Robert Shine,New Ways Ministry
An Illinois bishop has released
guidelines about same-gender marriages that may greatly restrict participation
in his diocese’s parishes by people in such marriages
Bishop
Thomas Paprocki of Springfield issued his “Same-Sex
Marriage Policies Decree 6-12-2017”
earlier this month, which instructs lesbian and gay Catholics along with
pastoral ministers on several aspects of ecclesial life.
Addressing the sacraments, Paprocki
said people in same-gender marriages should neither seek to receive nor be
admitted to Holy Communion because their relationships are of an “objectively
immoral nature.” Most strikingly, the bishop decreed about funeral rites:
“Unless they have given some signs of
repentance before their death, deceased persons who had lived openly in a same-sex
marriage giving public scandal to the faithful are to be deprived of
ecclesiastical funeral rites. In case of doubt, the proper pastor or parochial
administrator is to consult the local ordinary [bishop], whose judgment is to
be followed (cf. c. 1184).”
Further restrictions on people in
same-gender marriages include the following prohibitions:
- “[They]
are not to serve in a public liturgical ministry, including but not
limited to reader and extraordinary minister of Holy Communion”;
- “[They
may] not serve as a sponsor for the Sacraments of Baptism or
Confirmation”;
- “[They
are] not to be admitted to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
(RCIA) or receive the Sacrament of Confirmation unless he or she has
withdrawn from the objectively immoral relationship”.
Paprocki’s decree also includes
restrictions for pastoral ministers. No church worker, acting in a professional
capacity, may participate in same-gender weddings. No church properties may
host such weddings, and the bishop even forbids “items dedicated or blessed for
use in Catholic worship” from being used in such ceremonies. Church personnel
are also forbidden to bless same-gender marriages.
Pastors
are further instructed to accept children whose parents are in a same-gender
marriage for the Sacraments of Initiation, though pastors must use “due
discretion in determining the appropriateness of the public celebration of the
baptism.” Likewise, such children are to be admitted to Catholic schools and
religious education, but the family “must agree to abide by the Family School
Agreement.” To read more about that Agreement, which is LGBT-negative, click here.
Finally, the bishop threatened
pastoral ministers that a “culpable violation of any of these norms can be
punished with a just penalty.”
This
Decree is not entirely novel. Philadelphia’s Archbishop Charles Chaput sought
last summer to bar LGBT people from both Communion and liturgical ministries
in his restrictive pastoral guidelines. Elsewhere, Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit and former Archbishop John Myers of Newark both told LGBT Catholics and their
allies not receive Communion. What is notable about Paprocki’s guidelines is
its treatment of funeral rites and threat of punishment for pastoral ministers.
The
Decree is also not Bishop Paprocki’s first damaging act against LGBT people and
their families. Last year, he implicitly criticized Chicago’s
Archbishop Blase Cupich for suggesting that reception of Communion is to be
determined by each person according to their conscience. When Illinois passed
marriage equality in 2013, Paprocki held a public exorcism because
of the law, and had previously suggested that supporters of marriage equality
should be disciplined like children.
Beside
the obvious pastoral insensitivity, there are a few other things wrong with
Paprocki’s new guidelines. In canon law, Canon 1184,
which the bishop referenced in regard to funeral rites, says restrictions on
such rites should be imposed on “notorious apostates, heretics, and
schismatics,” those persons who are cremated for “reasons contrary to Christian
faith,” and “manifest sinners” whose funerals would be publicly scandalous.
It is discrimination to target LGBT
people when, in a certain sense, all Catholics could be deemed “manifest
sinners.” Who among us, including Bishop Paprocki, does not publicly sin at
different moments? Yet, funeral rites are not denied to Catholics who pay
employees an unjust wage, publicly advocate for the death penalty, or deny
climate change.
It is cruel to suggest that people
who have, by the dictates of their conscience, entered into same-gender
marriages should uniformly be equated with apostates and heretics.
Secondly, threatening Catholic
pastoral workers with a “just penalty” is improper for someone who is to be a
loving shepherd for the diocese. It borders on spiritual abuse to tell pastoral
ministers and LGBT Catholics that, should they adhere to a most fundamental
church teaching and follow their properly formed consciences, they could be
punished by ecclesiastical authorities.
In a moment when a growing number of
church leaders, led by Pope Francis, are opening doors to LGBT people and their
families, it is tragic that Bishop Paprocki has chosen to act so harmfully.
Despite his claims, it is the Decree itself which is the real scandal in this
incident.
PAT SAYS:
What planet are people like Popriki living on?
The traditional Catholic understanding of a funeral is that it is a ceremony to pray for the deceased and their eternal salvation.
If it is sinful to have a same sex union - as Poproki is suggesting - is it not more important that gay people are prayed for than anyone else.
Plus it is huge hypocrisy given that so many Catholic priests and bishops are living promiscuous gay lifestyles in the US, in the Vatican and around the world?
I am sure that there are plenty of clerical scandals in Poprocki's own diocese.
His instructions amounts to blatant homophobia and questions whether or not he is really a "Christian" at all!
My gay funeral will be FABULOUS and hosted in my Parish Church
ReplyDeleteGood for you!
DeleteWhy is the Church obsessed with Gay people in committed loving relationships. Why is there never a word about heterosexual couples 'co-habiting' and who continue against church teaching to have children outside of 'wedlock'. Will they also be denied a Church funeral?
ReplyDeleteA rule for one and a rule for another
Bishop Pat, this man is one of the useless ****** I sometimes refer to. Men like him are destroying the Body of Christ by casting God in their own image. And it is not just these men who are causing untold damage: it is those, too, who contribute financially to them and offer any kind of moral support.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have a little look at his internet browsing history... Might be most revealing!
ReplyDeleteI completely see the reason for his decree - banning gays from churches will prevent the embarrassment caused when tbe priest realises he's encountered one of the congregation the night before, in a truck stop.
ReplyDeletePaprocki's own mentality comes out very clearly - and he's seriously immature and incondiderate of others, distrusring of his ministers, wildly controlling, and the complete absence of compassion suggests that all his relations may lack emotional warmth. Perfect bishop material!
Ha ha ha Brilliance and wit. Perfect bedfellows (in a manner of speaking).
DeleteI guess the number of Episcopalians is set to rise in that diocese.
ReplyDeleteA lady told me that one Sunday her Episcopal parish's parking lot was overflowing with cars. Most were of disenchanted Catholics. Her priest told them that while he welcomed them he thought they should not run away from their own problems. The Episcopal church was full of controversies too. All was not perfect in Episcopalandia.
DeleteMost followed his advice.
The lady doth protest too much. I'd say that Bishop can't get enough of it God luv em
ReplyDeleteCardinal Keith O'Brien was one of the loudest opponents of gay people - publicly. He was forbidden from attending the last conclave.
ReplyDeleteArchbishop John Nienstedt was a vociferous opponent of gay liberation - publicly. As an auxiliary in Detroit, he cancelled Dignity Masses. In St Paul's-Minneapolis he opposed same-sex marriage. While he was still in office in 2014 it was announced he was under a non-criminal investigation by his diocese for "sexual misconduct with men." (The nuncio at the time Carlo Maria Vigano ordered Nienstedt's auxiliaries to destroy evidence. Nienstedt resigned in 2015.
In both cases the public adoption of a hard line in relation to gay people failed to deflect attention from their own lifestyles.
Paprocki rebuked Cardinal Cupich of Chicago who is a man in the style of Pope Francis, for his position on the role of conscience and the reception of Communion in the case of gay people.
Edmond Grace, an Irish Jesuit has written the following under the title "The marriage referendum: why I voted yes"
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jesuit.ie/blog/guest-blogger/the-marriage-referendum-why-i-voted-yes/
Excellent article.
DeleteRubbish and unjust attitude by the Bishop. Time for the public to show 2 fingers. You also point out that the alleged activity of some clergy is being ignored.
ReplyDeleteI guess this new edict would apply to the many Queens reading and contributing to this blog. Hypocrisy abounds. If you don't like it then arrange your funeral elsewhere - simple. Stop using the Church as a menu to pick and choose from
ReplyDeleteOoh get her
DeleteMenu to pick and choose from? Are you braindead? Those bastardos you idolize have been picking and choosing among Jesus' teachings since shortly after he took off for the celestial heights.
DeleteGrow up, idiot. Those bastardos set the example others are now following. They have no grounds whatever for whining self-pity.
I have read the big catechism. I used to be a secular Carmelite and know a bit about prayer. The section on prayer is excellent. I have been married for 43 years and know a little about sex. The section on sexuality is bad and deeply damaging. The church should keep to it's specialist subject. Celibates should be very careful when they go outside their expertise.
DeleteYeah sure,..and what about you? Gonna try Mastermind or what?
DeleteSo you have advice for celibates? - - Remind us again Jane, what did you say your two areas of expertise were? - -
DeleteI would not dream of advising celibates.
DeleteGood--a result!
DeleteMargaret, you too are good at picking and choosing what teachings of Jesus suit you. You choose to interpret literally one part of the Sermon on the Mount on killing and interpret as not to be taken literally where Jesus warned those who call their bros/sis "fool" that they will answer for it in hellfire.
DeleteJesus used the word 'fools!' of the Pharisees (Luke 11). If it's morally ok for JC to use it, then it is morally ok for everyone else.
DeleteYou're obviously not well versed in Scripture, are you?
No it is not! He is God! He makes the rules! WE KEEP THEM! How can God go to hell??? And He explicitly said if you call your brother a fool, you will answer for it in hell fire. So Maggie, you really need to cool your jets and tame your wicked old tongue, dont' you?
DeleteWhat an utterly absurd and pathetic piece of nonsense, Magna Carta!
DeleteOur Lord Jesus Christ can call "fools" whomsoever deserves it! And when God calls you a "fool", then you know you are in deep deep trouble!
God is not bound by morality because He is incapable of wrongdoing/sin. God is the Author of Morality which is for sinful creatures, like you and I, so that we live good lives and do not offend God, who is All-Holy and infinitely perfect.
By your words, you show yourself as lacking any awareness of the Absolute Sovereignty of Almighty God.
The Lord Jesus Christ, by telling us we will answer in hellfire for calling another person a fool, is strictly forbidding the contemptuous and abusive scorn you exhibit often towards your brothers and sisters. Have a word with yourself - as they say.
I've had this conversation with one or both of you morons before. You're obviously incapable of learning, or you're taking the piss. Either way, faic off, the pair of you.😆
DeleteYou couldn't answer their arguments then and you still can't, sure you can't, bastardo Carter? Fack away aff yerself.
DeletePlease exegete, then, MC, what Jesus meant when He said, "if you call your brother a fool you shall answer for it in hell fire". If it's not to be taken literally, what does it mean? Why did Jesus say it?
DeleteWow! You actually used the singular, 'bastardo' instead of the plural, 'bastardos'. And here was I thinking such an obvious moron as you wouldn't have a clue. Must have been pot luck, musn't it. Yes, of course it was.😆
Delete13:59, one final remark on the drivel you posted: if God 'is incapable of wrongdoing/sin', then he is a prisoner of his nature and is neither free nor able to exercise freewill. Such a god could not, therefore, have personhood, for he could not be a person. And yet, Christian theology expresses not singular, but trinitarian personhood of divinity.
DeleteWhere did you study theology? No! Wait!. You didn't study theology, did you?
Do yourself a favour: when you so obviously don't know what you are talking about, remain silent.
No Maggie, you're doing it wrong. Jesus is both fully God *and* fully man so both coexist at once. You are reducing the fullness of his divinity.
DeleteWhat you're saying is Arianism.
You wouldn't know what Arianism means, pet.
DeleteBy the way, the incarnate Christ came to be tempted in order to claim victory over evil. But for this to happen, there had to be the real possibility that God himself, in the person of his son, could be tempted to sin. Otherwise, temptation here just wouldn't have been temptation, now would it? As Peter says, 'he was tempted in every way that we are, but without sin'. This doesn't mean, sweetheart, that he couldn't sin, but that he CHOSE not to sin. And, crucially, that he had the strength (divine strength) to make these choices daily.
Oh, dear! All of this is going right over your little student's head, isn't it?
Oh, sweetheart! Your word, 'co-exist', is theologically incorrect here (it implies ontological separateness rather than fusion); in fact, it is heretical.
Delete(Oh, how I love schooling the ignorant. And boy! Are you ignorant?😆)
That quotation is from Hebrews, not Peter.
DeleteJust ignore him. He's an idiot. More than likely a homosexual himself and can't accept himself. Could also be acting out secretly like O'Brien, et al. King Canute comes to mind. Priests and people of that diocese should just ignore the jerk and tell to shove his "penalties" up his ass.
ReplyDelete10.12 Your the classic contributor that I refer to. If you don't like it you know what to do. Put up or shut up.
ReplyDeleteI thought you'd like him. You may disagree with his teaching but at least he is consistent. Your big complaint against the Irish church is that they are hypocrites, at least this bishop is consistent.
ReplyDeleteHow arrogant! Who would want to join at church which is so nasty and daming. Shame on him!
ReplyDeletePerhaps I could add to 10.09 s comment and say the church is not a restaurant and as far as I know apart from the last supper Jesus never stuck rigidly to a menu
ReplyDeleteGood to know you never stuck rigidly to the Priesthood let alone a menu. In future don't add on to any of my contributions (10.09).
DeleteSorry mate, you are deluding yourself to imagine you can decide who responds to you contributions - such as they are - and who can't.
DeleteThat's not the way blogs operate.
10.09 I didn't know you cared but you must agree anonymous is a common surname. Would you prefer not to reply to my comments. I can live with that
Delete"You're the classic contributor.." is the correct form.
ReplyDeleteAnd single quotation marks are the correct form. The two full stops you put after the word 'contributor' are an invention of your own. Don't tell me that 'we' have decided to use double quotation marks, because that means you are correcting others' spelling and punctuation while arbitrarily making up your own.
DeletePat, I suspect that this 'contributor' is one of your detractors, trying to make it look as if the people around you are barmy.
As a completely different poster, I say the 'contributer' -is not at all making people look barmy.. they can manage that very well by themselves--in your case anyway, ha ha ha! Best laugh I got all day
Delete@14:04
Delete"Contributor.." is the correct form
I agree with 11.06, the Bishop has proven to be sincere and consistent unlike others who make it up as they go along. People making up their own rules and being all things to all people.
ReplyDelete'People making up their own rules and being all things to all people.' I never cease to boggle at how many commentors on this blog can cognitively function despite obviously being braindead. The neurological textbooks will have to be urgently revised.
Delete11:46, you have described, to a tee, the very people you so clearly idolize: Roman Catholic bishops. From the early centuries of the Church, these Christ-betraying ****** have made up their own 'rules' in a spirit of compromise with the world and for their own convenience and security from the 'cross'.
'People making up their own rules and being all things to all people.' I never cease to boggle at how many commentors on this blog can cognitively function despite obviously being braindead. The neurological textbooks will have to be urgently revised.
Delete11:46, you have described, to a tee, the very people you so clearly idolize: Roman Catholic bishops. From the early centuries of the Church, these Christ-betraying ****** have made up their own 'rules' in a spirit of compromise with the world and for their own convenience and security from the 'cross'.
Paprocki held a service of exorcism which he called
ReplyDelete“Prayers of Supplication and Exorcism in Reparation for the Sin of Same-Sex Marriage.”
In announcing the event, he called gay marriage a tool of the devil designed to confuse and destroy families.
Shades of bishops mentioned above.
What an incredible load or comments. There seems an inability to accept that this Bishop is acting in good conscience and is providing clear guidance for his diocese. Comments like ;I'd love to see his internet browsing history' tell us far more about the person posting than about the bishop.
ReplyDeleteGay people will just have to accept that no matter what piece of paper the state is prepared to issue them with their situation before God is objectively immoral and can never be sanctioned by the church. That is not to say that individuals can sometimes repent, and they will always be welcomed. So leave the good bishop alone, he is ministering according to the mind of the church.
The "situation" of the Roman Catholic institution in far more immoral that the situation of most gay people.
DeleteThe RC thing is a tool and a cooperator over Evil in so many ways!
How do you know he's acting 'in good conscience'? Has he told you? Are you he? Or is your imagination taking you for a walk?
DeleteActing in good conscience is no guarantee of acting morally, you ass. Paul the Apostle believed he acted in good conscience when he oversaw the stoning of Stephen. (Paul's defence before the Herodian king, Agrippa, actually implies that he was involved in other such killings.)
Paul repented of his murderous past. Will this American asshole repent of his? ( Yes, 'murderous past', because he will murder the faith of some, perhaps many.)
Yes his 'exorcism' proves his true perspective, which is to invalidate gays, it is NOT to affirm Catholic teaching.
DeleteHis only consistency in this diatribe is consistently to say 'no no no no, or be punished'.
No attempt to educate the consciences of his clergy and laity in the light of Catholic teaching, just a telling off. He is treating his flock like school children and acting like the oldest boy in the school who has been made a prefect.
The problem with this decree is not that he is acting in accordance with Catholic orthodoxy but that it shows his attitude to his flock and his idea of his role.
Perhaps at the very least he could get some advice on how to publish stuff without coming across as a little Hitler.
After fifteen years as Bishop of Springfield, Daniel Ryan resigned on October 19, 1999.[2] In 2002 there were new allegations that Ryan had solicited sex from a teenaged boy in 1984, but the Sangamon County state's attorney could not prosecute because the statute of limitations had expired.[3] Having continued to administer Confirmation and celebrate Mass, he voluntarily agreed to suspend his public ministry.[4] In 2006 an investigative report declared that Ryan "engaged in improper sexual conduct and used his office to conceal his activities" and fostered "a culture of secrecy...that discouraged faithful priests from coming forward with information about misconduct" by other clergy in the diocese.[7]He resided at a senior living facility inNaperville, Illinois.[4] Ryan died on December 31, 2015.[8]
ReplyDeleteDid Paprocki refuse him a Christian burial?
ReplyDelete"There were no immediate plans for a funeral Mass. Ryan donated his body to science, a source confirmed."
DeletePoproki did pray for God's mercy on Bishop Ryan.
What is wrong with Fr Michael Dempsey who has been assistant chaplain at the RVH? He has been in hospital there for the past 11 months very ill. We were asked to pray for him at the Clonard Novena. When people asked if they could visit him we were told that because of the nature of his illness no visitors were allowed. He has been a good chaplain to all.
ReplyDeleteHe is a truly wonderful gentleman, who faithfully lives out the Redemptorist Charism. God grant him a speedy recovery.
DeletePat would it be possible to find out where is Right Rev Cuthbert Madden abbot of Ampleforth. I know there was some scandels at ampleforth being investigated at the end of 2016. We heard in April no further action was being taken. So where is the Abbot. I was at an Ordination in Ampleforth earlier in the month , he wasnt there , an ordination is probaly one of the biggest events in the abbey and he was missing still. the Prior of the abbey stood in place. So where is he? where is he hiding? there was at a time mentioned he was a bishop in waiting for a diocese , is this now gone/
ReplyDeleteDom Cuthbert has stepped aside from his duties while the police investigate allegations of sexual abuse, which he denies. It is a point of fact though that since 1996 three Ampleforth monks and a lay teacher have convicted of sex offences.
DeleteLast November, the North Yorkshire Constabulory announced that no action was to be taken in regard to the Abbot of Ampleforth.
DeleteBishop Pat, any further news from Galway and Clonfert Re: Byrnes and Geraghty
ReplyDeleteAny word on the priest in the De La Salle Case? And what the action taken was?
ReplyDeleteThe dogs in the street know about the Cork religious order guy where no action was taken. Like Paprocki, his profile is ultra-Catholic. And like O'Brien, the skeletons are already out of the cupboard.
He now resides in a building that houses a secondary school.
DeleteIs that fact concealed from the school authorities - board, headteacher, parents council?
DeleteAround the time of the appointment a number of anonymous letters were sent concerning this matter. They were sent to the school principal, his superiors and the local bishop amount others.
DeleteNulty appointed him curate of the local parish with his provincials approval, which of course means interaction with the parish schools.
DeleteThat wouldn't happen to be the same secondary college that had a peado headmaster would it?
DeleteThe very same.
DeleteJoke: what does a religous order do when they get a complaint from a secondery school about one of their priest's?
They send him to live in a secondery school!
O wait that's not actually funny.
what stipend do you normally get to say a mass
ReplyDeleteAnd what did you eat for your breakfast and when did you last change your.. Not that we'd dream of being too personal and intrusive of course!
ReplyDeleteHopefully, we'll soon get back to the serious business of... scandal.
ReplyDeleteObviously this news item is a fake: the real Springfield doesn't have a cathedral - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Springfield_(The_Simpsons)
ReplyDeletePerhaps the fallout from the nuclear reactor has gone to this man's head?
At this point in life....death.... it doesn't really matter if me or you has a Catholic funeral
ReplyDeleteWe are dead at this stage....nothing matters anymore
Funerals are all about money...wouldn't you agree ??????????
Pat, any word on the priest in the De La Salle affair?
ReplyDeleteJust a few years ago, the actions of this Bishop wouldn't have raised an eyebrow inside or outside the Church because that is what it teaches. When did the teaching change? It didn't. God bless him. (EL)
ReplyDeleteCatechetically, 'the Church' teaches absolutely none of the things you stupidly claimed.
DeleteWhere does it teach that gay people should be denied Catholic burial?
Where does it teach that gay people should not be allowed to read liturgically at Mass?
Where does it teach that gay people should both be denied reception of the Eucharist and the dispensing of it?
And so on.
These prohibitions are purely the expression of one man's vindictiveness (and, quite possibly, an indicator of his own closeted, self-loathing homosexuality ).
What planet is this Bishop Paprocki living on. 50% of the priests are gay anyway. He's best described as a sad individual. Unfortunately his position will harm and hurt many people and some will take their own lives.
ReplyDelete