Homosexuality -19
Sydney´s archbishop pell on communion for open homosexuals
Path to Heaven
Does Not Lie in Reinterpreting What Is Right and Wrong
SYDNEY, Australia,
MAY 25, 2002 (Zenit.org).- Catholic Archbishop George Pell drew wide media
attention when on Pentecost Sunday he refused to give Communion to openly
homosexual and lesbian activists of the Rainbow Sash movement.
Here,
ZENIT offers his complete statement on the issue of homosexuals who request Holy
Communion.
* * *
Statement by the Catholic Archbishop of
Sydney,
Dr George Pell,
addressing the issue of homosexuals
who request
Holy Communion.
"The Catholic Church offers good will to all sections of
society and offers the promise of prayer and practical help where possible. We
pray in particular for those in prisons not of their own making and for those
who can only struggle slowly towards the truth.
"While I accept that
people may hold views on the appropriate expression of their sexual life and
identity which differ from the Church´s teachings, I deeply regret that such
people -- who profess the Catholic faith -- would choose to mount an ideological
demonstration during Mass, and especially at Communion time. This is
inappropriate.
"Receiving the sacrament is the ultimate expression of our
Catholic faith, an intensely personal matter between communicant and Almighty
God. An unworthy communion, wilfully made, is a serious matter.
"It´s not
a question of refusing homosexuals or someone who is homosexually oriented.
Sexual orientation is morally irrelevant. The rule is basically the same for all
Catholics.
"A person who publicly defines himself at any given time as
supporting or practising activities contrary to Church teaching in a serious
matter is not entitled to receive Holy Communion.
"This would apply, for
example, to a married person openly living in or advocating adultery. Similarly,
persons who openly declare that active homosexuals should be able to receive
Communion take a position which is contrary to the teaching and discipline of
the Universal Church.
"Also, a person who is not a member of the Catholic
Church has no right to Catholic communion, except in exceptional
circumstances.
"The Church´s view on sexuality I have explained many
times before. It is clear and unequivocal, and derives from natural moral law,
which we believe is unchanging. Such moral law governs all people everywhere, in
precisely the same way, regardless of the circumstances under which they live.
God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve and important consequences follow from
this.
"I do not seek these confrontations and I rarely speak publicly on
these matters. However, this incident allows me to explain the centrality of the
Catholic teaching on marriage and family. I will continue to dialogue privately
and publicly with those who think differently. Our Judeo-Christian religious
tradition allows men and women sexual expression within the bounds of family
life, a sexuality which is life-giving. Homosexual acts are contrary to the
natural law; they close the sexual act to the gift of life. These teachings are
givens from our Christian point of view.
"We have had these protests
before. Probably they will be with us for quite a time yet. I will pray for the
protesters. I do not promise to speak publicly on the theme at every protest.
But the protesters must realise that the Church´s teaching on this matter
cannot, will not, change.
"Although human weakness is universal and God´s
mercy infinite, the path to happiness and heaven for a Catholic does not lie in
seeking to re-interpret what is right and wrong.
"Rather, one should
commit oneself, in good faith, to the Church and its teachings and work towards
following these teachings as closely as possible."
George
Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
19 May, 2002
[original text released
by Sydney Archbishop]
ZE02052501
