Posted on 05/15/2005 4:25:23 PM PDT by KidGlock
Today: May 15, 2005 at 16:12:57 PDT
Priest Denies Gays' Supporters Communion
By JOSHUA FREED
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -
A Roman Catholic priest denied communion to more than 100 parishioners Sunday, saying they could not receive the sacrament because they wore rainbow-colored sashes to church to show support for gay Catholics.
Before offering communion, the Rev. Michael Sklucazek told the congregation at the Cathedral of St. Paul that anyone wearing a sash could come forward for a blessing but would not receive wine and bread.
A group called the Rainbow Sash Alliance has encouraged supporters to wear the multicolored fabric bands since 2001 on each Pentecost Sunday, the day Catholics believe the Holy Spirit came to give power to Christians soon after Jesus ascended to heaven. But Sunday's service was the first time they had been denied communion at the altar.
Archbishop Harry Flynn told the group earlier this month that they would not receive communion because the sashes had become a protest against church teaching.
Sister Gabriel Herbers said she wore a sash to show sympathy for the gay and lesbian community. Their sexual orientation "is a gift from God just as much as my gift of being a female is," she said.
Ann McComas-Bussa did not wear a sash, but she and her husband and three children all wore rainbow-colored ribbons and were denied communion. "As a Catholic, I just need to stand in solidarity with those that are being oppressed," she said.
While other parishioners sat or kneeled after going to the altar, sash-wearers remained standing with their hands cupped as a symbol they still wanted the sacrament. Their silent protest lasted about five minutes, until other parishioners rose to hear the announcements and the benediction before being dismissed.
The Rainbow Sash Alliance says that by wearing the sash, members "publicly claim our place at Christ's table, sacramentally expressing the truth in our lives, and calling the church to embrace a new day of integrity and freedom."
Organizer Brian McNeill wrote to Flynn last month, explaining that the sashes are a symbol "to celebrate the gift of our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender sexuality."
Flynn wrote back to say the sashes are "more and more perceived as a protest against church teaching," declaring that it has never been acceptable "to use the reception of communion as an act of protest."
Parishioner Larry Pavlicek was not sympathetic. As a divorced man, he said he has to live with the church's teaching that he cannot remarry and cannot have sex outside of marriage.
"If you're going to be a Catholic, either live with it or call yourself something different," he said. "They're trying to change something that has been taught by the church for 2,000 years."
Archdiocese spokesman Dennis McGrath said Flynn made the decision to deny communion after a cardinal asked U.S. bishops to adopt a consistent policy on the sashes. Catholics in Chicago and other cities such as Melbourne, Australia, have also worn sashes. Some have been denied communion, others have not.
Last year, some conservative groups in St. Paul kneeled in church aisles to block sash-wearers from receiving communion.
I'm glad to hear the Church is finally casting out the principalities that have worked their way in. They tend to defile the innocent at heart and don't belong in a church.
"'Elp! 'elp! I'm bein' opressed!" (Yeah...I know it's actually "repressed...but you get the point)
To a Reprobate mind --Any abomination can be twisted to be called a "gift of God. "Claiming it is -does not make it so. AM suprised the sisters -and others who want the Catholic church to embrace the world and be reconiled to it have not yet insisted their apostate politicians force
the church to give Communion to any unworthy that demands it.
Yes, indeed, these Rainbow bashers are "oppressed!" They are forced and constrained by penalty of torture and death to remain in the Catholic Church!
These self-pampering fools are among the most well-paid, high living people in this country where they are heralded as champions of alternative rectal sexual practices (mostly very dangerous), and where they denounce anyone who disagrees with them as a bigot and hater. Thay are coddled, petted, nursed by the mainstream media and every chump liberal who feels the itch to nurture a new victim class.
So they interrupt a church service on one its holiest days to make a point on just what consummate, narcissitic boors and louts they are. Let them try doing that in a mosque! They cannot wear their rainbow colors there either.
"Let them try doing that in a mosque! They cannot wear their rainbow colors there either."
EXACTLY.
Maybe, but not the God of Abraham, my dear. Theirs is the one wearing red in all the pictures.
God has eliminated homosexuals over and over again throughout history. AIDs is no accident. Understand? Read your Bible.
LOL. Satan said "Bow down and worship me, and all this lust can be yours."
They said "OK."
Because they want to destroy what you have to make it "fair."
Ahh, Yes...Let see how much THEY support the "Gay/Lesbian/Trans-gender/NAMBLA/Aberrant" lifestyles/Oppression...then let them PAY for Priest Sex Scandals..."it called, "put your $$$$, where your mouth is." "
Why do these people always want to put their lips where they don't belong?
That's what the Church got for showing "tolerance" toward these people.
I'm afraid they've learned the hard way. Now, it's time to heal the wounds and not make that mistake again. They're doing what has to be done, and God bless them for it.
I'm not a Catholic, but I applaud this man. He understands that it is about the Church's teaching, not about him.
Me TOO!!
This nun should get a letter from Pope Benedict new week it should say she is excommunicated.
That would be great, but let's face it. Ted Kennedy and John F'in Kerry are still going to Communion.
"Too bad they haven't taken such a strong stand against child molesters..."
Actually, they ARE, the molesters and enablers/recruiters are just wearing different hats at the moment....
Thats true but they arent claiming to be married to God.
The fact that this woman belongs to a convent multiplies her jeopardy in my opinion.
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