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In 1993, we left the Catholic Church amidst the big sex abuse scandal, of which the Priest in the Church we attended and knew by first name, was implicated (and later admitted his guilt.) The cover-up by the Chicago Archdiocese so turned us off, we started attending a Christian Church, and have been at that church since.

So you would have left, too, when Judas betrayed our Lord? I don't understand the rationale. Clergy - who are not made up of divine persons - commit sins like every other human being is capable - and your response is to commit spiritual suicide?

Before the Priest gave Communion, he read a statement that said in no uncertain terms that only Catholics at the funeral were allowed to participate in Communion as the rest of us were (and I quote) "not in Union in the Holy Spirit along with the 'one true church', the Catholic Church."

This is correct. Apostates, especially, should not receive Communion. You're also in a de facto state of mortal sin by not attending Sunday Mass.. So what makes you fit for Holy Communion again?

To say I was furious would be an understatement. I'd never heard such personally divisive hateful language at any Catholic funeral prior to, or since that one.

Puzzling. Why were you furious? You clearly didn't believe in the real presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist, or you would never dream of leaving the Church. You're the son or daughter who abandons his parents in their infirmity and becomes irate he's left out of the will. The Church has been suffering infirmity for thirty years, and there are those who've stayed true to the faith, and then there are those who turned tail and ran. Decide which group you want to be with.

I don't know if it was just that Priest, or the Archdiocese of the Upper Penninsula/Michigan, or something else but I was genuinely upset - as was my Mother and Father in Law along with other family members - all devout Catholics themselves.

They should be more upset that your soul is in mortal danger of eternal damnation for becoming an apostate. Why aren't they upset about that?

I made it a point to give the Priest a piece of my mind along with a good dose of Scripture right before I told him that the lunch being served after the funeral was for family and friends only - as he was not family or friend he was not invited

So when God asks you who gave you the office of "priest inquisitor", you're going to say...?

When we go visit my wife's parents, I refuse to attend Church with them. I just cannot stand that Priest. They on the other hand, thoroughly enjoy coming to our church when they visit us and they always know they're welcome to take Communion with us.

What do you mean, "take Communion"? If it's not a Catholic Church you're attending, it's just idolatry of wheat. You're heaping sin upon sin, and her parents are also committing sin by assenting to your un-Catholic beliefs, in taking un-consecrated communion as if it's Christ.

Based on my reading and understanding of Scripture (even while remembering my own Catholic upbringing) I have to think Jesus would be pretty upset that any of his believers would be denied Communion.

Taking communion is a public statement that you believe and agree with the teachings of the Church. If you don't, you receive under false pretense - you're lying directly to God. Read what St. Paul has to say about the unworthy reception of the bread and wine.

What would Jesus do? Simple: He took the bread, broke it, and said "take this ALL OF YOU and eat it. This is my body which is given up for you."

We're all called to be Catholic. You left the upper room when you walked away, and now you get busy launching Scuds at your holy Mother the Church. Recovering Catholic? I will pray for you to receive humility and understanding.