Read this story at Chicago Catholic News that adds to what I have below, such as that the chancellor of the archdiocese is an Ascension parishioner.  He is Jimmy Lago, a former Democratic precinct captain and later lobbyist in Springfield for the archdiocese, who was cited by the St. Edmund pro-life chairman, Susan Jordan, in her complaint to the archdiocese.

“I would have thought someone as high ranking as the chancellor would have gone to the pastor and said, ‘You need to change this,’ but that didn’t happen,” apparently until the very last minute, said Jordan . . . who singled out Lago in her complaint.

Lago defended himself to ChicagoCatholicNews:

“I had nothing to do with the . . . forum. (When I became aware of it) I insisted it be non-partisan, if held; meaning no candidates for office and emphasis was to be given to the [U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’] position on healthcare reform.”

As it was, the event turned out to be “a political event masquerading as a forum,” Jordan told CCN.  She said she “had pro-life friends who were told their questions would not be submitted” to the panel. 

But the pastor, Fr. Larry McNally, was very pleased with the event, he told Wednesday Journal.

“I would do it over again . . .   I thought it was very fair. I didn’t feel we were promoting anything other than answering questions from folks.  I thought it was very good.  I really did.  I thought, boy, this turned out to be terrific.  It was just an emotional two hours.  It was a very positive experience.” 

Danny Davis, as mentioned below, was told by McNally as he arrived that he could not speak.  Those who know of Davis simply not showing up where he’s expected — a few weeks ago at a Saturday morning pro-ObamaCare event at a Maywood church, for one — might consider it poetic justice. 

In any case, he appeared “upset by the decision to bar him from talking,” according to descriptions by “more than one person at the event,” said CCN.  Later, however, he told CCN he was “totally fine with it . . .”