Lesbian denied Communion at Funeral

[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.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by WCsweet<3

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

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

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.

Unless the priest has been spying on their bedroom, how would he know? He doesn't. He doesn't know the nature of their living arrangement or what they do sexually. How does the church define sex anyway? If it is intercourse, then Lesbians aren't doing it.

The reality is, most Catholics who are taking communion aren't truly eligible for all the reasons mentioned above.. pre-marital or extra-marital sex, using birth control, having lustful thoughts, not having gone to confession since their last mortal sin, etc. Divorce itself is not a problem though.. not until you have sex with someone else or marry someone else. You can be divorced and chaste and still be in the good graces of the Church.

[SWTXBelle]

I'd be interested in knowing what you are basing your knowledge that MOST Catholics are, at any given mass, not eligible. The state of an individual's soul would be, it seems to me, difficult to know. That whole "judge not lest ye be judged" thing - yeah. Even if you are aware of someone having done something which might render him/her ineligible you do not know if they went to confession right before mass for a mortal sin, and of course there is the confession that is a part of the mass. So even if someone came to mass ineligible, he/she could confess during the mass and thus be eligible by the time came to take communion.

It is only when actions are flagrantly in violation of church teaching that priests would be in a position to deny communion. So, if the daughter was presenting herself with her partner as a romantic couple the priest wouldn't have to "spy" on her. There have been a couple of cases covered in the media recently of homosexuals working in Catholic schools who had to resign upon announcing they were marrying their partners.

eta - Is communion routinely given at Catholic funerals? I was Anglican/Episcopalian until a few years ago and haven't been to a Catholic funeral.