Wednesday, February 29, 2012

+Wuerl Chancery Issues Cowardly Apology in Face of Media Frenzy

Edit:  the days when the American Church could be counted upon to withstand public opinion seem far away.  Many prelates will use public opinion to their advantage, but when it really comes to defending the Sanctity of the things they're sworn to defend, they cower like hirelings before the baying of the wolves that are threatening the flock.

Here's how it's going to play itself out, more or less: the next step will be to summon Father Guanizo for a meeting where he will be expected to apologize, and he'll be expected to undergo counselling as well while the Diocese considers his suitability for future ministry.

“You brought your politics, not your God into that Church yesterday, and you will pay dearly on the day of judgment for judging me,” she wrote in a letter to Guarnizo. “I will pray for your soul, but first I will do everything in my power to see that you are removed from parish life so that you will not be permitted to harm any more families.”

Late Tuesday, Johnson received a letter of apology from the Rev. Barry Knestout, one of the archdiocese’s highest-ranking administrators, who said the lack of “kindness” she and her family received “is a cause of great concern and personal regret to me.”

“I am sorry that what should have been a celebration of your mother’s life, in light of her faith in Jesus Christ, was overshadowed by a lack of pastoral sensitivity,” Knestout wrote. “I hope that healing and reconciliation with the Church might be possible for you and any others who were affected by this experience. In the meantime, I will offer Mass for the happy repose of your mother’s soul. May God bring you and your family comfort in your grief and hope in the Resurrection.”

Johnson called the letter “comforting” and said she greatly appreciates the apology. But, she added, “I will not be satisfied” until Guarnizo is removed.

The priest’s action has also triggered an uproar among gay rights activists and enlivened some religious conservatives. It came just days after the Maryland Senateapproved legislation legalizing same-sex marriage in the state; Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) is expected to sign it this week.

Link to D.C....

H/t Religion News Roundup....


3 comments:

Micha Elyi said...

"you will not be permitted to harm any more families"

Receiving the Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin does grave harm to the recipient and the entire Body of Christ.

St. Michael, defend us and pray with us that our bishops be strengthened in their service to Jesus's church!

Dan said...

I encourage who is reading this to do as I am doing right now: write a firm, respectful, but no-nonsense letter to the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington demanding that the Wuerl Chancery re-iterate publicly the Catholic teaching on unnatural vice and that it publicly apologize to the priest who refused Communion to this ridiculous creature. Don't wait. Do it.

Enough is enough and we Catholics had better stop pussy-footing around on this issue.

Dan said...

As a quick followup to my previous post, I've just gotten off the phone with the Nunciature in Washington (their number can be found on the internet) and made my outrage quite clear to them. I was asked to put my thoughts in writing and that I will do.

We cannot let this pass by with a whimper. The laity must stand up, even if it is against so august a personage as Wuerl.

Again, I encourage anyone who is reading this to do the same.