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Three hundred Catholics gathered
in front of New Orleans City Hall to pray and express their
outrage for the blasphemous anti-Catholic floats in the French
Quarter Mardi Gras promoted by the Krewe du Vieux parade organizers.
The peaceful protest specifically responded to attacks on
the honor and purity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our
Lady of Prompt Succor in the 2005 Mardi Gras parade and revelries.
The American Society for the Defense of
Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) and its America Needs
Fatima campaign were joined by local organizations such
as Prayer Warriors of Saint Joan of Arc, the Crusade for
the Conversion of Greater New Orleans and Tradition, Family,
Property – Louisiana in promoting the two hour rally
which started at 1:30 p.m on Saturday, February 3. It was
a public act of reparation with litanies, rosaries and hymns.
Many openly claim that a return to the
debauchery and blasphemy seen at past Mardi Gras celebrations
is part of the “recovery process” for the city.
However, the rally participants registered their complete
rejection of such a “recovery” and asked city
authorities to put a stop to such lewd and blasphemous displays
against Jesus and Mary in the future.
The act of reparation was launched based
on the documented accounts of lewd and graphic displays
especially targeting the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Mother
at the 2005 New Orleans Mardi Gras parades and revelries,
some six months before Katrina.
“In light of the tragedy and devastation
that is so widespread in New Orleans,” says rally
coordinator Robert Ritchie, “the last thing Mardi
Gras revelers should be thinking about is offending God
with new blasphemies.”
Rally attendees heard inspiring addresses
from leaders such as Mrs. Nancy Albert, head of the Crusade
for the Conversion of Greater New Orleans, Former State
Rep. Naomi Farve and Mr. Thomas Drake, president of Tradition,
Family, Property – Louisiana. Catholics who traveled
from Kansas, Texas and Florida for the event also addressed
the crowd. Excerpts from the letter of New Orleans’
Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes to Mr. Robert Ritchie, of America
Needs Fatima, were read. The crowd also heard a special
message from Prince Bertrand of Orleans-Braganza, a direct
descendant of Philippe, Duke of Orleans, after whom the
city was named.
The rosary, litany to Our Lady of Prompt
Succor, St. Joan of Arc, St. Louis IX and many other prayers
marked the act of reparation with deep devotion.
Public outcry had been growing since the
blasphemous floats appeared in the 2005 French Quarter Mardi
Gras parades. The America Needs Fatima campaign had already
asked its supporters nationwide to send tens of thousands
of postcards and email protests addressed to the mayor and
city council asking them to bring such public displays of
blasphemy and lewdness to a halt.
In addition, TFP and America Needs Fatima
supporters have been sending e-mail protests to the New
Orleans City Hall and to members of the City Council. Besides
the thousands of protest emails, the Mayor has received
an estimated 47,000 protest postcards.
Chris Rose, the king of the Mardi Gras
parade this year, has complained of those who are starting
to associate the parade with blasphemy and pornography.
He reports on receiving a letter from the Archdiocese director
of pastoral service asking him to take measures against
such displays (“King of the Dammed?” The Times
Picayune, Feb. 6, 2007).
“I am appalled at the insensitivity
of the Mayor of New Orleans and the City Council in face
of the countless Catholics who are offended by these insults
to Jesus and Mary,” said campaign director Robert
E. Ritchie. “This rally is living proof that Our Lord
and Our Lady have those who honor and defend her.”
The New Orleans protest is one of many
such protests that seek to stem the epidemic of blasphemy
that threatens to sweep the nation. Thousands of Catholics
appeared for 2,092 peaceful protests and prayer vigils against
the blasphemous Da Vinci Code movie in 2006.
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