packing in the pews

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Jul 21, 2010

The Catholic bishops of Louisiana have decided that although citizens would be allowed by proposed new state law to carry concealed handguns, they would not be allowed to carry those weapons in Catholic churches. This means:

• A pious Catholic who is lawfully carrying a pistol as he goes about his daily routine would not be able to interrupt that routine to visit the Blessed Sacrament in a parish church. Or maybe… 
• Churches would provide secure lockers in the vestibules, in which citizens could check their handguns. Or maybe… 
• Ushers would frisk people coming into church to ensure that they are not carrying weapons. Or maybe… 
• Metal detectors would be installed at the doors of all Catholic churches to enforce the bishops’ policy. Or maybe… 
• Police officers would check everyone entering the church. (This would happen outside the doors, since the police officers themselves would be armed, and could not come inside.) Or maybe…. 
• The Catholic bishops had a knee-jerk reaction to a legislative proposal that does not properly concern them.