WASHINGTON, DC (JUNE 17, 2008) – Catholic anti-abortion activist, Joseph Landry, on trial for “trespass” at St. Jude’s Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Florida, under the authority of Bishop Robert N. Lynch.
On Wednesday, June 18, at 8:30 a.m., Joseph Landry will stand trial at 14250 49th St N, Clearwater, FL 33762 (County of Pinellas: Criminal Justice Center) for "criminal trespassing" for handing out pro-life flyers in the parking lot of St. Jude’s Cathedral during mass.
Mr. Landry is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville; he majored in philosophy and theology; since graduating he has spent the last four years in full-time service to church in missions, youth work at the diocesan level, and pro-life work.
Mr. Landry was in the news several times for his work against pro-abortion candidate Rudy Giuliani in New Hampshire and Florida.
The flyer is a political parity entitled, "Real Solutions for the Negro Problem." The tract argues that a Christian cannot vote for a racist under any condition, even if the voter agrees with the candidate on all other issues; i.e., racism is an automatic disqualifier for a candidate seeking political office.
The flyer then uses this logic and ethical foundation to show that likewise, a Christian may not in good conscience vote for a candidate who supports the killing of unborn children by abortion; support of child killing is an automatic disqualifier for a candidate seeking political office.
The flyer states specifically: "Should a Christian vote for someone who supports slavery? No! Should a Christian vote for a racist who supports segregation? No! Then how can a Christian vote for a candidate that supports the murder of children by abortion?"
…For months, Catholics have been calling Bishop Lynch’s office, asking the church to drop him the charges. The church has told people that it is not pressing charges, or that the charges "have been taken care of," or indicated in some way that Mr. Landry is not going to be tried for trespass for handing out pro-life literature in a Catholic parking lot.
Unfortunately, none of these assertions have proven true; Mr. Landry will now stand trail by jury for “trespassing” at the Church he loves and serves faithfully.
Well it is hard to know if all of these details are true. But when it comes to Bishop Lynch it sounds pretty plausible. This was the Bishop that did not help Terri Schiavo whose situation he described as a "family dispute" and managed to even misspell her name on the press release on her death. The same bishop who latter allowed Michael Schiavo to marry within Catholic church in his diocese. A Bishop who has ordered the cessation of the regular exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for adoration by the faithful.
29 comments
Looks like another “Lynching”
Why doesn’t Bishop Lynch just speak with him in private? no need to call the cops. Bishops won’t rebuke catholic pro-abort candidates until speaking with them in private. The USCCB needs a little consistency.
“This was the Bishop that did not help Terri Schiavo whose situation he described as a “family dispute” and managed to even misspell her name on the press release on her death. The same bishop who latter allowed Michael Schiavo to marry within Catholic church in his diocese. A Bishop who has ordered the cessation of the regular exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for adoration by the faithful.”
He sounds like a very pleasant man.
LOL, God love our bishops.
“The flyer is a political parity entitled…”
Um… its a political “PARODY.”
And its the brainchild of Operation Rescue, hardly surprising.
And its the brainchild of Operation Rescue, hardly surprising.
Boots,
I completely agree…that Catholics admonishing other Catholics to guard their eternal destinies by not supporting the murder of babies within their mamas is not surprising! Goooo Catholics! 🙂
P.S,
I don’t think it’s accurate to say that the sanctity of all human life is “the brainchild” of OR. It’s the brainchild of reason, and it’s been confirmed by the Church for, like, forever. 🙂
I suppose Landry will be paying his own expenses, but the Bishop is supported by the parishioners?
I sometimes wonder how the CHurch manages to let people ‘swing’ like that. For example, Fr. deValk in Canada – is he being helped in his case against the HRC which has cost $20,000 so far. Is the church helping him? He’s being sued for teaching the Catechism!
Not very good for encouraging people to step up and defend the faith!
A big problem for our Church is many of our bishops lack “heuvos” as our Mexican brothers say. In this bishop’s case however, it is pure evil. He defends and supports those who commit evil acts (Michael Schiavo) and persecutes those who defend those who can’t defend themselves. If things don’t change and they do not repent of their sins, Mr. Schiavo could be walking on this bishops skull on the roads in hell. Harsh? Certainly, but that is sometimes how the pure truth is.
In listing Bishop Lynch’s virtues, you forgot the part about not allowing any diocesan priests to give spiritual support to the Schindler family while Terri was being killed and the part about not allowing the family to have a memorial Mass said for her after her death. It makes it hard for me to trust Catholic Relief Services to feed the hungry of the world rather than cheer for their (painless, of course, just like Terri’s!) deaths since Bishop Lynch is on their board. (I know they do a lot of good work, but hello!)
So in other words, Lynch is not really a Catholic.
He has succumbed to the dark side….
Certain bishops nowadays make the more dastardly Renaissance bishops look like choir boys. Now we know what it must have been like for faithful people when 500 years ago rogues and scoundrels occupied their respective cathedrae. Let’s trust that the Lord will having something to say in due time, and pray that in the meantime we shall not stray. Indeed, it is frustrating and hurtful when a bishop says and does disturbing things. Their actions have a greater impact than most folks’ stupidity. And so, the purifying flames will burn a little hotter for those bishops who persecute the faithful who really do stand with the Lord Jesus Christ, His Church and His Vicar.
Unfortunately, Bishop Lynch is only 67. Pray for the Catholics of the Diocese of St Petersburg. They have nine more years.
He is also one of those who want simple language in the liturgy for his simple Catholics.
This is mind-numbing.
Has this been covered on any other Catholic blogs?
I thought this bishop would go when he had public outcry for harrassing that man and he had given him favors and lots of money..but alas..he weathered that storm and keeps those things quieter now.
As for TRUE Catholics—yes, persecution from within and without as many have found out over these past 40 years.
In my not humble opinion, that bishop is one of the most disgraceful in the country and that is saying something.
Can a Bishop really outlaw adoration? That’s even worse than the insanity of prosecuting the faithful. Which St. said “the floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops”?
As someone living in the dioces of St. Pete, I’d like to correct some misconception about Bishop Lynch.
First of all, he did not ban regular exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in parishes. We have it every first Friday and are considering adding Wednesdays. What he seem to be against is perpetual adoration, ie, 24/7. There is a rather strange rant against this devotion on our website.
To my knowledge, Bishop Lynch did not ban a memorial Mas for Terri. I believe it was held at Most Holy Name of Jesus in Gulfport and attended by Terri’s parents (I know parishioners there). Of course, the pastor was reassigned to another parish shortly after that Mass…
Also in his defense — he allows Regnum Christi to be active in his diocese. So he’s not all bad…
But yes, Bishop Lynch is a relic from the 60’s, meaning he is not in favor of elevated language or elaborate ritual, but a more folksy style.
And yes, he *intensely* dislikes EWTN (I guess he’ been harboring a grudge for a loooong time.)
Hope this clarifies the bit about adoration, etc
Is Regnum Christi a plus or a minus?
True, they did have a memorial Mass for Terri, but that was in defiance of Bishop Lynch…and, like you said, the priest was sent to the boonies afterwards. 🙂
They are dumb dogs that cannot bark. ~ St. Gregory the Great
I’m from the Diocese of St. Petersburg and I concur that this all sounds very plausible. His Excellency seems to promote almost anything the Church is opposed to, and nearly squash anything the Church is for. He has been quoted as saying [speaking about the liturgy- a real doozy for him] “it is my duty to find the middle between the law and proper liberation from the law..”
As you pray for Mr. Landry’s situation, please say a prayer for all of us in St. Petersburg!
Don’t forget the huge no-bid contracts slung to a long time friend, banning the KofC 4th Degrees from carrying swords into a Church and the sexual harassment settlement of $50K paid to the former diocesan spokesman.
It looks like Bishop Lynch has more than enough to explain, but I find it hard to blame him for not allowing the 4th degree Knights to use swords. I know that in my province we have a rule that if the priest or bishop running the Mass or other ceremony requests no swords we comply, no questions asked. I know from experience that they are not allowed at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., nor were they allowed in the Papal Mass.
Anyway, doesn’t Mr. Landry, being Catholic, have some sort of right to be on the premises at a Catholic Church? And it sounds like the literature he was distributing was completely in line with Catholic teaching. I don’t know anything about the law but what is the bishop resting his case on?
“I know from experience that they are not allowed at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., “
They are, however required for the walk back to the Metro after mass.
Take it up with his boss:
Apostolic Nunciature, the Holy See
3339 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 333-7121
Brian:
Thanks for the info–that changes my opinion, somewhat. Somehow it’s much more irritating when the Ordinary of St. Petersburg requires it.
I hope this bishop is not as much of a traitor as the reports make him sound like. God help our church.
Thank you for blogging about this. I went to the Diocese of St. Petersburg website, used the contact us tab, and wrote an email asking for him to drop the charges against Mr. Landry. I know others have called and written, and it has done no good, but maybe if we keep knocking on his door his heart will be softened, or at least he’ll get tired of hearing from us like the story in the bible of the man being bothered by a neighbor in middle of the night for a loaf of bread, and she kept bothering him until he got sick of it and just gave her what she wanted.
Thank you for blogging about this. I went to the Diocese of St. Petersburg website, used the contact us tab, and wrote an email asking for him to drop the charges against Mr. Landry. I know others have called and written, and it has done no good, but maybe if we keep knocking on his door his heart will be softened, or at least he’ll get tired of hearing from us like the story in the bible of the man being bothered by a neighbor in middle of the night for a loaf of bread, and she kept bothering him until he got sick of it and just gave her what she wanted.