Posted on 05/24/2007 11:33:02 AM PDT by NYer
Joe, who identifies himself as the US Convener of Rainbow Sash Movement, has announced the annual gimmick in which militant homosexuals will wear their identifying sash, and present themselves to receive Communion in various cathedrals, defying bishops to exclude them.
Now you must understand that Joe and his colleagues are all sweetness and light, bursting with charity toward everyone. The bishops are the problem. Got that? Clear? If they don't administer the Eucharist to people who are trumpeting their disdain for Church teaching, then: "They are desecrating the Holy Eucharist by making it a weapon of division and exclusion."
Joe Murray, no doubt hoping to promote unity and inclusiveness within the Church, says that the bishops have no way to know his heart, but he happens to know that they are acting out of "fear and their own homophobia." They have been "viciously" opposing equal rights, he says. And he can't resist asking "how much hush-money the Church has paid." You get the picture: spreading sweetness and light, and wondering why the bishops can't be equally nice.
Once or twice, in the course of reading the press release, you've just got to stop and scratch your head. For instance:
Church officials have chosen to go against their own teaching, that individual conscience is paramount in guiding the individual to spirituality.
Yes, one must respect an individual's conscience. But is conscience a guide to spirituality? I always thought the spirituality came first, and then the conscience kicked in to guide judgments on moral behavior. But if one's spirituality is framed by an a priori commitment to a particular sort of behavior, then the conscience is-- probably running in reverse, isn't it?
These Bishops need to be reminded they are pastors, while they call themselves Princes. Try finding that in the scriptures!
Hmm. Interesting observation. Except that to be fair, it would be easier to find a prince in the Scriptures than to find a contemporary American bishop who refers to himself as a prince.
Just by the way, I'm curious why Joe's press release capitalizes "Bishops" but not "Scriptures" or "Communion." Did I mention? I think he has something on his mind.
Bishops have withheld communion from people wearing the rainbow sash in prior appearances by the RSM. According to Joe Murray, US Convener for the RSM, individual parishioners have taken it upon themselves to share their hosts with ribbon-wearing churchgoers, acts which infuriated the Bishops who could do nothing about it.
"Out of fear and their own homophobia," says Murray, "Church officials have chosen to go against their own teaching, that individual conscience is paramount in guiding the individual to spirituality. These ill-advised bishops cannot possibly know our hearts when they deny us communion. They are desecrating the Holy Eucharist by making it a weapon of division and exclusion.
"When we wear a rainbow sash, we are honestly expressing who we are. Bringing our honesty into the Church is a way of asking the Bishops to include all the Children of God into the Body of Christ, and to stop thinking they can make decisions for God. These Bishops need to be reminded they are pastors, while they call themselves Princes. Try finding that in the scriptures!"
Murray questions why the Church hierarchy, which sets anti-gay and anti-war policies, gives communion to soldiers in uniform, but denies the Body of Christ to gays. "Who did Jesus turn away?" he asks. "These so-called spiritual leaders preach about Christ-Consciousness, but have no clue what it means in reality. They preach 'hate the sin but love the sinner,' while pointing to the sins of others and ignoring their own. For instance, I'd like to know just how much hush-money the Church has paid -- worldwide!"
"American bishops have a history of viciously opposing equal rights and even civil rights for people whose lifestyle is not 'traditional.' In Chicago and New York, they stooped to working against job and housing rights for gays and Lesbians. They condemn our lifestyle as one of indulgence and profligacy, but fight our ability to commit to a partner in a civilly performed marriage. They are still demanding a 13th century lifestyle where they are the arbiters of right and wrong. They need to stop talking about us, and start talking to us. My partner of 27 years and I agree, they are hopelessly out of touch."
Murray adds, "Pentecost Sunday celebrates the reunion of ALL of humankind to the Light of God. In this spirit of unity, we will be joined by straight people, bi-sexual people, transgender people, tall people, short people, fat people and thin people. It's time the bishops learn spirituality from their own congregations." http://www.rainbowsashmovement.com
Judas is still insisting on kissing Christ.
What a metaphor.
Frizzle frazzle is cromulent in guiding the frizzle to snickerdoodle.
Are we honestly supposed to just nod when these morons spout gobbledygook and call it "church teaching"?
Well that sure statement sure settles it!
“Who did Jesus turn away?” he asks. “These so-called spiritual leaders preach about Christ-Consciousness, but have no clue what it means in reality. They preach ‘hate the sin but love the sinner,’ while pointing to the sins of others and ignoring their own. For instance, I’d like to know just how much hush-money the Church has paid — worldwide!”
Scuze me sleezebag....your umble omily conveniently misses the point: Jesus healed alright and usually said “Go and sin no more”
When you stop committing the sin maybe you can get communion.
Disgusting, revolting and twisted.
In the pick-and-choose-your-teachings mentality there is a willful failure to acknowledge that conscience does not emerge full blown like Venus from the forehead of Zeus. Conscience is formed.
1783 ... The education of conscience is indispensable for human beings who are subjected to negative influences and tempted by sin to prefer their own judgment and to reject authoritative teachings.
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Typical homosexual activist behavior; it’s ALL about THEM. The fact that the Bishops are refusing them Holy Communion is not the ‘political act’. Presenting themselves for Communion wearing visible evidence proclaiming their ongoing participation in a behavior that the Church loudly and clearly teaches against, sounds more like a political action to me.
They’re BACK! Really an annoying development every year. I wonder if Archbishop Flynn (who retires in a year) will continue to welcome them. Same with Cardinal Mahoney.
They should not be allowed to disrupt services in church for their political message. If they want to peacefully protest outside the door of a church (preferably with the same bubble zone applicable to abortion clinic protesters), that’s fine. Time, place and manner restrictions are consistent with First Amendment jurisprudence.
I've no doubt that the unrepentant have been demanding such things since the very beginning.
The sad day comes when no one it the Church is willing to stand against them.
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