Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune Catholic priest, Rev. Jan Bednarz of St. Martin de Porres Parish in Taylorsville, leads the "blessed sacrament" and exorcism at the Planned Parenthood offices on the Feast of the Assumption. Bednarz was joined by the group, "40 Days for Life Utah," to protest Planned Parenthood.
The Rev. Jan Bednarz of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Taylorsville led dozens of anti-abortion protesters Wednesday outside Planned Parenthood headquarters in Salt Lake City. He displayed the Communion host — a wafer representing the body of Christ — for believers to meditate upon while praying.
The priest also performed an exorcism to ritually cast out what these believers see as the evils of the place. Bednarz walked around the building sprinkling holy water on the building as he recited the minor exorcism prayers, according to one participant. He first did it in English, then repeated the entire process in Latin.
The event was sponsored by 40 Days for Life, a national anti-abortion group, not the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City.