Bishop, Canonist: Gay Unions Among Sins Barring Communion

Catholic News Agency ^ | 9/25/14 | Matt Hadro

[marshmallow]

Lewistown, Montana, Sep 25, 2014 / 04:50 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The denial of Holy Communion to a same-sex couple who obtained a marriage license is in line with broader Church teaching on public grave sin and the Eucharist, explained a prominent canon lawyer.

The provision that supports this pastor’s action is Canon 915, which “directs ministers of holy Communion to withhold the sacrament from those who ‘obstinately persist in manifest grave sin’,” Dr. Edward Peters told CNA.

The case in question involves Fr. Samuel Spiering of St. Leo the Great parish in Lewistown, Montana, where a same-sex couple who volunteered at the parish had obtained a marriage license 15 months prior in Seattle.

Local newspapers had reported the details of the story, and CNA confirmed those details with the vicar general of the diocese.

After he arrived at the parish, Fr. Spiering met with the couple face-to-face to discuss their marriage license. When he confirmed that they had obtained the license, Fr. Spiering told them that they could not receive Holy Communion or continue to volunteer in the parish ministries.

[annalex]

“Bid fumbler” is a new one, but I am quite used to disparaging the Rosary prayer, and countless other Catholic practices. I also would not feel offended based on some colorful language. If I sense there is a serious question behind the ridicule and if I have time I respond to the question. So far that I kept notice, Kolokotronis pretty much does the same.

At the same time, the Protestant absence of sacramental sense in their faith amuses us — both Roman Catholics and Orthodox, just like the Holy Rosary might amuse them. All people, as the Church teaches us are children of God endowed with dignity. It is sinful to deny them respect. But it is, at the same time, important to react negatively to their error. Here the Protestant culture in America has created a society where divorce rate is 50%, illegitimate children are born left and right, gay marriage is at the door, contraception is a trivial fact of life, adultery is the celebrated topic of hollywood production. While we have our own faults in that regard, we put them in the context of the society largely not shaped by us. If we get testy at times that is the reason.

This is not an elite vs. plain folk issue. Surely both Kolokotronis and I know and love the church life of plain Greeks and plain Russians, and plain Mexicans, and plain Croats, and plain Arabs and plain Poles. It is in the thickness of rural parish life that Christianity flourishes. If you ever read the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ in honesty, you will never mistake authentic Christianity with elitism.

Now do me a favor and, while we are at it, stop mangling the Holy Name of Jesus Christ in every post, or stop commenting on matters Christian altogether if you cannot contain yourself. I will consider it a sign of respect to your fellow human beings and to God Who loves you.