In a statement, Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory strongly criticized a light show projected onto the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Jan. 20 by Catholics for Choice and other supporters of abortion. While the National Prayer Vigil for Life was taking place inside the National Shrine and people attended a Mass and prayed that people would recognize the God-given dignity of human life at all stages, the abortion rights supporters projected messages onto the Knights Tower in front of the basilica. 

 Cardinal Gregory, who serves as the chair of the Board of Trustees for the National Shrine, said, “Those whose antics projected words on the outside of the church building demonstrated by those pranks that they really are external to the Church.”

Here is the text of Cardinal Gregory’s full statement issued on Jan. 21:

“The true voice of the Church was only to be found within The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception last evening. There, people prayed and offered the Eucharist asking God to restore a true reverence for all human life. Those whose antics projected words on the outside of the church building demonstrated by those pranks that they really are external to the Church and they did so at night – John 13:30.”