 |
 |
| Bishop Gerald Gettelfinger was one of 250 American bishops who
attended meetings this week in Washington. Gay protesters held vigils outside
their meetings, calling for the Catholic Church to show greater compassion toward
gay people. (Photo by Rudy K. Lawidjaja)
|
|
|
| | |
| |
|
|
| | |
HOME > NEWS > NATIONAL NEWS
By: ADRIAN BRUNE COMMENTS
 
continued...
in front of the Hyatt.
Before the plenary mass that evening, which celebrated the 25th anniversary
of the U.S. Bishops’ pastoral denouncement of racism, Speltz arranged
to see Msgr. Rossi, the priest who refused communion to three Soulforce Catholics,
including Speltz, in 2002.
Though Rossi has changed his view of the rainbow cross to a symbolic “affirmation
of faith” he remained firm on the sashes: No communion for those who wore
them.
“The Eucharist is a moment of community and a sign of our unity,”
said Susan Gibbs, the spokesperson for Washington, D.C. Archbishop Theodore
Cardinal McCarrick. “We have all come together to celebrate Christ above
all else. It’s not an appropriate place to break that communion.
“It also doesn’t get their message across to disrupt mass; it turns
people away from their message.”
With diminished momentum, Soulforce continued its silent vigils through Tuesday
and then Wednesday.
Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit, gay Catholics’ sole visible
ally, came out to greet the demonstrators, as did one other unidentified bishop.
But other bishops responded to them with downward stares and furtive glances.
Occasionally, a support staff member or hotel guest confronted them, mentioning
either the sin of Sodom or a psyche ward.
When asked how they regard gay Catholics only two answered.
“I see them as sons and daughters of God. I operate from that point of
view,” said Bishop J. Terry Stein or Memphis, Tenn. “I pray for
their welfare and ensure that as members of the church they are given their
dignity.”
| 
