Priest gets heat for denying lesbian Communion at mother's funeral

[Rhamiel]

I'd like to see your proof of this because frankly, this is a very uncharitable assumption to make.

She was burying her mother. Of course she wanted her significant other to be there.

that is understandable
but she should not have presented herself for communion because she is not in communion with the Church
it would have been a lie
the priest was helping her be more honest, he did not want to be a party to such a lie

 

[WarriorAngel]

I'd like to see your proof of this because frankly, this is a very uncharitable assumption to make.

She was burying her mother. Of course she wanted her significant other to be there.

Her lover refused to let the priest speak to her after she unloaded her lesbian bomb.
Then she directly went to Communion...then screamed and had a tantrum for the blogosphere.

A set up - i guess it takes more for some to recognise such things.
Or she simply wanted center stage at her own mom's funeral..?

I might not know what ticks she has that drove her to run nationally with this piece of news - but she did - so that is more than enough evidence to show her intentions were meant to garner some sort of played out sympathy and ridicule for the Church.

I dont often need an anvil to hit my head to assume spot light envy is something ppl might want in lieu of the surrounding circumstances - ie a funeral.

WHAT good reason - can you think of - for her to cry foul after all her actions were noted and she need not have made this public...?

IF she didnt want judged - she could have been prudent and kept this to herself.
SHE may not care about how she got the limelight, but only she got it.

Meh. Maybe i read ppl well, maybe i dont. BUT I cant think of why else she would parade this story out.

 

[Antigone]

Her lover refused to let the priest speak to her after she unloaded her lesbian bomb.
Then she directly went to Communion...then screamed and had a tantrum for the blogosphere.

A set up - i guess it takes more for some to recognise such things.
Or she simply wanted center stage at her own mom's funeral..?

snip

So not only don't you have proof, you keep accusing this woman and you don't even realise how low that is?

Classy.

 

[Antigone]

that is understandable
but she should not have presented herself for communion because she is not in communion with the Church
it would have been a lie
the priest was helping her be more honest, he did not want to be a party to such a lie

That I get, but I don't think this woman would've gotten in line if it had been made clear to her at the beginning.

Over here during a funeral mass, everyone who's ever taken their first communion goes for communion. Nobody I know has ever been turned down because they were homosexual - most of the time at these masses, the priest doesn't even know who they are; should he just refuse communion to everyone just to be on the safe side? There is no confession before hand either.

No, it's not how things are supposed to work, but that how things are over here. If someone in a same-sex relationship would go to communion during a funeral mass they would be genuinely surprised if they were refused.

 

[Anhelyna]

I keep saying this

We do not know the whole story.

The newspapers have different versions of what happened.

None of us were there to actually see what happened

So just HOW do we KNOW what happened


For goodness sake folks it's Lent !

Pray for all those involved in this unsavoury mess.

Lord have mercy !

 

[Fran75]

I feel bad for both the preist and the lady denied communion they where both put in an uncomfortable situation. My aunt's long term partner is just as much part of our family as any other in law, she lovingly took her turn taking care of my grandmother when she was dying of cancer. (One of many good things about being part of a large Catholic family, no one had to quit work to care for her.) I would have been mortifed if my aunt was denied communion during her furneral but I would have understood if her realtionship was made public knowledge to the preist. BTW our family ahears to the "don't ask don't tell" policy, but every one knows the score, they are in their late 60s that just how it is with that generation.

 

[Michie]

^^^ This.

Amen.

 

[Michie]

A thought exercise occasioned by the lesbian/Communion controversy...
Perhaps this thought exercise might help folks to think through the lesbian/Communion controversy better. Imagine we’re looking at the line of those approaching for holy Communion one Sunday morning at Mass. I see ten men approaching. One of them is dressed in Neo-Nazi gear. Quick, which one (in my view) is ineligible for holy Communion per c. 915?

 

[Michie]

Full text: Archdiocese of Washington's letter of apology to lesbian...

 

[ranpleasant]

Full text: Archdiocese of Washington's letter of apology to lesbian...

Once again an American Bishops failed to support a priest who upheld Catholic teachings and respect for the Holy Eucharist. Saddly, this is not surprising to me.

Ran

 

[FullyMT]

A thought exercise occasioned by the lesbian/Communion controversy...
Perhaps this thought exercise might help folks to think through the lesbian/Communion controversy better. Imagine we’re looking at the line of those approaching for holy Communion one Sunday morning at Mass. I see ten men approaching. One of them is dressed in Neo-Nazi gear. Quick, which one (in my view) is ineligible for holy Communion per c. 915?

Crucial. Thank you for posting this.

 

[Borromeo]

I just saw this on the news and they kept saying he "refused to serve her communion!" First, no you don't "serve communion" like you're at a restuarant. And the priest and church is not supposed to "serve" anyone except God. Non-Catholics just don't understand this at all and its clear the majority Protestant culture in America has influenced most Catholics so that they don't understand this any more either.

 

[JacktheCatholic]

That I get, but I don't think this woman would've gotten in line if it had been made clear to her at the beginning.

Over here during a funeral mass, everyone who's ever taken their first communion goes for communion. Nobody I know has ever been turned down because they were homosexual - most of the time at these masses, the priest doesn't even know who they are; should he just refuse communion to everyone just to be on the safe side? There is no confession before hand either.

No, it's not how things are supposed to work, but that how things are over here. If someone in a same-sex relationship would go to communion during a funeral mass they would be genuinely surprised if they were refused.

When our church has special occassions such as baptisms and funerals or just times that you can expect relatives appearing for a function, our priest(s) will explain before communion that only Catholics should be receiving and he will remind that we must be in a state of Grace. I think that helps everyone. He also encourages those that are not receiving to come up with their hands crossed their chest for a blessing.

 

[MikeK]

There was a canon lawyer on Relevant Radio who pretty much said that this Priest was in the wrong for denying her the Eucharist. He stated that Priests should only do so in the event that the person who wishes receive is clearly living in sin and it is obvious to all. Te CL reasoned that such couldn't have been the case if the Priest himself was unaware of the situation until jus prior to the Mass. Did anyone else catch it?

I agree with the reasoning, but I'm not sure that anyone yet knows exactly how this all went down, and I prefer it when people hold their tongues until the facts of a situation become apparent.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Once again an American Bishops failed to support a priest who upheld Catholic teachings and respect for the Holy Eucharist. Saddly, this is not surprising to me.

Ran

I feel your pain.

There was a canon lawyer on Relevant Radio who pretty much said that this Priest was in the wrongbfor denying her the Eucharist. He stated that Priests should only do so in the event that the person who wishes receive is clearlyliving in sin and it is obvious to all. Te CL reasoned that such couldn't have beenthevcase if the Proest himself was unaware of the situation until jus priorvto the Mass. Did anyone else catch it?

I agree with the reasoning, but I'm not sure that anyone yet knows exactly how this all went down, and I prefer it when people hold their tongues until the facts of a situation become apparent.

Let me think here - ahhhhhhhhh - that's correct, the priest trumps the lawyer.

There is only ONE instance a non Catholic may receive Communion - one - and that is in canon law.
IF they are unable to make it alone to Church and are nearly dying. AFTER discussing this with the clergy AND agreeing to the teachings of the Church.

Lest we forget that whole 'Brother' [of some such minor cultish church that received Communion from Pope Benedict when he was Cardinal and who said later at the funeral that he agreed and consented to the teachings.

IN canon law 914-915 a PRIEST may with hold giving someone Communion.

I quoted canon law. But does this man think he can, like secular lawyers - change the meaning or twist it..?
Is this the same who said he has been trying to change the language?
As some such said - for 20 years he has been wanting to change it - but guess what - it isnt changed.

Ok, so WE dont know what happened - BUT we know this - she made this public.
AND evidently logic mind you will tell you the priest KNEW she was in sin - she did not deny it, so she knew the priest knew and i am willing to bet the priest wanted to advise her, may have advised her, or told the entire funeral to avoid receiving.

FOR it to be THIS public - she knew what she was doing.

Did she ever give her poor mother any regard for dignity whatsoever - she turned her funeral into a circus act. BY making this public with ridicule to her mom's faith.
Says something about how she felt for her mom.

 

[epiclesis]

When our church has special occassions such as baptisms and funerals or just times that you can expect relatives appearing for a function, our priest(s) will explain before communion that only Catholics should be receiving and he will remind that we must be in a state of Grace. I think that helps everyone. He also encourages those that are not receiving to come up with their hands crossed their chest for a blessing.

I love when priests do that. We had a priest who was a sub priest for my whole city (5/6 parishes), and every Mass, he said it in a lovely way that would not offend anyone, but would also give the Eucharist the respect deserved.

 

[epiclesis]

There was a canon lawyer on Relevant Radio who pretty much said that this Priest was in the wrongbfor denying her the Eucharist. He stated that Priests should only do so in the event that the person who wishes receive is clearlyliving in sin and it is obvious to all. Te CL reasoned that such couldn't have beenthevcase if the Proest himself was unaware of the situation until jus priorvto the Mass. Did anyone else catch it?

I agree with the reasoning, but I'm not sure that anyone yet knows exactly how this all went down, and I prefer it when people hold their tongues until the facts of a situation become apparent.

Ed Peters?

He's been commenting on the deacon's bench/patheos. That Canon 915 is misinterpreted.

I haven't had time to read through all the info to form an opinion, even if it seems like he did the right thing.

 

[epiclesis]

Let me think here - ahhhhhhhhh - that's correct, the priest trumps the lawyer.

There is only ONE instance a non Catholic may receive Communion - one - and that is in canon law.
IF they are unable to make it alone to Church and are nearly dying. AFTER discussing this with the clergy AND agreeing to the teachings of the Church.

Lest we forget that whole 'Brother' [of some such minor cultish church that received Communion from Pope Benedict when he was Cardinal and who said later at the funeral that he agreed and consented to the teachings.

IN canon law 914-915 a PRIEST may with hold giving someone Communion.

I quoted canon law. But does this man think he can, like secular lawyers - change the meaning or twist it..?
Is this the same who said he has been trying to change the language?
As some such said - for 20 years he has been wanting to change it - but guess what - it isnt changed.

Ok, so WE dont know what happened - BUT we know this - she made this public.
AND evidently logic mind you will tell you the priest KNEW she was in sin - she did not deny it, so she knew the priest knew and i am willing to bet the priest wanted to advise her, may have advised her, or told the entire funeral to avoid receiving.

FOR it to be THIS public - she knew what she was doing.

Did she ever give her poor mother any regard for dignity whatsoever - she turned her funeral into a circus act. BY making this public with ridicule to her mom's faith.
Says something about how she felt for her mom.

WA, he's a canon lawyer. There's a big difference between a lawyer, and a CANON lawyer.

http://www.canonlaw.info/a_popetalk.htm

 

[MikeK]

Ed Peters?

He's been commenting on the deacon's bench/patheos. That Canon 915 is misinterpreted.

I haven't had time to read through all the info to form an opinion, even if it seems like he did the right thing.

I didn't catch his name, sorry. He was on at around 4:00 Central today though.

 

[MikeK]

Let me think here - ahhhhhhhhh - that's correct, the priest trumps the lawyer.

There is only ONE instance a non Catholic may receive Communion - one - and that is in canon law.
IF they are unable to make it alone to Church and are nearly dying. AFTER discussing this with the clergy AND agreeing to the teachings of the Church.

Lest we forget that whole 'Brother' [of some such minor cultish church that received Communion from Pope Benedict when he was Cardinal and who said later at the funeral that he agreed and consented to the teachings.

IN canon law 914-915 a PRIEST may with hold giving someone Communion.

I quoted canon law. But does this man think he can, like secular lawyers - change the meaning or twist it..?
Is this the same who said he has been trying to change the language?
As some such said - for 20 years he has been wanting to change it - but guess what - it isnt changed.

Ok, so WE dont know what happened - BUT we know this - she made this public.
AND evidently logic mind you will tell you the priest KNEW she was in sin - she did not deny it, so she knew the priest knew and i am willing to bet the priest wanted to advise her, may have advised her, or told the entire funeral to avoid receiving.

FOR it to be THIS public - she knew what she was doing.

Did she ever give her poor mother any regard for dignity whatsoever - she turned her funeral into a circus act. BY making this public with ridicule to her mom's faith.
Says something about how she felt for her mom.

(backs away slowly...)