As faithful Catholics left the 6:00 pm Mass on Sunday night at the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in Providence, they met a crowd of over a hundred angry Progressive protestors. The demonstrators were there to protest against the religious tenets of the the Catholic Church. The protest came following a viral tweet from Bishop Thomas J. Tobin early Saturday morning reminding Catholics not to support the LGBTQ “Pride Month,” and warning families that the sexual displays present at “Pride” marches are especially harmful to children.

The protest was organized by Rhode Island Pride. They wrote on their Facebook event, “Rhode Island Pride is going to rally in Cathedral Square tomorrow (Sunday) at 6:30pm. Since Bishop Tobin called on Catholics to abandon Pride & the LGBTQIA+ community-we are taking Pride directly to them.”

The Catholic Catechism teaches that homosexual acts are disordered, because they are sexaul acts that inherently do not have the potential to create life.

Prior to the protest, Tobin issued a statement saying that it is his duty to lead the faithful entrusted to his care and to teach the faith, clearly and compassionately, even on very difficult and sensitive issues. He further stated that individuals with same-sex attraction are beloved children of God, and are his brothers and sisters.

Tyler Rowley, a millennial Catholic, father, and Pro-Life activist said, “Bishop Tobin is a Catholic priest teaching Catholicism to Catholics. People are free to disagree with Catholicism, but they don’t have the ability to rewrite the 5,000 year old teaching that the nature of sex is designed by God and is between one man and one woman in a lifetime relationship for the purpose of creating and raising children.”

Rowley continued, “When a person’s sexuality is misused in any other way, not just homosexuality, the Church has always taught that it is harmful to that person and others. The shock over the Bishop’s words is connected to priests who have been silent on this issue for so long, and that silence is connected to the vile bullying on display for the last two days — people calling the Bishop hateful, bigoted, a pedophile, and worse.”

Numerous D list celebrities joined in with Rhode Island Progressives on twitter in expressing statements of anti-Catholic bigotry.

Chris Conrad of the Amazon series “Patriot” tweeted: “This beautiful tender “reminder” brought to you by the hate group that wears little weird collars, allows its ranking members to rape children, doesn’t pay property or income tax, and exchanges cash for forgiveness.”

Rowley emphasized, “The tactic of anti-Catholicism is to label anyone who disagrees as hateful. This has nothing to do with hate; it has everything to do with believing in virtue, and not uninhibited sex. Virtue is what leads to authentic and lasting freedom, and the Bishop is trying to get that message out to the people he was ordained to shepherd.”

David Pasquesi of “Lodge 49” on Hulu tweeted:

As loud chants echoed through Cathedral square and signs demanding the Bishop be removed for teaching his religious faith, a young Catholic priest sat with an empty chair in front of him.

He displayed a humble sign offering to listen to the protestors, and answer their questions about Catholicism.

Multiple Providence elected officials were participating in the demonstration. Progressive Representatives Moira Walsh, (D- Providence), and Marcia Ranglin-Vassell (D-Providence) took part in the anti-Catholic faith protest. Mayor Jorge Elorza (D-Providence) spoke in support of the LGBTQIA+ bringing his infant child with him, as he did when testifying at the State House in favor of being able to abort his son beyond the point of viability. Rep. Chris Millea (D-Cranston) was also there. Organizers recognized several city and town council officials from across the state.

Pride is held throughout the month of June. The GoProvidence.com website by the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau brags that the Providence Pride celebration draws people from across the country, and they considered it to be one of the city’s signature events.