UPDATE: Lesbian Denied Communion At Mother's Funeral By Catholic Priest PDF Print
Written by Instinct Staff | Monday, 27 February 2012
Tags: marcel guarnizo, catholic priest, maryland, catholic church, lesbian, barbara, funeral, communion denied, lgbt

guarnizo

Updated Thursday, 1:30 p.m. EST

Father Marcel Guarnizo denied Barbara Johnson communion at her own mother's funeral because she's lesbian. Not ready to settle for a simple apology, Barbara has set out for the homophobic priest's collar. 

After being told she couldn't receive communion because she is "living with a woman, and in the eyes of the church, that's a sin," at her mother Loetta's funeral, the Archdiocese of Washington (D.C.) issued a form-letter apology to Barbara. 

But that wasn't enough. 

Johnson is now urging the Archdiocese to defrock Father Guarnizo not because it's a gay rights issue, but because the family believes the priest should no longer engage in pastoral work due to his public handling of the situation. 

"We're urging the church to make that decision, so that this doesn't happen to anyone else, to any other families," said Johnson. "It's the right thing to do.I think everyone has their gifts, and my family believes performing the responsibilities of a parish priest does not fall under his list of gifts."

Should Father Guarnizo lose his collar of his communion denial?

(Original post)

So you’re a priest (okay, we realize that requires a certain suspension of disbelief, but stay with us). You're presiding over a funeral, presumably where people are devastated and possibly seeking solace over the loss of a loved one.

When the daughter of the deceased approaches the altar to take the Eucharist as part of Communion, would it even cross your mind to deny her?

Apparently, if you’re Maryland Catholic priest, Father Marcel Guarnizo, it would. His rationale?  Well, duh, the daughter’s a lesbian. Of course she shouldn’t get communion! And, of course, this—being her mother’s funeral and all—is the perfect time to take a stand against gays and their right to participate in church customs.

Guarnizo told the daughter, known only as Barbara that “I cannot give you communion because you live with a woman and that is a sin according to the church." 

He went on to actually leave the altar as Barbara delivered a eulogy to her mother, then declined to go to the gravesite to give her mother's final blessing. He claimed he was sick.

Wow. Awesome show of compassion. Run, don’t walk, to become a parishioner at Father Guarnizo’s Saint John Neumann Catholic Church!

Also, way to ruin all of our confessional fantasies.

 

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Comments (20)Add Comment
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written by Raelyn, February 27, 2012
How unbelievable! And I thought religions were supposed to be accepting.
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written by Brooke, February 27, 2012
I'm catholic and pretty sure I was taught the Golden Rule. Who knew it only applied to straight people? Saddened and disgusted.
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written by Debster, February 27, 2012
This is why I refuse to acknowledge what they classify as "Organized Religion". I was baptised a catholic, my god-mother was a nun! I refuse to accept that any religion has the right to deny another person happiness. The priest had no right to push HIS beliefs on to the greiving family. His job that day was to give blessings and communion and prayers, NOT to pass judgement. It is GOD'S job to pass judgement and I have a feeling HE is none to happy with this priest right now.
I am ashamed of Catholics, CHristians and any other religious faction that use hate as a tool to push their version of the bible onto others.
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written by M, February 27, 2012
THIS IS THE REASON I CONVERTED....OUT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH !!!!!!
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written by puzzled, February 28, 2012
I have to wonder what this priest's sexual status is. Unless a man is hormonally deficient in the extreme, the odds against him being truly celibate are huge. That's why the Catholic church is inundated with pedophiles. What better place to take advantage of the trusting innocent? So—pedophile, gay or self-abuser? Whatever his situation, it's likely considered a sin by the Catholic church or even a crime by the police. And to amazed - I'm amazed that you would compare a doughnut to communion!smilies/shocked.gif
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written by JR P, February 28, 2012
The Catholic Church is irrelevant and in the wrong side of history - as always, from the Crusades, Inquisitions, Holocaust, civil rights and more - the intent of Catholic Church is to amass wealth period.
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written by Chris Vogel, February 29, 2012
Typical of the Roman church: their vanity, malice, and wilful ignorance are, and always have been, boundless. Odd they call themselves "Christian". Still, better than the old days; modern secular governments do not permit their traditional responses to difference: torture and mass murder.
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written by DonsterNYC, March 01, 2012
Expect more of this. The Church's stand on marriage equality will result in more priests publicly making hay every chance they get in order to tow the dogmatic line and impress their bosses,. The president of the US Conference of Bishops, the newly created Timothy Cardinal Dolan, has made this his signature issue. He also wants to be pope so expect the US Church to be in the media and courts at every turn. So sad that they have lost there way. When so much misery (homelessness, hunger, etc.) exists, they divert the energy to shoving their dogma on non-catholics. You talk about religious intolerance--they corner the market.
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written by Jeff SLC, March 01, 2012
Not to beat a dead horse, but I have a hard time taking seriously the moral advice of an organization that so far has paid billions of dollars in damages for the sexual abuse of thousands of children. It was Jesus (you know, that guy on the cross at the front of the church) who said, "He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone." I think they should suspend all moral pronouncements until there are no more child sex abuse lawsuits pending.
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written by Caldrumr, March 01, 2012
Fire him!
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written by ren, March 01, 2012
I thought religions accept gays and lesbians but boy I was wrongsmilies/angry.gif
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written by Cindi, March 01, 2012
Gross to treat anyone in such a manner, way to encourage hate, hypocrite .
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written by Cheyenne, March 01, 2012
As a former Roman Catholic I am so far beyond appalled that I don't know what the word would be! This priest needs to be defrocked like yesterday! Even the priest presiding at my mother's funeral knew better than to pull this stunt with me! Then to send a "form letter apology"? Best that he never be around where I am. I'll give him an earful of his own dogma. smilies/shocked.gif
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written by s.johnson, March 01, 2012
He can't talk...His religon fondles little boy balls. And by doing that your a pedophile and gay.
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written by Hans Offermans, March 01, 2012
There has to be a groundswell by all, regardless of religion, to stop all this abuse. Nothing will happen without this groundswell, or a brave religious leader higher up in the hierarchy, to get the ball rolling. Marriage for secular priests should be introduced, both straight and gay. Not that will solve all problems. In modern marriages there is to much cheating going on.
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written by Mifi, March 18, 2012
Why all of you better take the time to understand the sacred sacraments instead of judging a GREAT PRIEST!! and have some respect for the catholic church. If you are not catholic don't go in our churches and put our priests in such difficult situations
WELL DONE FATHER MARCEL!'

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