By Tablet Staff
PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory criticized a light show projected onto the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception by Catholics for Choice and other supporters of abortion as thousands of faithful gathered for Mass during the annual National Prayer Vigil for Life, Jan. 20.
“The true voice of the Church was only to be found within the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception last evening,” Cardinal Gregory said in a statement.
.@WashArchbishop Cardinal Gregory has issued a statement on last night's events at @MarysShrine.
“The true voice of the Church was only to be found within @MarysShrine last evening."
Read his statement here: https://t.co/zG6XoylWiR pic.twitter.com/W4DJxtFTPA
— Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, DC (@WashArchdiocese) January 21, 2022
The cardinal called the the pro-abortion protestors’ light show a “prank” that was “external to the Church.”
According to Catholics for Choice spokesperson John Becker, he said the group purposely did the projection at the same time as the annual pro-life rally because the rally doesn’t “speak for [them].”
“We felt it was important to put forward the truth that majority of Catholics support abortion access,” Becker said.
The Mass drew about 5,000 to the Washington D.C. basilica, according to spokesperson Jacqueline Hayes — less than half than in recent years when 11,000 or so worshippers would shoehorn their way into the basilica.
Cardinal Gregory, who serves on the Board of Trustees for the DC basilica said inside was where “people prayed and offered the Eucharist asking God to restore a true reverence for all human life.”
So I’m outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC, and Catholics for Choice is here projecting messages onto the church in support of abortion rights.
The protest coincides with the basilica’s “prayer vigil for life,” happening inside. pic.twitter.com/0y1M7X9ByC
— Jack Jenkins (@jackmjenkins) January 20, 2022