Prayers, Protesters Mix at Red Mass

By Jill Kuramoto
KITV 4
January 20, 2012

http://www.kitv.com/news/30253628/detail.html

Governor Neil Abercrombie and state lawmakers gathered for Mass Thursday as part of a tradition in Hawaii for more than half a century.

But this year, the annual Red Mass was met by protesters angry over the church's teachings and actions.

"Shame on the politicians for attending the Red Mass and listening to the moral teachings of a morally bankrupt organization like the Catholic church," said protester Holly Huber.

A tradition in Hawaii since 1955, the Red Mass celebrates the start of the state legislature.

The service is open to all religions and government leaders.

The governor, Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald and state lawmakers were among the crowd this morning.

"This is just to pray for God's assistance in our work together to build up the state and to ask God's protection upon all of us and all that we do," said the Rev. Gary Secor, Vicar General for the Diocese of Honolulu.

But the handful of vocal protesters outside the Cathedral of our Lady of Peace said the Catholic church's positions on issues including same-sex marriage, abortion and assisted suicide are not good for Hawaii.

"All these issues come up in front of our lawmakers, and the Catholic church has no moral authority to tell our lawmakers how they should vote," said Huber.

But lawmakers said the Mass is more about a celebration of diversity of religion than religion itself.

"It is recognizing (that) we as human beings, we don't know everything and that perhaps we should call for guidance from a higher power," said state Rep. Kymberly Pine.

"It's their choice to be here. If they don't want to be here, that's okay, too. We want to let them know if they want to be here or not, we're praying for them," said Secor.