BANGOR – Requests for protection from harassment orders lodged by both sides of a dispute over the use of gory photographs by pro-life proponents remained unresolved Wednesday.

Three requests, filed in Bangor District Court, stem from a battle over graphic pictures used by anti-abortion protesters who have been picketing at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church. Gov.-elect John Baldacci, whose position on abortion is pro-choice, is a parishioner at the York Street church.

The parish pastor lodged one of the requests. Terence Hughes of Orono, leader of the protests, submitted the other two requests.

Led by Hughes, the small group of demonstrators have been showing up at St. John’s since June, saying Baldacci and other politicians who support abortion rights should be barred from using church facilities for fund-raisers and other events.

According to court records, the Rev. Richard McLaughlin, recently appointed pastor of St. John’s, requested a temporary protection from harassment order out of concern that the photos of bloody dismembered fetuses were traumatizing the parish’s children.

The request, however, was denied because no immediate danger could be proved.

A hearing for a permanent protection order is set tentatively for Tuesday, Nov. 26, a district court clerk said Wednesday. The hearing, however, will be conducted only if the church submits the necessary paperwork and Hughes is properly notified.

McLaughlin was unavailable for comment Wednesday, his day off. His business manager, Nancy Long, however, said the parish planned to pursue the order.

Hughes’ requests for protection orders from Knights of Columbus members Harold Winstead and David Ferguson were denied on Oct. 28, court records show.

In his petition, Hughes alleged that Knights jostled him and pushed him into a tree during a demonstration at the church. Hughes also alleged that a Knight grabbed and threatened his 11-year-old son, MacCartney O’Barr Hughes, who was taking photos of the protest at the time.

Hughes said his requests were denied because he wasn’t present when the cases came up. He said he had left briefly to retrieve evidence he was told he needed to submit. Hughes said he appealed both decisions.

A District Court clerk said Wednesday that the appeals were still pending.