People wearing rainbow sashes denied Communion in St. Paul, Chicago

Published: 2005-05-16

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- People wearing rainbow sashes to show support for gay and lesbian Catholics were denied Communion in the Archdioceses of Chicago and St. Paul-Minneapolis on Pentecost Sunday, which was May 15. In the Los Angeles Archdiocese, meanwhile, members of the Rainbow Sash Movement decided not to wear their distinctive sashes at Masses because of the "warm welcome" they said gays and lesbians receive in the archdiocese. In the St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese, priests at the Cathedral of St. Paul refused to give Communion May 15 to about 150 people who were wearing rainbow sashes, but invited them to come forward for a blessing. The refusal was in keeping with a newly announced policy by Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of St. Paul-Minneapolis after consultation with Vatican officials. Previously, sash wearers were allowed to receive Communion in the archdiocese. In Chicago, a policy against giving Communion to sash wearers has been in force for several years and those wearing the sash were again refused Communion May 15.

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