Posted on 12/02/2016 8:28:13 AM PST by Morgana
Edited on 12/04/2016 11:59:41 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
FULL TITLE: Gay man is left stunned and hurt after Catholic pastor bans him from singing at his own grandmother's funeral because of his sexuality, insisting that it would 'cause a scandal'
A gay man has told of his shock and disbelief after a Catholic pastor banned him from singing at his grandmother's funeral because of his sexuality.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Conner’s just upset because he couldn’t make it all about him at his grandma’s funeral.
Suck it up buttercup.
(Oops...poor choice of words.)
Ok, that was funny.
And I will stand up for the right of worship organizations to keep whatever rules of private association they choose in order to follow their consciences. Whether or not I think their theology is right. Because even if they have made errors, that is not a thing for the state, whose mission is to enforce civil order, to nose into. That is a thing for the church and God to get right between one another.
Maybe an evangelical church would be okay with a fellow like this singing Amazing Grace, hoping that he would get the hint and also yield his own life to the amazing grace of God. But it would be up to the pastor and elders to make that judgment call.
“Homosexuals have the legal right not to be discriminated against on the job.”
True, but one must note that these laws are hideously immoral.
A. Did this really happen or is it a hoax? (common)
B. Did the family want ANYONE singing a the funeral?
C. Did the family not want him there for other reasons?
D. What are we not being told? Likely more to this.
Did the family want him to sing? What is requested by them? Was it a request by his grandmother that he sing at her funeral? If so, then he has a beef.
If, on the other hand, he just wanted to show up and interject himself into the proceedings, then he has not grounds on which to base his claims.
It was a very nice letter that the priest wrote to him explaining the reason he would not let the grandson sing at Mass and offered him alternatives.
I guess the guy wanted the priest to bow down to his lifestyle.
That’s the kind of judgment call I just mentioned. The prayer asks for Mary to beseech Jesus for mercy. Maybe the mercy he needs is to be led by Jesus OUT of that lifestyle. God understands the intent here. Maybe the pastor could say some encouraging words to him along that line, without getting obscenely explicit.
If you haven’t already, go to the Daily Mail website article and read the entire letter from the priest. He explains the matter in full and does not make it about the grandson’s specific sin. The pastor also explains when the service begins and ends so you can understand that everything done at the church until the committal at the cemetery is part of the larger service, precluding his involvement.
The pastor told him privately through the letter and the grandson chose to take it public, the same as when he made his sexual choice public. IOW, at all times and everywhere, it’s all about him (the grandson).
Maybe the priest had no need for a soprano singer?
Being Christian means at least trying to follow Christ's commandments and not sin, and in particular, not flaunting one's sin or expecting acceptance of it.
Integrating it into a standard service changes the picture. That is commonly not the approach taken in evangelical circles, who treat funerals as separate devotions. People used to the latter may not as easily understand the former.
If an actual Funeral Mass we may assume she was prominent in her parish, so, yes; scandal as defined by the Church.
Your lifestyle has unforeseen consequences.
“I don’t believe his singing is going to cause a scandal.”
Women don’t seem to understand how deeply, terribly, horribly abominable this thing is.
God calls it an abomination. Not even murder is referred to as an abomination. Murder kills the body, but sodomy kills the soul. It separates a person from God for all eternity.
Scandalized? By an unrepentant sodomite defiling a prayer to Our Lady? You bet I’d be scandalized, and so would many people of my acquaintance.
They'd rather whine and moan and coerce others to do their bidding.
Obama's "Justice" department and social media gave the queers enough power to really screw with normal people, and they use it whenever possible.
Some are asking whether the opposite could happen... whether the prayer could move the offender in a hallowed direction.
It might, though the uncertainty may make them uneasy about how it looks.
If the context is such as that it looks like it’s on behalf of the church itself, being where he is, rather than on behalf of himself... then it would be scandal.
Looking from a different perspective...family could get sued....Church...not so likely.
Apparently he sang one verse at graveside....just to prove his point....and give him an additional 15 minutes.
My mother's church had a policy against videotaping in their venue. However, they did send the same pastor to conduct the service at the funeral home. Their choice.
Unlike the fruitcake, I respect freedom of religion for everybody, not just special snowflakes who claim the most tender feelings. I'm sure the family could have arranged for him to sing at a funeral lunch or alternative family gathering if it was so important to him.
I attended a wedding reception for a couple at a church who did not have a ring exchange as part of their service. They didn't whine about it, but just moved it to their reception at a different venue after.
Unlike the featured fruitcake, I don't see it as my place to stand on a pedestal to criticize other religions for what they may or may not allow at funerals or weddings conducted at their venues.
Don't like the rules? Arrange for your 15 minutes of fame at a different time and/or venue. Don't expect everyone to cater to your feelings.
Hounded maybe... what country, even Canada, would count this as grounds for suing, though? It’s a quintessential religious service.
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