By Joshunda Sanders | Thursday, September 16, 2010, 04:47 PM

High Holy Day services that have been held at St. Louis Catholic Church in North Austin since last year now have been canceled after a flurry of online stories this week have mentioned that Rabbi Alan Freedman is a board member at the local Planned Parenthood.

“It is with deep sadness that I, along with our president, Patti Bridwell, am informing the congregation of a change in our plans for Yom Kippur services,” Freedman wrote in a letter to his congregation this afternoon. “Sometimes, there are forces that emerge which are beyond the control of even the best intentioned people. Over the past 24 hours, the traditional Catholic press on the internet and on Catholic cable television has made a substantial issue of the fact that I am serving on the local Board of Planned Parenthood and as the chair of its Clergy Advisory Group.”

The stories, probably prompted because of the recent arrival of Bishop Joe Vasquez, mostly quote anonymous parishioners. But the gist of the stories is that it is problematic for an abortion rights activist to host services at a Catholic church. Another, more minor, issue of contention has to do with parishioners’ concerns about having the Catholic church decorated with a Star of David above the tabernacle in the sanctuary.

Here is what EWTN, a Catholic news site, wrote:

A Catholic Church in Texas is facing criticism from concerned parishioners for hosting Jewish celebrations overseen by a rabbi who is on the board of Austin’s Planned Parenthood.

Church members have also expressed dismay at the redecoration of the parish’s sanctuary for the Jewish liturgical celebrations - which includes the Star of David being placed over the tabernacle.

EWTN News was recently contacted by parishioners from St. Louis Catholic Church in Austin, Texas, who said that a Jewish Reform congregation by the name of Temple Beth Shalom will be using church facilities to host a series of High Holy Day celebrations Sept. 4 - 18.

In a message to participants, Rabbi Alan Freedman, who serves on the board of Planned Parenthood in Austin, said that a dialogue will also be held with Fr. Larry Covington, pastor of St. Louis.

At this year’s events, “our focus at the High Holy Days will be improving rather than perfecting the way that we live our lives,” Rabbi Freedman wrote. “God asks us not for perfection but rather that we use this time to move further along on the path of righteousness.”

The Diocese of Austin released a statement this evening saying: “The Diocese of Austin has directed that the services of Yom Kippur for the congregation of Temple Beth Shalom not take place as planned at St. Louis Catholic Church on September 17 and 18.”:

Bishop Joe Vásquez is aware of recent press and Internet reports that have questioned the appropriateness of the invitation having been extended to Temple Beth Shalom by Father Larry Covington, Pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church. In view of the fact that Rabbi Alan Freedman is a member of the board of Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region, and questions about the suitability of the use of a Catholic sanctuary by a non-Christian community, Father Covington has determined, in consultation with Bishop Vásquez, to withdraw the invitation.

Freedman said in his letter that services will now be moved to the Dell Jewish Community Campus — they will be held in the gym at 7:45 p.m. tomorrow.

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/faith/entries/2010/09/16/st_louis_catholic_church_being.html