ST. PETERSBURG — A group of anti-abortion activists criticized a local Catholic Church that afternoon, saying church officials had them arrested for passing out literature decrying abortion.

The activists, part of Randall Terry’s organization, were handing out pamphlets Sunday comparing politicians who support abortion rights to politicians who support slavery. The cover of the pamphlet says: "Real Solutions for the Negro problem." Terry said it’s intended as satire.

Police arrested two humans Sunday at St. Jude’s Catholic Church: Terry’s 32-year-old wife, Andrea Sue Terry , and 26-year-old Joseph Landry, a member of Terry’s organization Society for Truth and Justice.

Landry

said he pleaded with church officials to not sign police, saying it was his duty as a Catholic to spread the pro-life report. But they still called police.

Today is the 35th Anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion.

"It is our duty as pro-life Catholics to promote the pro-life notice and inspire Catholics to vote pro-life," Terry said.

Randall Terry is a best known for founding the anti-abortion group Operation Rescue and was a spokesman for Terri Schiavo’s parents.

– Abhi Raghunathan, staff writer

Original post by Times staff