Posted on 03/14/2012 9:07:50 PM PDT by ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton
FREEPER ALERT!!!
I sent out the following email to my Catholic Distro list.
Follower of Christ:
In spite of being a convert a long time ago, I still think you know more about what to do in this situation than I do.
Father Marcel Guarnizo working with the Archdiocese of Washington officiates at a funeral
The daughter of the deceased comes into the sacristy before the funeral and announces she is a lesbian and introduces the priest to her 'lover'. The priest tries to give her the heads up about her sacramental deficiencies but is body blocked by the lover.
The priest refuses the daughter communion during the Mass.
The priest is suspended by Bishop Barry Knestout.
This is stunning but not that surprising considering that this is a pro-gay area of the country.
The worrisome thing is that if the gay community gets wind of this, and they think that their own Diocese might respond this same way, this same thing might happen all over the place leaving no priests left.
Obviously I think the Archdiocese acted wrongly, but this is something that all Bishops and priests need to be aware of.
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/father-marcel-guarnizo-i-did-only-thing-faithful-catholic-priest-could-do
Barry Knestout and his boss could not possibly care less what we think.
Not his Bishop, not his home diocese and not suspended.
The Bishop in question is a heretic and considering the other nonsense that goes on in the ADW... won’t change.
The other thing that won’t change, a shortage of priests in the ADW to do things like funerals.
This is a serious question, so please no flaming ...
Is it the job of the priest in the catholic church to decide who may take communion? I know there is a formal process that you go through at one point - but after that, can the priest just refuse to do so?
If he can, can he do this for any sin?
Doesn’t this raise some questions about the relationship between a sinner and God? IOW, by denying a sinner communion who, in all probablility, will continue the same sinning nature in the future - doesn’t this remove all chances for that person to EVER commune unless they first become sinless now (through absolution) and the in future?
Again, this is an honest inquiry ....
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Confession, followed by penance cleanses us for communion. I prefer confessing to God Himself, rather than a priest.
Had she confessed, and shown willingness to stop commiting the sin, the priest would have given communion.
LOL, no it's not. And you underestimate the intelligence of your audience.
Your shock that a priest makes decisions about to whom he extends sacraments is not only not shared by Catholics, it is laughable.
Are you also worried about what human rights an Imam extends to women? Does that keep you up at night?
Hey, I'd appreciate and answer... this is an honest question.
As a Catholic, at my church if I don't go to confession at least once a year, I'm not suppose to go up for communion. The rest of my family went up last week while I stayed back because it's been a while. I, as a Catholic, knew the rule and followed it.
Everyone knows the Catholic church believes homosexuality is a sin. Should the Priest have given Communion, knowing this person admittedly sinned in the eye of the church? Where is the impetus to stop sinning openly in this manner if you are allowed to participate in one of the most important rites of the church? All people are welcome to sit in on Mass at my church, but you can't take part in the rituals of the church if you are not Catholic. I can go to confession tomorrow and then receive communion. This women can disavow her ways, follow Catholic teaching and receive Communion. Most Priests I've encountered don't deny anyone Communion, and I wouldn't have been denied last week, but if you flaunt your sin in the Priests face, don't you think he has an obligation to deny you holy communion? If you don't like the teachings and beliefs of the church, seek your connection with God elsewhere. To me, there are a lot of Priests that mean well and include people that don't always follow Catholic teaching and we end up with half a church practicing a watered down version of Catholicism, picking and choosing what they believe, which is not what the Catholic church is all about. And they're usually liberals.
"Your shock that a priest makes ..."
I am not shocked. I wonder simply as to the reasoning behind it.
Are you also worried about what human rights an Imam extends to women? Does that keep you up at night?
Human Rights? If you want to go there, of course I concern myself with what, if any, human rights are extended to women under Islam. But neither that, nor the question I posed "keeps me up at night".
"...even if your question is just an attack on the Church and Priest."
Okay, asking a question about this is automatically an attack on the church and the priest - next thing you know, it'll be racist too!
"...if I don't go to confession at least once a year, I'm not suppose to go up for communion. "
That, and what follows is actually what I am asking about. As I understood it, it was "similar" to the way Lutherans handle it. IOW, the person recieving it is supposed to be clean at the time of receiving communion.
However, the priest knows that the person who confessed will likely continue to sin in the same manner in the future - no matter how hard they try not too.
Can he then deny communion because the person "will sin again"?
Or is it more a "lifestyle" based decision, for example:
If the woman had instead been married and in an adulterous relationship with another man - is the priest obligated to also deny her communion? If so, then there is nothing more to discuss as the case is clear then.
Lastly, it is really discouraging that any attempt to learn something about someone elses point of view, religious teaching, or whatever, is automatically assumed to be an attack.
It’s a matter of having acknowledged one’s sin, regretted it and having a change of heart with the sincere intent of not committing the sin again. Repentance.
Or, as I understand Catholic belief and practice, doing or having done penance, which apparently involves recitations and activities assigned by a priest as a result of confession.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2859109/posts
Read the explanation the priest himself wrote.
No, communion isn't denied because a “sin may be committed in the future”. If one has repented and asked for forgiveness for this sin, the church is a loving and caring place that assumes the good in people and that they will not sin in this way again.
But take gay marriage. You couldn't confess you were a married homosexual, expect to stay married, and then receive communion. That's not a “sin of the future” but an ongoing one you are not sorry for or even admitting is wrong, you can't be forgiven for something you think is ok by continuing
the practice and showing no remorse.
Now, remember, Priests are human, too, and they want to be able to give a person communion. Some will give it when they really shouldn't be, but I think that's mostly out of compassion although some are openly quite liberal. But we need more Priests like this one that stands up for what is right. This post is just from a person in the pews, so any one can correct me if I am wrong.
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