Lesbian Barbara Johnson Denied Communion at Mother's Funeral

The priest let his personal belief overshadow his representation of the love of Christ. Men take it upon themselves to judge their fellowman, which is an exact contradiction to what God teaches. Judge not lest ye be judged. The final judgement is the Lords and that will, of course, come about.

I agree. So sad for this woman too.

Wrong. The priest is 100% correct. The woman lives a publicly sinful life. She is not in the state of grace and therefore unfit to receive communion. Please Google "Who can receive communion"

n

We can be so mean to each other. We need to stop doing Satan's job. He's our tormentor, not supposed to be one to another. :(

He has to be harsh to correct the woman. She commits mortal sin daily by being in an unnatural relationship. Catholics believe a single mortal sin can can keep you out of heaven.

good grief!!!

I am Catholic and this makes me sick that the priest would behave in this manner. A priest is supposed to represent God - not "be" God! He is not our judge - how does he "know" what this woman is doing in her personal life? Although she has had a partner for a long time doesn't make her any less deserving of communion than someone who lives with one of the opposite sex for the same amount of time! And to leave during the eulogy and not show up for the rest? This man is judgmental where he has no right to be! I'm glad the archdiocese wrote an apology - even better would be an apology from the priest.

You call yourself Catholic yet like many Catholics you don't understand the rules.

"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup" (1 Cor. 11:27–28).

The priest duty is to tell this woman to turn away from sin and make a full and truthful confession before she takes communion. Catholics are not allowed to receive communion if they are not in the state of grace.

well said clark,
and it matters not who she lives with, what gender, or what legal marital state.

the rc is specific, that only they can bless one of their marraiges, and the priest has a duty to enforce the rules.

i have seen many many times when a priest refused communion to an individual.

it wasn't just the refusal of communion - I think she could have handled that - it was the walking away when she delivered the eulogy and the refusal to attend the burial.

so the priest, as is his sworn duty, did not participate in the delivery of a message from the pulpit, but a person known to be not in good standing with the church he swore to uphold ........

hmmmmmmmmm

how DARE he stick to his pledge eh?

so sad. not only is she probably suffering from public scrutiny - but when she is trying to bury her mother?

In a church where there is an epidemic (of sorts) of male priests molesting boys - a lesbian receiving communion should be the least of their concerns.

I may need to brush up on my bible, but does Jesus love all? Good Article!

Jesus does lov3e all - but not all are ctholics - when you joinm you agreew to the methods of praising Him - if you do not embrace them, you are a protestant (no matter what you call yourself), and are not permitted to take holy communion.

The Catholic Church has a lot of rules. Most churches do.
I remember a story on a child that was tossed out of pre school because their Catholic Mother had a lesbian partner. Why the child was unable to attend Catholic school because of the Mother's lifestyle didn't make sense to me... It is amazing to me that they tolerated and moved around all these priest who were child molesters... but draw a line on when it comes to a child's participation due to home life. There is a list on line of all the priests that were accused, what church what state and what happened... and I was surprised to see some nuns on there too. It made me think maybe that child was safer somewhere else.

being a member of the roman catholic church is not mandatory - it is voluntary.

and you must pledge to uphold, and abide by, all the tenets, decrees, dogma, traditions, canon law, decrees, instructions, rules and regulations.

if you do not like all of it, you are a protestant - no matter what you were born into. (which is why i am not a roman catholic).

since she was raised in that enviroment, she knew full well, that as a person NOT following every nuance of the rc church, she was not allowed to recieve the sacrament of holy communion.

they believe, and all are taught, that to do so is a desecration of the sacrament, and 'taints' it for all true followers.

yes, we are all sinners, and the rc's have found a nifty way to make up for it - first recognize your sins, so that two, you willingly confess your sins, and therefore three, take yourself out of a sinful situation, and stop it. if you fail to stop it, admit it, confess it, and try harder. if you refuse to accept their definition of sin, refuse to confess it, or refuse to remove yourself from it - then again, you are a protestant, NOT a cayholic, and are not to join in their sacrament.

every single person that joins their church, is well aware, that if they fail to 'repent' (the 3 steps), they are not allowed to even ASK for any sacrament, and if the person administering the sacrament, is aware of you "state of sin" (as they define it in their church), they in fact sin by giving you the sacrament.

what other so-called priests do, to disgrace the church, is not relavant - just because they are miserable, contempuous, dispicable p[eople, does not mean that every single person that wants to CALL themselves a catholic, can join in and throw more disrespect on it.

now - i am NOT saying being gay is a sin - i am saying that it is a rule of their church/group/club/whatever. they make the rules with their group - no one has the right to demand THEY change, to fit an indivduals wants.

dont like their rules? dont join - you already joined? quit.

real simple.

simple, perhaps. But not always in a case like this. My sister totally dropped out of the Catholic Church for a protestant one. Yet, when my mother died, my mother was a traditional Catholic to the very end, and her wishes were for a Catholic mass/funeral. I am going to imagine this woman's mother felt the same way. Denying her communion is one thing, although I wonder if Jesus would have denied her communion with Him. But to walk out on the eulogy and the burial was cowardly and hateful. I believe the Archdiocese apologized for the way she was treated in this respect. If I recall, at times certain members in government were denied communion by the church because of their support for something that went against church teachings. Yet they weren't kicked out of the church or even kicked to the side the way this woman was.

no jeanne, it is that simple in all cases.

of course, your mother diserved a catholic funeral as a devoted catholic.

but yo9ur sister was obviously trained that if you are not in 'good standing' or whatever - have rejected the catholic way - then you are desecrating the eucharist itself, and therefore DIShonoring your mother.

the archdiocese may have apo0logized for how it was handled - byt the action was still mandatory by their law.

asd far as i know this woman was not 'kicked out' which would imply excommunication, at all. she was denied the ability to insult, deride, and blaspheme the very sacrament her own mother wanted.

those are the rules, you have to live by, and uphold, to be a member. non-members that are former members, KNOWINGLY attempting to defile a sacrament?

pretty low.

and in case you missed it, i am a former roman catholic, because i do not believe in all the tenents, cnonon etc - and out of respect FOR them, to maintain their own beliefs, i disavowed my membership, and would never even CONSIDER going up for communion.

i made my choice, so whan i attend a catholic funeral or wedding I have the honor, integrity, and courage to let those who believe get by me, without embarrassment.

even at my own sons first communion.

no way would i dishonor them, and the church by prancing down there.