http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=164664
A simple wish runs into a buzzsaw of bureaucracy
by Dayna Dion
May 13, 2010
Janine Denomme is dying. She has advanced colon and liver cancer, and a final wish: to have her funeral at Chicago’s St. Gertrude Catholic Parish, where she has devotedly worshipped and served for years.
The only problem is that she was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest last month. And the Catholic Church forbids women from becoming priests. In fact, it kicks them out for doing so.
So, last week, Denomme discovered her funeral wish won’t be granted. The church in which she has faithfully worshipped during her life will not be the church in which she is honored after her death.
The decision not to honor Denomme’s wish was made by the Archdiocese of Chicago, said the Rev. Dominic Grassi, pastor of St. Gertrude’s. “They told me I could not have the funeral here,” he said.
..." Today, there are nearly 100 ordained female priests or deacons, including three in the Chicago area, and the number is growing, said Bridget Mary Meehan, a spokeswoman for Roman Catholic Womenpriests."
"And Meehan says the ordinations are technically valid: “Our first bishops were ordained by a male bishop with apostolic succession, in full communion with the pope. Therefore, our orders are valid.”
"Technically valid or not, the Catholic Church’s local leaders have denied Denomme’s request for a funeral at St. Gertrude's, and that denial has been met with anger, sadness and confusion..."
...."One of those questions, from Meehan’s perspective, is whether the Catholic Church is actually following the word of Christ. “The institutional leaders are contradicting the message of Jesus here, which is love one another,” she said. “How is denying a funeral to someone living Christ’s example of love for one another just? It’s not.”
The church’s decision to reject Denomme’s wish also raises questions of equality, Meehan said. “Pedophiles have been protected and covered up, but women who are stepping up to serve their church, which is in great need at this moment, are being excluded and punished harshly,” she said..."
20 comments:
Look at that... excommunication DOES really exist. Go ahead ladies, pretend all you want that there is no such thing as excommunication. Just don't come asking for something from Holy Mother Church when you have disrespected our Lord and have no desire to confess your sins.
Rob, do me a favor and save me a seat in hell, could ya? With statements like that one, I'm sure that's where you'll be headed, but alas, it won't be my decision to send you there and our God may yet forgive you for your misguided theological errors, and even possibly your complete lack of compassion for an exemplary Catholic who has dedicated her life to ministry.
Janine WILL have a Catholic funeral, a full Mass of the Resurrection -- because "church" encompasses so much more than the 4 walls that the archdiocese can lay claim over. We are church, and the Spirit blows where she will.
And oh, will the gates of heaven swing wide for our dear Janine when her time comes! What a blessed soul!
"Rob, do me a favor and save me a seat in hell, could ya? With statements like that one, I'm sure that's where you'll be headed"
Spoken like a true Catholic...
"Janine WILL have a Catholic funeral, a full Mass of the Resurrection -- because "church" encompasses so much more than the 4 walls that the archdiocese can lay claim over."
No she won't. The Church is comprised of all who are in communion with the Holy Father, who is the vicar of Christ (like it or not). She died out of communion, so she can enjoy a wonderful Protestant remembrance service. Because that's what she is... Protestant.
THE PEOPLE are the BODY of Christ ! We are the Church !
Rob & Mike, you just do not get that the vatican is a building which houses pompus policy makers who care less about each of you. "Only the power to control is the Vatican's role".
My prediction is that this woman WILL have a funeral in full communion with the church. My prediction is that many male and female priests will attend and a full funeral mass will be given.
My further prediction is - the wishy washy-flip flopped- Catholic Church will one day canonize this woman because they will realize that they really messed it up BIG by being so cruel. Yes cruel - they have a lot of practice at this !
Look and read about the lives of the Saints. The Church is quick to judge and condemn, but then when it is far more popular, they canonize someone.
I stand with Bridget Mary solidly on this one. The priests that have been active in pedophilia are promoted top higher offices and even not convicted of crimes. Yet Janine Denomme, is called to the priesthood and ordained in full apostolic succession, while a bunch of "my way or the door people" claiming that they are THE Catholic church deny a funeral.
The Holy Father may very well be the elected stand in earthly being for the "Vicar of Christ', you probably meant to put Christ's church in that statement. Yes he may very well be. BUT he has sure been apologizing for many who I guarandamntee were NOT acting in full communion with the church when they were abusing children ! Any Man that could participate in such atrocities should have been removed. This woman has committed no crime against humans or Jesus.
I am pretty sure I know what Jesus would say,. It will go something like this:
"Well done my good and faithful servant ! I shall say your funeral mass for you ! Do not concern yourself with earthly bitterness of power !"
Simple. End of Story. For those who see it another way, start collecting stones so that you can be the first to throw !
Janine Denomme is going to be a Saint. In my book she already is for putting up with all this BS from haters and their all exclusive "male club mentality".
To the Janine Denomme family, bless ALL of you and know that their are far more that support you and your daughter than the ignorant selfish individuals that sew such hatred as previously posted on this page.
Very well said, Crusader!
"My prediction is that this woman WILL have a funeral in full communion with the church."
Only if a rebellious priest still in good standing does it secretly. Otherwise, not likely.
"the wishy washy-flip flopped- Catholic Church will one day canonize this woman"
I never even heard of her until reading the blog entry. I doubt this will happen as well.
"The priests that have been active in pedophilia are promoted top higher offices and even not convicted of crimes. Yet Janine Denomme"
For all you know, she might have engaged in pedophilia too. It is hardly the case that only men are pedophiles. Take for example the various female school teachers have sexual relations with their male students.
"Well done my good and faithful servant ! I shall say your funeral mass for you ! Do not concern yourself with earthly bitterness of power !"
So lay her out in the middle of an open field and have God says the Mass, if that's truly the case.
("My prediction is that this woman WILL have a funeral in full communion with the church.")
"Only if a rebellious priest still in good standing does it secretly. Otherwise, not likely." say Mike.
Oh Mike. You must be the "Priest Police". There is no way that you can control what happens in this situation !
"I never even heard of her until reading the blog entry. I doubt this will happen as well"
Read your history on the lives of the saints Mike, you are right in saying that you never heard of her. Many saints lived in a small world of service to others.
"So lay her out in the middle of an open field and have God says the Mass, if that's truly the case."
Only if you would wait until OUR LORD appears to do so at the same location.
You have now demonstrated and advertised your extensive lack of depth of history, culture and researched crime bases.
I pray that you will post in the future with some fragment of God's compassion and education, not your imaginary man made laws. Yes, yes, know that you can refer to canons and rules, but who do you think wrote them ? A human being.
Many things will change in time.
You have truly scorned and spit in Our loving Lord's face in the last line of your previous post.
Shame on you.
I pray for all of us in this time, especially the family of Janine Denomme, including her partner and Janine herself.
Um . . . didn't the saints actually follow what the Church said, rather than doing what they felt "called" to do? St. Catherine of Siena was a firebrand reformer, yeah, but she stayed loyal to the Magisterium.
And I'm with Mike. God will recognize His own, so let's just see what happens with her in that field. And Mike didn't spit in the face of the Lord. He just spit in the face of aging hippies who advocate free love and even free-er liturgy.
"didn't the saints actually follow what the Church said, rather than doing what they felt "called" to do?"
No, they did not follow what a hollow building that kept the likes of power seeking humans in it as many have occupied the Vatican.
They followed the LORD JESUS CHRIST ! They followed the word and desire of the Lord. Well at least most of them. Some have been recently canonized with all due speed with political and power interests in mind.
How is the voting going on your blog Gen ? Are you still top fire dawg of blogsters ? Have you saved your diocese yet ?
Yep, all those white folks from the" old country" are dying out. You would do better to save the church if you invested in Latin America or Africa, since you need more members in your diocese in New York.
Tell you what: you go out to the field too. Take your organ music with you. Oh I forgot - your not a hippie, and I doubt you would know one from your description!
It must be so flat knowing you have been punked out by people who really know THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD !
You are so worried about "the liturgy" it is a wonder if you see or hear the Lord !
Janine Denomme will be welcomed by the Lord when she is arriving, and we all will be attending her funeral mass.
Our Lord will ask Janine, why are those men spitting at him ? And Janine will say the truth, it will sound something like this " Well Lord, these good people of God cared more for the actual service order than the order of service to All".
Run people of Rochester run !
Instead of Cleansing Fire ...
it's definitely Backfired !
Keep your spit and fire in your own county and your own blog.
"They followed the LORD JESUS CHRIST ! "
More like you progressives follow Satan... down to the fiery pits of hell.
"You would do better to save the church if you invested in Latin America or Africa, since you need more members in your diocese in New York."
Rochester has lost many Catholics because of progressive policies instituted by Bishop Matthew Clark. Don't you people get it? Progressivism drives people away from Christ and the Church, it does not bring them in. There is a reason your liberal parishes like Bridget Mary's are filled with 70 year old white people. You are a dying breed. In 10-20 years, your efforts to change the Church will have been in vain, and you will go to receive your eternal punishment.
"You are so worried about "the liturgy" it is a wonder if you see or hear the Lord !"
Our Lord is present in the Mass in the Blessed Sacrament. Are you really such a Protestant that you have forgotten this?
"Janine Denomme will be welcomed by the Lord when she is arriving, and we all will be attending her funeral mass."
God will meet her at the door, and tell her to get out.
"Well Lord, these good people of God cared more for the actual service order than the order of service to All".
She cares not for service to others, but satisfying her own ego. You progressives become "priests" for the wrong reasons. You don't do it to serve God and man, but to make political statements, and stick it to the Church. You brood of vipers, you will see what the Lord has in store for those who hate Him and His Church like you people do.
"There is a reason your liberal parishes like Bridget Mary's are filled with 70 year old white people. "
I should say "partially filled" for the sake of accuracy. How many people do you get there by the way? 400? 500 maybe?
To Mike,
It is your diocese that has the problem. Not ours !
Since you are 66, try explaining your opinion or should we say "bitterness' as it is described in your friends GEN's blog, to your listed grandchildren. I am sure they will understand.
Yes, Catholic Bitterness is how he describes his fan base. How lovely and holy is that ?
You New York men must all live next door to each other or have a" tattle tale texting system" !
Or was it "the priest police" ?
God will meet her at the door and say well done my good and faithful servant !
Perhaps you have me confused with someone else?
66 years old? More like half that age.
Listed grandchildren? Huh???
Not only are you a heretic, you're also a nut.
No Mike, We are not confused. You are on the wrong page dude !
You speak as if you have the King's authority.
Not so.
Technology is wonderful !
Okay, I'm in the field. What now?
"Invest in Latin America"?? I guess you didn't care enough to actually do research as to the DoR. We have two seminarians from there. The Diocese of Buffalo brought in around 30. However, in the DoB each and every one of them swindled the diocese for money, nice cars, and secretly had girlfriends and boyfriends. There's great hope in Latin America, but people like you have tainted those innocent children of God with "Liberation Theology."
I find it infinitely amusing how someone such as yourself bypasses the Church because you know the will of God, while at the same time you profess to know His will. No one can definitively discern God's will - that's why there's the Church, to pass it along to us through the lens of the Scriptures and Tradition.
And, yes, CF is still the top "fire dawg" of blogs. Per omnia saecula saeculorum. From henceforth, I would humbly ask that you wouldn't stray into Ebonic spellings - it intimidates me, and I have a weak heart.
To Gen,
I will have to respond on your blog as we are way off the subject now.
For the record, I have not taught "liberation theology". I have no courses that are titled as such and I have never seen any listed as such.
Like everything else it is the judgement cast by angry anglos that need to get a grip on the demographics of the country and where we are, and where we will be in 15 years.
No, I was not aware that the diocese of Buffalo had a problem in leading it's own people, let alone the seminarians. I guess they need "tradition and scripture" to eliminate such crimes.
The spelling of dawg ... Intimidating ?
"No Mike, We are not confused"
I beg to differ. You seem to have confused me with a 66 year old man. I assure you, I am not the age of one of Bridget Mary's parishioners. You must have me confused with a different Mike. You know, it is a very common name.
"You are on the wrong page dude !"
Cowabunga!
"For the record, I have not taught "liberation theology". "
You say so.
"I guess they need "tradition and scripture" to eliminate such crimes."
Tradition and scripture is definitely what is needed. Would you argue that it is worse than pedophilia and sexual deviance?
"You speak as if you have the King's authority."
One could say that, since I speak the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has impressed them upon me through the Holy Spirit. Spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Maybe you too would feel the presence of Christ for once in your life.
Mike --
Why are you so hateful? The venom in your computer is unbelievable!
Who appointed you judge, jury, and hangman?
How about everyone here goes to Confession and stops this nonsense?
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