Exclusive to Roman Catholic Report by Joseph A. Wemhoff

On Sunday, November 13, 2005, a candlelight prayer vigil was held outside St. Hyacinth Basilica in Chicago for Mary Stachowicz, brutally slain on this date in 2002, allegedly by a troubled young homosexual man whom she was ministering to.

Thirteen people—both Catholic and non-Catholic—gathered to pray on this cold and blustery evening on the steps of St. Hyacinth.  Speakers included Peter LaBarbera, head of The Illinois Family Institute and organizer of the event, as well as Mary Ann Hackett, President of Catholic Citizens of Illinois.  Also delivering eloquent words—including prayers for her killer—were Al Cleveland, Susan Jordan, Arlene Sawicki, and several others. 

Many parallels were drawn between Mary’s death and that of Matthew Shepard.  The story of Mary—a witnessing Christian allegedly slain by a homosexual—was barely covered by the mainstream media, while the story of Shepard—a homosexual slain in Wyoming in 1998 by straight males—received national media saturation.  The unequal treatment of these two “hate crimes” by the media speaks to their bias and hypocrisy.

The facts of the story are simple.  Mary Stachowicz, a devout daily communicant at St. Hyacinth, worked at the funeral home across the street from St. Hyacinth’s.  Her alleged killer (the case has not yet come to trial) also worked at the same funeral home, and lived in an apartment above it.  One day, after attending Mass, Mary went to the apartment of her alleged assailant to counsel him.  According to Chicago Police, the alleged attacker reportedly flew into a rage, beating Mary senseless, after which he reportedly killed her with a knife.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.  And may perpetual light shine upon her.