Catholic Priest Delivers Pro-Life Homily - Some Parishioners Walk Out

San Diego News Notes ^ | December 2003

[NYer]

SOME PARISHIONERS WALKED OUT during a homily given by Father Walter J. Quinn, O.S.A, of New York City-based Priests for Life at Sacred Heart Parish in Coronado the weekend of November 14-16. In his hard-hitting homily, Father Quinn chided apathetic Catholic laity, particularly Catholic politicians, for voting their finances instead of their faith. The following are excerpts from the homily Father Quinn gave at the 9:00 a.m. Mass, for which he received a hearty ovation.

"...There is nothing in our society that destroys more lives than abortion: not crime, sickness, disease, natural disasters, not even war. There are more lives taken in this country by abortion in one single year than all the wars that the United States ever fought, from George Washington right up to the present. The figures don't even come close. Death by abortion in one year is 35 times greater."

"...There are two generations of Americans who have grown up, especially if they went to public schools, hearing that abortion is somehow some kind of a right, and everybody else has to pay for it with their tax dollars. Most Americans seem to be unaware, and might be quite shocked to learn, that there are 4,400 abortions in this country every 24-hour period. That's more than [died in] the World Trade Center every single day.?

"...The great tragedy of the last and the current century is the deliberate and brutal destruction of countless human lives, sanctified by government and bought into by all levels of society including the United Nations."

"...Economics, education, war, capital punishment, jobs, whatever, none of these other life issues is equal to, superior to, can be equated with, or used as an excuse not to support the very right to life."

"...Women do not get an abortion because of freedom of choice. No. They get them because they feel they have no freedom and no choice. They feel trapped, desperate, and afraid because they have no one to turn to except the abortionist."

"...Legal abortion facilities in this country of ours are the most unregulated surgical facilities in the entire nation. Unregulated. Animal hospitals, veterinary clinics, are cleaner and safer, held to higher standards and subject to stricter legal controls than are the facilities where 4,400 human babies are destroyed every single day."

"...At the March for Life in Washington in January, I usually stand at the corner of Seventh and Constitution, because when you're in the parade, you don't see it. From curb to curb, there are 25 or 30 people abreast. Every four rows is 100, every 10 units is 1000. It's simple mathematics that there has to be 250 to 350 thousand or more people there. And yet we get phone calls and e-mails from all over the country in which people tell us that they didn't read or hear about it in their local press. That's called suppression of truth."

"...Human life is being destroyed on a massive scale, and all the levels of society are looking the other way, just like they did in Nazi Germany in the 1930s."

"...Don't be bullied by slogans that sound very, very nice such as pro-choice. It sounds very fair, very feeling, very American. But some choices have victims. The child of abortion is the obvious victim, destroyed by the mother's choice."

"...Those who continue to support and to vote for candidates, persons and programs [that support abortion] are simply making possible the deaths of millions of innocent human lives."

"...It's long overdue that all those anti-life and so-called pro-choice Catholics begin to suffer a guilty conscience, because someday they will meet God, and then they will know the meaning of God's will and God's grace."

[NYer]

FR. WALTER J. QUINN, O.S.A., a member of the Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, headquartered at Villanova, Pennsylvania, was born August 8, 1930 in Lansdowne, PA and attended West Catholic High School in Philadelphia. He then went on to the Wharton School of Finance & Commerce of the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated in 1952 with a BS in Economics with a major in Marketing & Industrial Management. He served two years in the Army as a First Lieutenant during the Korean War. He then worked in industrial sales in the PA, NJ and DE tri-state area.

In 1955 he entered the Augustinian Novitiate and began graduate studies for the Priesthood at Villanova University and at Augustinian College in Washington, DC with an MA in Religious Education. Along the way he picked up credits for an MA in International Law at Catholic University and was ordained to the Priesthood in Washington's National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in 1961.

Fr. Quinn brings to Priests For Life his long experience of 40 years as an Augustinian Priest in parish work, having served in many parishes in the Northeast: in the Philadelphia area at Our Mother of Consolation in Chestnut Hill, St. Genevieve in Flourtown, Our Mother of Good Counsel in Bryn Mawr, St. Thomas of Villanova in Rosemont-Villanova and as Pastor at Olde St. Augustine, the First Foundation of the Augustinian Order in the USA in 1796, six blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. In New York, Fr. Quinn served at St. Nicholas of Tolentine in the Bronx, Our Lady of Good Counsel in Staten Island, and at Immaculate Conception in Hoosick Falls-Albany Diocese. In New Jersey, he ministered at St. Nicholas of Tolentine in Atlantic City-Camden Diocese. During this period he also served as Chaplain in Chestnut Hill Hospital, Bryn Mawr Hospital, and the Atlantic City Medical Center.

After a 1992 storm wrought catastrophic damage to the 200-year-old Olde St. Augustine Church, he replaced the church roof and steeple, and the many interior historical paintings covering every wall and ceiling, a project costing 1.2 million dollars. The paintings were restored by methods similar to the restoration of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

After seven years as Pastor at Olde St. Augustine, Fr. Quinn volunteered to work in the Augustinian Province of St. Joseph in Canada on the scenic northeastern shore of Nova Scotia at St. Augustine Monastery (the first Augustinian Foundation in Canada), where the ministry is hearing confessions and conducting retreats.

Bishop Colin Campbell, Bishop of the Antigonish Diocese, appointed him Diocesan Spiritual Director of the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary, a recently formed lay group (based out of Manchester, NH) encouraging spiritual growth and reparation to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The group now has chapters in the US, Canada, England and Ireland.

Fr. Quinn has been actively involved in the pro-life movement since the late sixties, long before the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision of the US Supreme Court and the advent of the computer age. He led parish groups to the annual March for Life in Washington, and is founder of still-active pro-life groups at the parish level, both "Main Line Life Line" in suburban Philadelphia in the late 70's and "Atlantic Life Line" in Atlantic City, N.J. in the late 80's.

Upon returning from Canada he joined Priests For Life in September 1999. "I am convinced that the main focus of the Gospel of Life reaches people in and through the Church at the parish level." As the latest addition to the Priests for Life staff he will be preaching on abortion and euthanasia to groups of clergy and laity throughout the nation encouraging all to "stand up and be counted" and be actively involved in this most important crusade of our time: to serve, protect and defend life from the innocent unborn to the oldest of the old among us!

Fr. Walter Quinn is available to speak by invitation. Please contact our travel office: PO Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314; Tel: 888-PFL-3448, 718-980-4400; Travel Dept. Fax: 603-908-3075; email: travels@priestsforlife.org 

[NYer]

Election Resources for You!

[fml]

It surprises me that some would walk out. I would have thought they would just fake it until the end of the mass.

[matrix2225]

Thank you for ping Marry Christmas and Happy New Year. God Bless.

Encouraging all to "stand up and be counted" and be actively involved in this most important crusade of our time: to serve, protect and defend life from the innocent unborn to the oldest of the old among us!

That is something we should be prepared to do. As Christians we should pray for each other and for those who refuse to see that life is so precious it is the greatest gift from God to us.

God Bless

[Desdemona]

Don't be bullied by slogans that sound very, very nice such as pro-choice. It sounds very fair, very feeling, very American.

This is part of the problem. Again, the language. It can hide so much. Saying that people like me are "vertically challenged" doesn't change the fact that we're short.

And the people walk out...we will pray for them. We are there to hear the truth, not always what we want to hear.

[Salvation]

A bump for Father Quinn.

Did you see the article about Bishop Olmstead saying the Rosary outside an abortion clinic in Phoenix?

[SaucyCranberry]

God Bless and Keep Father Quinn. And prayers for those who walked out, that they may have their hearts and minds opened back up to the truth.

[EODGUY]

Our new Bishop leads participants in the rosary monthly outside an abortion facility not far from our cathedral in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. These men are true shepherds!

God bless,

EODGUY

[GirlShortstop]

God Bless and Keep Father Quinn. And prayers for those who walked out, that they may have their hearts and minds opened back up to the truth.

Amen!
M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S

[NYer]

Pro-life ping!

[sandyeggo]

I've been past that church on many occasions - my husband used to work on North Island. Coronado is across the bay from downtown San Diego - the famous Hotel Del Coronado is nearby, as well as the Naval Amphib base, North Island NAS, and a beautiful village community. I'm disappointed.

However, after seing this great sermon, I'll be sure to attend Mass there when I have the opportunity. God bless Fr. Quinn!

[little jeremiah]

Thanks - I wish I could share some of the yummy fudge we've been making to share with everyone. (I know it's yummy - I had 4 huge pieces last night!)

Merry Christmas!

[sandyeggo]

I left off part of what I wanted to say in the above post. I'm disappointed that any walked out - but the fact that he received a hearty ovation is wonderful - and what I'd expect from a more conservative, congregation consisting of quite a bit of military, active and retired.

[kitkat]

Thank you, Nyer. Those figures are eye-opening. Sometimes I think we're living in Sodam & Gomorrah.

[saradippity]

Ny'er,thanks for the article!!

Our new Bishop did pray the rosary with us on Christmas Eve outside of an abortion place and on Christmas Day said Mass and visited with prisoners in the jail.It sems that we are very blessed.

[Conservative til I die]

It surprises me that some would walk out. I would have thought they would just fake it until the end of the mass.

These are DU-style Catholics. Everything's political to them.

[sweetliberty]

Kinda makes separating the sheep from the goats a bit easier, doesn't it?

[Conservative til I die]

Why can't my pastor be like this? Instead I've got Fr. Bruce flitting down the aisle.

[redgolum]

A few months ago, my pastor delivered a similar sermon. At least eight families walked out of the service I was in, and he said more left the church after that.

It is a sad state of affairs when a pastor stands up and delivers a much needed message, and some in the congregation are so offended they leave the church.

[cyn]

Hi -- fyi

[NeoCaveman]

A few months ago, my pastor delivered a similar sermon. At least eight families walked out of the service I was in, and he said more left the church after that.

These priests need our notes of support. Doing the right thing is not always easy or popular. Infact it is usually quite hard.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

It is a sad state of affairs when a pastor stands up and delivers a much needed message, and some in the congregation are so offended they leave the church.

Dare I say that they hadn't been part of the church for a long time? They just came to the services.

[Barnacle]

SOME PARISHIONERS WALKED OUT

Just keep on walking.

[Ant_biter]

Politicians want abortion to be legal so that they can cover up their dirty adultereous acts just in case. Women especially the wives are being fooled or used once again.

[Francis Joseph]

Any "Catholic" who walks out on a pro-life homily might as well stay out, for they are only kidding themselves if they believe themselves to be Catholic.

[sitetest]

Dear redgolum,

"It is a sad state of affairs when a pastor stands up and delivers a much needed message, and some in the congregation are so offended they leave the church."

From my perspective, I'm grateful that there are priests willing to speak truth sufficiently clearly that it actually offends some in the pews.


sitetest

[ardara]

As a regular at the March for Life I agree with Father Quinn on the media.Attending the March and then reading about it in the media shows clearly that on certain sujects the Amreican media is as bad as that in the Communist Soviet Union.If they cover the March the liberal media give the same coverage to a couple of dozen pro-abortionists as they give to tens of thousands of pro-life marchers.
Attend the March,see for your self. My wife and I would not miss it as long as one baby is being killed.

[NYer]

I'm disappointed that any walked out - but the fact that he received a hearty ovation is wonderful

Recall Francis Cardinal Arrinze's commencement address at Georgetown! TRUE Catholic doctrine is difficult for some to digest, much less embrace. That is why so many parish priests avoid 'sensitive' topics like marriage & divorce, and contraception & abortion. Don't want to reduce the weekly collection ... er, I mean the weekly attendance ;-)

The true hero in this story is the pastor who allowed him to speak. He deserves a letter of support!

[NYer]

Instead I've got Fr. Bruce flitting down the aisle.

You too?!! My pastor floats down the aisle and doesn't quite know what to do with his hands when talking (keeps them clasped like a woman). /sigh/ He also suffers from 'crucifix' phobia /double sigh/. Just loves the major holy days when he can apply his inate talent for decorating with uplights, banners, and bold colors. Can you imagine wearing red vestments (normally reserved for Pentecost) at the Midnight Mass on Christmas.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Deo gratias

[A.A. Cunningham]

Father Michael F. Murphy
Pastor
Phone (619) 435-3167
ext. 301
pastor@sacredheartcor.org

[Victoria Delsoul]

Wow, that's fantastic, NYer! Thanks so much for posting this.

[NYer]

Thanks for posting the pictures! Beautiful church - palm trees and no snow ;-)

[secret garden]

This is an admirable man. Too bad the CINOs don't want to hear the truth.

[redgolum]

I actually had a long talk with both pastors about this a few weeks later. The families that had walked out were fairly new there, but there was a few that had been there for a year or more. The senior pastor told me that the mother of one of the families had spoken to him saying that they would not tolerate any anti abortion sermons.

Two weeks later pastor gave one, and they left! The two pastors were not sorry, and made a point the following week to say that.

However in a local mega-church in Omaha, they have a strict policy of no talk of abortion. To many of the "members" would leave.

[cpforlife.org]

St. Thomas Aquinas said The Truth is Hate to those who hate the truth.

A few years ago our Parochial Vicar gave a great pro-life homily. 15 minutes into it he got visibly nervous and abruptly switched to "social teaching"

A buddy told me later in the week that he quietly turned around to watch the expression of the congregation. He said several had disgusted angry faces. The good Padre must have lost his nerve?

I later asked why he didn't give more pro-life homilies since he is pro-life. He said once or twice per year is all the flock can take and he didn't want to loose them.



Inside the Minds of Priests on the Abortion Issue
http://www.lifeissues.org/connector/display.asp?page=02oct.html

As we approach the 30th anniversary of abortion-on-demand, some pro-lifers have expressed a frustration that unborn babies are still being killed, even though the numbers are decreasing. What would help end this modern day holocaust? It’s a common opinion among pro-life leaders and educators that abortion would end sooner if the churches would actively educate and motivate the members of their congregations and parishes regarding this issue. A positive development toward this end has been a project by Priests for Life who commissioned a credible survey of priests on the abortion issue.

Protestants also take note. The survey reveals information that may shed light on how you too can approach your pastors to activate the abortion issue within non-Catholic churches.

Wirthlin Worldwide, a highly respected polling firm, surveyed over 500 priests across the nation by telephone. In part, the study was designed to "measure priests' general awareness of abortion and abortion issues in the US and discover how priests address the issue of abortion in their own ministry."

The results provide a snapshot, revealing areas where individuals and pro-life organizations have an opportunity to work with priests to promote education and motivation within more Catholic parishes.

Priests' Knowledge of Abortion
The research showed that a majority of priests are generally informed regarding the basics on abortion. 65 percent knew that abortion was legally available throughout the nine months of pregnancy. 68% were aware that most abortions are performed for social or economic reasons – the reason for over 98% of all abortions done.

Most priests substantially underestimated the number of abortions done in the US each year. Only 7% said there were over 100,000 abortions performed annually. The reality is that, every year, over 1.3 million unborn babies die on the altar of "choice". Further, 57% felt that the rate of abortion is lower in their community compared to the general population. Only 4% thought that it was higher.

Abortion rated as the most important issue with about half of those polled (52%). It was closely followed by poverty (43%) and drug abuse (34%). Euthanasia and assisted suicide came in fourth (26%). (The percentages do not add up to 100 because respondents were able to select more than one answer.)

How They Address the Abortion Issue
The priests were asked, as representatives of the church, how often did they mentioned the abortion issue. 19 percent said once or twice a year, 40% said every few months, 25% mentioned abortion every few weeks and 14% mentioned it weekly or more. How often do they preach on abortion? 32% admitted that they never dedicated an entire homily to abortion, while 55% did once or twice a year. Only 10% preached exclusively on abortion every few months and 2% did so every few weeks.

When they do preach about abortion, 78% talk about the rights of unborn babies, 60% about post-abortion healing and forgiveness, 56% speak to the issue of harm to women and how this action offends God and 44% address the need to change the law.

A vast majority (76%) felt that they addressed abortion about the right amount, while 22% felt they were not addressing it frequently enough. The two most common reasons given for not addressing it enough was that there are too many issues to deal with (29%) and that abortion is a sensitive issue (15%). Only 1% indicated a concern that there would be a woman in the congregation that may have had an abortion.

When asked in what other ways did they address the abortion issue, a wide variety of reasons were given, the most common being counseling (40%), community involvement (34%) or in general meetings or sessions (24%).

The poll seems to indicate that a majority of priests are open to further education. 36% felt that a majority of the people they serve know all they need to know about abortion. 59% felt they didn't know enough. It also appears that the members of Catholic parishes are eager to hear more on this issue. When asked how receptive a majority of the people were to abortion discussions, 87% felt they were very or somewhat receptive, while only 9% felt they were not very or not at all receptive.

A valuable result of the poll shows which abortion-related activities priests would most likely promote. 71% said the distribution of educational material in the parish, 59% indicated a special mass, 37% would allow a guest speaker for an evening event, while 27% a guest weekend preacher. 32% would participate in a prayer vigil at an abortion clinic. 77% would be very or somewhat likely to place a local or national hotline phone number on the cover of the parish bulletin that refers people to alternatives to abortion.

While 40% of the priests polled said that there were no obstacles to make it more difficult to address the abortion issue, 23% indicated that the issue was very emotional, 14% noted a lack of interest on the part of the congregation and 12% said it didn't fit in the church.

Their Personal Response
When asked how important the abortion issue was to them personally when voting for candidates, 37 percent said it was extremely important and 37% indicated it was very important. 25% said that it was only somewhat or not very important.

Researchers asked them how important should the abortion issues be for Catholics when deciding who to vote for. 31% responded extremely important and 42% said very important. 26% indicated only somewhat or not very important.

Perhaps one of the most revealing results of the research was that the priests polled clearly felt that the responsibility for ending abortion was not theirs. Who should bear this responsibility? A full 62% said laity in the church, 16% indicated the government and only 11% said the clergy.

How We Can Assist Them
What would help priests to personally feel more equipped to address the abortion issue? The research shows 41 percent said training on counseling, while 39% said resources for preaching and the opportunity to share experiences regarding pro-life activities with other priests. 34% wanted ideas for parish and school activities.

We now have a better idea of how priests obtain most of their information on abortion (73%) from literature from pro-life groups and (56%) from their diocese. The most helpful venues for pro-life information were short newsletters (49%) and videotapes (22%). Pro-life web sites may be a wealth of information because about half (46%) of those polled use the Internet to get information.

Priests for Life was familiar to 84% of the priests polled, with 78% of them having a very or somewhat favorable impression of the organization. As a result, you may want to have them assist your efforts to reach out to more Catholic clergy. Contact Priests for Life, PO Box 141172, Staten Island, NY 10314. Phone 718.980.4400. www.priestsforlife.org

Another contact for Catholic resources is the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, 3211 4th St., NE, Washington, DC 20017. Phone 202.541.3070. www.usccb.org/prolife

[dsc]

"He said once or twice per year is all the flock can take and he didn't want to loose them."

Does he want them to lose their immortal souls?

The point of the exercise is not to bring the church in line with secular society, but to bring us all in line with God's will.

[viaveritasvita]

Copy and send to Catholic friends and select some quotes from Fr. Quinn for Roe v Wade "anniversary" email.

<><

[NormalGuy]

What would help priests to personally feel more equipped?

Answer: Cajones

[enuu]

Exactly! Well stated.

[Jeff Chandler]

It's good to hear of a strong pro-life homily. As an aside, this evening I'm attending a Christmas meeting of people involved with Virtue Media. Wonderful organization. I hope I'm up to it. I'm exhausted from the work of the redesign of the Catholic Children's Company website. The owner is a friend of mine, a good Catholic man working hard to raise a large family. (Anyone who has a Baptism, First Holy Communion, or Confirmation can find everything you need at his website.)

[.45MAN]

As always thanks for the ping.............

[madprof98]

These sermons tend to be delivered only to congregations that are likely to receive them well--namely, those which need to hear them the least. At our parish, I've heard only one mention of abortion in a sermon in the past four years, and it was "paired" with a condemnation of the death penalty.

[NYer]

I'm exhausted from the work of the redesign of the Catholic Children's Company website.

Nice work! Well designed and meticulously organized. I hope to be teaching next year's Confirmation class and will make a point of directing them to your web site.

[Salvation]

**Our new Bishop leads participants in the rosary monthly outside an abortion facility not far from our cathedral in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. These men are true shepherds!**

This is wonderful.

It also happened in Phoenix while I was there with Bishop Olmstead leading the Rosary.

[Salvation]

Copy off this article and give it to him? Be sincere and ask the question about God calling him (through his priesthood) to the light of life!

[Salvation]

**there are 4,400 abortions in this country every 24-hour period. That's more than [died in] the World Trade Center every single day.?

We need to have these numbers on the tips of our tongues to rebuff any remarks by non-Christians about pro-choice!!!

[Salvation]

Feast of the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Jesus, Mary and Joseph pray for us!

[Jeff Chandler]

Nice work! ... I hope to be teaching next year's Confirmation class and will make a point of directing them to your web site.

Thank you. Gary will appreciate the business.

[johnb2004]

EXCELLENT.

I hope there are more sermons that speak the truth. When more so-called "catholics" walk out, then I know change is coming. Pagan culture has washed so many brains that they do not even recognize Truth anymore.

This priest needs to be congratulated.

What would be good is if more people walked out on the vapid, P.C. sermons that most of us have to tolerate each week.