Priest Refuses Lesbian Communion at Her Mother's Funeral, Walks Out in Protest: VIDEO
Yesterday I linked to a story posted by the family friend of Barbara Johnson, telling of how a Catholic priest at a Maryland church walked out of a funeral in protest during Johnson's eulogy for her mother, after refusing her communion, all because she is a lesbian.
Watch an interview with Johnson, AFTER THE JUMP...
Just a few minutes before the funeral began, Father Marcel Guarnizo, who was presiding over the service, apparently learned that Barbara was involved in a romantic relationship with another woman.
A lifelong Catholic and former Catholic school teacher, Barbara says she hadn't even considered that her sexual orientation would be a problem with Father Marcel until she stepped forward to take communion.
"He said, 'I can not give you communion because you live with a woman,'" Barbara says.
Though shaken by Father Marcel's actions, Barbara says she tried to compose herself to give her mother the dignified funeral she deserved. So a few minutes later, Barbara began her eulogy.
"At which time Father Marcel left the altar and didn't return until I finished my eulogy," Barbara says.
Father Marcel refused to accompany the body to the cemetery, saying he was ill.
Watch an interview with Johnson, AFTER THE JUMP...
I'll be happy the day that Catholicism dies the undignified death that it has fought so hard to merit.
Posted by: darkmoonman | Feb 29, 2012 2:11:10 AM
New Covenant.. This is where certain people picked and chose what they wanted to be sins and what they didnt. Like all the christian cults, Catholicism has decided what bits are convenient and fit their particular delusions and wants, and has ignored the rest.
I tend to agree that a gay person who goes to church is asking for it, but this wasn't a Lesbians funeral, it was her mothers, she had little choice but to go.
Posted by: Rovex | Feb 29, 2012 2:22:45 AM
On balance the catholic church is an evil organisation and people who belong to it are at risk of being harmed.
Posted by: Stephen | Feb 29, 2012 3:18:59 AM
That Marine, Dalan, who kissed his Boyfriend on coming home got it right :
"Love is love."
Now what don't the Christians get about that ?
Posted by: JackFknTwist | Feb 29, 2012 3:22:21 AM
Great post! Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: dissertation help | Feb 29, 2012 4:53:39 AM
I don't think Jesus would like what Father Marcel did.
Posted by: Bruce | Feb 29, 2012 6:05:51 AM
Dear Mary:
When you said: "Be too lenient and people will accuse the church of being a farce that doesn't even attempt to practice what it preaches. Be too "strict" and then you're accused of driving people away from God and ignoring the essence of religion by having an obsession with petty issues."
Unfortunately, the abuse scandal has completely overshadowed the "being too lenient vs too strict" debate. The continuing lack of action and in some cases, cooperation with law enforcement, has striped the moral authority of the church. They are driving people away because of this hypocrisy (real or perceived).
Mary, I hate to tell you this but the Church is rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Posted by: Angela Channing | Feb 29, 2012 7:25:38 AM
"I feel for this woman and believe the priest should have been more tactful, but I also understand that his first concern had to be his obligation to uphold religious truth and serve God, and not her feelings."
See, I kind of think his first obligation at a funeral would be towards feelings and towards comforting the family of the dead and not towards singling out one of the grieving for humiliation because somehow her sin is greater than every other person's in the church.
Given the sins of large numbers of priests you'd think there might be a certain humbleness before God, but clearly some priests are capable of ignoring the sins of their brothers but not the so-called sin of a woman who happens to love another woman. Did she wear a special sign advertising her sins, because I'm not sure how she alone attracted his attention when, for all he knew, she could have been standing next to a serial adulterer or a murderer.
One of those times when I'm just happy no one in my family will ever be subject to the cruelty of some sadistic priest in a time of need.
Posted by: Ernie | Feb 29, 2012 8:10:00 AM
What a Fxxxing Bigot and closet case this creep is. Why any self-respecting member of the Gay or Lesbian Community would continue to walk through the doors of or follow the principles of any Organized Religion in America or abroad is really beyong me. This terrible hoax called religion that is perpetrated on the masses has done more to harm humanity than it has ever done to help it!
Posted by: Jon | Feb 29, 2012 8:34:20 AM
**Sorry for the length, but hoping to clear up Catholic theology**
@Mary
Excommunication is a rare event in the modern church as Vatican II clarified and rebound the tome on interpretation of the Gospels.
You may be excommunicated if you actively promote those policies which the Church deems "anti-Life". In other words, you may have an abortion and repent of it. You cannot advocate it. Ted Kennedy was on the list of possible excommunication, not because he had an abortion, but because he promoted it. John Paul II, if you remember, at the start of hostilities to Iraq condemned the war as "unjust" and therefore leveled the threat against Catholics publicly supporting it (as opposed to fighting in it).
You may be excommunicated if you "reject the Holy Spirit"--thus rejecting yourself, first, from the Body of Christ.
As for the case with this woman...
What was once called "Confession" in the Catholic Church was changed to "Reconciliation" in order to allow Catholics to better understand its purpose in the Ritual of Communion. Reconciliation is the means by which you bring yourself back to the body of Christ by sharing your sins with others.
This is why, Mary, we say "Bless me...for I have sinned". It serves two purposes, to share and unburden the individual of the sin and bring them back to the community of Christ. The modern Catholic church has confession in which you are told ways to reconcile you with your brothers and sisters and the priest forgives you in the place of the person you injured...as it is assumed that God has forgiven your sins by the debt Christ paid.
Why taking Communion at this Mass was a big deal is because of the Communion wafer itself. The Communion wafer becomes Jesus through a "magical" transfiguration. Most people don't understand this and feel its some kind of breaking of bread. No, no, and no. Catholics BELIEVE that it becomes Jesus, literally, not figuratively. If you don't accept this then you make a mockery of what those who do accept this believe--regardless of whether or not you feel it is silly. This is why visiting protestants are not allowed to take Communion at the weddings of Catholics, even though they are invited to the ceremony.
In this case, this woman was a Catholic at some point, taught at a Catholic school and therefore knew all of this before electing to participate in the Mass of her dead mother.
That said, it is the sacred DUTY of the priest to offer the ritual of Reconciliation to all those family members prior to any Mass or ceremony performed by the Church so that they may receive Communion. Had she walked into a booth for this ritual she would have been able to receive Communion.
Mary, as a Catholic you should know that Jesus ate with sinners to set an example, not "convert" per say as there was no religion known as Christianity. They were all Jews at this point. Jesus would not sit with PEOPLE (we're all sinners) to convert them, but to love them, care for them, and lead them to a life where they are able to fulfill their spiritual, otherworldly potential.
Christians/Catholics are required to set examples of Christ's love and mercy.
You should also know and be honest about the Church's position on "sin"--and that is there is no hierarchy. Living in sin with someone of the same sex or someone of the opposite sex is seen no differently in the eyes of the Church. The Church requires that you be married in the eyes of the Catholic church prior to engaging in sexual activity.
Moreover, the repetition of sin is no grounds for denial of Communion as it is acknowledged that if humans were able to attain "perfection" there would have been no need for Christ's example and sacrifice. Were this the case, no one would receive Communion.
We are to try our best to live as Christ's example of love, piety, charity, compassion and forgiveness. We are to do good works. When we do none of these things we are also to remember that we have Christ's love anyway.
This priest was wrong, not only from the view of outsiders, but Church policy.
He was to offer her the chance of the ritual of Reconciliation prior to Communion and/or ask her if she had recently participated. Now, if she had communicated to him in some way that she had "left" the Church, then I fully understand him denying Communion and/or removing himself from the altar so that she might use it as a layperson. After all, if you are not a Catholic, why participate in a sacred and holy ritual?
My personal opinion is that he had his panties in a bunch over the events in Mary-land and wanted to make some sort of statement.
Posted by: Rin | Feb 29, 2012 9:09:58 AM
Denying communion was already against established custom. But even if you can somehow justify that, there is absolutely no way to justify him stepping down when she gave the eulogy and him refusing to accompany the body to the cemetery. The priest (like so many others) is nothing but an immoral, inhuman scumbag
Posted by: Steve | Feb 29, 2012 9:33:01 AM
Here is the parish contact page:
http://www.saintjohnneumann.org/Main/sjnContacts.htm
Posted by: djcchicago | Feb 29, 2012 10:23:21 AM
EW He has that weasley sex offender look.
Posted by: Shannon | Feb 29, 2012 11:13:59 AM
The archdiocese will now handle it as a "personnel issue"??
How about as a spiritual issue for this "priest"?
DISGUSTING
Posted by: mcNnyc | Feb 29, 2012 12:03:52 PM
this Marcel hypocrite also has a long history of anti-abortion and anti-contraception actions not just in the U.S. but internationally; he's written for not only extreme right wing catholic sites but also fundamentalist ones; he is a piece of work, and not very christian...
he needs to study the history of the name of the church at which he serves; Father John Neumann is a British saint who very likely was gay, but probably celibate, whose will and final wish was to be buried next to the man, another priest, with whom he lived for many years. the British catholic church recently, under cover of night, removed his body and reburied it because they didn't approve of his relationship - probably pushed by the Vatican to do it.
i tried also to find out if he was born in the U.S. or somewhere else; it would have a bearing on his mentality as a priest.
Posted by: mike/ | Feb 29, 2012 1:44:43 PM
It's one thing for him to deny her communion - that's his right to uphold the teachings of his church, but to walk out on the daughter's eulogy and not pray for the woman who died at the cemetery is, to me, just hateful and something to repent. Really, what would Jesus do, Father?
Posted by: RayM | Feb 29, 2012 3:24:29 PM
That priest has no right to pass judgment on any one. During a church service, does he ask everyone their preferences so he knows who to give communion to? He probably has more gay and lesbians in his congregation than he knows about. But that's not the point. The point is he is not there to judge or point fingers. I think he needs new profession if he's going to be that way.
Posted by: LouAnne | Feb 29, 2012 5:17:49 PM
Who says she was even part of the church? It might not be HER religion. My parents go to church, and they will have their funerals there, and I will attend, because even though I do not agree with their views, I'm not going to let that get in the way of loving my parents, and being there for my family. So maybe she doesn't agree with the priest, or the church, but I doubt she would abandon her mothers funeral because of different views, and the priest shouldn't have left, jus because someone attending had other views.
Posted by: HJA | Feb 29, 2012 5:32:10 PM
Sorry - If you're gonna play with the devil, you're gonna get hurt.
Don't want to be mistreated by a church? Then don't attend or participate in church services. Sure, it's awful what happened to this woman, but it's not surprising. Any religious group has the right to be as idiotic and emotionally destructive as it wants in the performance of its own rites.
And people who are screaming about what a terrible priest this guy is, or, worse, those Catholics who are trying to parse the canonical legality of what he did in order to defend the Church(!), are really missing the forest for the trees. Catholicism is a judgmental, anti-sexual, narrow-minded religion that freely ignores its own laws and theology whenever convenient. Like most, if not all religions, it that should be avoided at all costs. The priest is just playing out his sad, misguided part in it.
Don't hate the sinner, hate the organization that compels him to sin.
Posted by: buster | Feb 29, 2012 6:25:53 PM
I am a Catholic. I retain my Catholic faith as an openly African gay man. Catholicism gives me a better knowledge of God, including the homophobic action of the church. That in particular helps me take some bold steps in faith to assert myself as a child of God not giving anyone the right to trample upon that.
Though Catholic, I know that I am not welcome whole heartedly in the catholic church, but welcome in totality by the God who makes no mistake and who is never wrong in love. I found peace with my God. My communion is with Christ and not with a priest.
I experienced similar thing over a year ago. I was accused during communion of having a man partner and I was to be denied communion but the priest grudgingly gave me communion. Funny enough, my ex-boyfriend visited and was in the church with me that day. He is a convert to Catholicism.
Priest said he read about it in the news paper. I confronted him to show me the paper. He could not. Since then, I know to go to the gay friendly Catholic church.
The advice that I give most people struggling with faith as LGBT persons particularly the young ones, is to find God personally and not through a pastor or priest. I bet you, God is not difficult to find. God is got no gate man among men or women or in a church or mosque. Be gay and find free access to your God. Denial as encouraged by some faith community is misleading and hypocritical. They would make a person worthy of hell 50 times more than if you allow them to show you the way to God as a gay or lesbian or trans person. The same Catholic Cathecism says God is everywhere, seeing everything including the thought of our hearts." The to me it means, you need no ticket since God sees and knows you already. Be freed!
I am indeed sorry for this sister treated by the 'man of God" who turned God to a puppet needing HIS hands and words to act against those whom God is not pleased with. God rest mama in peace. JA
Posted by: COURAGENIGERIA | Feb 29, 2012 6:32:58 PM
The priest was wrong for two reasons. First, unless the woman had told him that she had committed "illicit" sexual acts and had not confessed them, the priest had no way to know the state of her soul. It is not his job to assume who is a sinner and who isn't.
Secondly, when she approached him for communion, he should have told her in a quiet voice that he could not in good conscience give her communion. He should not have shamed her like he did.
Something similar happened to me a few years ago. I'm Episcopalian. The rest of my family is Roman Catholic. When my parents died the priests specifically invited me to receive communion and take part in the liturgy. When my brother got married the priest was rude to me before the service and when I came up to communion he screamed in a loud voice that I could not receive communion because I was an Episcopalian. I understood why he could not give me communion but his rudeness was inexcusable. After I walked away from him he gave communion to both of my Episcopal sons.
Posted by: BillyDee4 | Feb 29, 2012 7:38:03 PM
THE priest looks like a LESBIAN himself -- And NOT in a good way.
She should sue him and the Catholic church for distress at her mother's funeral, but I don't think they have any money left after all the pedos.
Posted by: Franie | Feb 29, 2012 9:20:49 PM
Gay people should not be in church anyways...what were they praying to the lord for god damming all homosexuals to hell and for being immoral?
Posted by: GRivera | Feb 29, 2012 10:26:45 PM
In reading all of the comments, I did not see one that addressed the fact that just prier to the priest distributing the Communion wafers, he turns to the attendees at the Mass, makes the sign of the cross, and says in Latin, the words of absolution of all sins to the congregation.
Therefore, he cannot refuse to give communion to anyone because he "Thinks" some may have sinned.
Posted by: Jerry6 | Feb 29, 2012 11:36:46 PM
Let's just say the churches views on homosexuals are right. THERE NOT, but lets just say for that being gay is a sin. Who is the church for except for sinners? Who needs communion more than those who sin against God? I just can't figure out who the church is supposed to be helping. I say if they are no longer able to be a charity capable of supporting every one, then it is time to call this business a business and make them pay taxes.
Posted by: Kyle | Feb 29, 2012 11:55:25 PM