Lesbian denied Communion at Funeral

[Cen1aur 1963]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

The priest has a right to deny communion to a notorious sinner IIRC, however he should approach that person privately about it.

That's cool, but if that's the case then he shouldn't be serving anybody communion, including himself. To deny anybody communion based on "sin", gay or straight is foul as hell.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

Any Catholics correct me if I'm wrong because I very well could be, but I seem to recall that certain special occasions in the church invite all attendees to receive communion. Is this at the discretion of the parish/priest?

Not Catholic, but I don't think the Church "permits" that. I think what you're seeing is priests doing it on their own and risking reprimand from their bishops.

Originally Posted by Cen1aur 1963

That's cool, but if that's the case then he shouldn't be serving anybody communion, including himself. To deny anybody communion based on "sin", gay or straight is foul as hell.

Not defending the priest, but to be fair to the Catholic viewpoint, Communion is not being denied on the basis of "sin." From the Church's viewpoint, it's being denied on the basis of lack of repentance and of living in a way that endorses the sin as though it were not sin.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Disclaimer: Not a Catholic

Wouldn't the woman have known she would be refused communion? It couldn't have been a surprise to her that living in a state of unrepentence (according to Catholic teaching) would disqualify her.

And is it possible that the priest didn't come to the burial to avoid more confrontation?

The priest was in a no win situation. He either upholds the doctrines he has promised to uphold or he does something that he knows he is not supposed to do. Yes, he should have handled it differently, but I suspect there may be more to this story than is being told.

There are two sides to every story and the truth is usually somewhere in the middle.

[SWTXBelle]

To quote from one of my favorite sites, http://www.catholic.com/tracts/who-c...eive-communion

"The Church sets out specific guidelines regarding how we should prepare ourselves to receive the Lord’s body and blood in Communion. To receive Communion worthily, you must be in a state of grace, have made a good confession since your last mortal sin, believe in transubstantiation, observe the Eucharistic fast, and, finally, not be under an ecclesiastical censure such as excommunication. "

It sounds as if the daughter was not qualified to receive. If she was raised Catholic she should have known that. That said, I think the priest should have simply delivered a blessing and gone on without making a scene.

As to why most other Christians are not able to take RC communion:

"Scripture is clear that partaking of the Eucharist is among the highest signs of Christian unity: "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread" (1 Cor. 10:17). For this reason, it is normally impossible for non-Catholic Christians to receive Holy Communion, for to do so would be to proclaim a unity to exist that, regrettably, does not.
Another reason that many non-Catholics may not ordinarily receive Communion is for their own protection, since many reject the doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Scripture warns that it is very dangerous for one not believing in the Real Presence to receive Communion: "For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died" (1 Cor. 11:29–30).

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

To quote from one of my favorite sites, http://www.catholic.com/tracts/who-c...eive-communion

As to why most other Christians are not able to take RC communion:

"Scripture is clear that partaking of the Eucharist is among the highest signs of Christian unity: "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread" (1 Cor. 10:17). For this reason, it is normally impossible for non-Catholic Christians to receive Holy Communion, for to do so would be to proclaim a unity to exist that, regrettably, does not.
Another reason that many non-Catholics may not ordinarily receive Communion is for their own protection, since many reject the doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Scripture warns that it is very dangerous for one not believing in the Real Presence to receive Communion: "For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died" (1 Cor. 11:29–30).

Originally Posted by glittergal1985

I do agree that this is quite an upsetting situation, but the priest probably felt that he was protecting the woman by not giving her communion.

This is very helpful. Even though as a Protestant I might not agree with this teaching, I understand it and can see why the priest would not serve her communion.

This is what I mean by two sides to every story. People will read this story and see "someone gay being discriminated against and humiliated" not "priest faithfully executing his responsibilities to protect the soul of another."

[glittergal1985]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

Wouldn't the woman have known she would be refused communion? It couldn't have been a surprise to her that living in a state of unrepentence (according to Catholic teaching) would disqualify her.

It is very uncommon for individuals who present themselves for communion to be refused. However, the woman should have known that it was inappropriate for her to do so as she was living a lifestyle contrary to Church beliefs and thus not "in communion" with the Church. The act of receiving communion represents that a person is accepting of all Church teachings. In this situation, the woman could have instead presented herself for a blessing, as anyone is welcome to do. I do agree that this is quite an upsetting situation, but the priest probably felt that he was protecting the woman by not giving her communion.

[WCsweet<3]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

Disclaimer: Not a Catholic

Wouldn't the woman have known she would be refused communion? It couldn't have been a surprise to her that living in a state of unrepentence (according to Catholic teaching) would disqualify her.

It could be that she attends a different parish where her priest is fine with it. This is true in my mother's parish.

Originally Posted by glittergal1985

It is very uncommon for individuals who present themselves for communion to be refused. However, the woman should have known that it was inappropriate for her to do so as she was living a lifestyle contrary to Church beliefs and thus not "in communion" with the Church. The act of receiving communion represents that a person is accepting of all Church teachings. In this situation, the woman could have instead presented herself for a blessing, as anyone is welcome to do. I do agree that this is quite an upsetting situation, but the priest probably felt that he was protecting the woman by not giving her communion.

If people didn't take communion due to not following Church beliefs, few would be taking communion or at least where I live. How many parishioners have premarital sex? use birth control? Have been divorced?


I could rant about this for about the next four hours. I'm going to stop myself here.

[glittergal1985]

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

If people didn't take communion due to not following Church beliefs, few would be taking communion or at least where I live. How many parishioners have premarital sex? use birth control? Have been divorced?

According to the Church, the rule is that people in such situations are to refrain from communion. I'm not saying everyone actually follows that rule.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

How many parishioners have premarital sex? use birth control? Have been divorced?

The second wouldn't be something that everybody would know and it's possible the third as well. In fact from what I understand according to my spiritual director who is a nun, the fact that homosexuals are homosexual isn't the issue, but the extramarital sex is the issue.

[WCsweet<3]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

The second wouldn't be something that everybody would know and it's possible the third as well. In fact from what I understand according to my spiritual director who is a nun, the fact that homosexuals are homosexual isn't the issue, but the extramarital sex is the issue.

What of all the heterosexual couples who are "living in sin".

Your spiritual advisor is correct. A quote from americancatholics.org:

The Church calls all homosexual persons, like their single heterosexual counterparts, to be chaste, that is, sexually appropriate for their uncommitted, unmarried state in life.

The Priest is actually fulfilling his duties as he sees fit. He did so poorly and caused a lot more damage than good most likely. I am just sick and tired of seeing actions similar to this in the Church. If anyone wants to read the article I quoted it talks of how it can be embarrassing the ignorance that is present and how the Church should be compassionate. Just let me know and I will link it.