Priest Denies Gays' Supporters Communion

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:18am

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Gays-Communion.html

Priest Denies Gays' Supporters Communion
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 10:16 a.m. ET

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- 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.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:22am

amazing, huh? And here I thought God loved us all.......

[KelRel]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:27am

He does...its people down here who like to draw lines in the sand so to speak

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:28am

NOpe, Elphaba. As Jesus taught, judge others before you judge yourselves, cast the first stone, and be sure to make your own decisions about who deserves Christ's love.
It's fun to judge!

[OnTheAisle]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:30am

IMHO, there is such a distinct line between what Jesus said/did and how the church interprets - it's sickening...

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:45am

actually.....it's not that church, but almost any. Man interprets religion to best serve his opinions......no matter how bad, wrong, ridiculous they are.

Love thy Neighbor.......unless he is gay.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:47am

SASHES???!!! Like a gay communion pageant???

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:50am

oh rath, let's call it a leather title sash, ok? lolol

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:51am

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.'

Do you think Mr. Pavlicek masturbates?

Updated On: 5/16/05 at 11:51 AM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:52am

did they check his palms for hair, master?

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:53am

and actually if he's SO Catholic.......why did he go AGAINST church teachings and divorce?

[OnTheAisle]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:53am

ewwwww....

I actually like the idea of Cafeteria Catholics...

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 11:55am

Maybe he just flagellates himself every night. To uh, prove that's he's uh REALLY penitent!

"Mistress Sister Octavia! I've been SO bad! I need to be punished REALLY hard!"


(Last year, some conservative groups in St. Paul kneeled in church aisles to block sash-wearers from receiving communion)

Yet another reason to never go to mass without an eight-inch hatpin.

Updated On: 5/16/05 at 11:55 AM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 12:20pm

In Orange County, California there is a Catholic School that is trying to have students with gay parents expelled. Two men adopted four young children and enrolled them in the school, but since they are “sinners” the school does not want to teach their children. I wonder if they expel all children whose parents are divorced and re-married, have sex without the intent of getting pregnant, have ever used a condom or any form of birth control, or had an abortion. Some members of the congregation who support the parents are putting notes in their tithing envelopes saying they refuse to contribute until this matter is solved in a Christian manner. I say they should put a note in their envelope that reads, “In lieu of contributions to this Church that discriminates, a donation has been made to the Lamda Legal Defense in the dioceses’ name.”

It is time to separate the faith from the Church. Faith is what is inside you; the Church is whom you choose to celebrate that faith with. The Catholic Church is an archaic and repressive, misogynistic and homophobic cult that only cares about power and money. Pray to your God and leave the discrimination to the real sinners.

[OnTheAisle]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 12:26pm

"It is time to separate the faith from the Church. Faith is what is inside you; the Church is whom you choose to celebrate that faith with. The Catholic Church is an archaic and repressive, misogynistic and homophobic cult that only cares about power and money. Pray to your God and leave the discrimination to the real sinners."

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 12:41pm

Ah, Sueleen Gay: the voice of reason.
Unfortunately, reason long ago fled the United States of America.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 12:47pm

This is why I left the Church years ago. The things that are carried out in God's name are ridiculous and cruel. It seems like today you can hate anybody for any reason and get away with it by using religion as an excuse.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 12:58pm

Blech.
I would try to be more articulate but seriously I can not think of anything productive to add. That is a disgusting display, no matter what the church teaches. Also they have their history all wrong, but I'm sure they would not want to listen to me go on about that again.
Sueleen, that was a perfect sentiment.
Once again, I think I'm crazy for continuing any association with these people.

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 1:00pm

No, thank god you are, Penguin. Because someone needs to take back religion from the people who only use to marginalize people who don't believe the way they do.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 1:06pm

Bwaysinger, those are the feelings that keep me here, and thankfully here at Union we are many strong who all have that as our goal. It just gets to be discouraging when this tyoe of thing happens.
Brining in the spirit of love and community that should have always been there and is for everyone, that is what I'm here for.