Father Joseph Illo, pastor of Star of the Sea parish in San Francisco, gave a 10-minute homily in a Mass he said on Sunday, Feb. 14 in front of Planned Parenthood, “a chamber of death and an abomination in the sight of God.”
Go to the 1 minute 15 second marker of the video::
“This facility, with the strange demonic-like sculpture above, that they haven’t removed, reminds me of in those Chronicles of Narnia the demon Tash, a bird-like- figure with talons and scales and awful eyes and beak, whose purpose was to tear people apart.”
[Editor: Sound for some reason ends at the 8:10 mark of the 10-minute homily.]
You can’t talk about abortion? What planet does he live on. People talk about it all the time. He’s just trying to make himself sound courageous when he’s merely grandstanding. Abortion is talked about all the time. Leftist politicians won’t shut up about it. Republicans and Big ProLife won’t stop fundraising on it with fake promises to curb or restrict it. Every major court nominee is grilled about Roe v. Wade. It’s literally discussed all the time in politics. You can’t get away from it. Sorry, Fr. Illo, you have set up a straw man.
Josh, have you listened to our president? Mr. Biden speaks only of “choice,” “full access to healthcare,” “women’s rights” and “reproductive freedom.” He does not dare mention abortion (although most know that’s what he means) as he promotes and funds it.
Leftist politicians, similarly, only very rarely will use the word abortion.
Even Planned Parenthood, Big Abortion, is reluctant to acknowledge that’s a major activity of theirs and source of their income.
While abortion can be addressed in homilies, virtually every time a bishop, priest of deacon brings it up, even in the context of other sins against humanity, that preacher will get, either directly or anonymously, criticism. Yet, some, like Fr. Illo, do bring it up, as do some pro-life office holders.
Unless you’re on a different one, in answer to your question, we are all on the same planet. It’s the only one we get. Let look out for and protect one another until we reach our heavenly home.
Deacon Anderson,
This makes me think that the Left is afraid of the word. If true, we should all use it more often.
That’s why our Respect Life ministry sent a thank you card to our pastor for his homilies against abortion acknowledging his efforts.
Lisa, thank you for doing that. Although we should always do the right thing simply and only because it’s the right thing, we’re all human and it does help to get some encouragement (especially when we will almost certainly get criticism).
As I’ve found over the years, after some encouragement (and prayer for them), priests and even bishops get clearer and stronger in preaching and teaching the truth.
I’d encourage all to let their bishops, priests, deacons, lay ministry leaders and even elected officials know of your appreciation when they speak the truth and do the right thing.
Deacon Anderson,
I think you already know this and it also probably won’t change the complaints, but anytime you give a homily that involves abortion, there will be a number of women in the congregation who have aborted and who haven’t yet come to grips with what they’ve done.
A homilist has to be mindful of this and tailer his homily with this in mind.
I once went on a date with a “Catholic” woman who knew that I was Catholic. Out of nowhere, she said that the topic of abortion was off-limits. That didn’t stop me, of course. However, I do kick myself severely that I was too dense at the time to realize that she had obviously aborted – my approach should have been much different.
Thanks, Steve. And, yes, I’m aware that women and girls (and men and boys) in Catholic parishes have experienced the pain of abortion. And, many of them may not have yet sought healing for such. Similarly, when I address pornography, gender confusion, same-sex attraction, addictions, abuse or other issues, many, in virtually all parishes, have had experiences of such. Sensitively addressing painful issues is necessary. When praying in front of the Planned Parenthood abortion business, I often pray especially for those women driving by with extremely hostile reactions. I suspect some of them are victims of abortion. Catholic psychiatrist Richard Fitzgibbons notes that abortion, especially unacknowledged abortion, is a major factor in marital discord, sometimes even leading to divorce. Please pray for all clergy and others that we will not avoid the issue, yet, address it sensitively and compassionately. Truth and love always go together. (Ephesians 4:15, for one example from the Bible.)
Deacon Craig
Steve… You’re absolutely right. We need to be careful around post-abortive women but we cannot fail to engage these women while doing it compassionately, always stressing the healing and love and forgiveness of Christ. I always mention groups which help women through the abortion healing process like Project Rachel or other groups.
Josh…Do you work for Planned Parenthood Josh? I hope I’m only kidding but not sure. In 1982 the rate was 1.57 million abortions, in 2019 it was 883,000. Just think of all the lives saved. You forget the states who have restricted it, Crisis Pregnancy Centers, sidewalk counseling, unwed mother homes. Of course, you’re right we should not just talk about it but do something and I believe we do and you’re missing the point. Even on blogs you can reach out to people and I have seen many people change their minds in my own Church but putting Pro-Life Quotes every week. And having Parish pro-life activities have brought many women suffering from their abortions healing. I remember attending an event “At Peace with your Unborn” what a thoroughly unreal ceremony for those women and men who suffered from their past abortions. I believe your want instant results but God does not ask that we succeed but that we try. These so called “Big Pro-Life Organizations” do much more than you give them credit for. How many people have watched them on TV or been touched by their efforts to end abortion? How dare you judge them when you don’t know how they have impacted other people’s lives. Do something instead of complaining.
Father Illo is a very brave man. He will have the enmity of Cardinal Cupich and most Lavender bishops just for this. My hero. Pray for the little ones sacrificed for eugenics and stem cell research.
Abortion is murder