Openly gay Eucharistic Minister?

[blessedtoo]

I tried to avoid any specific details in my OP, but since many are speculating, I thought I would share more. A year ago, a full page was dedicated in our parish bulletin to a gay couple that are parishioners and wanted to share their story about how much they love the parish. One of the men moved to our area to be with the other. He said in the bulletin that where he was moving from, “Some people knew me as gay, but many didn’t. Here, [we] were a couple, and I was determined not to lie about who I am or conceal that.”

The bulletin was upsetting in its own right. But I hadn’t ever seen the “couple” until Mass on Sunday, when I recognized one (from the picture of the two of them in the bulletin) as an EMHC.

Is it OK for this to be promoted in a parish? If not, what should be done about it? (Please, no witch-hunt answers, thank you.)

No, it is not OK to promote homosexual partnerships through the Church bulletin. Your Parish should not be showcasing this “relationship” and posturing it as acceptable, which it certainly is by intentionally including his comment that you quoted above. It is in direct opposition to Church teaching. Regardless of whether the couple specifically states that they are engaging in homosexual behavior, they have provided enough information to, at the very least, confuse the faithful.

Please read the USCCB document on :Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination

 

[dandn5000]

Whatever he’s got on his hands(especially considering that at least in my parish,** all EMHC’s wash their hands right before receiving Communion)** can’t be any worse than what’s on any other EMHC’s hands.

I have never seen this occur in the parishes near me…

Another reason to stop this practice…

pax

What does whether or not the EHMC’s wash their hands before they receive and then distribute the Eucharist have to do with the debate between whether or not to have EMHC’s?

Forgive me if I come off as condescending, I’m trying to understand your position. I don’t see what is wrong with this practice. Before they approach the altar after the Agnus Dei, they stop at the credence table where there’s a bottle of hand sanitizer. Each EMHC takes a small squirt, so as to dry quickly, rubs it in, and approaches the altar. Not only does this prevent the passing of various infections, but I see it as a good symbolic gesture as well - they want to ensure that their hands are clean before handling the Lord, much like we go to Purgatory after death to ensure our souls are clean before entering the eternal presence of the Lord.

 

[ncguy]

No, it is not OK to promote homosexual partnerships through the Church bulletin. Your Parish should not be showcasing this “relationship” and posturing it as acceptable, which it certainly is by intentionally including his comment that you quoted above. It is in direct opposition to Church teaching. Regardless of whether the couple specifically states that they are engaging in homosexual behavior, they have provided enough information to, at the very least, confuse the faithful.

So it’s not ok. What do you do when the pastor says it’s fine?

 

[japhy]

So it’s not ok. What do you do when the pastor says it’s fine?

Report the pastor to the bishop. Your pastor is supposed to a pastor of souls. Calling homosexual acts ok and praising them in your parish bulletin is not going to help save souls.

When are we going to read “Welcome our new threesome: …” in the bulletin?

 

[ncguy]

Report the pastor to the bishop. Your pastor is supposed to a pastor of souls. Calling homosexual acts ok and praising them in your parish bulletin is not going to help save souls.

When are we going to read “Welcome our new threesome: …” in the bulletin?

My pastor said, “Nowhere in the bulletin did it say they were engaging in homosexual acts.”

 

[japhy]

My pastor said, “Nowhere in the bulletin did it say they were engaging in homosexual acts.”

Well, I suppose if they haven’t admitted to being practicing homosexuals, there’s nothing you can say about it for certain. There’s certainly cause for confusion: an openly gay couple… what does that mean? Someone could assume it means they’re actively gay, and the Church does not approve of that. Perhaps your pastor would prefer not to know.

 

[NetNuncio]

My pastor said, “Nowhere in the bulletin did it say they were engaging in homosexual acts.”

That is, perhaps, the dumbest cop-out on the face of the planet.

That’s like telling your son to go out and get the mail, but he keeps running into the front door because you didn’t tell him to open it first…some things are just obvious.

 

[Nordar]

I have some bad news for you. I’ve worked in parishes and been in rectorys for a long time - and I’ve been close with many priests. Many of them are gay. I’m sorry - this is a fairly well known fact. And if you think all of them are living chaste - well, never mind, I’ll let you live your fantasy.

Extraordinary ministers are really a scapegoat for this issue.

Why the need to bold the sentence that I wrote about having a problem with EM’s. That is my opinion, you do not agree fine, What does the fact that you say many priests are gay have to do with anything? Did I say anything about who was or who was not living a chaste life? I don’t believe so, what I said was that anyone having the honor to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ should not be in mortal sin. Does that mean some are not in mortal sin? nope.
How do you figure EM’s are scapegoats here? Are they exempt from commiting a sacriledge if they are in mortal sin?

 

[ncguy]

That is, perhaps, the dumbest cop-out on the face of the planet.

Perhaps. Still, that was his answer.

 

[Cristiano]

Why the need to bold the sentence that I wrote about having a problem with EM’s. That is my opinion, you do not agree fine, What does the fact that you say many priests are gay have to do with anything? Did I say anything about who was or who was not living a chaste life? I don’t believe so, what I said was that anyone having the honor to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ should not be in mortal sin. Does that mean some are not in mortal sin? nope.
How do you figure EM’s are scapegoats here? Are they exempt from commiting a sacriledge if they are in mortal sin?

I understand the sacrilege of receiving communion in a state of mortal sin; however can you show to me how it is a sacrilege to distribute communion in a state of mortal sin?

 

[buffalo]

I understand the sacrilege of receiving communion in a state of mortal sin; however can you show to me how it is a sacrilege to distribute communion in a state of mortal sin?

I have never seen an EMHC not receive Communion. They could well be in mortal sin receiving which profanes the Eucharist. So too would distributing it.

 

[Grace_Angel]

At Mass on Sunday, I noticed one of the Eucharistic Ministers was someone who is openly gay (lives with his “partner”). Should I say something to someone (the pastor knows)? Should I just go to a different line for Communion? Should I not be concerned because we’re all sinners? Any responses would be appreciated.

NCGuy,
whilst the other responses you have received are telling you not to be judgemental and to mind your own business I tend not to agree with them. You seem pretty clear that the EM is “openly gay” meaning that it is known that he is gay and that he is sharing a residence with his gay partner. THIS IS PROFANING THE SACRED BODY OF CHRIST. This is already giving scandal. This is reminiscent of the visuals of the gay Episcopalian Bishop being installed with his male “partner” present. NO. No. NO. active homosexuality and parading this practice is still very sinful. We need to call sin sin. Please stop this nonsense.
If the EM wants to live a certain lifestyle, so be it. However, his/her lifestyle is not to cause scandal.He is trying to give ligitimacy to his union. what he does is important. this EM is causing scandal and devaluing the Eucharistic Body of the Lord.
Stop this political correctness.
And yes, you do need to speak to your priest as a courtesy and if nothing happens with the priest (I suspect he already knows) then the Bishop/Archbishop/Cardinal needs to be made aware of the situation.
GraceAngel.

 

[Nordar]

I understand the sacrilege of receiving communion in a state of mortal sin; however can you show to me how it is a sacrilege to distribute communion in a state of mortal sin?

Oh Brother, I didn’t say it was a sacrilegs to distribute communion,. But usually at least in most Catholic Churchs the EM’s recieve communion before they distribute it. So therefore if they are in mortal sin just like anyone else who is in mortal sin it would be a sacrilege.

 

[Pax_Vobiscum_57]

Such as not living with someone to whom they are not married.

Like monks or nuns in a religious community?

Forgive me for not wading through the pages of replies, but either you are extremely naive, or wearing blinders. You are comparing apples to oranges. Anyone who openly introduces another as his/her partner is not worried about “innuendo.” You as well as everyone else here know what that means. Br. Rich is right. It is up to the priest to make sure that the EMHC is a Catholic in good standing with the Church. Anyone who excommunicates himself should not be receiving the Eucharist, much less distributing the Eucharist.

 

[bpbasilphx]

**
If the EMCH has introducted the other person as a “partner” then there is an admission of sexual activity and it should be condemmed.**

Non sequitur. All it means is that they are sharing their lives, not necessarily their bodies.

 

[palmas85]

**
Quote:
Originally Posted by bpbasilphx View Post
Such as not living with someone to whom they are not married.

Like monks or nuns in a religious community?
Most ordinary people know what I mean.**

Please be specific and say which canon forbids two people of the same sex from sharing a domicile.

I don’t believe it to be prohibited at all.

BUT

I would put the case at hand, of an openly gay man living with as stated HIS PARTNER to be roughly the same as a heterosexual couple living together.
Now I know that it is probably possible that a couple can live together without having sexual relations
**
BUT**

Those cases would be few and far between for both groups.

But I think you already know that.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

How about an EM who practices birth control and thinks it is OK?
Yep they do exist.

And they openly and publicly advocate for ABC or worse Abortion! No they should not be in this ministry.

 

[blessedtoo]

So it’s not ok. What do you do when the pastor says it’s fine?

My friend,
Take a copy of the document I provided to your pastor. Here is the specific part that deals with your issue:

Persons who experience same-sex attraction and yet are living in accord with Church teaching should be encouraged to take an active role in the life of the faith community. However, the Church has a right to deny roles of service to those whose behavior violates her teaching. Such service may seem to condone an immoral lifestyle and may even be an occasion of scandal.
Special care ought to be taken to ensure that those carrying out the ministry of the Church not use their position of leadership to advocate positions or behaviors not in keeping with the teachings of the Church. They must not belong to groups that oppose Church teaching.** It is not sufficient for those involved in this ministry to adopt a position of distant neutrality with regard to Church teaching.**36

For some persons, revealing their homosexual tendencies to certain close friends, family members, a spiritual director, confessor, or members of a Church support group may provide some spiritual and emotional help and aid them in their growth in
the Christian life.** In the context of parish life, however, general public selfdisclosures are not helpful and should not be encouraged.**

Persons with a homosexual inclination should not be encouraged to define themselves primarily in terms of their sexual inclination, however, or to participate in “gay subcultures,” which often tend to promote immoral lifestyles.

All ministry to persons with a homosexual inclination must be guided by Church teaching on sexuality. The basis of this ministry, if it is to be effective, has to be a true understanding of
the human person and of the place of sexuality in human life. “Departure from the Church’s teaching, or silence about it, in an effort to provide pastoral care is neither caring nor pastoral.”30
Love and truth go together. The Sacred Scriptures tell us that the way to grow more Christ-like is by “living the truth in love” (Eph 4:15). The Church cannot support organizations or individuals
**whose work contradicts, is ambiguous about, or neglects her teaching on sexuality.**31

 

[Cristiano]

I have never seen an EMHC not receive Communion. They could well be in mortal sin receiving which profanes the Eucharist. So too would distributing it.

Oh Brother, I didn’t say it was a sacrilegs to distribute communion,. But usually at least in most Catholic Churchs the EM’s recieve communion before they distribute it. So therefore if they are in mortal sin just like anyone else who is in mortal sin it would be a sacrilege.

EMHCs do not only serve at Mass but often they also have the responsibility to bring communion to the home bound. In some cases that it is their only activity and sometime they may not have confession available before bringing Communion to the sick.

 

[Nordar]

EMHCs do not only serve at Mass but often they also have the responsibility to bring communion to the home bound. In some cases that it is their only activity and sometime they may not have confession available before bringing Communion to the sick.

And your point is? again what does that have to do with anything?

I think everyone is well aware of this fact, it does not negate the fact that EM’s in mortal sin should not be taking communion or distributing the Body and Blood of Christ. If confession is not available and they are in mortal sin they should not be distributing it. As Buffalo said it profanes The Eucharist, any EM who distributes/handles the Eucharist while knowingly in mortal sin does not understand the awesome honor it is to be allowed to do so. Nor do they fully understand it IS The Body and Blood of Christ.