Cardinal Mahony Welcomes the Rainbow Sash Movement to Communion
Sept 10, 2004
Cardinal Mahony of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has notified the Rainbow Sash Movement that his Cathedral will welcome Rainbow Sash Members as part of the Catholic Family to his Cathedral, and when RSM members present themselves for Communion they will receive It.
(PRNewswire, 26 May 2004) The Rainbow Sash Movement (RSM) is deeply saddened by the response of Francis Cardinal George to the presence of gay and lesbian Catholics at the Cathedral for Pentecost Sunday, May 30, 2004 at 12:30PM. In wearing the Rainbow Sash we call Cardinal George to honor our experience, we continue to call on him to honor his commitment to Rainbow Sash Movement for ongoing public dialogue, and to work with us for justice and understanding.
Cardinal Mahony of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has notified the Rainbow Sash Movement that his Cathedral will welcome Rainbow Sash Members as part of the Catholic Family to his Cathedral, and when RSM members present themselves for Communion they will receive It.
It saddens us to have to say Cardinal George no more understands us, than he does the gay and lesbian Catholic Community, as is exampled by his letter to all his pastors to promote Discrimination of Gay and Lesbian Catholics at the Eucharistic table. To instruct his parish pastors to judge people at the alter rail, and deny them Communion lacks pastoral awareness, as is emphasized by the Church's Teaching on the "Primacy of Conscience." Going to church and receiving Communion is a personal act of faith and we don't think it is good judgment to turn it into a tool of confrontation at the altar rail.
Cardinals George and Mahony both support the Teaching of the Catholic Church, however, one promotes discrimination at the Eucharistic table, and the other does not.
The Rainbow Sash Movement will be entering Churches and Cathedrals around the country on Pentecost as a sign of the universality of the Church. This universality includes gays and lesbians, and gay and lesbian families. We thank Cardinal Mahony for welcoming us.
Cardinal Mahony Welcomes the Rainbow Sash Movement to Communion