War Protesters Disrupt Easter Mass at Chicago Cathedral
CHICAGO _ Six people were arrested at Holy Name Cathedral on Sunday after disrupting an Easter mass to protest the Iraq War.
The group stood up at the beginning of Cardinal Francis George’s homily and shouted their opposition conflict, which marked its fifth anniversary last week. As security guards and ushers tried to remove them from service, the demonstrators squirted fake blood upon themselves and parishioners dressed in their Easter finery.
The red substance _ which one protester later described as “stage blood” _ initially drew gasps and a few terrified yelps from the 600 worshipers at the mass. The shock, however, quickly transformed into anger as people booed the six as they were escorted from the parish auditorium where the holiday service was taking place.
“Even the Pope calls for peace,” the demonstrators chanted as the left. “Even the Pope calls for peace.”
“And so should we all,” said George, drawing strong applause from the parish.
George then returned to his Easter homily without further addressing the disruption. A small number of worshipers, however, followed the protesters into the lobby to berate them for disrupting the service and frightening children in attendance.
“Are you happy with yourselves?” Mike Wainscott of Chicago shouted at the demonstrators as they were being handcuffed. “There were kids in there. You scared little kids with your selfish act. Are you happy now?”
After the mass, the cardinal reiterated the Catholic Church’s opposition to the war, but he said Easter mass is not the place to protest the U.S.-led invasion.
“We should all work for peace,” George said, “but not by interrupting the worship of God.”
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