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March 12th, 2012
01:06 PM ET
Priest who allegedly denied Communion to lesbian placed on leaveBy Dan Gilgoff, CNN.com Religion Editor (CNN) – A Roman Catholic priest who allegedly denied Holy Communion to a lesbian at her mother’s Maryland funeral has been placed on administrative leave, the Archdiocese of Washington said. A spokeswoman for the archdiocese said the suspension was not triggered by last month’s alleged Communion denial, but by events involving the Rev. Marcel Guarnizo in the days since. The archdiocese “received credible allegations that Father Guarnizo had engaged in intimidating behavior toward parish staff and others that is incompatible with proper priestly ministry,” the archdiocese said in a Friday statement. “Given the grave nature of these allegations, and in light of the confusion in the parish and the concerns expressed by parishioners,” the statement continued, “Father Guarnizo is prohibited from exercising any priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington until all matters can be appropriately resolved with the hope that he might return to priestly ministry.” Barbara Johnson told The Washington Post that Guarnizo denied her the sacrament of Communion at her mother's funeral Mass in February, allegedly telling her it was “because you live with a woman, and in the eyes of the church, that is a sin.” CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories The archdiocese said Guarnizo also allegedly declined to go with Johnson to her mother’s grave site. In an earlier statement responding to news accounts of the alleged funeral incident, the archdiocese said it was inappropriate for a priest in its diocese to deny someone Communion. “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 archdiocese said in a February 27 statement. “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.” Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter Johnson, a 51-year-old Washington-area artist, could not immediately be reached for comment. The Washington Post reported that her family issued a statement Sunday saying that it “continues to pray for the Archdiocese of Washington, Father Guarnizo, and all Catholics during this time of upheaval.” “While we understand this letter does not pertain to the events that occurred at our mother's funeral, we are hopeful that Bishop Knestout's decision will ensure that no others will have to undergo the traumatic experiences brought upon our family,” the statement said, referring to a letter from Washington Bishop Barry C. Knestout that was read at the Gaithersburg, Maryland, church where Guarnizo had been serving. In receiving Communion, the Catholic Church teaches that Catholics are eating the literal body and blood of Jesus Christ. The church teaches that Jesus instituted the sacrament at the Last Supper. Guarnizo is officially attached to the archdiocese of Moscow. Washington Archdiocese spokeswoman Brie Hall said the priest had been an assistant to the parish priest in Gaithersburg since last March. She said that it was unclear how long Guarnizo was planning to stay but that the nature of his duties – performing Masses, baptisms, weddings and funerals – suggested he would be there for the long term. A receptionist at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, where Guarnizo was serving, said she didn’t have contact information for him. Guarnizo's name and number are not listed in the area.
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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I'm an agnostic, so I have no dog in this fight, but...
Regardless of the occasion (in this case, her mother's funeral), if she's a practicing Catholic, she KNOWS she's not eligible for communion. If she's NOT a practicing Catholic, why would she be taking communion anyway?
I'll never understand why some folks insist on trying to practice a religion that condemns them as they are. It's not like this is something new in Catholicism.
Well If I had to pick which sinner I had to live with a loving gay man or a cold blooded murder. I pick the gay man.
Yeah, not sure what your point is there 'billy."
All I'm saying is that if you're gay, perhaps the Catholic Religion isn't up your alley.
yes and im agnostic too..... and i think the church has no problems with ped priests but at the death of ones mother they refuse communion? the only people it makes sense to are those who fake being agnostic while really catholic
Yeah, well I guess I'm just not one of those who feel that it's my place to always tell other religions what they should/shouldn't believe in. And I don't see the point in trying to fit a square peg into a round hole on "principal" either.
To each his/her own, but to each religion their own beliefs.
Perhaps, svscnn, have you considered,...is it possible, that if this woman is a self-confessed Buddhist as some here have said, that, her choosing to go up to take communion was merely a matter of her seeking to honor her mother's religious and philosophical convictions by participating in a ceremony her dead mother held dear?
There is absolutely no reason to assume that she was so shallow as to use her own mother's funeral as some cheap stage to make some "l.es.b.i.a.n-agenda" point... Instead, this is much more likely a simple case of her seeking to pay honor to her mother's religious convictions by taking part in a ceremony her mother no doubt had many, many times...
And instead of being received in that light by the priest, she instead was treated poorly and disrespectfully by someone who should have known better, publicly humiliated, and is now quite rightfully angry...
If the backlash causes the church to give this priest a good s.p.a.n.k.i.n.g,....that makes me giddy with glee... He deserves it for being an inconsiderate a.s.s...
According new news sources, she is Buddhist.
I take it the catholic church teachers hate.. what kind of God or Bible teaches hate?
So having a standard is hate?
Yes,....having a standard based on hate is hate...
Hate and revulsion are quite different.
If personal revulsion leads to acts of public hate and disrespect, then it doesn't matter how different the definition of those two terms are, since they are BOTH being invoked...
I thought Jesus would have been all inclusive.... you guys with your little theoclub are so misguided and infidels
The standard is not based on hate, it's based on perfection. God is perfect and when Jesus was on earth He said "be thou perfect as I am perfect"
Taking a stand against wrong living is not hate.
re david.... did Jesus really say "thou"...... you mght want to read the entire book... if you picl and choose thing out of the Bible that meet you own psychological needs, you might be catholic
If you want to belong to the Church then follow church doctrine. Otherwise join another church.
amen. (pun intended)
If a church wants to keep on making money form those who attend it, they need to keep up with the times and change their policies of intollerance and hate...
try reading the article you typical intolerant exclusive all knowing catholic.... it was a funeral... and what part of Love your neighbor did you not get in ccs.... oh yeah you werent told to believe that
Lesbianism is sin, women who practise it will find their place in hell,burning in the lake of fire.
Queen.... Apt name...Like Marie-Antoinette, you seem to be devoid of human feelings for people who engage in practises that you disaprove of...and one wonders who told you that to be a lesbian is a sin...Maybe you should remember that hating people is one as well, that compassion is demanded of you, along with forgiving ...Maybe you cannot read... Yes that must be it... There is a book, called the Bible... Try and learn how to read it...Good luck.
And you "know" this because you believe in some fairy-tale garbage written by mortal men a thousand years ago describing what they believe to be the "will" of a make-believe diety that nothing in the world has the power to actually prove exists....
Nice....
Translation: Lesbians are hot.
re queen.... so is harboring peds, worshiping idols, cantors to the dead, dressing in womens cloths, being fat, being to thin, lieing, steeling, etc.... just shut up
The priest may have denied her communion and religious comfort during her family's time of sorrow but I bet if she wanted to donate money to the church this priest would have been falling all over himself to accept it.
Let's see – we have a priest denying communion to a lesbian but pedophile priests are allowed to consecrate the bread and wine, take communion and distribute it. What's wrong with this picture? It shows exactly why I am no longer a Catholic.
That's an ignorant comment.
Obviously you never read the Gospel of St. John 6:68, specifically, or the whole chapter and do not believe in the Real Presence. God Forgive You.
@Jules. Thanks u r so right
That is a very enlightened point of view, Jules. When people elevate religion to the most important aspect of their lives, they rarely change their minds even in the face of overwhelming evidence. They've backed the wrong horse, but are too vested in the religion to be able to change. How anyone can be a member of the catholic church, in this day and age, is mind boggling. Well done Jules.
Pmn,...there's nothing ignorant about this comment at all.... It's perfectly succinct and meaningful, and directly relevant...
Jules, you are not alone. I am also one of those catholics who have found the truth. That cult will soon be among the myths of the past.
You know what I think: I think we have bitter bull dike on their hands who took it a little too far. Get another minister and get over it.
Luckily, no one cares what you think. Idiot.
You know what I think? I think you are a bitter, vitriolic, self-absorbed b i g o t who is ridiculously laughable in the midst of most people because you actually believe in some mythical representation of a supposedly divine being that created the entire universe, and yet is somehow worried about who little mortal people like us have s e x with...
Utter I D I O C Y...
Well, Pmn, you sure got the LGBT community up in arms. Good job. Keep up the good work.
Ha hah! I'm actually not g.a.y, bi, OR l.e.s.b.i.a.n at all... I'm just a dude that can't stand the ignorant, closed-minded rhetoric of self-absorbed little b.i.g.o.t.s like you...
Go chew a tampon...
re pms or whatever... just another example of the all inclusive love of the church... and im still laughing at jadugara... go chew on a tampon
@godspeople
"Actually Nii, there's a quote (I think it's in Romans) about how God removed Himself from a population, and they started committing unnatural acts, and I also think it says "with each other" (meanign same gender). Needless to say, the bible mentions it as wrong."
The same bible also condones....mur....der and ra...pe of women, murd....er of children, pill....aging of civilizations, Sla...very.....what is your point? The bible was written by a bunch of men over 1500+ years. Its funny when people take the works of men and hold it so divinely as if it was a creation from god.
why is this even headline news. Its allegations, no laws where broken. Its a church matter. More important things to worry about. If u dont like the church rules, goto another church.
if they are going to discriminate against a person, then maybe then need to have their tax exempt status taken away.
Its not discrimination dip! He does not have to give her or anybody who is not a member of the church communion. Its communion gezzz louise! She was not kicked out of the church was she? Ok then.
Pmn,....what are you talking about? She IS a part of his church, he IS supposed to administer communion, by their own guidlines... He did a bad thing, and now he's getting s.p.a.n.k.e.d for it...
Why do you have a problem with this? Because she's a l.e.s.b.i.a.n? That makes YOU the b.i.g.o.t...
Sorry...
You're sorry all right, Jadugara.
Ha hahh ahahhhhhh!!! WOW!!!
Quick come-back Jethro,...that really stung hard right in my no-no place...
You should take all these rich one-liners and seek to start your own comedy act...
M O R O N...
i dont think they teach reading in catholic schools.... every simple minded catholic keeps saying " if you dont like the church go somewhere else "..... it was a funeral.....
The women is not part of the church, not Catholic. Like it or lump it, that's the rules. If she wanted to take communion, then the funeral should have been held at another church that would have allowed her to participate. End of story.
According to the bible, eating shrimp is an "abomination" too. I suppose all shrimp-eaters should all be denied communion, too? What a bunch of cherry picking bigots.
My turds float in the toliet
Yeah, your 13-year-old comment is pretty much a floater too.
He should sue. He acted within his faith and by the word of God. He also acted by the will of the Church, which states ho-mo-se-xu-a-li-ty is a sin. He can get an injunction put against the Church forcing them to let him work and do God's will.
Perhaps you should read the article again. Apparently, denying her communion was not why he was put on leave.
"the suspension was not triggered by last month’s alleged Communion denial, but by events involving the Rev. Marcel Guarnizo in the days since.
The archdiocese “received credible allegations that Father Guarnizo had engaged in intimidating behavior toward parish staff and others that is incompatible with proper priestly ministry,” the archdiocese said in a Friday statement.
Was she white?
The very idea of offering communion is to help absolve people of their supposed sin... If every priest decided that they wouldn't offer communion to sinners, then the company that makes the wafers would go out of business in a week...
Her being a "sinful" lesbian is no excuse for not offering communion...
And yes,...though this artice says they didn't put him on leave because of this event, we all know that this is smoke and mirrors....
wow great point.... priests are to administer communion to sinners..... and they wouldnt to her? does that make them God like is the decision making process of who can be absolved?
That is just wrong for him to do that!
He can refuse communion. If you are not a member of the church you can not receive communion period. Most Catholic's have closed communion. These are words coming from her still have not heard the priest side. Since she chose her lifestyle, it is not one recognized in the church. It is no different than refusing communion for a member who is divorced. I think the bull dike is lying and lashing out.
to pmn – I am a former Catholic now a Lutheran and I take communion wherever I go whenever it is offered. Does anyone really think Jesus cares? He cares more that I share this meal than out of whose hands it comes.
Also pmn,...the fact that you keep using the term "bull dike", simply proves to us that you are a hateful bigot, and that your opinion shouldn't really be of any more importance to us than the aroma of our own farts...
No, you're the one who's wrong. So just sit there in your wrongness and be wrong.
For what he did the priest should be promoted to bishop and have his salary doubled, not placed on leave.
@Cap'n Sayin' Atheism Isn't a Pervert American
Do us all a favour and pick a single pseudodymn to post your rhetorical nonsense.
For what he did, he should be defrocked. Jesus said there are 2 commandments. Pervert never read the Bible.
Do the world a favor and keep your bull sh it in canada. No one really gives a sh it what you think. There's your sign
not only his salary doubled, but he should get two additional alter boys per week
Anyone who spends their day worrying about who is or is not a pervert, is obviously, a pervert.
Not to worry que ers are perverts.
Regardless of your stance, the priest had every right to refuse communion to her. She took offense...so what. Its communion and she is not a member of the church or Catholic religion. They do not even recognize divorcees so what do you expect because she is gay we say "how dare he?" Give me a break. I think the gay community is way way overly sensitive on this issue. They made a choice and leave to be ridiculed by their choice. That's the fact jack...reality check. However, with that said I would not ridicule anyone for their choice. My point is their is freedom of religion but does mean the church is forced to accept your lifestyle. You simple go to a church which best fits your lifestyle.
Perhaps you should read the article again. Apparently, denying her communion was not why he was put on leave.
"the suspension was not triggered by last month’s alleged Communion denial, but by events involving the Rev. Marcel Guarnizo in the days since.
The archdiocese “received credible allegations that Father Guarnizo had engaged in intimidating behavior toward parish staff and others that is incompatible with proper priestly ministry,” the archdiocese said in a Friday statement.
However, cherry picking bigots that discriminate their own personal discretion, SHOULD be fired! According to your "holy" book, eating shell fish is also an "abomination" I suppose all shrimp eaters should be denied communion, too?
Oh really no kidding? I read the article and know why the priest is on leave. Matter of fact read it on MSN too. Thank you for pointing the qoutes already read. However, the basis on the article is about a dike crying about discrimination because she did not receive communion at her mother's funeral. I am simple pointing out of the reasons why a priest has the right of refuse anyone communion. FYI, I am not Catholic. Way to stick your foot in your mouth.
Hey pmn,....shhhhh...
Guess what (whisper) you're a stinky bigot (whisper)...
Catholics are not allowed to think. They just swallow what the Vatican shove into their throats. That is why I am no longer a catholic.
Prayer changes things
~The statistical studies from the nineteenth century and the three CCU studies on prayer are quite consistent with the fact that humanity is wasting a huge amount of time on a procedure that simply doesn’t work. Nonetheless, faith in prayer is so pervasive and deeply rooted, you can be sure believers will continue to devise future studies in a desperate effort to confirm their beliefs!
Prayer changes things
Proven
"Prayer changes things
Proven"
You've been proven a LIAR over and over again.
Prayer changes things
Proven
Powerful
Prayer never works
I suck dead priests.
This woman Johnson is NOT Catholic. She is a self confessed Buddhist!! http://bit.ly/zoDvpy
Research that and then someone go ask Johnson what she was doing at the funeral. Was she burying her mother or using her mother's funeral to make a political statement? Her really Catholic mother is probably turning in her grave!!
She was honoring her mother. The priest was being a judgmental jerk. He was stupid enough to walk right into her trap.
i think he really despised her not because she was a lesbian but she willingly turned away from what he wants.... men
Right, with that butch haircut of her's the Priest was just upset to find out the cute young man he had been ogling was really a girl well past puberty...
What is the matter? Is the CNN staff having trouble coming up with something fresh that is really interesting and really related to belief. The communion thing is out of the archives and doesn’t really interest me, and the thing about card counting was on so long that it became stale. So many people to say so little. I don't even know how these things even got to be in the news.
I what something more refreshing.
In the world of make-believe there are no rules. So people can say whatever they want, and if enough say the same things, it becomes church law. Just give up the fairy tales, and grow up already.
Then we should admit to ourselves that we belong to a cult with no basis in reality and embrace whatever arbitrary rules we want? Cool.
"embrace whatever arbitrary rules we want"
Arbitrary – 1.Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.
Why do religious persons believe that in the absence of God we would have no laws or random laws? It really makes no sense. Why would a non-religious person not be able to see the benefit and vote for a law that protects they and others from harm? We see laws passed all the time with no basis in religion when it comes to keeping our air or drinking water free of harmful pollutants, though it's often the religious claiming we don't need the laws because their invisible protector will never let anything harmful happen to them, until it does, but then it's not their fault, it's BP or some other nefarious group, never their lack of trust in science.
Anyone who has ever taken an Anthropology course knows that the origins of human law/ legal customs does not lie with religion . The as'sumption that one needs religion for social order is false, and unfounded in fact. Religions can promote order, but is not a requirement for it.
Post by 'Observer' contains an instance of a Slippery Slope fallacy and is based on False Premises.
http://www.iep.utm.edu/fallacy/#H6
Lesbianism is not defined as a sin in the Bible though h.o.mo.se.xuality is. That said I do see a problem with saying I feel I must so I do. How many of us feel we must kill someone but restrain ourselves. How many will hold back from certain men or women. We can control our feelings. Lets try!
I never want to kill anyone.
Your equating "feelings" with the right of humans to express the se'xuality they were born with is ignorant. Every species on the planet has a % of it's members who are "born that way". Too bad your god makes defective creatures.
mhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090616122106.ht
Let me know when you are able to "control" your feelings of attraction to women, Nii. You can't. You might be able to control your actions, but you feel the way you feel. If you want to deny yourself the ability to act on your attraction to women, go right ahead. "Let's try!" Why? Why should we tell ourselves that because some people think it's wrong to be attracted to someone of the same gender that we should "try" not to feel that way?
Nii, so your 'god' of your sick fairy tales apparently thought it's OK for dogs and many other animal species to have gay members of their populations, but not humans? Get serious and toss your sicko Christian wingnut beliefs already.
Ask the questions. Break the chains. Be free of religion in 2012.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
Actually Nii, there's a quote (I think it's in Romans) about how God removed Himself from a population, and they started committing unnatural acts, and I also think it says "with each other" (meanign same gender). Needless to say, the bible mentions it as wrong.