"Barbara Johnson and members of her family want the Archdiocese of Washington to remove a priest at a Gaithersburg church from his ministry duties. Johnson, an art-studio owner from the District, had come to St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Gaithersburg with her lesbian partner. The Rev. Marcel Guarnizo had learned of their relationship just before the service.
“He put his hand over the body of Christ and looked at me and said, ‘I can’t
give you Communion because you live with a woman, and in the eyes of the church,
that is a sin,’ ” she recalled Tuesday.
She reacted with stunned silence. Her anger and outrage have now led her and members of her family to demand that Guarnizo be removed from his ministry.
Family members said the priest left the altar while Johnson, 51, was delivering a eulogy and did not attend the burial or find another priest to be there...."
Bridget Mary' Reflection:
We have a reached a new low in the institutional Roman Catholic Church. The refusal of Rev. Marcel Guarnizo contradicts Jesus' words and example. Jesus, who wept with Martha and Mary when Lazarus died, would weep at the treatment of Barbara Johnson by this parish priest. Jesus invited all to come to him, he did not say except gays and lesbians! It is disgraceful to refuse communion to anyone, anytime, period! That is why women priests are attracting more and more justice seeking Catholics in our inclusive communities where everyone is welcome to receive sacraments at all our liturgies and sacramental celebrations.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org
sofiabmm@aol.com
Excellent article by Mary Hunt:
She reacted with stunned silence. Her anger and outrage have now led her and members of her family to demand that Guarnizo be removed from his ministry.
Family members said the priest left the altar while Johnson, 51, was delivering a eulogy and did not attend the burial or find another priest to be there...."
Bridget Mary' Reflection:
We have a reached a new low in the institutional Roman Catholic Church. The refusal of Rev. Marcel Guarnizo contradicts Jesus' words and example. Jesus, who wept with Martha and Mary when Lazarus died, would weep at the treatment of Barbara Johnson by this parish priest. Jesus invited all to come to him, he did not say except gays and lesbians! It is disgraceful to refuse communion to anyone, anytime, period! That is why women priests are attracting more and more justice seeking Catholics in our inclusive communities where everyone is welcome to receive sacraments at all our liturgies and sacramental celebrations.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org
sofiabmm@aol.com
Excellent article by Mary Hunt:
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