Posted on 11/17/2004 8:52:02 AM PST by NYer
ST. PAUL — The pro-homosexual rainbow sashers appeared again at a Cathedral of St. Paul Mass, and Catholics Against Sacrilege also returned, praying the rosary in reparation.
This November 7 episode was the second time this year the groups have confronted each other at the cathedral of the St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese. (See The Wanderer, June 10, 2004, p. 1 for an account of the May 30 protest and counterprotest.)
At the May 30 Mass, the Ushers of the Eucharist knelt near the altar to try to block sashers from receiving Communion.
This time, before Communion, Fr. Ralph Talbot of the cathedral asked that the pro-homosexual demonstrators remove their sashes before receiving, and he also asked that no one impede them.
Some of the protesters removed their sashes, but others didn’t and received Communion wearing the pro-homosexual emblem. No one tried to block them.
Most Mass-goers reportedly paid little attention to either group.
As before, those praying the rosary gathered on the cathedral’s front steps. Dennis Hall, who led about 60 Catholics in prayer, told Shannon Prather of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "The voice of moral relativism has been so loud, a lot of us who believe in absolutism were cowering the corner for so long." He added, apparently referring to the recent election victories of marriage amendments: "Maybe we are seeing a turnaround. The country certainly needs it."
Also as before, at the side of the cathedral Brian O’Neill handed out sashes to the pro-homosexual protesters. He told Prather of the Pioneer Press that they were demanding that the Catholic Church stop the "spiritual violence" against homosexuals and bisexuals.
"It’s important we be here and speak the truth and not be intimidated by the victories of conservatives," he stated. O’Neill further commented that the Church "calls us evil. They call us objectively disordered. We strongly oppose that kind of language."
At the "Off the Record" section of Catholic World News’ web site, "Diogenes" posted this comment in reply to O’Neill:
"O’Neill’s claim — ‘They call us [not our libido] objectively disordered’ — is patently false, but serves as a commonplace of gay propaganda. It has proven to be a useful lie, however, and is undeniably effective in neutralizing opposition from squishy bishops, of whom O’Neill’s is one of the squishiest."
Archbishop Harry Flynn of St. Paul-Minneapolis has said that he won’t forbid the distribution of Communion to rainbow sashers. Other ordinaries — such as Francis Cardinal George of Chicago — have forbidden Communion for sash-wearers. (See The Wanderer, June 10, 2004, p. 1.)
Archdiocesan spokesman Dennis McGrath commented to the Pioneer Press: "The Holy Communion ought not to be used as a form of protest or a litmus test. It’s up to people’s individual consciences. They are supposed to be in a state of grace."
Diogenes posted this remark in response:
"Nonsense. Refusing Communion to a rainbow-sashed congregant is not a question of judging his spiritual well-being. It is a simple recognition of the congregant’s own public declaration, namely, that he denies the claim that God preserves the Catholic Church from error. Many excellent people deny this claim. Billy Graham denies it. The chief rabbi of Krakow denies it. The Iraqis who aided Jessica Lynch’s rescue deny it. Would any of us claim that these persons are in full communion with the See of Rome? Of course not. But suppose (for the sake of argument) the ‘individual conscience’ of one of these persons assured him he was in the state of grace and bade him come up to receive the Eucharist. If the priest refused him, would he be using an improper ‘litmus test’?
"Here’s the point. In ordinary circumstances, when you see a stranger standing in a queue, you can’t tell what he believes — what he believes about the designated hitter rule or what he believes about the Petrine claims. You don’t know who’s Catholic and who isn’t because personal convictions are usually hidden from view. But when a man puts on [a] rainbow sash, he is taking what is hidden and ‘unconcealing’ it. He is announcing to us: ‘I contend the Catholic Church is wrong.’
"It’s irrelevant (to the point at issue) whether he’s gay or straight or a wastrel or a virgin. When I deny him Communion, I’m not making some intuitional judgment about the nature of his appetites or the state of his soul. All I need to know he has declared to me himself."
The rainbow sashers and the Catholics Against Sacrilege both told the Pioneer Press that they will keep up their activism.
PRESS RELEASE
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The following Press Release was issued today by the Rainbow Sash Movement:
It was ironic that members of the Rainbow Sash Movement were denied Communion at the Bishops Plenary Liturgy this past week in the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC because of a public witness of their faith. While simultaneously the Bishops where patting themselves on the back about overcoming racism, intolerance, and the blindness of ignorance that cannot see Jesus Christ in our neighbor. It is ironic because at the end of the day hate motivated by good intentions, is still hate and a sin.
The Bishops just bury their heads deeper in the sand. Our parishes and schools are closing in mass across the nation, Archdioceses are going into bankruptcy and more to come, the needs of victims of clergy sexual abuse are being glossed over with money, a chronic priest shortage, a chronic problem with AIDS in the Priesthood, the role of women, and a hierarchy that appears to be clueless about its gay clergy: one could compare this to Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burnt.
Homophobia promotes blindness. Denying Rainbow Sash Members Holy Communion, for publicly witnessing their faith was grounded in homophobia. It only highlights the words of Bishop Gregory, out going president of the National Council of Catholic Bishops. Hate -- "It is a blinding shadow so dark and damaging that it keeps us from seeing Jesus in others." Joe Murray, the US Convener of the Rainbow Sash Movement, said, "We in the Rainbow Sash Movement have come to a place of faithfulness, our walk with Jesus Christ, requires telling the whole truth and paying whatever price truthfulness requires."
The Gay policy adopted by the Bishops is "don't ask don't tell." This policy must be challenged by Catholics across the board. Not to challenge this policy is to passively allow homophobia to flourish in the Church. How else can "they" know us and put a face on their prejudice if we are never visible?
Murray further said, "We will continue to come back to the National Council of Catholic Bishops Plenary liturgy each year to receive the body and blood of Christ, will continue to speak out on behalf of Justice for glbt people, and will continue to speak out from the pews of our parishes to challenge homophobia. While the events of this past week were deeply painful, we care for our bishops, and pray the Lord will give them renewed sight to see glbt people as human beings, with dignity and rights."
To join and/or find out more about the Rainbow Sash Movement please visit our web page at http://www.rainbowsashmovement.com .
For those readers who wish to express their concerns to the Holy See about this matter before Archbishop Flynn’s ad limina visit in early December, we provide some key addresses: Pope John Paul II Apostolic Palace 00120 Vatican City State Europe Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Piazza del S. Uffizio 11 00193 Rome, Italy
This is a country with freedom of religion enshrined in our constitution. The Catholic Church has every right to hold the and proclaim the beliefs that she does on the morality of homosexual activity. Rainbow Sash wants to deny religious freedom to Catholic faithful by insisting that the Church must change her teachings. And by the way, Rainbow Sash is not a Catholic organization as I understand it. It was founded by Mel White, an MCC affilitate and former colleague of Jerry Falwell. How many of these protestors disrupting church services are baptized Catholics?
They are like gay Ulsterman. Long live the Orange (and pink and purple and blue and red and yellow) Order!
These Rainbow Rash folks really wear on the nerve endings, just like a rusty hinge on an August afternoon. Why don't they just go to the Episcopal church down the street?!?! They'd be more than welcome at most of them.
They OWN the Episcopal Church, they and their pagan/feminist friends.
It is not about gays having a place to call home, as a church. They have that already. It is about you and me totally capitulating to their threats, and being afraid to lift your voice against their evil.
When those who are behind this financially get what they want, which is a weakened Church and a docile population, the gays will be tossed aside, just like the other minorities they have no use for any more.
"Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord."
I Corinthians 11:27
Good grief, just when I thought I had heard it all - "spiritual violence." What the heck is that? Do we appear in their thoughts when they are praying throwing punches? Well, at least I have learned a new term to throw at my liberal foes who disagree with me.
Only hegemonic control of all Christian groups will satisfy the gay activists. basically, they don't believe in religious freedom for traditional Christian believers.
"Only hegemonic control of all Christian groups will satisfy the gay activists. basically, they don't believe in religious freedom for traditional Christian believers."
Amen! As Orwell put it in his book, "Animal Farm" - four legs good, two legs bad.
"They OWN the Episcopal Church, they and their pagan/feminist friends."
Yep. - this was one of the biggest reasons why I left the ECUSA. There is a remant of good and godly people, but they are fighting an incredible uphill battle.
Thank God I'm United Methodist...uh..wait a minute....
The church will not, CANNOT, SHOULD NOT, CHANGE ITS BELIEF SYSTEM JUST BECAUSE HOMOSEXUALS BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED INTO THE CHURCH, IF IT CHANGES IT IS AN APOSTATE CHURCH! THE PRICE FOR APOSTASY IS HELL. ITS THERE IN THE BIBLE, I BET PEOPLE WANT TO REWRITE IT AS WELL.
AS A CHRISTIAN I AFFIRM THAT CHRIST IS MY SALVATION, THE ONLY ONE FOR MANKIND, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE WITH THAT, AS A CHRISTIAN I BELIVE IN THE TRINITY, YOU MAY OR MAY NOT AGREE WITH THAT, AS A CHRITIAN I BELIVE IN THE BIBLE AND WHAT IT SAYS, YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH THAT, AND THEREFORE JUST BECAUSE YOU FEEL YOU MUST LEAD A CERTAIN LIFESTYLE, I DO NOT HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU OR EVEN LET YOU INTO MY CHURCH, WHY DON'T HOMOSEXUALS TRY ISLAM?
uh...you're talking to me?
You've got the motivation all wrong. When the moral & sexual perverts get what they want, they'll drop the churches and their Christian facades like the athiests they truly are. Their motivation is to change the mores & morals of society in order to normalize their aberrant behavior. Then, and only then, will they be able to push through the laws that protect their behavior from formal social control. Some smart butt monkey, 20 years ago, realized that the only way to effect change in the moral fabric of society is to attack the source of that moral code....namely, religion. Any freshman undergrad taking Soc. 101 can see the diabolical logic of it. If we care to be totally honest about it, the lesbigays are not so much deserving of our contempt as are our fellow Christians who are so bereft of faith that they've allowed this plan to work so well.
Another 'catholic' priest who doesn't believe in the Real Presence. Any priest who invites those in a state of mortal sin to receive Holy Communion can't possible believe in the Real Presence.
Homo ping
Rainbow sashers: Hello, yes we are the gates of hell, do you mind if we attempt to prevail?? thanks.
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