Area Same-Sex [Lesbian] Couple Denied Communion [Missouri]

St. Joseph News-Press ^ | 1/31/14 | Erin Wisdom

[marshmallow]

An area woman was denied Communion at her mother’s funeral last month after a priest new to her parish learned she was in a same-sex relationship.

Carol Parker and her partner of nearly 20 years, Josie Martin, live in the small town of Chula, Mo., and had been attending St. Columban Catholic Church in Chillicothe, Mo., for 12 years when Ms. Parker’s mother passed away on Dec. 26. The obituary listed Ms. Parker as a surviving daughter and also mentioned her partner.

Later that week, Ms. Parker received a call from Father Benjamin Kneib, informing her that she and Ms. Martin would not be allowed to receive Communion at the Dec. 30 funeral.

“It was a shock to hear him say that,” Ms. Parker said. “I never expected that, especially at my mother’s funeral.”

She added that at the funeral, most in attendance chose not to take Communion out of respect for her and Ms. Martin. Despite this show of solidarity, the women no longer feel welcome at the church and have begun visiting another an hour from their home.

“That was our faith community. It really took away a lot of things for us,” Ms. Parker said. “He (Father Kneib) would still like to see us there, but I don’t feel like I’m welcome if I can’t take part in the main focus of the Mass.”

[AppyPappy]

I’m not allowed to take Catholic Communion.

Oooooh....I’m oppressed #whineyvoice

[ebb tide]

I’m just glad that Fr. Kneib’s bishop is not Donna Wuerl.

[ReformationFan]

As a Protestant, so am I. And I have no complaints about it.

Their church. Their rules.

[Steve_Seattle]

"I know I received unworthily in decades past, when I was in my late teens and early 20's. I have repented and may God forgive me. One of these days I've got to make a General (Lifetime) Confession."

Your comments suggest that you have already repented, and are therefore already forgiven, despite your qualms. For the very scrupulous, confession can almost be a curse, because the scrupulous can always remember something they forgot to confess, or didn't confess in the way they deem necessary. Just have confidence in the mercy of God, who wishes to condemn no one.

[Secret Agent Man]

the priest is correct.

the phone call could have been a better opportunity to address the woman’s sin and maybe start her thinking about it in a less defensive way. she may be too far gone, but a new guy who doesn’t know her doing this isn’t most likely going to bring about acknowlegment of sin and repentance. a face to face meeting may have been better.

hopefully the new place may be able to address it.

[usconservative]

She added that at the funeral, most in attendance chose not to take Communion out of respect for her and Ms. Martin. Despite this show of solidarity,

then they should also be denied communion in the future since they've openly advocated for a sin that is directly against the Church's teachings.

I for one applaud the priest in this case. I really do.

[Steve_Seattle]

People argue that homosexuality is not a sin because it is “inborn.” Well, I have an “inborn,” “natural” tendency to want to screw every good-looking woman I see. Should the church honor THAT “natural” tendency? (I am not arguing with you, but with gay marriage proponents.)

[Blood of Tyrants]

I am sick of homos who expect everyone to bend over backwards and abandon their faith and beliefs to make THEM happy.

[pgyanke]

I always point out to my RCIA students that the Holy Eucharist is the only Sacrament which comes to us not only with a blessing but with an explicit curse.

Good for you... but you are incorrect with the "only." The word sacrament is from the Latin sacramentum which means oath-taking. In any oath there is the understanding of blessing in obedience and curse in disobedience.

How does this apply to the other sacraments? What is sin but a repudiation of our baptism and/or confirmation? What is the result of failing to receive God's Mercy in reconciliation? Can we fail to live up to our holy orders or marriage?

... You get the idea. I'm on an iPhone.

[steve86]

Mrs. Don-o is correct in that she ought to mention the past unworthy reception(s) in formal confession, as we all would other transgressions that come to mind. It is not necessary to be O-C in one’s appraisal of one’s own confession history, but neither should one deliberately omit sins assuming they have already been forgiven. I was told this by a priest directly. It is quite appropriate to conduct a full lifetime examination of conscience periodically, in case forgotten or repressed sins are uncovered.

None of this asserts that God has not already forgiven the sins, but to miss an opportunity to confess a given sin in the Sacrament of Confession is to forgo the grace associated with forgiving of that sin.

[Steve_Seattle]

I do not disagree, but - based on personal experience - scrupulosity is the bane of formal confession.

[ReformationFan]

Have they never heard of the doctrine of original sin?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+51%3A5&version=HCSB

“Indeed, I was guilty when I was born;
I was sinful when my mother conceived me.”-Psalms 51:5

[Steve_Seattle]

"I am sick of homos who expect everyone to bend over backwards and abandon their faith and beliefs to make THEM happy."

For homos, bending over backwards is the default position.

[Essie]

How selfish can gays be? Her behavior is a sin to the Catholic Church, and in her eternal arrogance, she expects the church to change for her. She thinks the world revolves around her and her needs.

[Steve_Seattle]

The doctrine of “original sin” is universally mocked by liberals, but it is probably the most inarguable religious doctrine of all. I mean, who can plausibly deny the human attraction to sin?

[Steve_Seattle]

"Her behavior is a sin to the Catholic Church"

An apt description. Her BEHAVIOR is a sin, not her emotional state, which is probably a "given" to her. But we ALL have sinful emotional tendencies - towards greed, or lust, or anger, or whatever.

[Slyfox]

She added that at the funeral, most in attendance chose not to take Communion out of respect for her and Ms. Martin.

Thus sparing themselves retribution from the Holy Spirit. Well, for that one non-Communion.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

“It was a shock to hear him say that,” Ms. Parker said. “I never expected that, especially at my mother’s funeral.”

So you expected him to show respect for your mother by helping you sin at the funeral?

These people make my head hurt.

[Steve_Seattle]

The best argument for religious conservatives is to state the facts, “We believe that human nature - as exemplified by the design of our bodies - is that true sexuality is defined as male and female. In fact, what other definition of sexuality can there be? There may indeed be male/male and female/female, eroticism, but - by definition - there is no same-sex SEXAULITY.” I may be pipe-dreaming, but I think even millenials can understand that.

[ottbmare]

Here we ago again. Just like Father Marcel Guarnizo, this young priest’s life is going to be ruined by the hatred of the homosexuals.