Sash Wars V: The Archbishop Strikes Back

CatholicExchange.com ^ | 05-07-05 | Tim Drake

[Salvation]

Sash Wars V: The Archbishop Strikes Back

05/07/05

Four years ago, St. Paul-Minneapolis Archbishop Harry Flynn opened the cathedral’s doors to open homosexuals who desired to change Church teaching. Every Pentecost since, members of the Rainbow Sash Alliance have donned multicolored sashes for Sunday Mass and were given the Eucharist. This year that changes.

In a move that surprised both members of the Rainbow Sash Alliance, and Catholics in the archdiocese and neighboring dioceses, Archbishop Flynn sent a letter to Brian McNeill, leader of the Rainbow Sash Alliance USA, a local affiliate of the international Rainbow Sash Movement — an organization of homosexual and “transgender” Catholics, and their supporters, who disagree with Church teaching regarding homosexual behavior.

In that letter, made public by McNeill on May 5, Archbishop Flynn told McNeill that those wearing sashes this Pentecost would not be permitted to receive the Eucharist.

“You first wrote me in 2001 about the presence of people wearing the Rainbow Sash,” said Archbishop Flynn in the May 2 letter. “Because you assured me that the wearing of the sash was not a denial of Church teaching, I have not interfered with anyone’s desire to receive Holy Communion. It has become apparent to me that the wearing of the sash is more and more perceived as a protest against Church teaching.”

The letter concludes, “I am asking you to remove your sashes before you receive Communion. No one wearing the sash will be permitted to receive the Blessed Sacrament.”

McNeill compared removing the sash to “going back into the closet.”

“I’m not going to do that,” McNeill said, adding that the Archbishop’s letter changes nothing and that he will not refrain from wearing the sash.

“My position remains the same,” said McNeill. “We feel the sash is a symbol of the grace given to us, therefore we will wear the sash and we will go up for Communion.”

Archbishop Flynn’s actions have drawn widespread support, as well as questions about the apparent change in policy. Why the change?

Clearly, Archbishop Flynn’s approach, from the very beginning, has been a pastoral one. Not desiring to exclude anyone from the Lord’s Table, he took the Rainbow Sash Alliance at their word, that the sash was a symbol of “celebration,” rather than one of protest. In doing so, he allowed members to use the Mass to make a statement. Members took Archbishop Flynn’s “inch” and made it a mile.

In recent years, the true nature of the group’s intentions has come to light.

In November of last year, members of the group were asked by Father Ralph Talbot to remove their sashes before coming forward for Communion. Some did. Most did not.

Earlier this year, the Rainbow Sash Movement issued separate press releases calling for members to wear not only rainbow-colored sashes, but also encouraged women to wear purple-colored sashes to draw attention to women’s ordination. One priest even suggested that those faithful to the Church wear yellow and white, the colors of the papal flag, threatening to turn Mass into a multi-colored kaleidoscope of varied social protests.

In addition, the Rainbow Sash Movement had asked members to wear sashes at the cathedral as well as their local parishes this year.

A separate press release instructed sash-wearers to make their presence known at Mass if they were denied the Eucharist: “Should you be denied Communion, go back to your pew and remain standing while the rest of the congregation kneels,” the release stated.

Archbishop Flynn’s letter notes that he was responding to a Vatican directive — “a directive that all bishops will adhere to.”

Yet, for all of the talk regarding sashes, it’s important to remember what the real issue is, and that is one’s proper disposition before receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

The Church has always taught, and continues to teach, that one must be free from mortal sin, and in a state of grace, before receiving Christ in the Eucharist. The Church teaches that those not in a state of grace, must first receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation before approaching the altar to receive Jesus Christ — Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

It is unfortunate that the situation had to reach the point that it did in the Twin Cities. Hopefully, this is the beginning of the end for those who wish to use the Blessed Sacrament for political purposes.

Historically, only a small number of US bishops have allowed sash-wearers to receive Communion. It remains to be seen whether the bishops in Detroit, Los Angeles, Rochester, NY, and Saint Cloud, Minn. will follow Archbishop Flynn’s lead.

© Copyright 2005 Catholic Exchange


Tim Drake is the author of Young and Catholic: The Face of Tomorrow’s Church (Sophia Institute Press, 2004). He originally broke this story in the National Catholic Register. He writes from Saint Cloud, Minnesota.

Young and Catholic can be ordered by calling 1-800-888-9344 or visiting Sophia Institute Press.

[Salvation]

Does this put Archbishop Harry Flynn back on the "good guys list?

[Salvation]

Bumping this thread.

[Squire of St. Michael]

Three cheers for my hometown ordinary Archbishop Flynn! I knew he'd come around. Just in time for his huge ordination class this year out of St. Paul Seminary! Fitting indeed!

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

That being said, with the exception of McNeill, there is no public face for the rainbow sash people. Would you know one who came to you for communion that was not wearing the sash? Whatever the problem with EMHCs, there is no way they can no an individual's disposition toward reception (they could have gone to confession immediately prior). If they are wearing the sash, then one can discern publicly their disposition.

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

LOL, true. I'm just saying that if I were an EMHC when this occurred, I don't know if I could remember a face accurately. And I'll admit, I wouldn't want to deny someone who was properly disposed by accident. I would have no problem denying a rainbow or purple sasher.

[Salvation]

Wonderful news, indeed. We will wait and see.

[Salvation]

That exact thought occurred to me last night as I typed the question!

[Kolokotronis]

So much of this revolves around the fact that these people are homosexuals. I assume they are practicing homosexuals since The Church in both the East and the West has said that sexual orientation in and of itself is not sinful. If in fact they are practicing, active homosexuals they are of necessity engaging in sex outside of marriage which is fornication and a grave sin. Now they are in a sort of catch 22 since they can't get married in any way the Church will recognize (and rightly so). If they are in a state of grave sin, however, whether Orthodox or Roman Catholic, they are not living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Church. If they are not living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Church they cannot worthily receive the Holy Mysteries. If they do, they commune to their own condemnation. The Eucharist will be as a burning coal in their mouths. As I see it, its a matter of properly catechising people. In our Orthodox diocese it is not uncommon for a priest or even the Metropolitan to refuse communion to unmarried couples living together or politicians who are pro death. I've seen it myself. I'll admit it usually causes something of a temporary ruckus, but people generally come to understand that one either lives according to the Faith or they refrain from Communion.

Everyone should understand that we all have crosses to bear in this life. Some are apparently heavier than others and we don't know why, but truth be told, everyone thinks their own personal cross is too heavy...until they have close contact with someone who is struggling harder to carry theirs. God's Grace is sufficient for us to bear all our crosses. Until The Church gets serious about catechising all of us from childhood about sin and repentence and grace, we're going to have these problems and it is particularly important that The Church teach us, as the Fathers write, that theosis is what we strive for and that involves dying to the self so that we can live eternally in Christ.

[maryz]

“You first wrote me in 2001 about the presence of people wearing the Rainbow Sash,” said Archbishop Flynn in the May 2 letter. “Because you assured me that the wearing of the sash was not a denial of Church teaching, I have not interfered with anyone’s desire to receive Holy Communion. It has become apparent to me that the wearing of the sash is more and more perceived as a protest against Church teaching.”

Would it be uncharitable to read this as a CYA move on Flynn's part? If I were a nicer person, of course, I would merely assume that Flynn is just a holy innocent.

But I'm not! ;-)

[dangus]

Actually, I am kinda encouraged that he called the leaders of the sash movement liars. :^)

[A.A. Cunningham]

May 2, 2005

Mr. Brian McNeil
Rainbow Sash Alliance USA
3123 22nd Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55407

Dear Mr. McNeil,

You first wrote to me in 2001 about the presence of people wearing the "rainbow sash" to Masses in the Cathedral of Saint Paul.  Because you assured me that the act of wearing such a sash was not a denial of church teaching, I have not interfered with anyone's desire to receive Holy Communion.

Brian, it has become apparent to me that the wearing of the sash is more and more perceived as a protest against church teaching.  Such a perception has been heightened by the explicit statements to this end made in other parts of the United States.  Locally, people wearing the sash did not honor Father Talbot's request to remove the sash prior to receiving the Eucharist.  Brian, the fact that you personally chose to confront Father Talbot after that Mass confirms the adversarial nature of your appearance at the Mass.  Finally, the Vatican has communicated to me that it does indeed consider the wearing of the Rainbow Sash during reception of Communion to be unacceptable, a directive that I believe all Bishops will adhere to.

Therefore, this is to notify you and the other members of the Minnesota Rainbow Sash group that I am asking you to remove your sashes before you receive Holy Communion.  I ask you to observe this sign of respect for the Eucharist not only in the Cathedral but in all our parishes.  No one wearing the sash will be permitted to receive the Blessed Sacrament.

In closing, I want to reiterate that the stated policy of the Catholic Church and of this Archdiocese is to be welcoming to baptized Catholics of all backgrounds, including those with same sex orientation.   The criterion for reception of the Eucharist is the same for all - recipients must be in a state of Grace and free from Mortal sin.  While the decision for that judgment rests with an individual Catholic's conscience, it has never been nor is it now acceptable for a communicant to use the reception of Communion as an act of protest.

Brian, in the past you have assured me of your desire to advance the unity of the Church.  Counting on that, I trust that you and your members will honor my request.  I invite you not to use Pentecost as a cause celebre that creates further disruption and damages the communion of our Church.

With blessings and good wishes, I remain

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Harry H. Flynn, D.D.
Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

source

[Kolokotronis]

"...it has never been nor is it now acceptable for a communicant to use the reception of Communion as an act of protest."

The Liturgy is not at all "of this world". In the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostomos we chant at the Great Entrance:

"We who mystically represent the Cherubim sing the thrice holy hymn to the life giving Trinity. Let us set aside all the cares of life that we may receive the King of all invisibly escorted by the angelic hosts. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia"

We set aside our earthly cares and concerns, not throw them in each other's faces! What the Rainbow Sash Movement proposes is nothing less than a denial of God's presence in the Liturgy.

[lightman]

The Liturgy is not at all "of this world"

Indeed! As the Eucharistic canon of the Didache concludes:

"Let him that is holy, come.
Let him that is not, repent."

[hispanichoosier]

Three cheers for my hometown ordinary Archbishop Flynn! I knew he'd come around. Just in time for his huge ordination class this year out of St. Paul Seminary! Fitting indeed!

Hold the cheers for right now. One correct decision doesn't blot out the years of foolishness that Archbishop Flynn allowed. He's on the right track now, but he has miles to go before he can be considered on par with His Excellency Timothy Dolan.