2001 Little Notes
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Contents © 2001
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.

NOVEMBER 2001 LITTLE NOTES

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Representing Operation Rescue, attorney Richard Vattuone was able to convince the appeals court that the trial judge denied the pro-lifers their constitutional right to a jury trial and limited the scope of the trial. "There were two trials. At the first trial, my client was not present. We then got a judgment against us and our name was on it. I argued Operation Rescue could not have a judgment with their name on it when they were not at the trial and didn't have an attorney there. The judge just said, 'No. I'm going to deem that they were present.' This was like a default judgment, and we appealed that. That was four years ago and we won that. That was trial number one. The court of appeals then sent it back to be tried again with Operation Rescue. That1s when we had the second trial where the judge simply tried to rubber stamp the first judgment again. He said, 'You're not going to have a jury trial, you're not going to get to try all the issues, you're not going to get to cross-examine the doctors on damages and liability.' That was when (opposing attorney) James McElroy was making his pitch. The appeals court actually said that his arguments were not based on law or any meaningful arguments, yet the trial court judge bought it."

Recognizing that judges are susceptible to political pressures, Vattuone said, "That's why the appeals court didn't hammer the trial court judge. They could have said that he was way out of line. They didn't criticize him one bit, but instead criticized McElroy and the plaintiffs."

Dym's lawsuit claimed that Operation Rescue had inflicted "emotional distress" on his clients. "I thought it was bogus. They said it was trespassing and infliction of emotional distress. If a place is open to the public, that's a pretty shaky case of trespassing!" The "emotional distress" was allegedly caused by leaflets that called abortionists murderers.

Attorney James McElroy has a record as a champion of secular causes, including the recent Mt. Soledad Cross case -- another case which he lost. Vattuone had worked on the case since 1993. "That's a long time, and the trial was hugely time-consuming. I'm sure I spent several thousand hours on the case. Two people contributed to the victory: Attorneys Kevin Snyder and Gary Kreep. Although Kreep did not work directly on the case, his support was absolutely essential. Attorney Bill Gillespie was also a big help. Those three gave me psychological and actual support at the trial."

"Since the first judgment was entered, Operation Rescue of California has stopped doing business. And, since then, McElroy has been trying to get money from other organizations, saying that they are in fact related to Operation Rescue. He had a $440,000 judgment and no one to collect it from. He was going after anyone who had anything to do with the pro-life movement to collect this judgment. I assume now that the judgment has been thrown out for the second time that he will stop that activity.

An unnamed source disclosed that McElroy will not appeal the decision.


BURL STIFF'S SOCIETY COLUMN in the October 14 Union-Tribune was headed by a four-inch-by-six-inch photo of Chula Vista abortionist Fred Schnepper and his wife, Lynda. The society item covered the Pro Salud golf tournament, dinner, and auction at Torrey Pines "the other night." Pro Salud is a front group for the usual pro-aborts and abortionists in town -- the Schneppers, Phil Klauber, Christy Walton of the Wal-Mart fortune, Sara Moser -- plus a sprinkling of their Hispanic counterparts. The PP golfers raised $32,000 to help exterminate their brown brothers in Baja California. As Burl Stiff put it, Pro Salud "provides major support for nine health clinics that offer cancer screening, baby care, inoculations, and family planning services [italics added] in Baja."


IN JULY DEACON KEN FINN, the founder of the St. Dismas Guild, sent out a letter, with diocesan approval, to all deacons in the diocese, which stated that "the following is a proposal that we have put together in hopes of getting Planned Parenthood shut down in the diocese of San Diego. This is a peaceful demonstration in the hope of saving babies and families from the effects of contraception, sterilization and abortion. Find out where the Planned Parenthood office is in your area. Go to your local police station and find out where the legal perimeters are for you to pray the three mysteries of the rosary. Pray the rosary kneeling, standing, or sitting. The brochure we use is enclosed and can be modified for your area." The letter concluded, "Prayer is what is going to change the hearts and minds of people. If we had prayer being said at every Planned Parenthood office in the United States by the multitudes, we would close their doors and save millions of lives. We are strong when we unite together. The Scripture I leave you with is Proverbs 24: 10-11: 'If you remain indifferent in time of adversity, your strength will depart from you. Rescue those who are being dragged to death and from those tottering to execution, withdraw not.'"

This letter was preceded by another letter written by Deacon Finn to all diocesan deacons in June, which was sent out by the diocesan Permanent Diaconate office. In this letter he reminded his fellow deacons of the importance Pope John Paul II places on the pro-life apostolate and the need for clergy involvement. Deacon Finn pointed out that, due to demands placed on priests, deacons are in an ideal position to become spiritual advisors to parish pro-life groups. Thus far the response from other deacons has been small, but Deacon Finn and his wife Marie are undeterred. "When the clergy of a parish will walk the streets in front of the killing fields, when they will take the time to kneel on their knees in front of abortion centers and stand in front of Planned Parenthood centers, then the people will follow their spiritual leaders," Deacon Finn declared.

In July the Finns began a weekly prayer vigil on Thursday mornings outside the Escondido Planned Parenthood clinic, located at 215 South Hickory Street. Typically they are joined by five to 10 others, and they report that the number of participants is growing. The Finns display three signs, in English and Spanish, on easels: "Adoption, Not Abortion"; "I Have Set Before You Life and Death, the Blessing and the Curse: Choose Life"; "Breast Cancer, Abortion and the Pill"; and "Why Do We Oppose Planned Parenthood?" They pray all fifteen decades of the rosary of the St. Dismas Guild's pro-life rosary and as people approach, they offer the following brochures, in English and Spanish: "Why Do We Oppose Planned Parenthood?"; "Who Was Margaret Sanger?"; "Surgical Abortion: Your Risks"; "Abortion: Can You Handle the Truth?"; "Birth Control Pills: How They Work"; and "Breast Cancer Risk from Abortion." These are available from American Life League, Rock for Life (an ALL affiliate). and One More Soul.

The Finns ask passersby if they are interested in information concerning the connection between breast cancer, abortion, and the pill. The response is generally positive and they report that they have been able to distribute a large amount of pro-life literature. "They're very open to hearing the medical questions addressed, " Deacon Finn noted. Prior to starting their outreach at Planned Parenthood the Finns notified the Escondido Police Department and consulted them about legal issues. When they initiated their weekly pro-life rosary at Dr. George Kung's San Marcos abortion mill a few years ago, the Finns followed the same procedure with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Deacon Finn wears his clerical collar when leading the rosary at Dr. Kung's office and at Planned Parenthood. "I go as a visible representative of St. Mary's in Escondido," he explained.

In addition to the above-described pro-life prayer vigils, the nonprofit St. Dismas Guild runs an extensive prison ministry, the Culture of Life Family Services Center in Escondido, the Bread of Bible study program, Benedictus men's ministry. Due to growth in the Guild's prison outreach, the Guild needs donations and assistance. As Deacon Finn's health problems increase, he is praying "that God will send us someone who will want to continue this very much needed ministry when I am no longer able to do so." For more information, write to the St. Dismas Guild, P.O. Box 2129, Escondido, CA 92033, call 760-751-8541 or e-mail bendictus1@aol.com.


"A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR FR. NICK CHRISTIANA" was the title of an announcement sent by Catholic HIV/AIDS East County ministry director LaVerne Neuman to development assistant Gia Biden of the San Diego Lesbian and Gay Men's Community Center and forwarded to area homosexuals on Yahoo.com's San Diego Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered discussion group on October 4.

The announcement read, "A Memorial Service for Fr. Nick Christiana will be held Monday October 8 at 7pm at the Santa Sophia Catholic Church. Address: 9800 San Juan Street, Spring Valley. This service is for everyone, of any, or no, spirituality." When phoned by a News Notes reporter for details on October 15 about Father Christiana's memorial service and manner of death, Neuman said, "My bishop has instructed me not to talk to anyone from your paper," and hung up.

A check of the 2000 diocesan directory and the September 27 and October 11 issues of the Southern Cross revealed no information about the priest. However, according to a diocesan source who requested anonymity, "Father Nick Christiana was a priest from Pennsylvania who was out here doing ministry with people with AIDS in the 1980's. He was a PPH (practicing or promoting homosexualist.)"

In a January 27, 1999 article in The Oregonian titled "Healthy heart, healthy soul," Father Christiana is quoted as saying "In April, 1985, I took a leave, drove to California and tended bar for six months. That's where I found out about the HIV pandemic. One of the ways you get HIV is through blood transfusions. Well, I'd just had a transfusion during my [heart] surgery. I thought about what I would want if I was infected. (He wasn't.) I figured I'd want to be taken care of spiritually in a nonjudgmental manner. I (later) began spiritually ministering to people infected and affected by HIV for 9-1/2 years."


FROM CHERYL SULLENGER, San Diego pro-lifer, on September 27: "Yesterday, I was in San Bernardino with Operation Rescue West outside a fundraising banquet for the brand new Planned Parenthood abortion mill that went in just across the street from Family Planning Associates (another killing center there). The PP office was quietly procured and made ready. Yesterday, the fundraiser marked the "Grand Opening" of the facility. Of course, we were the "welcome wagon" out front with the Truth Truck and 2-15 foot long graphic signs depicting Planned Parenthood's handiwork.

"The mayor of San Bernardino, councilmen, an assemblyman, etc. were all in attendance. Our little display was just outside the glass doors where the banquet was being held. Large groups flocked to the windows to watch us, and got a gospel message!

"The banquet focused on a program called "Plan-et" that emphasizes population control for the sake of the environment, etc. A lady from Africa who works for the World Health Organization was the main speaker. Troy Newman spotted her outside and was able to spend quite a long time sharing with her about the sancity of life. We pray his words do a work in her heart.

"We were also handing out literature and I got to speak extensively to two young ladies who were walking by. They seemed open to the gospel so after several minutes of detailing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ the two of them bowed their heads and prayed a sinner's prayer with me. They seemed both to be sincere. We exchanged phone numbers. Please pray for these two young ladies that they grow and become mighty servants for Christ. Many accuse of us being pro-life first and gospel a distant second, but in reality, our pro-life work IS the gospel message -- taking God's word to the people on the streets then reaping in God's timing."


OVER 500 PARTICIPANTS of Life Chain 2001, sponsored by the California Life Coalition, stretched down Balboa Avenue in San Diego on Sunday, October 7, bearing signs that read "Abortion Kills Children" and "Lord Forgive Us and Our Nation."

Many held flags in support of America and the rescue workers of the September 11 terrorists attacks on New York and Washington DC. The show of patriotism took on new meaning when it was learned that, just hours before, the United States had launched its first attacks on the nation of Afghanistan.

Later the Life Chain participants gathered at Lindbergh Park where Pastor Gary Cass of West Hills Christian Fellowship and Pastor Adlai Mack of Christians United in the Word of God led the group in a moving ceremony introducing the Emancipation Proclamation for the Pre-born to San Diego. This document, originally signed in Wichita, Kansas, during the Summer of Mercy Renewal, pledges the Church to work protect pre-born children. Approximately 100 San Diegans added their names to the Proclamation, which will be presented to President George W. Bush in January.


CHARISMATIC RETREAT LEADER Father Larry Richards, pastor of Bread of Life Catholic Church in Erie, Pennsylvania and author of the popular Catholicity audio tape, "Confession," spoke at the St. Thérèse parish mission October 1-3. During his visit to San Diego, he also spoke to classes at St. Therese Academy and St. Ephrem's school in El Cajon.

According to Kurt Redlinger, St. Therese director of Evangelization, the mission was a huge success. "I was amazed at the number of people who have come up to me and said that their lives have been changed," he said.

"The first night (Monday, October 1) his talk was on prayer, love of others, and the Mass. He gave examples of how to pray and went though the Mass and talked about how important it is. Tuesday night he went through the passion of Christ. He really gets into this thing, the scourging, where he describes the whips and the he gives this running start and gives this big crack, clapping his hands.

"The second night was also on Confession. He went through the 10 commandments in detail as an examination of conscience. He took a long time on the sixth commandment. He then had confession. We had 11 other confessors besides Father Larry. The first one didn't finish until 9:45 p.m. Fr. Larry's line; he was there until midnight. Afterward, people said to me 'I haven't been to confession in 15 years.'"

The third night (Wednesday, October 3), Fr. Larry spoke on adoration, healing, discipleship, and evangelization. He talked about the four living creatures in Revelation 4:8 who surround the throne of God exclaiming day and night "Holy, holy, holy!" and told the audience of approximately 300 "The soul of a Christian is to offer praise, adoration and glory." He strongly encouraged parishioners to sign up for a Eucharistic Adoration hour, where, he said, "You're gonna get a suntan" spending time before the Light. After a brief benediction, he carried the monstrance through the pews for people to touch.

Young children were heard to exclaim excitedly "Jesus is coming!" as Father made his way through the aisles bearing the Real Presence. He and several other ministers then gave a healing blessing to attendees.

Redlinger said he started the evangelization committee at St. Therese two years ago after joining the parish council. "It was either evangelization or basket weaving, and the guy ahead of me chose basket weaving, so I took evangelization." Initially, he contacted Karl Keating of Catholic Answers for help in designing programs for the new committee, which currently consists of 12 members. "We brought in Catholic Answers apologists like Tim Staples, Rosalind Moss, and Jason Evert."

Redlinger said committee member Jerry Provencher was the impetus for bringing Fr. Larry to St. Therese. "He found the 'Confession' tape and gave it to me. I don't usually listen to tapes, but I had some extra time on a drive once and popped it in." When the evangelization committee met earlier this year to plan activities, "Fr. Larry came out on top. I didn't even know if he did speaking engagements, but I called him up and it was a fluke; he said he had a few days open in September and it just worked out that he was free -- on the feast of St. Therese."

Fr. Larry's talks followed "Harvest 2001," an evangelization effort held by the parish on September 29 during which 11,500 households within the parish boundaries were contacted door-to-door by over 200 parishioners.

"We got the idea from St. Francis Church in Vista after we read about it last year," said Redlinger. "We gave the households a packet where we had a brochure about St. Therese parish listing the ministries with a letter from our pastor, Monsignor Florek, welcoming them back, information about other Christian denominations and local synagogues, the Catholic Answers booklet Pillar of Fire, and a magnet of the church with our phone number. A few people rejected us outright but generally the response was very good." Follow-up plans include a ministry fair scheduled for late October and a resource library.

Videotapes of Fr. Larry's talks at St. Therese can be requested by contacting the parish at (619) 582-3716. Additional audio and videotapes of previous talks can be ordered from Fr. Larry's website at www.frlarry.com. St. Therese parish website: www.StThereseParish.org


CATHOLICS AT UCSD'S CATHOLIC COMMUNITY for over 30years have had to contend with the heterodox leadership of the Paulist Fathers. One member of the community complained that they were not allowed to use the Catechism of the Catholic Church when instructing RCIA candidates. Catholic students are now finding a more welcoming atmosphere under the leadership of Father Mark Pedrez, the new director.

Father Pedrez, 38, is a member of the Dominican order's western province. Since the rise and fall of former Dominican Matthew Fox, the order has been perceived as flaky because of Fox's new age-ism and vocal dissent against traditional Catholic teachings. Pedrez says the picture is far different.

"There is actually a boom of Dominican vocations on the west coast. We've had 10 or more novices in the last three years! I don't want to sound too critical because Fox was a brother and I want to be charitable. I think it's unfortunate what happened with him. I'm saddened -- not that I agree with what he wrote -- but it's sad whenever a Dominican brother leaves."

For Father Pedrez, the challenges of campus ministry are more than responding to pressures a secular university places upon Catholics. "The type of student that comes in is asking basic questions. 'How do I know the existence of God?' 'How do I believe in the resurrection?' Issues of morality usually don't come in until much later in the process of how they develop and mature. Some of the students I find are pre-catechetical. They don't know much about their faith. They are running up against a very secular society here at the university and they get the questioning of God in their classes. Especially if they're science majors. They may get science teachers who don't believe in God and expound that in their classes and that starts them thinking, then they have to go back and look at their own life and start reflecting on what they believe. That's when they come in and start talking to us."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is also no longer a "banned book" for UCSD's Catholic students. "Since I've been here I've never heard of that being discouraged. We have it on our shelves!"

A recent article on UCSD in the Southern Cross showed a photo with campus ministers of various denominations along with ministers from Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, which allows UCSD's Catholics to use their facilities for liturgy. Pictured in the photo is Deacon Richard Halverson, a member of the schismatic Old Catholic Church -- a group Father Pedrez and the Catholic students have nothing to do with. "He has no involvement with us at the Newman Center. It's my understanding that within the Anglican Church that they recognize the Old Catholics and that they are permitted to function within the Anglican Communion. I believe that's what his (Halverson's) connection is. I assume he goes to their services on Sundays and I believe ... in passing he's told me that he's trying to start his own community. But as far as I know it's off-site. I rarely see him. Maybe I'll bump into him when we1re crossing paths on Sunday when we come in to have liturgy, but I rarely see him there during the week."


"WHAT BETTER WAY to start to get back into the school year mode [th]an a catasrophe (sic)??" asked incoming USD Pride president Melissa Espinal in a July 22 e-mail message to the San Diego Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered list on Yahoo.com. "Well ... here it is. Our keynote speaker for LGBT history month in October is Mitchell Anderson (of "Party of Five" and "Popular" fame). The problem? His fee and travel expenses are $8,000, and Associated Students only gave us $5,400, which leaves us with another $2,600 to find BY TUESDAY, 7/24!!!! Sean Lawton (Mitchell's agent) is holding that date for us, but he has another bid and needs to know for sure by Tuesday! Of the $2,600 we need, so far we have managed to get $500. That leaves another $2,100. Does ANYONE have ANY connections that can get us a promise to help and cover some of this money??"

On August 30, Franklin Weston, a librarian at USD's legal research center, sent a message to the Pridelaw list that said, "SUPPORT SAN DIEGO GAY THEATER" and contained an article from the "Lifestyle" section of the August 20 San Diego Union-Tribune about "Boys in the Band," a play then showing at Diversionary Theatre in University Heights.

On August 28, USD law professor Steven Hartwell sent the following query to Pridelaw members: "A gay-related organization contacted me about a project they would like to start: helping non-U.S. immigrant partners of US citizens qualify for visas. I do not know the details but am asking a preliminary question: if we had a training program, it was here on campus and it fit your schedule, might you be interested in helping out? (No obligations!)"

In addition to the immigrant visa program, Hartwell on August 25 wrote "I am working on a paper for presentation at a gender/communication in October re gay issues for which I need some help. I have as a hypothesis that the display of casual affection among straight males corresponds to the acceptance of homosexuality within the culture. That is, to the degree that a given society accepts (male) homosexuality, all men -- straight and gay -- are permitted by that society to display casual affection. I think it is probably true but I have seen no data, no studies indicating empirically that that is so. Has anybody seen anything -- if so / if not, want to get a few hours of work study research money to find out?"

On September 4, Hartwell wrote: "New question for everyone. I am thinking of facilitating a workshop and handling bigotry -- that is, what do you do in the moment when you are confronted with someone who says something racists [sic] homophobic or whatever. Does anyone know anyone who might help run the work shop? Somebody local, I would hope."

Hartwell forwarded the following message from a Jerry Davis to Pridelaw on September 10: "The annual Tom Homann Law Student Reception is being held this year at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law on September 20, 2001 from 5:30pm till 7:30pm. I will be brining by flyers to your schools within the next few days and would like to know who I contact to have them posted"

Davis continued, "The recruiters from the top 50 San Diego law firms in San Diego will again be invited, along with representatives from the Public Defenders office, the City Attorney's office and the District Attorney's office. It is a great opportunity for our students to network."

On September 14, Pride president Espinal forwarded a message from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to Pride about remarks made by Jerry Falwell. She prefaced the message: "The following is a transcript provided by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force that shows just how quick people are to point a finger in times like these and not take responsibility for trying to foster peace and understanding.... Tomorrow in UC 107, starting at 7 pm, the United Front will be hosting a dialogue about the recent backlash on our Arab students. The thing to remember is that this is not just about the Arab students ... this is about other groups that get the fingers pointed at them and the dirty looks."

The next day, Espinal forwarded the following message to the Pride list: "The San Diego Vagina organization (Vibrant Angry Grrrls Invoking National Attention) has established a 'GLBT Survivor's Fund' for our brothers and sisters who lost their lovers in the recent terrorist attack in both New York and Washington D.C. Because our relationships are not recognized under federal law, it will be difficult if not impossible for our GLBT family to receive federal relief to financially handle this disaster."

On September 20, Espinal issued an invitation to Pride: "Hey PRIDERs here is a chance to meet some other San Diego GLBT students -- This Saturday night there is a dance at UCSD! The Howdy Hump is UCSD LGBTA's Non-Sexist Quarlerly [sic] Dance! It will be held in the UCSD Student Pub Programming Area from 9:30-1:00am."

Espinal also invited Pride members on October 3 to attend Disneyland's "Gay Days" October 5-6 with this message forwarded from San Diego State University's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Student Union (LGBTSU): "Hey PRIDERs -- Here's a heads up from SDSU...

"Hello LGBTSU!!!!! This weekend, 10/5-10/6, Disneyland is having their 4th Annual Unofficial GAY DAYS!!! Friday night their [sic] will be a party at the Disneyland Hotel (it's a free party!!!)and Saturday it will be at Disneyland!!! You can visit the website for more information at www.gayday2.com.

"Last year there were over 1,000 people there... this year there will be many, many more!!!!! You can be one of those people!"

The next day, October 4, Espinal encouraged Pride members to participate in Solidarity Sunday with this message: "Dignity, a lay movement of LGBT Catholics, families, and friends, began Solidarity Sunday in 1995 to invite all people to work to end verbal and physical abuse toward all persons, including gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. Solidarity Sunday is always the Sunday before National Coming Out Day. This year, Solidarity Sunday takes on a special meaning with so many of our Muslim brothers and sisters being the target of verbal and physical abuse. The easiest way to participate in Solidarity Sunday is to wear a piece of rainbow ribbon. Dignity/San Diego will hold a special Mass on Sunday, October 7 at 6 PM at the First Unitarian Church, 4190 Front Street (across from UCSD Medical Center).

On October 11, Espinal sent this announcement to PRIDE about the upcoming appearance of lesbian rock icon Melissa Etheridge: "Hey PRIDERs -- Melissa Etheridge ... need I say more...?" Included in the message was a snippet from Buzz Magazine that said, "Two-time Grammy Award-winner and open lesbian singer Melissa Etheridge and her critically acclaimed 'Live and Alone' tour has announced a performance date on Tuesday, Nov. 6 at the Copley Symphony Hall in San Diego."

Finally, on October 4, Erinn Tozer, a senior staff psychologist at USD's counseling center, sent the following announcement to PRIDE: "Warm greetings! The Counseling Center would like to announce the formation of a support group for lesbian, gay, and bisexual students at USD. The LGB support group will be facilitated by Erinn Tozer, Ph.D."

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