Archbishop Harry Flynn of Minneapolis gave an interview to his local paper and was asked about the Rainbow Sash-ayers, and changing his mind on denying them Communion.
In the beginning, when I heard from the Rainbow Sash people, they indicated to me that they were not challenging church teaching. They were only doing this to let other people know that there were gays and lesbians who coexisted with them. They were not challenging the teaching of the church on human sexuality. Last year it began to change. The cry became, ‘We’re doing this to defy church teachings so that the church will change its teaching on homosexual relationships,’ which it won’t. In the meantime, I had discussions with the Vatican. I would not be able to let someone who is openly defying church teaching at the same time receive the eucharist and use that reception of the eucharist as a point of protest.
They may have told him that they were not challenging Church teaching, but that’s complete poppycock. Right from the beginning of these Pentecost Sunday protests, that’s what this has been about: protesting Church teaching. Did he bother to do any research or have one of his people do any research on them? Why did he think other people, like the Ushers of the Eucharist, were up in arms? Either Archbishop Flynn is spinning us or he was derelict in his duty.
On whether there will be any repercussions for St. Joan of Arc, where sash-wearers continue to receive communion:
“I’d rather not get into that today.”
Or ever, I bet. Like usual in many dioceses, there will be official head-wagging, an unofficial tut-tut to the pastor, and then nothing else. I’d love to be surprised.
[Thanks to Amy]
I’d have to agree with you, Dom, that the old weak sister responce is the most likely one, but I get a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach that things are really going to change. We’ll soon see.
So I guess we are to believe either that he is really really stupid or a liar. I guess charity demands that we believe he is really really stupid.
Please, please, replace “the sun shown for all to see” with “the sun shone for all to see”. Our poor verbally impaired president takes enough grief for the mistakes he makes himself, don’t credit him with yours!
It wasn’t my mistake, but the White House’s. I’ve fixed it.
My favorite part of the interview was where Bp Flynn advocated higher taxes because he had extra money and wanted to be able to use it to help a single mother. I guess it never occurred to him to give the money directly or through a Catholic charity—no, it must go through the government in the form of higher taxes!
“In the meantime, I had discussions with the Vatican. I would not be able to let someone who is openly defying church teaching at the same time receive the eucharist and use that reception of the eucharist as a point of protest.”
Early on in my career a manager told me not to be transparent. For example, if a manager makes a decision, don’t say to others “I’m doing it this way because my manager told me to do it this wayrishes offer it twice a day, with long lines), more young adult/young Catholic groups and activities, more Catholic media (EWTN over the air, Relevant Radio)—seriously, outside of Rome itself, I can’t picture a better place for a Catholic to live and be supported in faith.
So—though many of us get frustrated with Abp. Flynn, and strongly disagree with some of his decisions, we obey, and we are satisfied, because A) he is our bishop and B) “You shall know it by its fruits” and the fruits across the Archdiocese (outside of a few pockets of madness) are GOOD.
Plus—he probably didn’t want to talk about St. Joan of Arc because the current pastor there is “retiring” as of July 1st, and the new pastor has not been announced yet – once the new pastor is announced, then perhaps he will be ready to “talk” about it.
He doesnnt_content>Very nice! It will be intresting to see what the affect on American politics will be if BXVI really inspirs our bishops to inforce the dogmas and teachings of the Church in their sees in an effective way.