Keyes, priest arrested at Notre Dame protest

Keyes, priest arrested at Notre Dame protest

www.google.com

Former Republican presidential hopeful Alan Keyes, a Roman Catholic priest and 19 others were arrested Friday after marching onto the University of Notre Dame campus to protest President Barack Obama's planned commencement speech.
...
"Notre Dame is arresting a priest," the Rev. Norman Weslin, founder of the Lambs of Christ abortion protest group, said as Notre Dame security personnel put plastic restraints on his wrists Friday. "Why are you arresting a priest for trying to stop the killing of a baby? You've got it all backward."

(visit the link for the full news article)

Fr Norman Weslin (78), a former Lt Colonel in the US Army, was arrested by Notre Dame's own security and restrained while singing a hymn for protesting Notre Dame's honouring of President Barak Obama. I know that's what the story is but I'm repeating it in disbelief.

The "right to choose" now seemingly takes precedence over freedom of speech which is hardly surprising as it already takes precedence over the right to life.

As the story continues the judiciary itself has involved itself in favour of the anti-life status quo when the local judge on Thursday decided to change the bail conventions:

St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Michael Scopelitis issued an order Thursday changing how bond is set for a person charged with a crime while already out on bond on a pending charge. Previously, such a person could have been released under a presumptive bond schedule. Now they must await a probable cause hearing, Scopelitis said.

In honouring President Obama Notre Dame has certainly brought this question to greater prominence in national and international consciousness and all people, liberal/conservative whatever need to ponder what this kind of behaviour does for our notion of our civilised status. If your own beliefs on this matter would tempt you to think "fair enough, serves them right" then ask yourself what will you wish to protest peacefully in the future that might lead law enforcement and the judiciary to trample over your rights?

www.google.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Video of the arrest of Fr Weslin:

I consider myself pro-life and conservative, although not Republican, as the party has become a joke in my opinion (McCain really?)


Anyway, I think this is an issue for Catholics as it is as Catholic school, but if they allowed Regan and Bush to speak, which are both pro-death penalty (not a catholic principle). Then why not Obama, which is pro-choice (not a catholic principle).

It's really sad when we no longer have the right to free speech and the right to protest peacefully. I hope those thugs(read police) can sleep at night arresting an 80 year old man who was hurting no one.

reply to post by miraclerock


They got arrested on purpose. They could have protested all day on the edge of campus, but they chose to trespass on campus and get arrested.

Although I think the University should have set up a "protest zone" near where graduation ceremonies are going to be held.

reply to post by Ace High


Whats the difference when you only have rights in a certain "zone" you don't really have them at all. Free speech zones and Constitution free zones are an abomination.

really?

So nobody's highlighting the fact that they got arrested for trespassing?

My wife works at ND and just left about 1/2 hour ago. She put the 9mm in the front seat with her per permit to carry. The gun will stay in the car but pity the crackhead protester that gives her any grief today. She bought a new pair of wrap around sun glasses and looks like a real B all dressed up in a suit and tie. She's looking forward to the extra 200$ that the 6 hours will bring in and nobody will ruin her day.

mikell

Originally posted by miraclerock
reply to post by Ace High

 

Whats the difference when you only have rights in a certain "zone" you don't really have them at all. Free speech zones and Constitution free zones are an abomination.

There is such a thing as private property, is there not? Had they protested at the edge of Campus they would have been seen and heard by all who came and went to the Campus. Instead, they did what they knew would get them arrested.

This is in no way a violation of the right to free speech. They were not arrested for what was being said.

reply to post by Night Watchman


Look at the video they were targeting the priest all the other people were standing in the same spot and he was the one arrested all the other people and reporters were left alone. Also it looked to me like he was on the other side of all that yellow do not cross tape on the side walk you can see they take him to the other side and won't let anyone past. If they were all trespassing why was the priest the only one arrested?

reply to post by miraclerock


I guess you do not understand the law when it comes to trespassing. The University is PRIVATE property, this means they can refuse access to those they choose. They chose the protesters. I think they should provide them with an area to protest, but that is their own decision, they own the land. By the way I am very much Pro-Life.

Just so we are all clear on the "Christian character," of one of these "Christians," leading these protestS.

Alan Keyes' daughter, Maya, is gay. Here is her description of her parents' lovingly Christian reaction to the news:

www.cbsnews.com...

Marcel-Keyes told the Post her parents have thrown her out of the house, stopped speaking to her and refuse to pay for college because she is gay. She said she loves her parents.

Maybe the Catholics who so vociferously oppose Obama coming to campus ought to be equally concerned about having a man who turns his back on his own daughter because she is a "sinner?"

He is and always will be, a fraud.

reply to post by Ace High


Yes I am aware of the law and I will admit the arrest was probably completely legal. If only the police were so eager to arrest everyone who trespassed on my lawn, or even the gang members that are all over my city, I guess this priest was an easier target. It's also illegal not to wear a seat belt and illegal to jaywalk and who knows what else will be illegal next. I just think it is a little excessive to arrest an old priest they could have escorted him off the property or handled the situation in a number of much better ways he was nonviolent and not hurting anyone or anything. Maybe they were warned before, but by the looks of it they were arrested without even a warning.

reply to post by miraclerock


Trust me they were well aware that they would be arrested. I was watching Fox News as it went down. The reporters said something like, ok here they go they are crossing onto the campus, the cops have been waiting to arrest them. It was a photo op if anything.

Also, trust me I am no defender of cops. Many are just power hungry GED thugs. That may be a little harsh but many do not deserve the respect the badge demands.

At least they aren't arresting people for 1) being within a zone of several miles around the President while protesting, or 2) shooting protesters like Tricky Dick, Sr (the one before Cheney) and Shames Alien Rogues (the shape-shifting lizard that served four terms as dictator of Ohio) as far as I know.

How can there be no fallout for Bush when we are all yelled at to "shut up," yet reich wingers now have the right to trespass in the name of free speech?

It's the double-standard stupid.