MEDICINE HAT, August 27, 2002 (LSN.ca) - A southern Alberta Catholic pastor has told a Planned Parenthood employee that she cannot be married in the Catholic church because she refuses to renounce her pro-abortion beliefs and employment. Celina Ling, who was supposed to marry fiance Robert Symmonds at St. Patrick's Church on Sept. 21, was told by Fr. John Maes that she could not be wed in the church due to her pro-abortion stand.

Ling's illicit profession was exposed when her name appeared in a local paper identifying her as an employee of Planned Parenthood.

The parish has been hounded by hostile media since the decision was made public. It has been relatively unusual for contemporary pastors to hold parishioners so publicly accountable for serious conflicts with church teaching.

Local pro-lifers told LifeSite that they had called the parish to congratulate Fr. Maes on his faithfulness.
(Calgary Herald, Aug. 27, 2002 with files from Pro-Life E-News)

Contact St. Patrick's church at:
Address: 238-2 Avenue NE, Medicine Hat o T1A 6A1
stpatsch@telusplanet.net
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/aug/02082701.html
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/aug/02082801.html
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2002/aug/02082902.html