Metroplex Atheists
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Catholic Bishops' Conference 2002 Protest

Shelly's Thursday Report

Metroplex Atheists had four people (Shannon Moody, David Gladden, Randall Gorman, and Shelly Hattan) show up to protest on the first day of the US Bishops Conference. We had LOTS of media coverage. I was interviewed by USA Today, all the local TV affiliates, a dozen newspapers around the nation, and gave a couple of sound bites to a several radio stations. I've NEVER seen such large media coverage. I'd have to say that there were more folks from the media than protestors. What a great opportunity.

We arrived at the site around 9:15 am. We found parking to be plentiful at the intersection of Ross and Field Road, which is just a block away. Be prepared to spend around $5 on parking for the day. New signs we had with us included:

WELCOME PEDOPHILE FACILITATORS

PROSECUTE PEDOPHILE PRIESTS

THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE POLICY TOWARDS PEDOPHILE PRIESTS: PROSECUTE

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS CATHOLIC JAIL

PEDOPHILE PRIESTS ARE CRIMINALS

HOLY PEDOPHILIA

Randy brought out his "Get out of Hell free" cards which he passed out to fellow protestors (available here). They were a huge hit and he ran out of them quickly.

Things started to slow down a bit and Randy brought out his trusty bullhorn. "Holy Pedophilia" was heard throughout the protest area and the camera people came running. It was such a hit, reporters waited patiently for him to perform. I have to admit it was VERY effective because he was able to point out that pedophiles are thrown in jail when they are caught. Why are pedophile priests (i.e. holy pedophilia) treated any differently?

This was Shannon Moody's first protest and he showed up prepared with his own sign with "myTh" sprawled across it. I think we'll see Shannon at future protests.

Media outnumbers protestors on day one

David Gladden with a reporter

Shannon Moody with his "myTh" sign.

Randy gets some media time. . .

Protests Peaceful at Bishop Summit
By MATT SLAGLE
The Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) - Dozens of protesters gathered outside the American Catholic bishops' summit under a hot sun Thursday and called for an end to secrecy surrounding the church sex scandal.

"I just don't see them hiding behind a collar anymore," said Barbara Kennedy, 60, of Oklahoma City.

About 50 people were on hand across the street from the hotel where the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Conference was being held under tight security. Police were on hand, but there were no arrests.

Since January, when the crisis began with the case of a pedophile priest in Boston, at least 250 of the nation's 46,000 priests have resigned or been suspended over sexual misconduct claims. Four bishops also have resigned.

The meeting has been devoted to addressing the crisis. Bishop Wilton Gregory, the group's president, opened the conference Thursday with a speech acknowledging the prelates' role in creating the sex scandal.

The protesters began arriving a dawn. Several members of the group Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests tried to enter the meeting but were barred by security.

"I've traveled a long way to be here just to be left outside," SNAP board member Terri Light said. "We can't even get in to listen."

Kennedy rested her elbows along the barricade railing to help prop up a large white sign that read ``Prosecute Cardinal Law,'' a reference to the Boston prelate who has been urged to resign.

Kennedy, a Catholic since 1976, said Law and the bishops need to show they're serious about reforms by making examples of themselves.

"I think he (Law) has a right to be here, but he needs to resign to begin the healing process," Kennedy said.

One group of 10, who called themselves the Coalition of the Catholic Faithful, clutched rosary beads and prayed.

Randy Gorman, who said he is an atheist, used a megaphone to make himself heard over honking cars, chirping cellular phones and other protesters.

"Religion is bad," Gorman said between shouts toward the hotel. "That's why we're all here. It would be a much better place without religion."

The crowd was expected to grow into the evening, when a candlelight march was to be followed by a prayer vigil. Police set up a command post inside the hotel to deal with larger crowds.

John Vogel, 38, of St. Joseph, Minn. was among those who arrived early. Vogel said he was abused by a priest when he was 8.

"I want them to come find me. I've been waiting for 30 years," he said. "What I want is zero tolerance. Abusing a kid is not OK at any time. A law is law."

John's Saturday Report

Saturday was the last day of the conference, and the hotel itself was pretty sedate. In attendance from Metroplex Atheists were David Penn, Danny & Ginny Barnett, Carolyn Holland, Shelly and myself. Our Catholic pals were still there, and we'd gotten quite a rapport with them. The Catholic protestors were very disappointed with the turnout. If even one percent of local Catholics had showed up to show support, they would've filled the protest line for several blocks. Instead, they got about a half-dozen people, most of whom were from out of town. We had a good time, though, singing old Catholic hymns (which I joined in, being an old altar boy and all).

Also in attendance were about fifteen of Fred Phelps' "God Hates Fags" people at the far side of the block. They brought dozens of signs, but basically only stayed long enough to get their pictures taken.

We had a couple of religious zealots on our side who screamed "SODOMITE" every time they saw a priest-collar emerge from the building. The zealots were also angry at us atheists and at the Catholic protestors, because we're a buncha evil heathens and whore-of-Babylon-worshippers. We had some fun with the zealots when the protest got quiet.

One particularly loud one with a megaphone didn't like us at all, condemning us to hell and pointing out that the Bible calls us "fools". I asked him to complete the verse, which he could not do, so I completed it for him, stating that the same verse states that we do abominable works and are incapable of doing good. I then asked if I threw a quarter in a Salvation Army bucket, if I would be doing a "good" thing, thus invalidating the verse. He first stated that it would, but then realized what he was saying and reversed himself, saying that throwing a quarter in the bucket was not a "good" thing, but was instead a "nice" thing, which is totally different. He was funny.

Unfortunately, zealotboy eventually had his megaphone taken away, which was pretty uncool on the part of security folks. I mean, he was annoying, but being annoying isn't a crime.

There was a little media there, mostly to take shots of the bishops' leaving. Not many interviews. We finally broke up around 1:00 pm. The zealots and Phelpsoids left earlier. The only protestors remaining were about four of the Catholics. We wished each other well and headed home.