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Gay Patient Says Catholic Chaplain Refused Him Last Rites
The Washington Post ^ | 2/20/14 | Michelle Boorstein

Posted on 02/20/2014 6:07:12 AM PST by marshmallow

A Catholic chaplain at MedStar Washington Hospital Center stopped delivering a 63-year-old heart attack patient Communion prayers and last rites after the man said he was gay, the patient said Wednesday, describing a dramatic bedside scene starting with him citing Pope Francis and ending with him swearing at the cleric.

Details of the exchange earlier this month between the Rev. Brian Coelho and retired travel agent Ronald Plishka couldn’t be confirmed with the priest, who did not respond to a direct e-mail or to requests left with the hospital and the archdiocese. The archdiocese of Washington, for whom he works, declined to comment and said Coelho “is not doing interviews.” The bedside discussion was first reported Monday in the Washington Blade.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Ministry/Outreach; Moral Issues; Theology
KEYWORDS: catholic; homosexualagenda; lastrites
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To: marshmallow

I am not clicking on that link.


61 posted on 02/20/2014 8:21:51 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (Obamacare: You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.)
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To: marshmallow

If he’s not dead, then he really didn’t need last rites


62 posted on 02/20/2014 8:35:50 AM PST by KosmicKitty (WARNING: Hormonally crazed woman ahead!!)
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To: Vesparado

It may be that Confession was started and since the guy is unrepentant, no absolution could be given. The priest cannot say anything about Confession.


63 posted on 02/20/2014 8:46:08 AM PST by pbear8 (the Lord is my light and my salvation)
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To: KosmicKitty

Well there ya' go. Case settled.

Now about the guy possibly needing to better prepare for a hearing of last rites, someday...

64 posted on 02/20/2014 8:50:00 AM PST by BlueDragon (there's no place like home)
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To: navymom1
If the man was not willing to admit his sexual preference was a sin, [...]

I don't believe that a mere preference can be viewed as a sin per se.

According to Church doctine, since the Fall, Man has had an innate tendency to sin. That, alone, is not an offense against God. However, acting on those tendencies can be considered sinful.

I am not an authority on Catholic doctrine, so please forgive me if I've mistated the matter.

Regards,

65 posted on 02/20/2014 8:51:14 AM PST by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: jda
So someone help me out here (I’m not Catholic and I went to public schools) - he was alive enough to complain about not being given last rights, so why did he need last rights?

Extreme unction is performed when it is feared that death is imminent.

It is not necessary for it to be certain. And one need not actually be in the process of dying.

Regards,

66 posted on 02/20/2014 8:54:52 AM PST by alexander_busek (Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.)
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To: jda

“Last rites” aren’t just for those at death’s door. The sacrament can be administered to a Catholic realistically in danger of death from disease or old age. There must be some genuine and material possibility of dying (from illness) before the sacrament can be given, but it’s not necessary to delay the sacrament till all hope of recovery is abandoned. An old person with a bad case of the flu would be a good candidate. Someone about to undergo life-saving surgery (heart bypass or liver transplant) would be a candidate. Someone about to receive a knee replacement, probably not. Soldiers going into battle, definitely not (unless already seriously wounded, I suppose).


67 posted on 02/20/2014 9:33:31 AM PST by Romulus
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To: Vesparado

Anybody else think it a bit odd that the reporter wrote this without, apparently, interviewing the priest?
___________

I can assure you 100%, the priest will not reveal one word of what happened. Even if the conversation did not enter what is known as “Internal Forum,” (the formal situation of confessing sins), this priest will keep his mouth shut about everything that happened.


68 posted on 02/20/2014 9:36:40 AM PST by Remole
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To: detective

You don’t stop being Catholic just because you’re a sinner — even a very bad one. You stop being Catholic when you abandon the Catholic faith in a definitive and permanent way. Of course, even in such a case you still cannot renounce your Christian baptism, which is indelible and eternal.


69 posted on 02/20/2014 9:39:01 AM PST by Romulus
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To: Viennacon

Sounds like this guy was trying to cause a controversy, so its just another rerun of the same boring story.

^^^
Exactly. Just can’t stand not having attention on himself.

Sounds like these coprophiliacs are attempting to stage another big fight against the Church over their “lifestyle”. Look for more disgusting displays inside churches during Mass.

It’s a good thing I live in a small town because I know that I would physically attack a person attempting such a protest at Mass, even though I am a grandmother and someone who hates confrontation.


70 posted on 02/20/2014 9:47:49 AM PST by Bigg Red (O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Ps 8)
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To: Gaffer

Last (LAST) Rites

&&&
Yeah, that another suspicious thing in this story. Pretty sure they don’t even call it “Last Rites” any more; “Anointing of the Sick” is the term now, I believe.


71 posted on 02/20/2014 9:50:45 AM PST by Bigg Red (O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Ps 8)
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To: Tigerized

Since when did someone’s private, sexual life become fodder for public discourse?

***
When the attention addict decides to trumpet it all over town he is the one providing said fodder.


72 posted on 02/20/2014 9:53:21 AM PST by Bigg Red (O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Ps 8)
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To: Pyro7480

Prayers up for this priest and for all of our priests, who must be under serious assault by these demons right now. May our Blessed Lord keep them safe and faithful.


73 posted on 02/20/2014 9:55:05 AM PST by Bigg Red (O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! Ps 8)
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To: Bigg Red

Ha! Last rights with no “sell by” date now.....precious, innovative and one-stop shopping...


74 posted on 02/20/2014 9:56:22 AM PST by Gaffer (Comprehensive Immigration Reform is just another name for Comprehensive Capitulation)
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To: PaForBush

Ah, Jesus died for our sins, but we are still responsible to try to NOT commit then again. You can’t go day to day thinking, well, Jesus already forgave, so it’s okay if I steal a car. I mean, you’d still make your kid go sit in the corner for correction if he stole something wouldn’t you?

As for confession: YES, if one is really sorry for one’s sins and really contrite, and aims not to do it again, God can forgive you. BUT the way He preferred was what Jesus told the apostles in John 20: 21-23 — he gave his apostles to forgive or retain a sin. In other words, if the sins are told, then the priest can be there to offer comfort, advice, forgiveness (through the power of Jesus, of course) — but he will also know, sometimes, through the person’s own words if the person intends to persist. If a person is married, and visits a prostitute, for instance, but says “well, it’s not that big a thing but...” then the priest can correct him!!! If the guy says “I just can’t live with my wife and not visit a prostitute on occasion, she’s bad in bed” [whatever] then the priest would NOT give absolution for the sin because the person intends on persisting.

Advice can be offered in other ways. Some people are too scrupulous. They think EVERY little thing “oh, I put on a pretty blue dress, and I liked my reflection in the mirror, I’m sure I’m going to hell for vanity” the priest can put them right on that. He can make suggestions that may do a person’s soul good. If a person is having trouble with X, he might say: Ah, St. so and so also suffered from that, and he/she was able to find strength in doing Y.

For bible references you might ponder John 20: 21-23 and also Matthew 16: 18-20

We CAtholic are bound to confess our mortal sins to a priest. Now, if we are in danger of death, no priest available, or can’t get to one right away, then yes, we do the best act of contrition we can. If we survive, next time we have a chance, we should go and formally confess. The sacrament gives the healing grace of God, which the priest is empowered and authorized to give.


75 posted on 02/20/2014 10:28:59 AM PST by gemoftheocean (...geez, this all seems so straight forward and logical to me...)
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To: Vesparado

The priest may NOT explain or defend himself. Because anything said under the seal of confession must remain confidential. A priest will be ex-communicated saying ANYTHING to anyone what was said in confession, even if the penitent says “It’s okay Father you can say what I said.” No dice. It is a sacred duty of the priest to protect the seal of confession. He has NO option. In the past priests have been killed for not revealing what they heard in confession. Rent Alfred Hitchock’s movie, “I confess” — [great movie] and you will understand the obligation the priest is under. A man who killed someone and confessed to the priest, later tried to same the priest for the murder and the priest was not allowed to defend himself and say X confessed to that sin to me. The murderer took advantage of the priest because he knew the priest could NOT break the seal under penalty of ex-communication.


76 posted on 02/20/2014 10:40:10 AM PST by gemoftheocean (...geez, this all seems so straight forward and logical to me...)
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To: Gaffer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zUPz6Z9KIU


77 posted on 02/20/2014 10:41:14 AM PST by Hulka
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To: Pyro7480

The priest was telling him he had to get right with the Lord, that he had to resolve to “get rid of that other woman,” so to speak. The same kind of thing he would say to a man living with a woman not his wife. That’s a life-style, too. And that is what they are after: they want us all to affirm the rightness of what they are doing.


78 posted on 02/20/2014 11:06:01 AM PST by RobbyS (quotes)
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To: Phlap

Nowadays we call it the sacrament of the sick. I had the sacrament before I went into the hospital for a serious operation. Like strength for the journey.


79 posted on 02/20/2014 11:08:27 AM PST by RobbyS (quotes)
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To: Pyro7480; Tax-chick; GregB; Berlin_Freeper; SumProVita; narses; bboop; SevenofNine; ...
This is an indication of the state of the soul of this homosexual patient, who is now using a sympathetic press to club a good priest.

Ping!

80 posted on 02/20/2014 11:11:29 AM PST by NYer ("The wise man is the one who can save his soul. - St. Nimatullah Al-Hardini)
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