Priest Who Denied Communion to Lesbian Punished by His Bishop

[Dawn Marie]

La Terreur of the Church in America
Fr. Marcel (!) Guarnizo receives gift from Chancery

Father Marcel Guarnizo

Speaking of persecution during the French Revolution (cf. Rorate Caeli, Open thread: Book suggestions for Lent), is it our impression or does it seem that some dioceses in America are repeatedly acting against priests who do their priestly duties merely due to what amounts to a pseudo-canonical version of the Law of Suspects?

We have resisted speaking of the Fr. Marcel (first name watch!) Guarnizo affair, mostly because we have not been able to hear directly his side of what happened in that fateful funeral Ordinary Mass for which he became a name well known in America and around the world.

But, as unclear as things may seem, why does the Diocesan Law of Suspects appear to weigh in only regarding conscientious priests?'

 

 

The Church cannot go on like this, leaving scandalous heterodox priests in place while rigorous and stern orthodox priests are "prohibited from exercising any priestly ministry" when, even according to the most partial reports, the worst thing of which they can be accused is a slightly imprudent action. Until when will the Jacobins rule over the Washington Archdiocese?

On the good side, a Priest true to his heart and to his mission will never fear injustice and persecution: so the Chancery Jacobins are providing Fr. Guarnizo with a wonderful Lenten present. Sacrifice is a priest's life and call. [Tip: Abbey roads]

SOURCE RORATE CAELI

[Cathleen]

Prayers for Fr. Guarnizo. 

[Dawn Marie]

Throwing priests and bishops and in some cases even the laity under the bus to appease the world seems to be the preferred method of our day.

Prayers for this poor priest.

I've added his name to our prayers for priests.  May Our Lord and His Holy Mother sustain him in this trial.

[Dawn Marie]

Priest who denied communion to lesbian stripped of priestly faculties

by Christine Dhanagom
source Lifesite news

GAITHERSBURG, March 12, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Maryland priest who denied communion to a lesbian at her mother’s funeral is being “placed on administrative leave,” meaning he will not be able to exercise his priestly faculties, according to a letter from the Archdiocese signed by auxiliary Bishop Barry Knestout.

Fr. Marcel Guarnizo was previously censuredby the Archdiocese after denying communion to Barbara Johnson, who had reportedly introduced her lesbian “lover” to the priest in the sacristy right before her mother’s funeral Mass.

Fr. Marcel Guarnizo

According toa source close to the incident who spoke with LifeSiteNews, Johnson’s lesbian lover physically blocked Fr. Guarnizo from speaking further with Johnson when she abruptly left the sacristy following this introduction. When Johnson presented herself for Communion, the priest refused to give it to her, although she ended up receiving from an extraordinary minister. It was later revealed that Johnson is also a Buddhist.

The Archdiocese issued an apology to Johnson and said that Fr. Guarnizo’s actions were “against policy” and that an investigation was underway.

Click “like” if you want to defend true marriage.

This past weekend’s letter from Bishop Knestout suspending Fr. Guarnizo was read at all Sunday Masses at St. John Neumann parish in Gaithersburg, where Fr. Guarnizo has been serving since last March, and where the incident occurred.

Bishop Knestout alleges in the letter that he has “received credible allegations that Father Guarnizo has engaged in intimidating behavior toward parish staff and others that is incompatible with proper priestly ministry.”

The letter adds: “Given the grave nature of these allegations, and in light of the confusion in the parish and the concerns expressed by parishioners, Father Guarnizo is prohibited from exercising any priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington until all matters can be appropriately resolved with the hope that he might return to priestly ministry.”

According to a report in the Washington Post, the letter was read out loud by the church’s pastor, Fr. Thomas LaHood, who also elaborated further on the situation.

Fr. LaHood claimed that the removal was not due to the incident with Johnson, but rather that it “pertains to actions over the past week or two.”

“I realize this letter is hard to hear. Please keep mind that this is a first [sic] personnel issue, dealing with issues of ministry in the church. Father Guarnizo will have every opportunity to present his position,” he added, according to the Post.

[Cathleen]

May Our Heavenly Mother help him to stand strong in this. 

So much of this just rankles me....grrr!  grrr! 

That "woman" was just out to cause trouble.  And SHE is the one who the Archdiocese officials fawn over?!   Grr!  Grr!

Many prayers for Fr. Guarnizo.