Catholic churches expect protests

Abortion-rights allies to picket Sunday Mass

PITTSBURGH — A nationwide call for abortion rights protests at churches on Sunday has put the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh on alert, according to an email Bishop David Zubik sent to clergy on Friday.

“We are aware that pro-abortion activists are threatening to disrupt Catholic Masses this Mother’s Day weekend,” a spokeswoman for the diocese said. “Parishes in the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh have security plans, and they will be in place this weekend, as they are every weekend.”

The diocese noted that no threats specific to Pittsburgh had been made.

According to Bishop Zubik’s email, the diocese was alerted to the protests by federal law enforcement.

Following the leak last weekend of a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion that could overturn in coming months Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 high court decision that said the Constitution protects a woman’s liberty to choose to have an abortion, protests formed outside of federal courthouses and government buildings in cities across the country.

On Tuesday, a demonstration drew more than 300 people outside of the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh.

Bishop Zubik’s email referred to a protest publicized on Twitter by the account RuthSentUs, which shows a video of protesters in red gowns and bonnets similar to those worn in the television show “The Handmaid’s Tale” disrupting a Catholic Mass.

“Without these basic rights, women can’t be free, abortion on demand, and without apology,” protesters chant among the pews as a clergy member can be seen trying to remove them.

“Whether you’re a ‘Catholic for Choice,’ ex-Catholic, of other or no faith, recognize that six extremist Catholics set out to overturn Roe. Stand at or in a local Catholic Church Sun May 8. #WarOnWomen #MothersDayStrike,” the post is captioned.

It had racked up more than 103,000 views by Friday evening.

Pittsburgh churches joined others throughout the country on alert.

New York City police said Friday that security was being beefed up. In Denver, the Sacred Heart of Mary Church was spray-painted with “My Body, My Choice” by protesters this past week, putting other churches on alert.

Amanda Andrade-Rhoades The Associated Press Abortion-rights protesters hold signs Saturday at a demonstration outside the Supreme Court in Washington. A nationwide call for protests has put Catholic churches on alert.