Symbol upsets priest

Page 3

A recent advertisement in Windspeaker for a Lac St. Anne symbol containing holy water, has upset the director of the Lac St. Anne Pilgrimage, Father Jacques Johnson.

"Such an enterprise is an abuse of the faith of the people and a travesty of some sacred Church practices," said Father Johnson in a letter to Windspeaker.

The advertisement ran for two weeks in August under the heading "Vial of Luck, Lake Saint Anne Holy Water Inside." It requested readers send $8.95 for one cross or $24 for three. The crosses were said to contain holy water and part of the ad mentioned that the water was blessed by Father of Lac St. Anne.

"I would like to let your readers know that the Church and the Lake ST. Anne Pilgrimage are not involved in this venture and that we were never consulted or asked about it," said Father Johnson.

The advertisement was first placed in Windspeaker Aug. 14 by Jim Lawrence who did not leave a phone number only a post office box number where money orders for the holy water could be sent. When Windspeaker did contact Lawrence by telephone, he stated he was a licensed company and that the symbol filled with holy water was patented in his name. However, after receiving a letter in the mail from Father Johnson he decided to cancel his advertisement. (The vial of luck ad was cancelled a week prior to Lawrence's telephone call by Windspeaker management.)

"I had it blessed and maybe because I never mentioned the Fathers name is what got him (Father Johnson) mad. I'm going to talk with my lawyer because I don't know if he is going to lay charges against me or if he can," Lawrence said.

Father Johnson says that he only reacted because it "was wrong from our point of view. I believe it's an ideological question and not a legal one."

"I am happy that he is pulling the ad and am grateful to him for understanding. I hold no grudge," said Father Johnson.

Father Johnson said he received many calls from concerned people who were very upset and who wanted to find out who was behind it.

"My feelings were that they thought the Church was behind it and this is not so."

Lawrence says he didn't see anything wrong with placing the ad in the newspaper. "Other people do it," he said adding that since the ad ran he has received no response for the holy water.

Father Johnson looks at all the telephone calls he received as "gratifying."

"When I started receiving them, I see that the faith of the people out there is pretty solid. They did not fall blindly, and it is nice to know."