Guests entering the school had to face what Lisa Madigan defends [Photo by EJS]
The Pro-Life Action League led over forty stalwarts in a protest of St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago on Thursday, September 22, as guests were arriving for the annual Women’s Council Awards Dinner. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, an outspoken abortion advocate, was delivering the keynote address at the event, over the objections of numerous alumni, concerned Catholics and even Francis Cardinal George.
Alumnus Eric Scheidler Leads Protest
The protest was led by League Communications Director and 1984 Ignatius graduate Eric Scheidler, who lamented having to visit his alma mater with picket signs. “I’m sick at heart to have to do this,” said Scheidler, “but it’s got to be done. Sadly, we can’t count on St. Ignatius to respect justice, faith or even the bishop’s appeal—but maybe they’ll respond to the shame and embarrassment of seeing graphic abortion signs lined up outside the school.”
Before the doors at St. Ignatius [Photo by EJS]
Protesters, including many Ignatius alumni and parents, lined both sides of the street with graphic abortion signs and pickets reading Shame on “Catholic” Ignatius and Pro-Abort Madigan Is a Disgrace to the Church. Others, led by Ann Scheidler, the mother of seven Ignatius graduates, passed out flyers to students and Women’s Council guests outlining Madigan’s pro-abortion record and Catholic teaching on abortion.
An unusual number of police—as many as four squad cars—as well as several security guards were present during the peaceful protest.
St. Ignatius Offers No Defense
The League received no defense of the Madigan invite from Ignatius President Rev. Brian Paulson, S.J., until several weeks after it had taken place. In an e-mail, John Chandler, Vice President for Development, had invited Scheidler to meet with him during the protest, but security guards would not allow the Ignatius alumnus onto school grounds to see Chandler, his former teacher.
Protesting St. Ignatius along Roosevelt Rd [Photo by EJS]
Madigan’s pro-abortion record includes a vow to shut down what she called “phony” crisis pregnancy centers, as reported in the League’s December 2002 Action News. She was heavily supported in her AG campaign by abortion advocates Planned Parenthood and NOW. The USCCB has forbidden Catholic institutions from giving a platform to pro-abortion public figures.
League To Keep Close Eye on Ignatius
Scheidler promises to keep a close eye on who St. Ignatius invites to speak at alumni and school events. “If they choose once again to ignore Catholic teaching, the bishops, the principles of the Jesuit order and the justice due to unborn children, we’ll be back.”
Related Articles and Pages
- Pro-Lifers Protest as Loyola Honors Pro-Abort Madigan—Article from Fall 2004 issue
- New Illinois Attorney General Targets Crisis Pregnancy Centers in December 2002 issue
