By Carol Tannenhauser
A militant pro-choice group called “Jane’s Revenge” claimed responsibility for spray painting in black the words, “If abortion isn’t safe, neither are you,” on the outer doors of the Ascension Roman Catholic Church, on West 107th Street near Amsterdam Avenue, an NYPD spokesperson told WSR.
The graffiti was “signed” by Jane’s Revenge and accompanied by an anarchy sign, which is an A enclosed in a circle.
“Jane’s Revenge was formed after a draft opinion from the court saying that it would vote to overturn Roe [v. Wade] was leaked to Politico and published on May 2,” Newsweek reported. “The group has threatened to target any anti-abortion group that is still operational, promising to ‘never stop, back down, slow down, or retreat.'”
Since the draft was leaked, Jane’s Revenge has carried out attacks in Hollywood, Florida; Des Moines, Iowa and Madison, Wisconsin; as well as other locations in states including Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington.
The Upper West Side incident was reported at 5:30AM, Monday morning, the NYPD told the Rag. “The NYPD’s Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating,” according to the New York Post.
On its website, the Ascension Roman Catholic Church describes its mission as follows:
Our Parish has been serving the Upper West Side, Manhattan Valley and Morningside Heights communities since 1895. No matter your age, your race, your gender, or your sexual orientation, there is a place for you at Ascension Church. You’ll meet wonderful people, hear the proclamation of the word of God, be nourished by the Eucharist, enjoy good programs, be challenged to live the Gospel, and so much more. Come as you are – and be who you are – your presence will enrich us.
Nearly half of U.S. Catholics consider abortion a legal right:
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/religious-landscape-study/religious-tradition/catholic/views-about-abortion/
These clumsy acts of vandalism may relieve some personal tension, but they don’t win hearts and minds, as they’re evidence of someone who has bought into a false dichotomy.
All of the justices who voted to overturn Roe are Catholic. The Catholic Church just announced that they will rally their flock in California to oppose a measure on the November ballot there to codify the right to abortion in the state constitution. I don’t see a false dichotomy when the Catholic Church just stripped away a federal right to privacy and they signal that aren’t finished. They have started the war.
Catholic is not the issue. They are all from the Federalist Society, an ultra right ultra conservative cult.
Yawn…another labeling of a distinguished organization that just happens to be of the opposite ideology.
“The Catholic Church just stripped away a federal right to privacy”
Repeating the exact fallacious thinking that was just called out. This is why politics are perpetually at an impasse in this country.
I am neither a member of the parish nor a Catholic. But I am a scholar of religion who lives on the block. I am unaware of any aggressive deployments of anti-abortion Roman Catholic teachings by Ascension Church. Rather, the reputation, as that of the Church Catholic at this historical moment, leans progressive. (By no means am I neglecting official doctrine or history, including attitudes towards bodies and lives of women.) But now is certainly the time for progressives to cultivate the allies within those institutions most responsible for opposition to abortion (and the whole host of polarized human rights issues dividing left and right).
Godwin’s Law: As an online discussion grows longer (regardless of topic or scope), the probability of a comparison to Nazis or Adolf Hitler approaches 1.[
“But I’m a progressive Nazi” is not a defense.
Sorry, but I can’t tolerate the inappropriate use of the term “Nazi.” It dishonors the victims of Nazism. I write as someone who teaches about the Holocaust and as someone whose relatives died at their hands. Please don’t use this term out of context.
There were and sadly are Catholic fascists, Catholic Nazis. And there were also countless Catholics, “Righteous Among the Nations,” who saved the lives of those who were targeted under Nazism. Even within the institutional Church, despite failure at the highest levels, many priests, nuns, and professed religious were responsible for saving the lives of people targeted by Nazis.
Please respect the memory of those murdered under Nazism and don’t make such irresponsible choices of words.
The Catholic Church, including the NYC Archdiocese, has been increasingly outspoken about its pro-life position in the past few months.
Actions have consequences, and what goes around comes around
I can’t offhand think of a worse way to “support” abortion rights. All this does is drive away Catholics who are either already pro-choice or could be convinced to be. In any case, the Church doesn’t make or enforce the laws.
After witnessing 6 Catholic justices overturn Roe v. Wade, you’re really going to claim the church doesn’t make or enforce laws? They all just happened upon their views with no church influence, right?
People gotta realize that two wrongs don’t necessarily make a right. smh
Somewhat skeptical about this group’s actual existence. Newsweek was bought out a few years ago and is now not a serious news source. But we’ll see, I suppose.
Disgraceful. And thinking that defacing a house of worship will somehow change minds?
What a dumb idea! This is not constructive at all and will just feed Fox News to make the pro-choice majority look like a bunch of outlaws. We are all very upset but graffiti, marches, memes, etc. are not going to resolve this. We need to get out and vote and support candidates who are electable (i.e. not extremists) and will protect our rights. And remember the lesser of two evils – a moderate Democrat on the ballot might not be exactly what you want, but they are probably a lot closer than the Trump-supporting Republican, so pick your poison wisely – not voting is a vote for Trump.
Know many Riverside church (liberal Protestant) Gay members who also attend Ascension and have felt welcomed and sustained. The funeral mass for one, a former nun and Lesbian, was held at Ascension. All groups of any persuasion are not the same.
The majority of US Catholics are pro choice, especially in the northeast. That is a fact. Italy, Spain, France abortion is legal. They may personally not have one, but they are do not stand in the way of other’s choices. Just look at Cuomo, Hochul, Biden, AOC. They are all Catholic pro choice. It is a fallacy Catholics are anti choice. Anti abortion is more in line with white Protestant Republicans.
Look at the Supreme Court though– what was the majority religion and sect of those who chose to overturn Roe? Why does the University of Notre Dame have a giant statue on campus to “the victims of abortion”? Even if everyday catholics are more ambivalent, the American catholic leadership and many of the more fervent adherents are vocally anti-choice and anti-women. Sorry, friend.
There are traditionalist/retrograde Catholics who have been at the forefront of the anti-choice movement albeit they are a small vocal minority of Catholic laity. That said, Ascension is fairly progressive as Catholic parishes go. Whoever did this would have been better served donating the cost of the paint to Planned Parenthood than vandalizing a parish church about which they apparently know very little.
The Supreme Court does not legislate, regardless of the false rhetoric out there. They interpret the Constitution. There is no provision in the Constitution regarding abortion. The only failure is that of the Congress and Senate and their failure to pass legislation regarding this all these years, despite the Democrats having the majority for many years.
Roe V Wade was always on shaky constitutional ground. Even the patron saint of liberals, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, admitted that was the case. The SC created a federal right in 1973 which had no basis in the Constitution. It’s not their job to legislate, which is why it has been properly thrown back to the 50 states and their elected legislatures. Ultra-liberal states like NY will continue to allow abortions right up to term, which is disgusting. We need to go back to “legal, safe and rare.” But in the meantime, there is no justification for vandalism and violence. I hope they catch the perps and throw their asses in jail, but we don’t do that anymore in NYC. We abandoned common sense when we embraced a one-party system. That gave us King Cuomo, Major DeLusional, Alvin Bragg, AOC, Hochul, Heastie, Cousins and other assorted gems. God help us all!
Why this group could not more productively focus on helping the pregnant mothers and exploring options to preserve the lives of the unborn babies is beyond me.
My body My choice went out the window with the vaccine mandates!! Did you think it would stop there? People who could not take the vaccine for medical reasons, or religious reasons , or just did not feel it was a safe decision for their bodies were a small minority but they were demonized. I being a person who could not take the vaccine for medical reasons lost my job, and my pension, and now I am living in poverty. When one person loses agency over their body we all lose it. I had to make a choice like so many women will in the future, I listened to my doctor, unfortunately it meant I would lose my job. What will they lose? This is the first election in 40 years that I stayed home, Biden took away my right to choose what was good for my body, and Trumps people took away the right to choose what is good for my sisters bodies, and they are just starting. I do not think this has any thing to do with the church. both parties are horrible when it comes to human rights!! buckle your seat belts they are just starting!
This group doesn’t help the pro-choice cause by doing this, especially at such a progressive, tolerant church. From what i hear, one of the priests who does mass there has publicly expressed support for Roe v. Wade.
I’m profoundly pro choice but vandalism is simply not acceptable.
Jane’s revenge does not seem to be very bright. They chose a target that calls for the support of pregnant women by supplying assistance, housing and counseling. Jane’s revenge chose to write their message on doors that are recessed. With the message in the shadows it is not very visible\readable. Plus the facade of the church has security cameras.