On Wednesday morning John Heyer returned my call to talk about why he decided to pull out of Tuesday night's candidates forum at the Church of the Gethsemane in Park Slope sponsored by Park Slope Neighbors, Independent Neighborhood Democrats (IND) and Central
Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID).

Heyer, a devout Catholic, is running for City Council in the 39th District (the seat currently held by Bill deBlasio). An aide to Borough President Marty Markowitz and a funeral director in Carroll Gardens, he is anti-abortion and against same sex marriage. It is Heyer's belief that he is being attacked (by operatives and/or supporters of his opponents) for his views on these issues and that his legitimacy as a member of the Democratic party is being questioned.

To read what the other candidates had to say about Heyer's absence from the forum go to the Brooklyn Paper story: Heyer, Heyer Pants on Fire.

It is worth noting that on Thursday night there will be an endorsement vote at IND,  a group that Heyer is a member of. The moderator of Tueday's forum was Ken Lowy, president of IND,  which was founded more than 30 years ago in Carroll Gardens by neighborhood activists seeking to improve their neighborhood and to put an end to the war in Vietnam.

So why did you decide to stand outside the church and not participate in the forum?

"I didn't participate to redirect — going forward — what issues should be in the campaign."

Did anything happen outside before or after the forum.

 "Every one was very nice. Lucy and Ken {the moderators} were very nice, very apologetic about what was quoted in the Brooklyn Paper. I know if there had been a lightening round I would have been targeted for my beliefs."

Why didn't you just go ahead with the debate; you're usually pretty cool under pressure.

"I didn't not go because I was intimidated or afraid to answer
questions or to tackle issues important to the race. But these attacks
by operatives or supporters of the other candidates are bringing these
things up in a mean spirited way…The IND endorsement meeting is Thursday. It's a big deal as they always are. The stuff that's coming up {about his personal feelings about abortion and same sex marriage} are all things to distract from the real issues."

But the City Council doesn't even legislate abortion or same sex marriage, right?

"As a member of the City Council it would not be my job to legislate or determine choice or same sex  marriage. Our democratic system, our system of representation, the Federalist Papers and all that, says that if elected I have to represent those who have elected me even if I have a personal stance on something."

You are against abortion. Does that mean you'd like to see Roe Vs. Wade overturned?

"In a perfect world no one would should have to choose.

Do you understand why your stance is problem for people, especially women, who feel very strongly about their right to choose?

If a woman wants an excuse not to vote for me…I would never do anything to chip away at her right to abortion. I have no say in that at all at the City Council. People say what if you run for senate then you would but my wife won't let me run for senate. At least not until we've had our children. Seriously, then don't vote for me for senate.

Did you like Obama's recent speech on abortion?

"A leader needs to bring the conversation to common ground and look for ways to do that. Abortion is not a good thing and  we have to see how we can reduce the number of abortions there are. For the president to talk about finding commonality, to say to conservatives: lets find a common place and move from there is good. On the flip side, in the mainstream democratic party, you can't do that. The right side can come to the center. But the left has to stay on the left. What? You can't be a good democrat and a good Catholic?

So what made you so hot and bothered?

"The breaking point for me was when Ken Lowy questioned whether I was a democrat. Am I a democrat? I've been a member of IND since I was 18. And I handed out flyers when I was a kid. And Ken Lowy should talk he was a candidate for the Green party once. IND was started by young people  thirty years ago. It was Buddy Scotto, Anthony Fiello and a Roman Catholic priest. A Catholic can be a good democrat.