No Pro-Life Crosses At Elmhurst Catholic Church
ELMHURST, IL – Visitation Catholic Church in Elmhurst won’t be posting little white crosses all over its lawn this year, a church official announced over the weekend.
Just last year, an Elmhurst alderman criticized the display.
The crosses at York and Madison streets have long signified the church’s pro-life position on abortion. They have gone up every fall as part of a national pro-life campaign.
Click Here: north queensland cowboys rugby store
Find out what's happening in Elmhurstwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The decision to end the display comes amid a presidential election in which abortion is taking center stage.
In a statement in Sunday’s church bulletin, the Rev. Ryan Adorjan, parochial vicar, said the church got input from its pro-life committee, parishioners, parish staff and the church’s neighbors.
Find out what's happening in Elmhurstwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Fr. John (Lindsey) and I believe the time is right to switch our approach,” Adorjan said.
This year, Adorjan said, the church will feature signage that focuses on healing and offering resources to those in need. They include those looking for alternatives to abortion, those healing after an abortion and those suffering from domestic violence, among other things, Adorjan said.
“This will evolve over the years as we discern and design a display that will offer real information and resources but also aims to promote all of life, and the many life issues that people face in addition to abortion,” Adorjan said.
Adorjan said he realized the crosses were an essential part of many parishioners’ “witness to life.” He thanked Paul Esposito, Dave Felice and others who made the display a reality year after year.
“Every good evangelizer knows that sometimes the mode (not the content) of the message needs to change to fit the needs and concerns of a changed culture,” Adorjan said.
Last October, Alderman Guido Nardini, who lives close to the church, commented on social media after the crosses went down.
“And just like that we’re back to normal, not crowded with invective or admonition, just an open lawn, an open heart,” Nardini wrote. “Welcome back to the neighborhood. Forgiving a friend his transgressions is Christlike.”
Before he joined the City Council last year, Nardini wrote about the crosses several times on social media. In one post, he said, “I try to see the world as others do, but for my life this always strikes me as a curious way to celebrate Jesus.”
After Nardini’s post last year, Mayor Scott Levin said he recognized Nardini’s right to free speech, but questioned why an alderman would make such a comment.
A couple of weeks before Nardini’s comment, Elmhurst police arrested a New York City woman on charges of damaging pro-life crosses at Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church at 426 N. West Ave.
In a statement to Patch on Monday, Nardini said he was focused on improving pedestrian traffic at York and Van Buren streets, just south of the church. He referred to the intersection as “wide and fast.”
“Since parishioners made me aware, I’ve been advocating for funding a flashing crosswalk sign … like the one on York at the Prairie Path,” the alderman said. “Students from Visitation, Bryan, Jackson, and even Timothy Christian cross there. Taking my city council hat off, regarding the Reverend Father, our correspondence has been cordial, warm. Visitation Catholic Church is celebrating 70 years of ministry. They’re an Elmhurst institution. I should be lucky to be as good a neighbor to the community as they are.”
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
