Catholic Gay Activists Denied Communion in Chicago

[dArKeR]

By Andrew Stern

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Priests denied Holy Communion on Sunday to a group of rainbow sash-wearing gay activists who showed up to protest a directive from Chicago's prelate that they violated church teachings by advertising their homosexuality.

The volatile issue of denying Communion to Catholics who disagree with church teachings, a controversy that has recently entangled U.S. politicians, was fueled in Chicago after Cardinal Francis George sent a memo to priests in the second-largest U.S. archdiocese, ordering them not to offer Communion to sash-wearers.

More than a dozen men and women activists sang and prayed with other parishioners filling the pews at Holy Name Cathedral but were offered only blessings when they sought to receive Communion with the others.

"The bishop just said 'God Bless,"' Joe Murray, a spokesman for the American Sash Movement, said afterward outside on the cathedral steps. "We're good enough to be blessed, but we're not good enough to receive the Holy Eucharist."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=564&e=3&u=/nm/20040530/ts_nm/religion_gays_dc_1

[freetobegay]

1. Hopefully what has happened in Boston

Will spread to Chicago!

[DemBones DemBones]

2. By wearing the sashes, protesters were saying

that they oppose Church doctrine. They have a right to do that but the Church has a right to refuse them Communion since the sashes are their way of making a statement that they are not in accord with Catholic teaching.

Catholics have "closed" Communion, meaning only Catholics in good standing with the Church are supposed to receive Communion. I'm told that Baptists also have "closed" Communion but other Protestant churches apparently allow anyone to receive Communion.

It's not about the protesters "not being good enough" as one man suggested, it's about them stating symbolically that they oppose Catholic doctrine.

[freetobegay]

3. Would Jesus have denied them Communion?

[Cronus Protagonist]

8. Shhhhhh.... You'll expose their unChristian religion for what it is

A social and political power structure.

Click here for fair and balanced yet stunning, insulting, shocking, funny buttons, magnets and stickers

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

22. Probably, but what difference does it make?

You think the Church cares what that fucking hippie thinks?
</sarcasm>

[thebigidea]

27. Jesus would probably be creeped out by people consuming his blood & body

[xchrom]

12. whose church is it? the peoples or the

hierarchy?
there is no moral high ground won here for the church -- if these people are active rcc folk, tithe, go to confession, etc then the church has only harmed itself and spread the message of hate -- inside the church.

[TankLV]

21. Crawled out of the woodwork again to spout untruths, huh?

You can be a homosexual and be a good catholic - they are just expectected to not have gay sex.

Or could it be that this bunch of church hypocrits is just mad at Democrats who support the constitution?

Not that I expect much from a bunch of pedophiles.

[dawn]

23. It still doesn't make it right.

The Catholic Church is obsessed with two things: sex and control. They should have given them Communion. Why can't you be Catholic and support gay rights? Supporting the rights of others is a very Christian thing to do. (I'm not Christian, but, it would seem that in a faith where your prophet says: "Love thy neighbor as thyself", that standing up for thy neighbor's rights would be a damn good thing.)

Edited for lame spelling mistakes!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

26. The church is selectively enforcing their doctrine thereby politicizing it

and cheapening themselves. You know I have great respect and affinity for you, but the church does not deny holy communion to people who are pro-death penalty nor do they deny communion to people who are pro-war. If they had announced they would deny communion to ALL SLIGHTS of church doctrine, I might feel differently...at least they would be being consistent.

BTW, priests who were CAUGHT molesting alter boys were still allowed to GIVE holy communion as the church covered for their crimes and concealed them.....all the way up to the top where the DOCTRINE originates.

I respect you for your religious beliefs and your consistency with the, but the church is being hypocritical and cheaply political on this one....not principled.

[keep_left]

28. There seems to be a lot of confusion about this.

It is NOT kosher for the clergy to deny the Eucharist to anyone who comes forward to receive. The priest is not worthy to distribute it, and no one is worthy to receive it. And contrary to what a lot of the crazies have been saying, Lutherans and other Protestants can receive the Eucharist. The decision whether to receive or not is solely a matter of individual conscience.

The problem is that there are a lot of crazy organizations within the Church, many of them historically associated with fascism (Opus Dei, etc.). More recently, media groups like EWTN and Starboard Network have come along, and they consciously emulate the fundie/freeper religious media in everything they do. That means yelling louder than anyone else, intimidating other more rational Catholics, and agitating for appearances on the cable scream-fests on a constant basis. Any time you see Fr. C. John McCloskey (Opus Dei), EWTN representatives, William Donohue (Catholic League), etc. you need to remember that these people represent about 0.00001% of Catholics. A tiny number of influential clergy have become involved in these organizations, and due to Church laws, they usually cannot be rebuked or disciplined. They have a sort of feudal system when it comes to accountability. And that's why you see people like Chaput (Archbishop of Denver) and others pulling these stunts.

By the way, all the comments about the distribution of Communion are a very close paraphrase of the Catholic chaplain at the academic hospital where I work.

[Sapphocrat]

31. Not necessarily...

I could walk into my old church today, confession my "sin" of homosexuality, be absolved, and receive Communion immediately.

We are MORE than welcome in the Church, as lesbians and gay men -- as long as we remain celibate.

Of course that's a convenient Catch-22 -- but I'll give the Church some credit for being able to distinguish sexual orientation (who you are) with sexual activity (what you do).

Who's to say gay Catholics aren't playing by Church rules? Unless these gay folks were having sex in front of news cameras, "advertising their homosexuality" isn't the same as engaging in homosexual activity.

These days, all you're seeing are a few "activist priests" looking for loopholes in which to snare gay Catholics.

Purty durn un-Christian in my eyes.

[joeunderdog]

39. What if I wore a pro-war sash?

Does the church now sanction killing in a war the Pope is against? Where do you draw the line?

[Elidor]

4. Imagine that

They'll protect priests who bugger young boys, but consensual gay sex is an abomination. :crazy:

I like it that the church is shooting itself in the foot like this. When they politicize communion (death penalty, abortion, gays), they alienate their members. Fuck the church.

[Pachamama]

5. If it had been me there, I probably would have grabbed the wafers out of

...their hands and eaten it right there and spit it at them....

Sorry...I just had this momentary fantasy about what I would have liked to do...I'm a recovering Catholic and seeing the latest actions by the Catholic Church only make me that much further away from the Catholic Church.....

[Tight_rope]

33. ROTFLMBAO!

Thank You for being so blunt and honest. I wish more would be like you. :thumbsup:

"Never separate the life you live from the words you speak." (Paul Wellstone)

[countmyvote4real]

6. RCC may refuse Eucharist to gays, but not likely to refuse their money.

No Eucharist to gay Catholics. No tithe to RCC. Can all be done elsewhere with a better track record (and spiritual dividend). We’ll see who burns hotter in hell.

[Sandpiper]

7. I'd be honored to be denied communion by the Catholic Church

For not being on board with one of their wrong headed, bigoted causes. But alas, I'm not a Catholic, so that would preclude me from the start.

[Erika]

9. Just Right Wing Bush Fanaticism

The Church is going to take a big hit from gays and their families. The Church has condemned gay members 100 times more than they condemned their own abusive priests.

[Erika]

10. Reminds Me of The Mormons in the Late 60's

The Mormon church was threatened with their losing tax exempt status because the Mormons wouldn't let Blacks or Coloreds into the priesthood or upper echelons. Their president then received a revelation from God that it's now OK for people of color to be admitted to the priesthood. They kept their tax-exempt status.

[cap]

11. hope the gays keep it up...

there are also the parents and siblings of the gays who are not amused.Why the church will give communion to prisoners in jail who haven't quite repented all the way or adulterers who keep up adultery and deny gays, I just don't know.

[keep_left]

29. Speaking of adulterers (and unrepentant ones at that)...

I haven't heard anything about Rudy Guiliani being denied the Eucharist! I know for sure that he's a practicing Roman Catholic. He also pulled a stunt similar to the Clinton/Lewinsky affair, but I didn't see the Scaife $$$ and right-wing outrage there either. The hypocrisy of these idiots knows no bounds.

[LeftHander]

13. Catholic "Jesus" tastes bitter anyway...

Too much guilt.

I don't really like eating Jesus.

[Barkley]

14. Did they deny gays the collection plate too? - nt

[kikiek]

15. I am tired of religion being used to justify bigotry.

Of course who knows what God really said, and if anything. Geez go around saying God talks to you now days they just increase your medication. Unless you're George W. Come to think of it..maybe that is why he can't talk or think. I wonder if people in the White House aren't drugging him up.

[keep_left]

30. Yes, as the saying goes...

when you talk to God, it's religion. When God talks to you, it's schizophrenia!

[Rose Siding]

16. If I were Catholic, I'd wear the sash and I'm not even gay

I wish all Christian Catholics would put it on to make it moot.

[BiggJawn]

17. Now that would be something, wouldn't it?

Look out over the Laity and see nothing but a sea of Rainbow Sashes?

Yeah, but it would never happen. Too many people think they'd die that night if the Priest frowned at them...

[kikiek]

19. Church in Mpls handed them out to everyone going in.

Saw it on the news.A woman interviewed said she wore it to show support only. From what was reported no one at that church was denied communion. The churches are so different even within the Catholic faith. I had someone from a small town Catholic church tell me I should be careful what I read because Satan may have written it. Talk about cult and brainwashing. I always tell Catholics I know Pat Robertson is coming after them first if he gets his Theocracy. It wouldn't solve problems just start new one.

[RetroLounge]

18. More and more I am proven correct in hating religions

eom

[kikiek]

20. I'm with you.

I am always amazed at the people who use a book that is thousands of years old and very outdated to dictate their thoughts and beliefs. I guess it is easier than thinking for yourself. Most of it is fear driven. Just like the current administration.

[rawstory]

24. Activists?

I think using the term 'activist' is itself denigrating to those involved -- it infers a negative connotation akin to 'rebels' or 'militants.' Is wearing an armband really an 'activist' tactic? Did they carry signs at the event? No! These are just ordinary folk who are being open about their sexuality.

[Chicago Democrat]

25. This Pisses me OFF!!! What about the IMMORAL WAR THE POPE CONDEMNS???

What is a bigger sin???

Supportting an illegal, immorral, war based on lies or loving someone? The war the pope actually came out against!!!!

All supporters of the War should denied communion first!!!


Hypocrits.

[Barkley]

37. Its about sex!

I've been pondering the same dilemma and I can only
conclude that its about sex.

Not morality.
And its not just the Catholic Church but Americans in general.

That's why Clinton got impeached over Lewinksy -sex
and Bush can lie, steal and send people off to die in for nothing

But notice how huge the Prison scandal became. In large part because it was about sex.

Like you, I found, UN sanctions killing 500,000 people and shock and awe killing another 10,000 people to be immoral;

But oh no!

Its sodomizing teenagers that's really immoral!

Not killing. Not Murder, Not Halliburton stealing.

Gay marriage is not about protecting the institution of marriage but is about sex as well.

Kobe, Michael, Janet ... sex, sex, sex ...

[dsc]

32. If they were consistent I would have no problem

but they are hypocrites instead. When they start denying pro war, pro death penalty parishiners then they can start talking.

[Chicago Democrat]

34. "They" are a diverse group....And it sucks that Radicals are hijacking it!

Not a growing demographic, hateful bigoted and short sighted.

The Church will continue to shrink and shrink and shrink if the hierarchy allows (or worse encourages) Cardinals from getting involved in politics.

They really should loose their tax exempt status if they continue to get involved in politics on one side!

[Tight_rope]

35. Do yourselves a favor....

Bless your own bread, bless your own wine and keep your tithes, that you normally pay to the Catholic Church, in you pockets. Hit them where it hurts (In the collection plates). :kick:

[leesa]

36. Shameful. These priests will not be welcome in their God's heaven for the

pain and cruelty they have inflicted upon many.

[DFWJock]

38. Do they

serve communion to pedophiles?