior.
Reason #7788833333 why I’m not a Bishop. 🙂
What’s so thrilling about a chief of homeland security? As far as I can tell, all he did was to multiply by roughly a factor of four the length of time people have to spend hanging round airports. If I had that on my record I’d take good care to avoid making myself conspicuous.
Bishop McDonnell is my Bishop, and is doing a very good job.
There would be no way to stop the Holyoke St. Patrick’s day parade, it is the second largest in the world.
Ridge can’t march in the parade anyway, he has a previous commitment.
I think on the day of the parade, there is going to be some interesting dissent coming from Holyoke. Holyoke is a bit bitter that the Diocese moved the Holyoke Catholic High School (my alma mater), one town over into Granby. Many residents are more proud of being from Holyoke than in being Catholic. This will be taken as a slight of Holyoke. Even the Polish, who celebrate Saint Joseph’s day, will feel slighted.
Yours in Christ,
Thursday