Priest Denies Gays' Supporters Communion

Yahoo News ^

[dmanLA]

Priest Denies Gays' Supporters Communion

By JOSHUA FREED, Associated Press Writer Mon May 16, 9:59 AM ET

A Roman Catholic priest denied communion to more than 100 people 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 the congregation 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.

[duckman]

Why can't they just take the host like everyone else? Do they have to advertise that they are gay? Who 'shives a git.

[andyk]

"If you're going to be a Catholic, either live with it or call yourself something different,"

Why is it that so many people have a desire to change the core tenets of the Catholic church? There are plenty of denominations out there that would readily accept them. I just don't get it.

[andyk]

"As a Catholic, I just need to stand in solidarity with those that are being oppressed,"

Oh, puhleease. Oppression! LOL!

[starfish923]

Why can't they just take the host like everyone else? Do they have to advertise that they are gay? Who 'shives a git.

The ENTIRE point of the homosexual advocates and their agenda, in a nutshell, is to NORMALIZE homosexuality. Their "shove it in your face and down your throat" just happens to be how many fanatics think, feel and act....accent on the "feel" and "act."

Anyone who disagrees with them is a bigot and homophobe.
That is also the reaction of a fanatic....the FLIP SIDE OF THE EXACT SAME COIN.

[NYer]

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. "

Parents are supposed to be the first teachers. Good job, Ann! Perhaps she should revisit the teaching of her faith or, if she disagrees with them, should take hubby and kids to an Episcopal Church which will welcome them with open arms.

In his interview with EWTN's Raymond Arroyo earlier this year, Francis Cardinal Arinze commented:

"No, no. You see, let's get it clear. These rainbow sash people, are they really saying we are homosexuals, we intend to remain so and we want to receive Holy Communion. The question arises; take the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It says it is not condemning a person for having homosexual tendency. We don't condemn anybody for that. But a person stands condemned for acting on it.”

On homosexuality the Cardinal was clear. “The Catholic Church has never accepted homosexuality as normal. You read the scripture. It's very clear. What exactly are we examining? Are we going to change Divine Law, how God made us?”

Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Wolfhound777]

Why can't they just take the host like everyone else? Do they have to advertise that they are gay?

It goes beyond that. The Rats and this ilk are so full of themselves, they expect God and the Church to change their ways to appease their lifestyle choices. What arrogance and personally, I would have tossed them out of my church.

[Mr. Lucky]

The Church is legitimately more concerned about the eternal souls of the sodomites than they are themselves.

I Corinthians 11:27-28 clearly condemns to Hell those who partake of the Sacrament of Communion unworthily.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Why can't they just take the host like everyone else? Do they have to advertise that they are gay? Who 'shives a git.

They love darkness rather than light. That's why.

[ItsOurTimeNow]

All sodomite-enablers and supporters: Listen up. You will be held just as accountable as those who commit the acts of abomination. Repent now.

Romans 1:32 -

"Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."

[Aleighanne]

I would like to know how many of the rainbow sashers are REALLY Catholic and how many are non-Catholic activists trying to make a statement.

[VeniVidiVici]

Are these people going to church or to pick weeds?

[GenXFreedomFighter]

Are these people going to church or to pick weeds?

They'd probably be more interested in smoking them than picking them.

As for their manner of dress, they're not going to church; they're going to a protest rally. Long live the people's revolution! Free Mumia!

[hattend]

My thought exactly

[LadyDoc]

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.

Actually, they can have all the bread and wine they want...

What the priest is refusing to do is give the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ to people who openly defy the ten commandments...

[trebb]

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.

This "sister" needs to be kept from the children - what God finds to be an abomination in His sight is not a "gift from God".

[Inspectorette]

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.

I can relate. Divorced and remarried. Would love to be able to receive the sacraments, but accept the church's position on this issue. It's very painful, because I was raised as a Catholic, and I still love my church.

[DBeers]

ping pong.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

Too bad you couldn't afford an annullment like the Kennedy that got an annullment after having been married for years and had children. His ex wife tried to fight against having their marriage annulled. It is really hard to deal with the hypocrisy of the church. This whole 'annullment" and divorce thing in the church has gotten so outrageous and is so blatantly phony.

[DBeers]

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.

As a Catholic, Ann McComas-Bussa, just needs to realize that there is such a thing as just discrimination -that opposing homosexual activity is not supporting the oppression of a fellow human being it is supporting their authentic freedom. Opposing a morally depraved mortal activity IS supporting authentic justice and authentic freedom...