Apr 11, 2013 7:37 p.m.
The Detroit archbishop’s recent comments about communion and support for same sex marriage is still sparking debate among Catholics. Now a local priest is speaking out publicly against the archbishop’s approach.
“Don’t stop going to communion. You’re okay,” said Retired Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit Thomas Gumbleton.
Long a progressive voice in Detroit’s Catholic community, Gumbleton is breaking with Archbishop Allen Vigneron days after Vigneron declared that supporters of same-sex marriage should refrain from receiving Holy Communion, comparing it to perjury.
“If you look at it from a pastoral point of view where you’re trying to reach out to people, trying to draw them in, then the last thing you want to do is impose a penalty or make them feel like they have to impose a penalty upon themselves,” Gumbleton said.
The bishop says the church’s approach should be pastoral not punitive. Just this week, he counseled a couple with a gay son.
“Husband, wife, raised seven children, Catholics all their lives, they’re in their eighties now, and the mother says to me, you know I can’t go to communion anymore,” said Gumbleton. “They’re hurt and she’s crying because we can’t go communion and that means so much to them.”
Gumbleton says it’s a matter of conscience, which is deeply personal.
“Not everybody’s going to come to the same conclusion at the same time, so we have to keep on working with people and trusting people that they’re trying to do the right thing,” he remarked.
Gumbleton read from a pastoral letter penned years ago at a bishop’s conference called “Always Our Children.”
“Judging the sinfulness of any particular act is a matter ultimately between God and the individual person.”
He also says that an individual person must choose whether or not to receive communion.
“Their conscience is the ultimate voice they have to follow,” Gumbleton explained. “A person coming up to communion has a right to make their own decision about am I in a state of grace?… Am I ready to receive? Well, that’s for the person to decide not for the minister or not for any bishop.”
….………as reported in FOX 2 NEWS in Detroit
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ANOTHER VOICE is now on Twitter…….following papal example 🙂
@jadanothervoice
Tom G is a friend and hero of mine. �Imagine the courage and integrity for him to publicly stand against his archbishop – a bit of a fool.
>________________________________ > From: Another Voice >To: collinspw@yahoo.com >Sent: Friday, April 12, 2013 12:47 PM >Subject: [New post] Catholic bishop to gay marriage supporters: Keep communing > > > > WordPress.com >JAD posted: “Apr 11, 2013 7:37 p.m. The Detroit archbishop’s recent comments about communion and support for same sex marriage is still sparking debate among Catholics. Now a local priest is speaking out publicly against the archbishop’s approach. “Don’t stop going” >
Maybe a fool but a fool for the Lord ain’t a bad thing. Go, Tom!
Congratlations and thanks to Bishop Thomas Gumbleton for taking a stand contrary to that of Archbishop Vigneron on the rights of conscience. Thinking differently than the Archbishop and coming to a different conclusion on the issue of equal rights of gay people to marry is solid Catholic theology. No one, even an Archbishop, can come between God and a person’s conscience.
Thank you “Bishop” Brohl for supporting your bishop-colleague on his pastoral advice to gay Catholics: “Don’t stop going”. It is heartening to your fellow Catholic priests as well. I realize, of course, you must be in a complicated relationship to the official Catholic leadership as your own description indicates: “My name is Jerry Brohl. I am an independent, Roman Catholic, Franciscan priest, and the convener of this community. It is my job to invite and welcome people into our community.” God bless your St. John XXIII Independent Catholic Community. Oremus pro invicem.