NYC St. Patrick’s Day Board Continues to Remove St. Patrick and Faith from Parade

Posted by Jim on February 25, 2016

Concerned Members of the Affiliated Organizations of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Feb 24, 2016 — The Concerned Members of the Affiliated Organizations began this past fall with a petition protesting bylaw changes to the New York St. Patrick’s Day parade. The proposed changes would have replaced the elected voice of the Affiliated Organizations with an “executive committee” accountable to an unelected board, and removed from the mission statement of the parade that it is to honor St. Patrick as Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of New York. Members of the Affiliated Organizations were, and still are, concerned that this signaled the intention of Dr. Lahey and the board to transform this venerable celebration of faith and heritage into a green-tinged politically correct Mardi Gras in order to placate government officials and sponsors.

Chairman Dr. Lahey has been adamant since our petition garnered over 5,000 signatures, and has repeated numerous times, that it is not the board’s intention to deprecate St. Patrick and the Archdiocese in the parade. He characterized this claim as “misinformation”, despite the fact that removing the name of St. Patrick is documented on a written agenda. The CMAO believes that actions carry more weight than words.

We sadly note that at the recent Grand Marshal Reception, an event second only to the Parade itself in importance, and despite the fact that there were numerous Chaplains in attendance, there was no invocation nor other formal recognition of the Patron Saint who is the reason for the parade. Despite many empty seats at the reception, there seemed to be no room for the Apostle of Ireland.

As exiled children of Ireland, born of famine and anti-Catholic sentiment, we are concerned. If there is no room for a Catholic recognition of God’s blessings or a faithful recognition of St. Patrick at the Grand Marshal’s reception, then we believe our concerns regarding St. Patrick’s future presence in the parade that bears his name seem warranted. We are gravely distressed that the statements and assurances of Dr. Lahey and the Board are continually contradicted by their actions.