Posted on 05/15/2005 1:10:53 PM PDT by NYer
CHICAGO, May 15 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Peter LaBarbera, executive director of Illinois Family Institute, released the following statement today in response to the latest protest by the homosexual group "Rainbow Sash" in Catholic churches on Pentecost Sunday (May 15):
"Illinois Family Institute encourages Catholics throughout Illinois to ignore the homosexual activist group 'Rainbow Sash,' which stoops to a new low by using the Sunday Mass as a platform for advancing a sinful lifestyle. We applaud Cardinal Francis George of Chicago for properly rejecting Rainbow Sash demands-- and for not welcoming them as have some Catholic leaders, including Cardinal Roger Mahoney of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
"Rainbow Sash seeks to overturn ancient Catholic teachings by celebrating homosexual unions and even 'gay marriage.' Catholic doctrine is clear: people struggling with homosexuality are to be treated with compassion and respect, yet homosexual acts are 'intrinsically disordered,' constitute 'grave depravity,' and "under no circumstances can they be approved.'
"Rainbow Sash is a reminder that the greatest corruption to religion in modern America comes from the Left, not the Right. Rather than humbly seeking to conform to God's image, social leftists are determined to conform Him to theirs. While the prophets of old preached holy truths to a stubborn people, left- wing groups like Rainbow Sash and Equality Illinois lecture the Church and Christians in general for adhering--that is, being faithful, like Cardinal George--to traditional Biblical truths. They are the emissaries of a self-centered spirituality grounded in their own feelings and desires, not the loving dictates of a holy God.
"Moreover, the arrogant protests of Rainbow Sash--disrupting church services to display their homosexuality-affirming colors-- are yet another reminder of the fruits of 'gay' activism. Everywhere Americans turn these days, they are confronted by-- yes, obnoxious--homosexual activism. When they turn on the evening news, they see two men kissing as the commentators discuss 'gay marriage.' When they send their kids to school, they are shocked to learn that the lesson today was about why having two mommies is no worse than having a mom and a dad. Thanks to our city leaders, next summer in Chicago, we'll all be subjected to the spectacle of the "Gay Games."
And now, even in the sanctuary of church, Americans are not free from 'gay' agitation. Perhaps the desperate, ubiquitous demands for approval of their unnatural behavior are a sign that deep down, people practicing homosexuality know they are not living right. Now is the time for them to heed the muffled call of their Christ-informed conscience rather than the confused cry of angry 'gay' crusaders whose ultimate argument is with God Himself."
Tell me that is not St. Patricks.
What church is that?
Anyone attend Mass at the Cathedral in IL this morning? Please post reactions ... thanks.
Catholic Ping
Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list
My fiancee did not see any sashers at the 11am Mass at the Cathedral. The first picture on the thread though, wonder what Cathedral that is. Agreed, reconsecration needed.
No sashes at the 10:00 Mass at my parish either.
The photo in post #1 was taken at Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral last year when Cardinal George refused communion to those wearing Rainbow Sashes. This was his statement:
"Eucharist is not a place to deform the meaning of our beliefs," the cardinal added. "Our most profound act of worship is receiving holy Communion. We can talk this through in other places, but not make the Eucharist a statement -- except that this is the body of Christ and we receive it on his terms."
Good for Cardinal George. Sure wish that Pope Benedict had chosen him as Defender of the Faith.
Okay ... the stories are now beginning to break. This is from this morning's Mass at the Cathedral in St. Paul, Minnesota.
AP - Sun May 15, 3:50 PM ET
Members of The Rainbow Sash Alliance enter the Cathedral of St. Paul, Minn., Sunday, May 15, 2005. A group of about 100 gay Roman Catholics and their supporters were denied Holy Communion at Pentecost Mass at the cathedral. The Rainbow Sash Alliance has been taking Communion on Pentecost at the Cathedral for the past four years, but Archbishop Harry Flynn changed the policy this year. (AP Photo/Janet Hostetter)
How sad.
AP - Sun May 15, 4:04 PM ET
Charlie LaPierre, right, greets Rainbow Sash Alliance supporters outside the Cathedral of St. Paul, in St. Paul, Minn., Sunday, May 15, 2005. A group of about 100 gay Roman Catholics and their supporters were denied Holy Communion at Pentecost Mass at the Cathedral. The Rainbow Sash Alliance has been taking Communion on Pentecost at the Cathedral for the past four years, but Archbishop Harry Flynn changed the policy this year. (AP Photo/Janet Hostetter)
Kudos to the bishops who are growing spines for whatever reason.
This is such a sad thing to see. Thankful they were denied communion and thankful this is not something we have to deal with in my parish. I pray that these people will learn why they were denied and make some life changes. I fear they are lost!
More like exorcised.
Does anyone know if Archbishop Levada's Mass had the Rainbow Slashers attending??
Does anyone know if Archbishop Levada's Mass had the Rainbow Slashers attending??
I've said this before and I'll say it again: just about eveybody has had some disordered sexual behavior in their life. Or, if not sexual --- fornication, divorce, contraception, adultery, whatever --- then some disorder of SOME kind, including things like alcoholism and eating disorders.
The point here is not that "people with sexual disorders can't receive Communion." The point is that you repent your sins, you confess your sins, you face up to the fact that you have some weakness or kinks in your character that need some repair, and you seek our merciful, powerful Savior for healing and redemption.
You don't come up for Communion wearing a button, badge, sash or T-shirt proclaiming pride about your particular moral difficulty.
I'm not Catholic but my Father's family is. I remember as a child visiting my Grandmother in MN and going to this Cathedral. I still remember what a beautiful place it was. How sad that my childhood memories are stained by this picture.
"I fear they are lost!"
No need for fear; it's just a plain fact. They are lost. Be not afraid. There will be justice.
It's even more beautiful and glorious now because the Cardinal who serves at that Cathedral has stood up to those who would challenge Catholic teachings. That should make you very proud to know that the faith practiced by your father is still practiced today. The teachings your father adhered to are still taught today.
Welcome Home!
Their spines were already aligned and straight; they simply needed a reminder that it was 'okay' to voice their stances.
Amen
“No, no. You see, let's get it clear. These rainbow sash people, are they really saying we are homosexuals, we intend to remain so and we want to receive Holy Communion. The question arises; take the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It says it is not condemning a person for having homosexual tendency. We don't condemn anybody for that. But a person stands condemned for acting on it.”
Francis Cardinal Arinze in an interview with EWTN's Raymond Arroyo.
You and the good Cardinal have a clear understanding of why these homosexuals parade themselves forward wearing rainbow sashes.
I imagine if there were any, they were hanging around downtown at the Cathedral. I don't know what if anything our new archbishop would do if any showed up . . . but I know what Monsignor would do if they dared to show up here . . . it would be Irish, and it wouldn't be pretty! He may be a grey-headed dreadnought, but he's built like Don Camillo and pretty intimidating both physically and mentally.
He's an Italian priest in a small Po Valley town, in fairly constant conflict with the Communist Mayor and various other local characters. (He was once rusticated by his Bishop for reinforcing a religious argument with a bench.)
(05-15) 16:10 PDT Saint Paul, Minn. (AP) --
A Roman Catholic priest denied communion to more than 100 parishioners Sunday, saying they could not receive the sacrament because they wore rainbow-colored sashes to church to show support for gay Catholics.
Before offering communion, the Rev. Michael Sklucazek told the congregation at the Cathedral of St. Paul that anyone wearing a sash could come forward for a blessing but would not receive wine and bread.
A group called the Rainbow Sash Alliance has encouraged supporters to wear the multicolored fabric bands since 2001 on each Pentecost Sunday, the day Catholics believe the Holy Spirit came to give power to Christians soon after Jesus ascended to heaven. But Sunday's service was the first time they had been denied communion at the altar.
Archbishop Harry Flynn told the group earlier this month that they would not receive communion because the sashes had become a protest against church teaching.
Sister Gabriel Herbers said she wore a sash to show sympathy for the gay and lesbian community. Their sexual orientation "is a gift from God just as much as my gift of being a female is," she said.
Ann McComas-Bussa did not wear a sash, but she and her husband and three children all wore rainbow-colored ribbons and were denied communion. "As a Catholic, I just need to stand in solidarity with those that are being oppressed," she said. . . .
Anyone who wants to stand in solidarity with (gay) Catholics who are "being oppressed" --- I assume she means being oppressed by sin?? ---- can stand next to them, and me, in the line for Confession...
U.S. Homosexual Activist Website Provides List of 'Gay Friendly' Catholic Parishes
Christ the King - San Diego
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart - San Diego
St. Didicus - San Diego
St. Didicus is in Normal Heights, and Sacred Heart is nearby too.
I didn't know this about St. Didicus or Sacred Heart, did you? Heck, I have friends with children attending Sacred Heart and they've never mentioned any of this.
High Five! Google this and your posting comes up! http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=st.+didicus%2Fsan+diego&btnG=Google+Search)
I bet they love the season of lent, I understand purple is one of their colors.
I wonder what they are teaching the kids.
Cool! the fr doesn't mess around, lots of people read it.
Our former parish was on the list!! St. Patrick's in Fayetteville, NC.
"He's an Italian priest in a small Po Valley town"
I've been tempted to try to get people to freep the Don Camillo mailing list. It's run by a nice lady, but she's overrun by mouth-frothing socialist cretins.
She sounds like a true "f*g h*g".
I bet her husband does whatever his wife tells him to do.
You know, it's almost a guarantee, it seems, that every nun that shows up in print is a heretic or just plain disobedient to Rome. Pious nuns don't have time for self-promotion.
Oh yes. St. Margaret Mary in Naperville, IL. The church with kneelers where no one kneels for the consecration.
Also, freepmail incoming...
Received and replied.
Catholic liturgy???
http://www.catholiclesbians.org/pastoral/howtoprepare2.html
For this they should be kicked out.
I agree. I followed that link and nearly puked.
They are charming books . . . certainly Guareschi gives the Italian Communists a hard time, but he's also fair (e.g. the tomato incident and the People's Palace).
What are the Socialists upset about?
Why don't they go visit Bishop Robinson in New Hampshire, I'm sure they would be welocomed with "open zippers."
is it a liberal parish?
ping to self for later pingout.
"What are the Socialists upset about?"
Me, mostly.
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