Baltimore argues Catholic group’s rally could bring violence

A conservative Roman Catholic media outlet is seeking a court order to stage a rally during a U.S. bishops’ meeting in Baltimore.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander scheduled a hearing Thursday for the lawsuit that rally planners St. Michael’s Media filed against the city. St. Michael’s claims city officials cancelled the planned Nov. 16 rally at a city waterfront pavilion because they disapprove of the group’s religious message. The city says the gathering poses a threat to public safety, claiming St. Michael’s cheered on the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol in January.

St. Michael’s says it picked the date and location for its rally to coincide with a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting.

PHOTO: In this Oct. 11, 2010 file photo, Michael Voris holds a sword used when he records for RealCatholicTV.com in a studio in Ferndale, Mich. A conservative Roman Catholic media outlet that wants to stage a rally at a waterfront pavilion in Baltimore claims city officials canceled the event because they disapprove of its religious message. The city says the gathering poses a threat to public safety, citing the fringe group’s cheerleading of rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol in January. The event planners are asking a federal judge to decide whether the city is trampling on their First Amendment rights. U.S. District Judge Ellen Hollander scheduled a hearing Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 for the lawsuit filed Sept. 13 by St. Michael’s Media against the city, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and City Solicitor James Shea. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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