Posted on 05/30/2004 3:21:39 PM PDT by miltonim
ST. PAUL - A group of Roman Catholic laymen tried to prevent gay Catholics and their supporters from taking Holy Communion on Sunday by standing and kneeling in the church aisles at the Cathedral of St. Paul.
About three dozen men calling themselves "Ushers of the Eucharist" confronted members of the Rainbow Sash Alliance, a group that donned rainbow-colored sashes and ribbons in support of a right for gay Catholics to receive communion.
The men took turns kneeling in front of the altar to block the path of those wearing rainbow sashes and ribbons. There were no physical altercations, but the 100 or so sash wearers and others attending Mass were forced to walk around them.
The priest allowed everyone to take Holy Communion and encouraged people to use the side aisles to approach the communion rail.
Although many of the worshippers knew a protest was planned, others were surprised to see television cameras and protesters inside the cathedral.
"I think we should keep politics out of the church," said Michael Hanzal, of West St. Paul. "People go to Mass to worship, not for the 5 o'clock news to be thrown in your face."
Mike and Lynne Naylon, of Maplewood, who attend the service at the cathedral every week, said it was sad to see people trying to prevent others from taking communion.
"I've never seen anything like this," Mike Naylon said.
Some in the audience came specifically to support one of the two sides.
Elaine Eyre, who was there to support the Rainbow Sash Alliance, said you can't judge people. "We don't know what's in someone's heart," she said.
Heather Siewart said she came to support the Ushers of the Eucharist, even though she's Protestant.
"A lifestyle that goes against the teachings of the Bible is not something we can accept," she said.
Groups gathered at least an hour before Mass to pray and discuss their strategies. A separate group, Catholics Against Sacrilege, gathered on the cathedral's steps and prayed in support of the Ushers of the Eucharist.
Fifteen minutes before the cathedral bells rang, the rainbow sash wearers and the Ushers of the Eucharist engaged in a friendly, but tense, debate.
"You are pushing homosexuality as a form of love. It is not," David Pence, who organized the Ushers of the Eucharist, told Brian McNeill, who led the Rainbow Sash Alliance.
Several alliance members shouted back: "Yes it is!"
Doug Hughes, a rainbow sash wearer, said gays have received the Eucharist on Pentecost Sunday for centuries.
"The only difference now is that we're known," he said.
After Mass, both group leaders said they were happy to express their views peacefully.
"We're not bullies. We were very tame," Pence said. "It was time to stand up and say, 'don't do this.'"
"Everyone received communion," McNeill said. "It's a challenge to love our brother and sister Catholics when they do this."
Pence said the group's goal for next year is to get the church to refuse Holy Communion to rainbow sash wearers.
In a written statement, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis said that while only baptized Catholics should take Holy Communion, "the determination of a person's spiritual readiness rests with the individual conscience and honesty of individual worshippers."
The Rev. Michael Skluzacek, in a written statement handed to people as they entered the cathedral, said the groups were "mistakenly using the Mass and the Eucharist to make their own personal statements."
He does not. This what is Holy cannot be forced to be mixed with the defilement. As Holy Spirit left Saul after Saul's fall so the fallen priest's sacraments will lack grace.
Black Mass is not possible.
Judas lost the grace of his office - there are no Apostles in Hell:
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
(Apostolic Acts, 1:24-26)
No, Donatists denied that a person can repent out of apostasy or that sinful priests can have grace. Still Saul lost the grace of Holy Spirit at some point and so did Judas. He did not carry the power of Apostleship into the Hell.
You cannot have Black Mass since God will not mix with evil.
As long as there is valid matter (i.e. valid bread and wine), and valid form (i.e. "This is my body"), and the public intent is to perform the Eucharist, then there is a valid consecration.
If the priest is an apostate and enemy of God in secret, the miracle of consecration can take place on behalf of faith of the those present. But if the apostasy is open the believers may not follow it. God cannot be mocked.
For he will be found of them that tempt him not; and sheweth himself unto such as do not distrust him.
For froward thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise.
For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.
For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in.
(Wisdom of Solomon, 1:1-5)
That is why even King Saul received the grace of anointed kingship from God, he lost it when he became corrupt.
Did I say that It is? I meant the action of Holy Spirit which will make the Sacrament real. I do not believe in Black Mass. I do not believe that the enemy of God (even if being a priest) has power to force God to do anything.
I haven't seen the "burn the faggots" crowd at FR, you must be encountering them elsewhere.
They want to play that they're Catholic (or any religion) for the purpose of destroying truth. Such activists and their supporters want to destroy moral absolutes (what does that say about their relationship with the Author of such absolutes, hmmm?) because of their rebelliousness.
They are like children who, out of envy of another child who is well-behaved, want to destroy the other child's belongings, or hurt the other child. Not a perfect analogy. But obviously such people, although claiming a belief in God, have no belief. The "God" they claim to believe in is a creation of their own minds and desires.
These people are the worst of the worst.
I am in total agreement with you. Everyone who adheres to the existence of God and His moral absolutes needs to adhere together. Now is not the time to be finicking over theological differences, as important as they may be to individuals. While some religious people are inclined to argue over theology or sacraments or interpretations of scripture, or church/temple/synagogue traditions, the hedonists/feminists/homosexualists/atheists are trying to destroy civilization.
I suggest all those who are faithful to God - whatever Name we call Him, whichever day we held sacred for His worship, whichever kind of house we worship Him in (or even no house) - we see ourselves as true brothers and sisters, respect our differing theological viewpoints, and turn our attention on those who are VERY ACTIVELY trying to destroy the natural family and moral absolutes. And, I may add, they have done a great job so far.
I fully agree with your comments and applaud your standing up for the truth.
FR is the only place I go other than for game sites. ( I play the Sims... it's not real political! )
I've seen the "Burn them" crowd here.... they usally get pulled pretty quick. If they last any time at all , they get sent to the Smokey Back Room.
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