The following comes from a September 27 story on LifeSiteNews.com.
A pro-life billboard advertisement placed in San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood was taken down following numerous acts of vandalism mocking the pro-life message, comparing the unborn to animals, and urging their murder.
The billboard, which has been displayed in various cities, shows a black man holding a newborn baby and declaring “A Father’s Joy,” followed by a quote from the Gospel of St. Matthew: “And whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” At the bottom left of the display the logo of Pro-Life Across America is displayed, with a phone number.
Although the billboard does not mention abortion directly, apparently the mere celebration of the life of an infant was enough to provoke a bitter and hateful backlash in Bernal Heights.
The display was first modified to say “A Mother’s CHOICE” instead of “A Father’s Joy,” followed by a modification to the logo “Pro-life across America” to make it say “PRO-VAGINA Across AMERICA,” with the phone number blotted out.
Area newspapers and blogs winked at or approved of the vandalism.
Blogging for SF Weekly, Erin Sherbert noted that “liberals across San Francisco were thrilled by the work of some left-leaning artists who took it upon themselves to revise a pro-choice billboard spotted along Cortland Avenue. It was like really cheap neighborhood beautification!”
A blogger at Bernalwood posted a photo of the vandalism and quoted resident “Jon” as saying, “It did not take long for the right-wing, anti-choice ad on Cortland at Andover to get a Bernal makeover,” an opinion seconded by many commenters.
San Francisco’s Uptown Almanac remarked that “some nefarious vandals in Bernal Heights hacked apart a creepy Christian billboard depicting John Legend about to eat a baby. The pro-vagina update? Much nicer, if I do say so myself.”
After the billboard was replaced with a new copy of the original display, it was again vandalized, this time with the image of a shrimp superimposed over the image of the baby, in an apparent attempt to compare an unborn child with a shrimp. The words “KILL THE SHRIMP” were then written on the bottom right, with “KILL” in red letters.
After the second mutilation of the billboard, it was permanently removed. Over the blank space left by the poster, another vandal wrote “BERNAL CHOSE! PRO-JOY!”
The second change sparked criticism from Bernalwood, the blog that had originally posted the photos of the “makeover,” calling it “unclever and rather tasteless. Yuck. Please, make it stop.” SF Weekly called it a “disgrace,” but added: “So the conservatives behind that pro-life billboard finally took a hint. And that’s how politics in San Francisco works….”
For original story, click here.
Leave it up! The defaced billboard says more about the low-life dirtbags of 2nd grade intellect who support abortion than the original ad ever could!
Absolutely, it should be left up so everyone can see that “choicers” are anti-life and degenerate pigs as well.
Such a shame to acquest to such sick vandals!!!
I would continue to put it up everytime they vandalize and not give up!!!
Can’t let these real sick people dictate to the people of San Francisco.
I say this as a 4th generation San Franciscan. I wish people like
that would return to their original place of birth, wherever that might be,
and stop ruining the City of St. Francis that my family helped build.
They need prayers, big time these people, to say the least!!!!!!!!!
Bernal heights never use to be that bad. Choice has the possibility of taking a person down the road to hell.
Only a fool would raise up their Children to become this sort of person
The culture of death is once again proudly proclaimed in Sodom by the Bay, San Francisco. Pro-life statements are not allowed. “Free speech” is permitted only when it fits into their narrow creed of death and sexual perversion. We must include Archbishop Cordileone in our prayers daily and remember him at Mass. He will need all the help we can give him.
The city of St. Francis needs the prayer of St.Francis….”where there is hatred let me sow love….”
Imagine that ! An innocent baby considered an evil. Time to sit back and think that one over. It’s SO sick as to defy diagnosis and description. Somebody’s elevator doesn’t go all the way to the top floor. It’s scary, isn’t it ?
Without Christ, the soul is engulfed in darkeness.
That is so beautiful Mbûkû Kanyau Mbithûka! I agree.
jp:
Don’t insult second-graders! They love babies as if by instinct. It takes a Herodian hardening of conscience and brain of which only corrupt adults are capable to manage an insult to life such as this vandalism. Little children know better.
the satanic left rears its head,,,
It is the hallmark of totalitarianism of every kind that the free exercise of speech and of religion must be surpressed. No one but the True Believer may voice an opinion — on virtually anything. These are dangerous people who vandalize private property in the name of “right thinking people” (a phrase witnessed during the SF State riots to justify beating up a CBS cameraman who was seen by the imported thugs as not being “right thinking”). The barbarism shown in Bernal Heights reflects Obama’s own party, which seeks all manner of prior restraint in speech, behavior, and choice (except to have an abortion, itself a political act to the cognizeti). Black people, as shown by the US Government’s own statistics, are more adversely affected by abortion than any other race or ethnic group, which should gladden the hearts of all devotees of Margaret Sanger (who wanted to lessen the number of the world’s “undesireables”). Portraying a black man’s joy at the birth of a child is wonderful, and life affirming, good reason for the Nazi’s of the present Age to attack and destroy.
We are under God’s judgment at this time, and this is only one manifestation of it. We have turned our backs as a nation on God and all that is good and holy; what can we expect? As Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians for worshiping idols and forgetting the Covenant with God, even after repeated warnings by the prophets, we are facing the demise of the USA. Christians are being arrested for praying on the sidewalk across from the White House-on public property. When our own law enforcement officers do this…perhaps it will take much more suffering and persecution to awaken America to its fall from grace. Will our national leaders address the real problem in this country before it is too late?
DO NOT TAKE IT DOWN! It bears silent witness, especially with the pervert hate crime words attached. This ought to be reported at least to the SF police so there is a record. It also needs to be reported to the CA Attorney General who keeps track of such crime.
I’m not a church-going Catholic anymore because I worry that every priest I meet could be a sexual predator. But I do applaud the Church’s position of right to life for all and I am refreshed by this great news site.
David, I hope that you can find your way back to going to Mass. We don’t go to Mass to worship the priest but to worship GOD. We are giving him praise and glory through our prayers at Mass. Why deny yourself because some priests have broken their vows and harmed others? When we go to Mass and receive holy communion, we receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ and share in His perfection. God has given us this great gift. Don’t let your anger at human beings deprive you of this great gift.
A good post, Mark.
“I’m not a church-going Catholic anymore because I worry that every priest I meet could be a sexual predator.”
Are you an idiot, or what?
This is like saying you won’t go out on the street because you think every cop is going to be corrupt and shoot you!!!!!!!!!
If you really believe that the current Demoncrat California Attorney General, Kamila Harris, keeps track of these crimes against the pro-life cause. Can I sell you a bridge?
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
David, would you not put your children in school, team sports, scouts or the care of a babysitter? There have been many more attacks on children in these places than in the church by priests. Please do not paint all priest with the same brush. That is unfair to the priest that have to bare the cross these perverted deviants have set upon them.
The kind of “worry” you describe sounds pathological. You might benefit from some counseling.
The “abuser” priests are a very small number; less than 2%, yet with thinking like yours, many people look with judgment and distain at all priests, a burden they do not deserve.
I hope you are not a teacher, coach, scout leader, boyfriend of a single mother or choir director, because the percentages of abusers amoung these groups is much higher and people might avoid you because of it.
The priest acts in the person of Christ at mass and your faith should teach you that the Eucharist is the closest we humans can come to Christ on this earth. Your “worry” is keeping you from the food your soul needs; clearly what it needs for healing.
Alice excellent comments!
I think the billboard should be left up just as it is. It will surely give people something to think about. It will let them know what the abortion mentality is. It is a terrible thing to take away or lessen someone’s humanity.
MarkfromPA,
Would a large billboard of Obama give YOU something to think about? Would it remind you of the abortion mentality that you voted for in the last election? It is a terrible thing to vote for the abortion mentality because it lessens the humanity and the dignity of the unborn.
Looking the other way or pretending to ignore mass murder while voting for a candidate just because that candidate supports same sex marriage goes completely against Catholic Church teaching. Whatsoever you do to the least and most helpless of God’s children that you’ll do unto Him.
Last Sunday at a Catholic Church in Orange County, a priest courageously spoke up in his homily about Caroline Kennedy standing on a stage in front of the entire world saying that you could be pro choice and be a Catholic. This priest boldly proclaimed the Catholic truth saying. ” Caroline Kennedy is wrong!” You cannot be pro choice and be Catholic”.
A man in the pews stood up and yelled back at the priest, “O Yes You Can!” The priest courageously continued to teach what the Catholic Church teaches.
Mark, This possessed man actually stood up to mock an alter Christus during his homily. I wonder if this same possessed man supports same sex marriage too? Mark, I know you prefer to pretend to think that the devil is not real or a figment of imagination but look how the father of lies has duped so many minions. These slaves are not just serving the devil on Catholic websites, they are also serving the devil by sitting in Church pews and openly doing his evil bidding.
Mark will you also be doing his evil bidding in the voting booth? May I remind you that there is no such thing as a secret ballot when it comes to Almighty God.
Mark, Please answer this specific question. Do you think it it wrong for a Catholic to choose to vote for a candidate who supports same sex marriage?
May God Bless the courageous priest, who with great love and conviction courageously defended the teachings of the Catholic Church! This fine priest is an example of faithfully serving the right Master!
No, I do not think it is wrong for a Catholic to choose to vote for a candidate who supports same sex marriage. It depends on where the candidate stands on many issues. If a candidate was prejudiced against blacks and Latinos and supported same sex marriage I would not vote for him. On the other hand I wouldn’t support a candidate that was prejudiced against blacks, Latinos and gays. I am for candidates that are for civil rights and against discrimination.
Although the USCCB as a group has failed to do this, a number of courageous bishops along with the Holy See have clearly taught that all issues are not alike and that grave violations of the moral law such as abortion, attempts to redefine marriage and the Obamacare mandate which would force Catholics to become accomplices in evil–all these stand alone and take priority over differences in matters of prudential judgment on political issues. Cardinal Mahony, a man never known for conservatism, has given Obama a virtual anti-endorsement. Mahony said that no candidate who would force Catholics to violate their consciences deserves anyone’s vote. How ironic. Of all bishops–Mahony!–is the one who has said what others have only hinted at–that no Catholic may vote for Obama–period. It is a matter of record that a voter may only vote for a pro-abortion politician because of “proportionately grave” reasons–but some bishops have come out and said that in today’s America, there are NO proportionately grave reasons offsetting abortion, from which a pro-abortion candidate could benefit.
Healthconcerns, I actually have a friend who is a priest and I have discussed elections and candidates with him and sought his advice on who to vote for. I value his advice on these matters due to his vast knowledge and education.
When will God’s wrath hit SF?
it already did hit SF — it’s called “fog.”
max…you’re alive!
Goes to show you the mentality of those who view the unborn as a shrimp. This is very heart breaking. I know that it provokes anger in us who value life, at first I was angry but now I am really sad that we live in a world that is sooo wicked!
We have to share this life with those who think this way enough to even climb up high and graffiti this pro-life bill board. The words are haunting, it really is a scary world.
Poor innocent unborn babies, some do not have the blessing to be given a chance at life, they never chose the womb that they were conceived in, the tragedy is when mankind decides that it is not a life, it is not important enough to respect it’s being…..
The defacement is offensive and shameful. The spin by this article and its comments below, however, incorrectly stretches this as an attack on all Christians, or as one commenter stretches, to reflect Obama. As a Catholic and San Franciscan, I recognize that a snarky guy who sprayed this billboard does not reflect Obama or Romney, or the San Francisco neighborhood of Bernal Heights or San Francisco at large. Neither is this man’s stupid antics an attack on Christians. Most San Franciscans are people of peace and revere life and respect the legacy of St. Francis, regardless of whether they agree with Vatican politics or this website. Peace, please.
Healthconcerns: This billboard isn’t about President Obama. I realize that many people hate President Obama but we aren’t talking about this here. It sounds like you are telling me that I shouldn’t vote in November. Your name “healthconcerns” makes me think of the many people who don’t have health insurance. I didn’t vote for President Clinton but now I feel that he was correct in pushing for health reform during his first administration. If that had been done, (at a time when the US was in better economic shape) things would be more settled now in that regard. I voted for President George W Bush twice but do you think that I should be held responsible for all the people who died in the Iraq war because I voted for Bush? I didn’t know that was going to happen. My mother despised Dick Cheney and would never vote for Bush for that reason, among others. I came to learn that much of what she told me was right. JP, I agree with what you are saying here.