Diane Dougherty's comment: For all -a reflection.
Is Catholicism a politic -one with two parties.....those who hold onto the tennents of the religious right and those who do not?
If it is, this new defining practice, (denial of communion to those deemed unworthy), aligns itself with their notions of "authenticity" in Catholic practice. This priest would be considered a divine rebel.....standing up for the "truth".
Or does this "action" on the priest's part visibly express the illness of hierarchical clericalism, in which culture of clericalism gives him the false notion that he is the representative of a definable god who is the just judge that separates what he determines is "the good from the bad......" When the world embraced the culture of racism, entire systems supported black as "bad" white as "good". Hierarchical clericalism went along without addressing these notions for centuries....were they ever "right" about this stance, or was the church embedded in false notions the culture projected?
In my opinion, Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan has it right. This priest needs to go back and read the gospel. His efforts would be better served if he became a leader that turns his brothers and sisters toward the gospel message. Both he and the institutional church are telling people to go the wrong direction. Roman Catholic Women Priests are not. The Eucharist is for all....all are welcome. Anyone who reads this and does not feel sympathetic toward the family, does not understand the gospel mandate.......All are welcomed-that is what Catholicism actually teaches. The Eucharist should NEVER be used to politicize anything different. Catholicism should never be contrived as a politic giving one group or person the power to decide what is best for another group or person.
"Seeking Communion, Finding Rejection" by Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post
http://thewashingtonpost.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
"Barbara Johnson and members of her family want the Archdiocese of Washington to remove a priest at a Gaithersburg church from his ministry duties. Johnson, an art-studio owner from the District, had come to St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Gaithersburg with her lesbian partner. The Rev. Marcel Guarnizo had learned of their relationship just before the service.
"Barbara Johnson and members of her family want the Archdiocese of Washington to remove a priest at a Gaithersburg church from his ministry duties. Johnson, an art-studio owner from the District, had come to St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Gaithersburg with her lesbian partner. The Rev. Marcel Guarnizo had learned of their relationship just before the service.
“He put his hand over the body of Christ and looked at me and said, ‘I can’t give you Communion because you live with a woman, and in the eyes of the church, that is a sin,’ ” she recalled Tuesday.
She reacted with stunned silence. Her anger and outrage have now led her and members of her family to demand that Guarnizo be removed from his ministry.
Family members said the priest left the altar while Johnson, 51, was delivering a eulogy and did not attend the burial or find another priest to be there...."
Bridget Mary' Reflection:
We have a reached a new low in the institutional Roman Catholic Church. The refusal of Rev. Marcel Guarnizo contradicts Jesus' words and example. Jesus, who wept with Martha and Mary when Lazarus died, would weep at the treatment of Barbara Johnson by this parish priest. Jesus invited all to come to him, he did not say except gays and lesbians! It is disgraceful to refuse communion to anyone, anytime, period! That is why women priests are attracting more and more justice seeking Catholics in our inclusive communities where everyone is welcome to receive sacraments at all our liturgies and sacramental celebrations.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org
sofiabmm@aol.com
Excellent article by Mary Hunt:
She reacted with stunned silence. Her anger and outrage have now led her and members of her family to demand that Guarnizo be removed from his ministry.
Family members said the priest left the altar while Johnson, 51, was delivering a eulogy and did not attend the burial or find another priest to be there...."
Bridget Mary' Reflection:
We have a reached a new low in the institutional Roman Catholic Church. The refusal of Rev. Marcel Guarnizo contradicts Jesus' words and example. Jesus, who wept with Martha and Mary when Lazarus died, would weep at the treatment of Barbara Johnson by this parish priest. Jesus invited all to come to him, he did not say except gays and lesbians! It is disgraceful to refuse communion to anyone, anytime, period! That is why women priests are attracting more and more justice seeking Catholics in our inclusive communities where everyone is welcome to receive sacraments at all our liturgies and sacramental celebrations.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org
sofiabmm@aol.com
Excellent article by Mary Hunt:
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