D.C. archdiocese: Denying Communion to lesbian at funeral was against ‘policy’

[CrusaderKing]

Here is a commentary about this incident by Brother Andre-Marie as to why we're losing the culture wars.

http://catholicism.org/this-is-why-were-losing.html

[Cindy]

http://awashingtondccatholic.blogspot.com/

Deacon Greg posted the following update to his story. It seems that someone from St. John Newmann wrote to him the following:

Just wanted to let you know that there is a lot more to this story than has been published। I was in a meeting with Fr Marcel and heard the whole story। The woman in question brought her lesbian partner into the vesting sacristy just before the funeral Mass and made sure to introduce her partner to Fr Marcel, introducing her as her ‘lover’. He told her then that she should not present herself for Communion.

[Mithrandylan]

http://awashingtondccatholic.blogspot.com/

Deacon Greg posted the following update to his story. It seems that someone from St. John Newmann wrote to him the following:

Just wanted to let you know that there is a lot more to this story than has been published। I was in a meeting with Fr Marcel and heard the whole story। The woman in question brought her lesbian partner into the vesting sacristy just before the funeral Mass and made sure to introduce her partner to Fr Marcel, introducing her as her ‘lover’. He told her then that she should not present herself for Communion.

And if there's still any doubts as to whether this priest did the right thing, well....

[Phillipus Iacobus]

http://awashingtondccatholic.blogspot.com/

Deacon Greg posted the following update to his story. It seems that someone from St. John Newmann wrote to him the following:

Just wanted to let you know that there is a lot more to this story than has been published। I was in a meeting with Fr Marcel and heard the whole story। The woman in question brought her lesbian partner into the vesting sacristy just before the funeral Mass and made sure to introduce her partner to Fr Marcel, introducing her as her ‘lover’. He told her then that she should not present herself for Communion.

And if there's still any doubts as to whether this priest did the right thing, well....

Let's see what his superior does now.

[Warrenton]

Poor Father G.  If only it had been a TLM, (or a properly arranged church with rail and rood) everyone would have been kneeling and he could simply have moved past her to the next commincant.   

Amazing quote by the husband to the effect that since many Catholics in sin take communion, his daughter should, too. 

Priests need to be certain that the communicants be in grace before taking the sacrament.  I had a friend who went to Russia years ago, and presented himself for communion.  The priest, not familiar with him, asked "When last confession."  My friend, sheepishly, said "A year or so ago."  Priest replied "Nyet."  Good priest.  He saved the sacrament from abuse, and my friend from sin.

This habit of taking communion, week in and week out to anyone in any state of grace or sin is bad. 

[GottmitunsAlex]

http://awashingtondccatholic.blogspot.com/

Deacon Greg posted the following update to his story. It seems that someone from St. John Newmann wrote to him the following:

Just wanted to let you know that there is a lot more to this story than has been published। I was in a meeting with Fr Marcel and heard the whole story। The woman in question brought her lesbian partner into the vesting sacristy just before the funeral Mass and made sure to introduce her partner to Fr Marcel, introducing her as her ‘lover’. He told her then that she should not present herself for Communion.

Even without this information, Fr. Marcel did the correct thing.
This just put the last nail in the coffin.

[paul11b]

This is my parish priest, he is such a great priest. God bless Fr. Marcel for actually doing what the Church teaches. Fr. Marcel is such a holy priest, anyone that has been to one of his Masses knows how great he is. Please pray for him, he needs our prayers right now.

[paul11b]

Also, does anyone know in which parish this happened?  The article doesn't seem to say.

It happened at St. John Neumann

[Revixit]

In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 25, the Son of man comes in His majesty to judge all nations.  Like a shepherd, He separates the lambs on his right and the goats on his left.  He addresses the lambs first, the lambs who have done what he asked. Then he talks to the goats. (I've snipped out parts to shorten it.)

[41]Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.

[42] For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat:

[44] Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry and did not minister to thee?

[45] Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.

[46] And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting.


Fr. Guarnizo refused to feed a bereaved daughter the Body and Blood of Christ at her mother's funeral Mass.  I can't believe that Jesus would approve of such an action by a priest of His Church.  He told Simon Peter more than once: "Feed my lambs."

Instead of denying her Communion during Mass, which was disruptive, the priest should have asked to speak to her privately before he began Mass.  Those attending the funeral would not have been terribly inconvenienced if it began a little later than it was supposed to.  It might not have delayed the start of Mass, anyway.  The article says:

"Johnson said that her partner of 20 years had been helping the family at the church earlier when the priest asked who she was. “And she said, ‘I’m her partner,’ ” Johnson recalled."

That sounds like a conversation that took place more than just four or five minutes before Mass was to begin, maybe an hour or more before.  My guess is that they were putting pamphlets in the pews; those pamphlets that explain the funeral Mass for non-Catholics, and perhaps were personalized with a photo of Mrs. Johnson and some information.  If you live in a heavily Catholic area you may not be familiar with those but in the Bible Belt they're used at weddings and funerals so the Protestants in attendance will understand what's going on. Maybe they brought the flowers for the altar, too.

Even during the Mass, Fr. Guarnizo could have just quietly asked Barbara Johnson if she was in the proper state to receive Communion when she came forward.  But by going forward to receive, she indicated that she was, and at the age of 51, she should know what that means.  

The priest sinned even more against the deceased and her family.  He didn't go to the cemetery and perform the Rite of Christian Burial and he didn't arrange for another priest to go in his place.  Most adults go to work even when they're sick.  Mrs. Johnson and her bereaved husband and other children should not have been punished for whatever sins her daughter Barbara may have committed.

We're supposed to hate the sin, not the sinners.  But there's a great deal of animus here directed at a woman who just lost her mother and it's because she's a lesbian. ,  People are ignoring the fact that she's a person and a Catholic

For being such a by-the-rules kind of priest, Fr. Guarnizo did something very strange: he allowed a layperson to give a eulogy at a funeral Mass.  Catholic funerals are not supposed to include eulogies and allowing family members to deliver them is a very Protestant custom, and a relatively new one.  (The minister always gave the eulogy with the sermon in the past.)

I agree with the statement from the archdiocese:

“When questions arise about whether or not an individual should present themselves for communion, it is not the policy of the Archdiocese of Washington to publicly reprimand the person,” the statement said. “Any issues regarding the suitability of an individual to receive communion should be addressed by the priest with that person in a private, pastoral setting.”



Many priests need to be more pastoral.  Being a good theologian or a great liturgist  doesn't make a man a good priest, though theology and liturgy are certainly important.  Priests need to really care about people and be able to help them at the difficult times in their lives, or they need to be academic theologians, write books, and not interact with the faithful except as professor to student.  Those who can't be pastoral and empathic should not be parish priests.

[newyorkcatholic]

In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 25, the Son of man comes in His majesty to judge all nations.  Like a shepherd, He separates the lambs on his right and the goats on his left.  He addresses the lambs first, the lambs who have done what he asked. Then he talks to the goats. (I've snipped out parts to shorten it.)

[41]Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.

[42] For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat:

[44] Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry and did not minister to thee?

[45] Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me.

[46] And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting.


Fr. Guarnizo refused to feed a bereaved daughter the Body and Blood of Christ at her mother's funeral Mass.  I can't believe that Jesus would approve of such an action by a priest of His Church.  He told Simon Peter more than once: "Feed my lambs."

Instead of denying her Communion during Mass, which was disruptive, the priest should have asked to speak to her privately before he began Mass.  Those attending the funeral would not have been terribly inconvenienced if it began a little later than it was supposed to.  It might not have delayed the start of Mass, anyway.  The article says:

"Johnson said that her partner of 20 years had been helping the family at the church earlier when the priest asked who she was. “And she said, ‘I’m her partner,’ ” Johnson recalled."

That sounds like a conversation that took place more than just four or five minutes before Mass was to begin, maybe an hour or more before.  My guess is that they were putting pamphlets in the pews; those pamphlets that explain the funeral Mass for non-Catholics, and perhaps were personalized with a photo of Mrs. Johnson and some information.  If you live in a heavily Catholic area you may not be familiar with those but in the Bible Belt they're used at weddings and funerals so the Protestants in attendance will understand what's going on. Maybe they brought the flowers for the altar, too.

Even during the Mass, Fr. Guarnizo could have just quietly asked Barbara Johnson if she was in the proper state to receive Communion when she came forward.  But by going forward to receive, she indicated that she was, and at the age of 51, she should know what that means.  

The priest sinned even more against the deceased and her family.  He didn't go to the cemetery and perform the Rite of Christian Burial and he didn't arrange for another priest to go in his place.  Most adults go to work even when they're sick.  Mrs. Johnson and her bereaved husband and other children should not have been punished for whatever sins her daughter Barbara may have committed.

We're supposed to hate the sin, not the sinners.  But there's a great deal of animus here directed at a woman who just lost her mother and it's because she's a lesbian. ,  People are ignoring the fact that she's a person and a Catholic

For being such a by-the-rules kind of priest, Fr. Guarnizo did something very strange: he allowed a layperson to give a eulogy at a funeral Mass.  Catholic funerals are not supposed to include eulogies and allowing family members to deliver them is a very Protestant custom, and a relatively new one.  (The minister always gave the eulogy with the sermon in the past.)

I agree with the statement from the archdiocese:

“When questions arise about whether or not an individual should present themselves for communion, it is not the policy of the Archdiocese of Washington to publicly reprimand the person,” the statement said. “Any issues regarding the suitability of an individual to receive communion should be addressed by the priest with that person in a private, pastoral setting.”



Many priests need to be more pastoral.  Being a good theologian or a great liturgist  doesn't make a man a good priest, though theology and liturgy are certainly important.  Priests need to really care about people and be able to help them at the difficult times in their lives, or they need to be academic theologians, write books, and not interact with the faithful except as professor to student.  Those who can't be pastoral and empathic should not be parish priests.

So everything we've reviewed in this thread about not profanity the Body of Christ, and saving a soul from the guilt of sacrilege, mean nothing?

We absolutely should adopt the practice of less frequent Communion and only after a recent confession. When St. Pius X encouraged frequent Communion, he obviously didn't foresee that everyone would do it even if not worthy.

Perhaps we should consider the custom of some Eastern churches in which you only receive if you confessed to the parish priest that day and he recognizes you from the confession.