Standard Newswire is a cost-effective and efficient newswire service for public policy groups, government agencies, PR firms, think-tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, activists, politicians, and candidates to distribute their press releases to journalists who truly want to hear from them.

Do not settle for an email blasting service or a newswire overloaded with financial statements. Standard Newswire gets your news into the hands of working journalists, broadcast hosts, and news producers.

Find out how you can start using Standard Newswire to

CONNECT WITH THE WORLD

VIEW ALL Our News Outlets
Sign Up to Receive Press Releases:

Standard Newswire™ LLC
209 W. 29th Street, Suite 6202
New York, NY 10001, USA.
(212) 290-1585

Catholic Prolife Heartache: Prolifers Arrested at St. Petersburg Cathedral

Contact: 904-461-0834
 
ST. PETERSBURG, Fl., Jan. 31 /Standard Newswire/ -- Two Catholic Pro-life activists were arrested at St. Jude's Catholic Church in St. Petersburg Florida for handing out pro-life literature in the parking lot.

Andrea Terry, 32, and Joseph Landry, 26 were arrested on Sunday, January 20 (ironically, Pro-life Sunday) for placing pro-life literature on car windshields during the 6:00 p.m. Mass. (See news stories below.) Both spent about 5 hours in custody and were bailed out of the Pinellas County jail for $250 each.
 
Also present: Randall Terry, Steve Pokorny, and Francisco Gonzalez.

They were handing out "The Slavery Tract" which asks the question: "If you as a Christian would not vote for a racist or someone who espouses slavery, why would you vote for someone who supports child-killing by abortion?"

The flyer – which is aggressive but clearly pro-life - was non-partisan and did not endorse any candidate. The Priest who summoned the police knew that it was pro-life material and that the activists were fellow Catholics urging Christians to vote for pro-life candidates.

Andrea Terry is the wife of Randall Terry, the Founder of Operation Rescue.

Mrs. Terry states: "I am a pro-life mother of four small boys, trying to uphold and obey the teachings of the Church. I still can't believe we were arrested for doing exactly what the Holy Father has urged the faithful to do – namely, defend life. I'm hoping that Bishop Lynch will drop the charges."

Joseph Landry is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville Ohio (2004) and has spent the years since his graduation in mission work and youth work in two dioceses.

Mr. Landry states: "It is an injustice to us that we were treated like criminals for handing out literature that promotes the Church's teachings. It's a sad day when a Parish uses resources to fight fellow Catholics, rather than fight against the killing of children. We should be viewed as ideal young Catholics who are striving to protect the innocent unborn.

"I'm asking faithful Catholics nationwide to call Bishop Lynch and ask him to drop the charges against us."

Bishop Lynch's Diocesan number is: 727-344-1611, ext 354. (Please be polite.)

Placing voting material on cars during Mass is a common practice during an election cycle and is not against the law. It only becomes a problem when someone is told to stop. Obviously, any church has the legal right to eject someone from their property.

The troubling question is this: why would a Catholic Church forbid its most vibrant members from defending the unborn who are urging Catholics to vote pro-life? Why would a Catholic parish have a Catholic arrested for doing the very thing Catholics are trained to do – speak up for the defenseless?

http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=26597&cb300=vocations

http://suncoastpinellas.tbo.com/content/2008/jan/22/anit-abortion-activists-arrested-st-petersburg-chu/

http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2008/01/protesters-deno.html

To schedule an interview with one of the pro-life workers, call 904 461 0834.