News Outlets Failed to Reveal Lesbian Denied Communion at Mother’s Funeral is a Buddhist and ...

CatholicVote.org ^ | 7 March 2012 | Thomas Peters

[A.A. Cunningham]

News Outlets Failed to Reveal Lesbian Denied Communion at Mother’s Funeral … is a Buddhist and Gay Rights Activist

I didn’t get involved in the story of a lesbian woman denied communion at her mother’s funeral which the Washington Post plastered across its front page (“Seeking Communion, Finding Rejection“, in the lower right-hand corner) at first but the more I thought about the scenario the more it irked me.

According to Barbara Johnson’s version of events, and the version of events unquestioningly passed on by the mainstream media, she was denied Communion at her own mother’s funeral by a priest who then proceeded to snub her departed mother by refusing to be present at the burial.

~snip~

The internet is an amazing way to answer questions. It didn’t take me long to discover that Barbara Johnson hardly attempts to keep her private life (or views) private.

For instance, she’s published on the question: “Coming Out in the Heteronormative and Homophobic World of Education” (which alone tells you a lot about her world view) where she shares this personal story:

~snip~

[Cronos]

But your case is different — there are theological differences over what the host actually represents, but I would assume that as a conservative Christian you have repented of your sins before communing with the Lord. This lady’s case is different — she’s an unrepentant, even shrill sinner (a gay activist). We believe that to recieve communion when she is in a state of sin is in fact bad for her (to put it mildly).

[Cronos]

This particular piece of trash told him in advance she was a lesbian, and a practicing one at that. Pretty much left him with no options... yeah, she set this up to further her own gay agenda, using her owm mothers funeral to do it.

eggsactly...

[Cronos]

Buddhism technically does not say anything for or against homosexuality or indeed sexual misconduct. Buddhism arises out of dharmic religion where the moral code is what you do unto others affects your karma.

So technically speaking in all the dharmic religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism etc. homosexuality as long as it's not forced is inconsequential to your karma. HOWEVER, Buddhism arising out of Jainism which itself (imho) arose out of the rishi period (of ascetics) emphasises that sexual relations or any other relationships traps you to this world (that's where George Lucas got his idea for Jedis not to form "attachments"!), so are to be avoided.

[glock rocks]

Excellent answer. I know that many Jodo Shinshu accept Jesus as a Buddha as well. These are not necessarily conflicting viewpoints in the progression towards the pure land where suffering ends, and compassion reigns.

[Nifster]

some folks are just trash no matter what label they want to claim....

[Nifster]

And I wouldn’t disagree with your evaluation. I respect other’s right to the theology of their church (even when it is not my own) enough to not try to participate. This woman was just a jerk trying to use a her own mother’s funeral for a political point. That is appalling

[Cronos]

well, we would welcome you to participate in our prayers and we would hope to be welcomed to pray with you, but we do have theological differences over what the host actually is, so we need to opt out of that (and you opt out of it with us), but the rest we can share

This woman seemed to just have the intention of making a scene..

[Cronos]

well, no, that is conflicting. Dharmic religion roots from the idea of a cycle of lives and doing "good" so that your next life is better, more powerful.

Jainism took that to the next level to escape this existence and to reach a higher state (ascending as in Star Gate), but in the ascended state as Adinaths one loses all touch with lower existence and it's ways. In effect one loses one's individuality.

Buddhism, which borrowed from Jainism imho (but I'm no expert) simplified this as nirvana meaning oblivion. I speak of Theravada Buddhism solely -- I don't know enough of Zen or indeed much of the later Mahayana to comment

[NYer]

I, for one, am tired of activists such as Barbara Johnson. A woman who used the very death of her mother for a political, anti-Catholic purpose. A woman who ran to the media with her story and an agenda while failing, for instance, to reveal that she no longer considers herself Catholic and evidently knows that this could pose a problem for her.

Ditto!

[Mrs. Frogjerk]

I was thinking the same thing. They were way too quick to chastise a priest for doing exactly what he is supposed to do. She was the one that purposely caused a scandal by going up to receive the Eucharist when she knew damned well that she shouldn’t. They do indeed owe him a public apology. But I won’t be holding my breath either.

[Nifster]

And you would be welcomed....