Even though I am pro-choice, the Catholic church has a right to voice their religious beliefs.

They have the right to promulgate their agenda even though I completley disagree with EVERYTHING the Catholic church espouses. They would better spend their time and money looking INWARD, and clean house, change the rules for priests and allow marriage and ''normalcy''. This might help lower the incidents of perversion that seem rampant. The danger is when groups like the church, use their money, power, and influence to force THEIR dogmatic ideas on the rest of us.

The question may as well just be; “do you support the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution”?

I am staunchly pro-choice but absolutely defend the right of parishioners at St. Lawrence to express their beliefs publicly. Unless they harass, threaten or harm employees or prospective patients of legal abortion providers they should not be prevented from exercising their constitutional right to free speech.

St Lawrence has the right and they are respectful. On another note, after reading all of the comments from the original article, I'm not sure how productive it is to continue with this topic in The Patch. Kind of systems like stirring up controversy for the sake of it.

I agree with Ms. Bodnar. The last thing the Patch should do is become more like the fourth-rate, controversy causing, amateurish Observer-Tribune.

It's private property and last time I checked, it is a free country. AND, the truth hurts.

Yes, St. Lawrence Church has every right to the pro life display on their own property. They represent many others in the community who agree with their anti abortion position. Joan

You pose the question "But do you feel the church should be protesting its stance on a social issue so publicly?" Well, "Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under a bushel, but on a lamp stand; and it gives light unto all" Matthew 5:15.

A position that no one knows about is not a position. I believe that the issue of abortion is central to the belief structure of the Catholic Church, and as such they have an obligation to make their position public.

Just to be clear - I never opposed the church having this display. It comes as no surprise that a catholic church would make this claim and while I find it in bad taste, yes, it is their right. My comments were that the Patch was showing bias by having this as a headline and now you are keeping this nonsense going.

I did click on both editors profiles though and was not surprised to find that both Koestenblatt and Cresspolini are conservative Christian and or Catholic. Like I stated, this is biased reporting and not even close to what I would consider journalism.

Mr. Lipinski, on the other thread, nailed this "rag" right on the head. I will no longer comment here or waste my time on the patch. I can get local news from other sources that are not so onesided.

Hey GiGi,
Thanks for the comment! I'm still unsure, however, how a headline attributing a statement to a church member is biased. If you could clarify, that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Regardless of anyone's beliefs, the day we start censoring what churches' beliefs should, or should not be displayed will be a sad day, indeed. I believe that Jason did an excellent job on this piece and handled it in a very sensitive manner. The objective viewpoint was apparent throughout the entire story and passionate as this topic is, it causes all viewpoints to stop and think. Well done, Patch!

144 non-abortions an hour leave a lot more of the unwanted 47% for Mr. Romney, does't it? For all of the BS on this board, I haven't seen one post supporting REALLY low to zero income housing in Chester/Long Valley neighborhood, the erection of shelters and programs for pregnant women in Chester/Long Valley, and abundance of foster care or adoptive homes in the area (unless it's from China). Bitch and moan all you want, but until you become an ACTIVE part of the solution then all of the statistics, the churches, the stupid crosses on the lawn, etc etc is all just white noise . . .

I do believe the point of the crosses on the lawn has been made.....

Ms. Ardia: Are crosses on the lawn a great selling point for prospective home buyers in Chester? Is that an additional selling point for Chester? Does it attract non-Catholics to the community? Please let us know.

I think that St. Lawrence's display of 144 small white crosses and sign is a tasteful dispaly, not an "in-your-face" display, especially considering some of the images available for pro-life use.

My reply to ''Nolan'' on this subject is, ''Dogmatic'' has nothing to do with ''do unto others'' (before or after they do unto you) Dogmatic, is the narrow views held by the Church peculiar to their own limited view of the world, and their take on what 'god' has in his playbook for the ''faithfull''. To suggest that one has to be Catholic or even believe in 'gods' to be moral and good, is insulting. MOST hatred and war in this world is religion based - just look at all some of the vitriol dispayed here on Patch ! I now, wii bow out on this mattre.

Let us not split dogmatic hairs, less we have ''the hair of the dog''. By dogmatic, I did and do, refer directly to the CHURCH, and in particular, the CATHOLIC church's DOGMA towards abortion. Bye the bye, one does not have to be Christian either to be fair, kind and good. These traits fall on, and are lost on, ALL faiths and all non-believers as well. We have a LOT of ''Christians'' that have a real problem with their morality and they can do it because ''dogmatically'' speaking THEY ARE FORGIVEN ! Maybe not in this earthly life, but in their imagined ''after life'' as far as they know. I will now REALLY get out of this topic.

Roger, make up your mind. Pick and argument and stick to it. The topic here is do churches have the right to promote their beliefs? The answer is yes, they do. Do you have the right to express your belief, even if I find it distasteful? Yes you do. Both forms of communication are constitutionally protected speech.

Does the church have the power to force their beliefs on society. No, they do not. we are a secular society, not a theocracy. Do people do bad things and act in contradiction to their professed beliefs? Yes, they are human. Examine the concept of sin.

Your statement "The danger is when groups like the church, use their money, power, and influence to force THEIR dogmatic ideas on the rest of us." is evocative of a dark time. An enlightened, open, free society is in the best interest of all it's members.

I’m an avid supporter of the 1st amendment. That said, I have to question the judgment of allowing this display by the parish. Why?

1.) The issue of abortions is very personal and doesn’t belong on a lawn display
2.) Politically, the issue was addressed decades ago
3.) The continual new Christian “them vs. us” polarization is forcing very good people to question and leave their churches in record numbers.
4.) The display does nothing to engage discussion about the issue

Nolan ,are you daft or just trying (succesfully) to annoy me? GO BACK to the FIRST statement where I said, PLAINLY, the church has the right to ''promulgate their agenda'' ! What about that did you miss ? You mention of evoking a ''dark time''? That could be ANY time in the churches' murky history. As far as ''my beliefs'' I always ''proudly profess that I do not live my life according to the primitive beliefs of bronze age goatherders''. Now do me a favor and DROP it.

Perfectly stated, Nolan. Roger, you are a moron.

I see PD 73 (''professional dope'' no doubt) calls me a MORON ? Hey bozo ! At least I am not wasting my life with vague beliefs in fairy tales and silly rules that the ''pious'' want to force on the rest of us. You are the perfect example of the knee jerk reaction that the ''god fearing'' crowd utilizes, that is, to smite and squash anyone or anything that exposes the lame argument for religion in any form. Go plant some abortion crosses in your yard, Mr. ANONYMOUS.