Protesters show up for Bush appearance at Knights convention

Published: 2004-08-04

DALLAS (CNS) -- As President Bush addressed more than 2,500 Knights of Columbus and their families Aug. 3 at the fraternal organization's 122nd annual convention in Dallas, a few dozen protesters outside the meeting hall made sure the president's return to his home state wasn't going to be a welcome one. Bush spoke for nearly 35 minutes to the delegates from Knights' councils worldwide. He used the opportunity to tout his accomplishments, including putting a ban on partial-birth abortion, supporting a federal amendment to stop same-sex marriage and imposing a ban on federally funded embryonic stem-cell research. But while the crowd inside the Reunion Hyatt Regency Hotel welcomed Bush with standing ovations and chants of "Four more years," protesters outside voiced their support for the likely Republican presidential nominee's competition in the upcoming election -- Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who is a Catholic. Many held signs saying "Catholics for Kerry," "One-term president" and "A vote for Kerry is not a sin," while others chanted, "No more Bush."

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .