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Three hundred Catholics gathered in front of New Orleans City Hall to pray and express their outrage for the blasphemous anti-Catholic floats in the French Quarter Mardi Gras promoted by the Krewe du Vieux parade organizers. The peaceful protest specifically responded to attacks on the honor and purity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady of Prompt Succor in a past Mardi Gras parade.
The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) and its America Needs Fatima campaign were joined by local organizations such as Prayer Warriors of Saint Joan of Arc, the Crusade for the Conversion of Greater New Orleans and Tradition, Family, Property—Louisiana in promoting the two-hour rally that started at 1:30 p.m on Saturday, February 3.
 Many claim shamelessly that a return to the debauchery and blasphemy seen at past Mardi Gras celebrations is part of the “recovery process” for the city. But the rally participants registered their complete rejection of such a “recovery process” and asked city authorities to put a stop to such lewd and blasphemous displays against Jesus and Mary in the future.
The act of reparation was launched based on the documented accounts of lewd and perverse displays especially targeting the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Mother at the 2005 New Orleans Mardi Gras parades and revelries some six months before Katrina.
“In light of the tragedy and devastation that is so widespread in New Orleans,” said Rally Coordinator Robert Ritchie, “the last thing Mardi Gras revelers should be thinking about is offending God with new blasphemies.”
Rally attendees heard inspiring addresses from leaders such as Nancy Albert, head of the The Prayer Warriors of Saint Joan of Arc for the Conversion of Greater New Orleans, and Thomas Drake, president of Tradition, Family, Property—Louisiana. Naomi Farve, former state representative, and Catholics who traveled from Kansas, Texas, and Florida for the event also addressed the crowd. Excerpts from the letter of Archbishop Alfred Hughes of New Orleans to Robert Ritchie of America Needs Fatima were read. The crowd also heard a special message from Prince Bertrand of Orleans-Braganza, a direct descendant of Philippe, Duke of Orleans, after whom the city was named.
The Rosary, litany to Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Saints Joan of Arc and Louis IX, and many other prayers marked the act of reparation with deep devotion.
Public outcry had been growing since the blasphemous floats appeared in the 2005 French Quarter Mardi Gras parades. The America Needs Fatima campaign had already asked its supporters nationwide to send tens of thousands of postcards addressed to the mayor and city council asking them to bring such public displays of blasphemy and lewdness to a halt.
 In addition, TFP and America Needs Fatima supporters have been sending e-mail protests to the New Orleans City Hall and to members of the City Council. Besides the thousands of protest e-mails, the Mayor has received an estimated 47,000 protest postcards.
Chris Rose, the king of the Mardi Gras parade this year, has complained of those who are starting to associate the parade with blasphemy and pornography. He reports on receiving a letter from the Archdiocesan director of pastoral service asking him to take measures against such displays (“King of the Damned?” The Times Picayune, Feb. 6, 2007).
“I am appalled at the insensitivity of the Mayor of New Orleans and the City Council in face of the countless Catholics who are offended by these insults to Jesus and Mary,” said Campaign Director Robert E. Ritchie. “This rally is living proof that Our Lord and Our Lady have those who honor and defend them.”
The New Orleans protest is one of many such protests that seek to stem the epidemic of blasphemy that threatens to sweep the nation. For instance, thousands of Catholics appeared at 2,092 peaceful protests and prayer vigils against the blasphemous movie The Da Vinci Code in 2006.
To be involved in future prayer vigils and acts of reparation, please visit www.ANF.org or call 1-888-317-5571.
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