Deacon Greg posted the following update to his story. It seems that someone from St. John Newmann wrote to him the following:
just wanted to let you know that there is a lot more to this story than has been published। I was in a meeting with Fr Marcel and heard the whole story। The woman in question brought her lesbian partner into the vesting sacristy just before the funeral Mass and made sure to introduce her partner to Fr Marcel, introducing her as her ‘lover’. He told her then that she should not present herself for Communion. I have been to many Masses said by Father Marcel and he is a good and holy priest. He speaks very softly when giving out Holy Communion, almost whispering “Corpus Christi” — and did not publicly denounce her but rather said in a whisper that he could not give her Holy Communion. He did feel sick at the end of Mass and made sure to have a replacement priest accompany the body and family to the cemetery.
Father Marcel has a very active role in the very public and weekly vigils at Carhart’s late term abortion clinic in Germantown. He has been a staunch and vociferous defender of life. It is my belief that this is a calculated attempt to discredit him. (Remember – same sex marriage will be signed into law this week in Maryland.) ‘Catholics for Equality’ and other gay groups are feeling pretty strong right now. Fr Marcel is their enemy because he speaks the truth and does not back down…
I am telling you all this because Fr Marcel cannot speak for himself right now. And because he at the very least deserves the benefit of the doubt from you and Ed Peters and others who do not know all the facts. Please use this information to bring some balance to the discussion. And please pray for our bishops who must defend their priests from these attacks!
So a couple of things:
1। If this is true, and I don't think that Deacon Greg would have posted it unless he had some indication it was on the up and up, then Fr. Guarnizo did "everything by the book."
2. You may have noticed that the family of Ms. Johnson seems to have been trying to quiet things down a bit. I wonder if it is because they are worried that when all of the details come out, it may not look as good as they thought. Personally, I do believe she attempted to challenge the Church, in her small way, and see if she could get away with it.
3. The Archdiocese, as usual, caved into the gay mob. They threw Fr. Marcel under the bus. The Cardinal and the folks over in Hyattsville should have never released the statement they did. The damage has been done, even when the full story comes out.
4. You notice the hate filled comments posted on the last blog entry, even though they don't have all of the facts. This is typical of the radical gay and leftist Catholycs in the country. If you don't like the Catholic church, don't become Catholic and don't come to our Mass and other events. Isn't that what you tell those who oppose abortion (Don't get one.)?
5. Please remember, no one forces you to be a Catholic or take Communion in our Churches. If you do, then you should respect our requirements. I have been to churches and synagoges for funerals, weddings and other occassions. I will stand, sit and even kneel when it is appropriate. I will not say their prayers or receive their "communion." I will not make a scene when they say or do something that I do not agree with. It is their faith, and that is fine with me. I am there as a guest.
When all is said and done, and the story fully comes out, we will see that things weren't quite as they were portrayed. And Cardinal Wuerl will have destroyed a good priest.
55 comments:
Fr. Guarnizo may have done everything "by the book". But that doesn't mean he is without reproach.
When canon law (which is NOT infallible) is contrary to God's law (i.e. the Bible), one needs to be mindful only of the latter. Blessed are the peacemakers, the Children of God! Fr. Guarnizo was certainly not a peacemaker in this situation. This is a case of a priest making an example of the mourning woman, showing hate disguised as love. Yes it is a spiritual work of mercy to admonish the sinner, but not at the expense of comforting the afflicted! This was not the time nor the place for Fr. Marcel to deny Ms. Johnson communion.
Excellent update and agree with you 110%. The good priest did EXACTLY what he was REQUIRED to do which seems to be abnormal by most current standards in the CC. Once again the good Cardinal played "politician" rather than shepherd and defender of the faith. And folks wonder why the pews are empty in the Churches and ill-informed "CINO's" continuely vote for morally challenged politicians. Look no further than the the surrender of moral leadership from the Bishops over the last 45+ years. This is just the lastest example.
oh and even if she did all that- where in cannon law is the justification for him throwing the entire family under the bus by publically leaving the altar and then refusing to go the grave site
good man and priest indeed!
Is Deacon Greg willing to talk to the reporter about this? I met her once a few years ago when she covered our volunteering group caroling in DC hospitals on Christmas Day. From that meeting,I would say she is a fair reporter that would welcome this new information.
Anonymous: which is more important....protecting the feelings of a mourning woman or protecting the body of Our Lord, Jesus Christ?
If the update is true, and Father Guarnizo asked the woman to not present herself for Communion, this whole situation is on her. She brought this upon herself.
Spiritual death is not peace - I fully understand and agree Fr. Marcel Guarnizo and his actions on these apostate lesbian women.
"If you don't like the Catholic church, don't become Catholic and don't come to our Mass and other events. Isn't that what you tell those who oppose abortion (Don't get one.)?"
I consider this to be a win-win solution. The Catholic Church should be free to do what it likes among consenting adults in the privacy of its own church, with voluntarily contributed money, and those who disagree with its teachings should withdraw the sanction of the victim.
Catholics won't even let baptized Protestants take communion with them. I was saved in my late 20's and to date a wedding mass is the only event I have ever been to where I was specifically asked not to take the Lord's Supper.
This shouldn't have come as a surprise
I'm certain that the priest in question has caused a huge public scandal and has displeased the Cardinal. Jesus' first commandment was to love one another as you love yourself. Jesus erred on the side of love always. This priest was not acting "en persona Christi." He was off on his own agenda!
Typical of the Roman church: their vanity, malice, and wilful ignorance are, and always have been, boundless. Odd they call themselves "Christian". Still, better than the old days; modern secular governments do not permit their traditional responses to difference: torture and mass murder.
Typical of the Roman church: their vanity, malice, and wilful ignorance are, and always have been, boundless. Odd they call themselves "Christian". Still, better than the old days; modern secular governments do not permit their traditional responses to difference: torture and mass murder.
You're an idiot. REQUIRED? You're wrong, and whatever bigoted blanket you want to cover yourself under, you're doing nothing but camouflaging your own hatred. YOU WILL ANSWER TO GOD FOR YOUR INTOLERANCE. Jesus would have scorned you. I'm a catholic, and you can be damn sure I'm not going to stay silent.
Leviticus 19:27
You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard.
Fr. Guarnizo needs to continue doing things "by the book" and remove himself from his position immediately due to his rank hypocrisy.
Or he needs to stop shaving.
Pick one.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Following the letter of the law certainly seems important to many of those posting comments. Does doing everything by the book follow the example of Jesus and comfort those who mourn? Pray that the priest discovers mercy, not judgement.
According to some of the posts on this article in Huffington Post, the cited Canon Law says that Guarnizo should not have refused her communion when she came to the rail. Apparently he went by his own "book".
Why can't "Father" Guarzino speak for himself? Why not show up on MSNBC (running the story non-stop) and be interviewed on the following questions.
1) Why did you leave the altar when the daughter gave her eulogy? Has he done this for any other children of the deceased (including the invariable case where the children have left the church) or is just for Gay people?
2) Why did you refuse to complete the burial service or arrainge for an alternate? Please explain how refusing to do your duty regarding funeral services for a CATHOLIC woman was consistent with your duties as a priest.
3) Breifly explaing Catechism 2358 and how you interpret it.
4) How do you feel your actions expanded the faith?
Who is denying him his right to speak out?
I support Fr. Marcel. We live in a post-Christian relativistic age, all is allowed, all is permissible; while for Christians, truly, it is not. Those attracted to members of the same sex are called, if Christians, to celibacy, struggle and prayer, as are all. Support Fr. Marcel with prayer! (I am not Roman Catholic, but an Orthodox Christian.)
The Catholic church is about power and opression. Nothing more, nothing less.
Your report is not the same as I read in The Huffington Post. Yours is slanted and biased; theirs is full of loving Catholics. Hmm. I chose to believe you are sadly mistaken.
He told the lesbian beforehand, in private, NOT to come for communion. Had she not tried to force his hand, none of this would have happened. Now she's playing the victim.
@ Juan MA
I am not a Catholic; however, neither are you, as you are obviously disagreeing with the fundamental teaching of your church that declares that homosexuality is a sin. The Bible agrees in both the old and new testament on this, calling it an unnatural and debauched act.
Do not pretend to speak for God or for any person of any importance. Either comply with Catholic dogma, or cease calling yourself a Catholic.
Fr. Marcel works harder to spread the Word of God than any priest I've known. He is not motivated by the fear of being disliked. He is moved to bring the truth to Catholics and anyone else who cares to listen and learn.
He is a brilliant man. Listen to his sermons or interviews on WMET 1160.
Just so the truth is fully put forth, father Marcel is a rude, aggressive, scary prist. The scenes he causes at "the late term abortion clinic" has caused him police attention. He's a zealot not a man of god. This man would be best served to go away quietly before he caused the church and all catholics further embarrassments. God bless all people.
I support the priest. Good for him. It does sound like a calculated and evil plan on her part. She says she went to catholic school, she knew KNEW this would turn out this way.
God is apparently all forgiving, yet the Catholic church is not. I was brought up Catholic, went to Catholic schools (that is a whole other story, where the nuns said if anyone would step into a different religious church, they would drop dead at the doorstep and go to hell, etc), and almost became a priest. I grew up and realized what a racket the church really is. Another big business trying to scare people into their ways. The amount of gold in St. Pat's (NYC) would feed the world for decades, yet, they collect money for the poor. Go figure. Since when did Priests become holier than thou?! And yes, I was molested by one, because God wanted it that way.
If she introduced her "lover" beforehand and the priest told her to refrain from receiving, and she went to Catholic school, which would mean she knew how this would end. She did this for the sake of attention. She knew what the end result would be. Nonetheless, prayers for her and the repose of her mother's soul.
I am a Catholic , I do not hate my church, I am proud of the fact that my church collects money to help the poor, as there is not enough gold in St Patrick to feed the world. I went to Catholic school and no sister ever said that we would drop dead if we walked in a church of a different faith. The people who said the best thing they did was to become an Episcopalian are a part of a church that is falling apart and in the U . S. And had a Episcopal priest who attended a mosque and practiced Islam, that's how far from Christianity they have strayed. My church is evilthat it helps millions, no matter what the faith or sexual orientation, has the only decent schools in many inner city areas, as well as homeless shelters, food pantries, soup kitchens, hospitals and all due to the faith, all u badgers condemn. We have dedicated religious, the vast majority who do not spend their time molesting kids. We believe life is sacred and of worth and we are condemned for that, talk about following the bible, with all that said,there is a time and a place to handle disagreements and a funeral is neither the time nor place. Father Guarzino was just wrong for the way he handled this, it was not handled with love and I am sure that the Father was sure he was right, but he wasn't. I am glad the Archdiocese offered an apology. Mary Johnson did receive communion and another priest did handle the funeral service. Again going by the book does not make it right, if you can't be a loving Shepard, you should not be a parish priest or rabbi or minister for that matter.
Judge not yet ye be judged, this Priest is a sinner who will be judged not by man, but by God.
The comments by supporters of the actions of this Priest show they are sinners also without faith!
The rules of the Church have been changed many times by man since the Resurrection, and because these changes have been done by man, not God, the Church's rules are not without sin!
This Priest has sinned, he must ask this woman, and her family for forgiveness, or he must give up his duties as he is unfit!
The wonderful priest was trying to save her soul... "So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord." 1 Corinthians 11:27
I have been a member of St. John Neumann for the entire time Father Guarnizo has been there. The sermons he gives are educational, inspiring and many folks have joined our parish due to his being there. He challenges all of us to speak up for the Truth by putting our faith into action, especially by witnessing at the abortion clinic. He along with our pastor Father Lahood, are a constant presence at the abortion clinic. They lead by example.
On a concurrent topic, is the Archdiocese going to prevent Martin O'Malley from receiving Communion after he signs the gay marriage bill today? I doubt it and this is why we continue to have "Catholic" politicians continue to lead the pro-abortion- pro gay marriage agenda in America withj no consequences imposed by the Catholic bishopss. 50 million aborted children deserved better!
The bible is clear--Father acted correctly--read 1 Corinthians 5:5 and 7!
1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles-that a man has his father’s wife!
2And you are puffed up and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.
4In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus.
6Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?
7Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us.
8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 but now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner-not even to eat with such a person.
12. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”
Fr Guarnizo did not only deny the Eucharist, he also stormed off the altar during the eulogy, and then without notice, failed to appear at the cemetery for the graveside service, according to the news reports. This is grossly immature, totally unacceptable, and his excuse of illness is probably fake. Perhaps the only illness he has is likely a homosexual panic response to his own unresolved sexual issues.
Has this man been properly screened (psychologically) for US ministery? He says he was
ordained in Russia, and is a priest of the
Archdiocese of Moscow. How did he end up here?
This is not appropriate conduct for ministry in a parish, and shows total lack of good judgment or appropriate discretion. What is his involvement in all these grandiose organizations that mention him on the internet??? Reforming Russia and all of eastern Europe? Just what is this Moscow business? Mybe this is how they do things there, but certainly not here. The purpose of a priest at a funeral is in no way related to making scenes and disrespecting the deceased, his parishioner.
Father Guarnizo should have recused himself. A daughter lost her mother, and he used the opportunity to make his own points about his view of her lifestyle. That was prideful and selfish on his part. He could have driven home his perspective by advising the family he would not participate. I was going to say 'celebrate the mass' there, but clearly there was no intent from him to celebrate mass or celebrate the mother's life. Thankfully Fr. Sweeney stepped in to show there are true men of compassion in the Church.
"Fr Guarnizo did not only deny the Eucharist, he also stormed off the altar during the eulogy, and then without notice, failed to appear at the cemetery for the graveside service, according to the news reports. This is grossly immature, totally unacceptable, and his excuse of illness is probably fake. Perhaps the only illness he has is likely a homosexual panic response to his own unresolved sexual issues. "
You know, anonymous whoever you are? You don't know all the facts. You weren't there and all you know is what you read on your hate filled, left wing blogs. Father neither 'stormed out' or 'failed to appear' at the cemetery. Furthermore, she did receive Holy Communion because he refused he so quietly that the Communion minister right next to him heard nothing. The woman in question then went in that line and received. As soon as the funeral was over they blabbed about it to Huff Post or some such rag and made hay -- onthe same day of her mother's funeral.
Father Guarnizo onthe other hand, we have not heard from -- why? Because he is under obedience to his bishop -- I know, its a concept someone like you will not understand. The archdiocese and Father are not making playing political football with this. Only Barbara Johnson, her 'lover' and the rest of you nut jobs out to smear a good man and the Catholic Church.
Be gone from me Satan! In the name of Jesus Christ. Be gone.
--B
Giving Communion to a sodomite is a desecration. That is the only fact that is needed.
Anon said: "I'm certain that the priest in question has caused a huge public scandal and has displeased the Cardinal. Jesus' first commandment was to love one another as you love yourself. Jesus erred on the side of love always. This priest was not acting "en persona Christi."
The desecration of Our Lord will increase her torments in hell. The priest attempted to lessen her torments in hell by his action. This is by definition Love.
Father Marcel is a compassionate, man with great wisdom. Always speaking the truth of Christ and showing love and care for his flock. He did exactly what he must do as an apostle of christ, by defending the teachings and the faith of our church by not giving Holy Communion to this lady. This lady knew that she was not in state of grace to receive Holy communion,as she has a woman lover. This lady should have not expected to come to church and receive Holy communion expecting our priest to make a mockery of our church teachings by complying with her choice and demands. It is sad that she chose her mother's funeral to promote her gay/lesbian agenda in Maryland. Soon the government will be forcing our church to marry them. I hope that the Washington, DC Archdiocese will support father Marcel.
Jesus have mercy on all our souls.
Anonymous
I grew up with a loving and compassionate church. During a time of death, believers look for answers and comfort. Unfortunately, no matter what you believe, Dr. Guarnizo lost an opportunity to reaffirm a loving church. I just do not see how he could have behaved that way. Rejecting communion is one thing but walking out of a eulogy is another. It is just a non-compassionate heartless thing to do to a grieving person. Where is that loving and welcoming church that is open to all - think of Jesus and his early followers.
I don't know where this young priest went to school but he must have dropped out of pastoral theology. He made a terrible mistake when he chose rule and law over a greiving person, and used a funeral to make a point. Your disgusting judgements of the woman would put you all out of the communion line. Oh, I see you all live in glass houses, Catholic glass houses. It's all this venom and judgement that keeps people away from the Church. We are a dying religion, and then you wonder why. Defend the image of the church at the expense of charity and individual pastoral care. Defending the image of the church at all costs is how we got into the clergy sex abuse scandal. I'm from Boston, I know.
Why does he say Corpus Christi instead of Body of Christ?? Is that OK??That's his own take on that one.
I am proud of the bishop, and his public apology, that's some thing Our Lord would do. He didn't treat people as abstact issues, he treated others as his own body.
If was dying I wouldn't want this priest near me, his attitude toward those in need and mourning stinks.
You have to choose if you will be a man of GOD, or man hired by the church.
I can't wait to see who is going to be your room mate in heaven for all eternity, it just may be a gay person, and then you will have to decide if want to stay.
Not just a good priest. A GREAT priest.
I am a Catholic that was not married in the church and I could not go to communion until after a church wedding. I made a choice to marry outside the catholic church and I knew I could not receive the BLESSING of communion until after my husband and I received the Sacrament of Marriage.
I feel what Fr. Guarnizo did was right. You cannot choose what Sacraments you want to follow. The seven sacraments are so you can follow them and receive all blessings God has for you. They are there to help give an idea of what God has planned for you (by following His law) and guide you to all the blessings that follow the sacraments.
Shame on her for making him remind her that she cannot receive HOLY communion. She should humble herself and know she could not. She did this in a malicious act to get a reaction from that priest. Nothing more. She may not be ashamed of her choices, but she must understand that her choice is not to follow the CC rules. So she chooses not to go to communion.
Thank you Father Marcel Guarinzo for being a Catholic priest.
go to www.traditio.com
Many of good priests are being persecuted from within for doing their jobs...
There is a reason why there are so many independent Catholic chapels like Pope Pius X society are growing while vatican II churches are disappearing because of the lukewarm cowardly vatican II Bishops, Cardinals and other diocesan heirarchy and their sins of hypocrisy.
Look at nOtre dame scandal. Pres. Obama comes in and demands that all crucifixes, etc be removed. The one who invites him isn't even punished and yet Good priests, professors and students were punished.
Viva Cristo Rey! Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!
For once, you should delete all posts who don't support Father Marcel Guarnizo and the true teachings of the Roman catholic church. Let them post somewhere else.
Restore All things in Christ
it is so easy to show support for father Guarnizo online. be brave catholics and do it publically. Print letters to editor of washington post.
To Anon at 4:37pm
Please note that my blog in support of Fr. Marcel was quoted in one of the print stories in the WaPost and linked in the on-line version.
to Anon at 4:29pm:
I have thought about it, but I do want people to have their say. It does make them them look like IDIOTS in the end.
I support Fr. Marcel Guarnizo. We need more priest like him.
Thank you Fr. Guarnizo and may Our Lord and Our Lady bless you.
ST. JOHN MARIE VIANNEY, pray for us!
I support Fr. Marcel Guarnizo. We need more priest like him.
Thank you Fr. Guarnizo and may Our Lord and Our Lady bless you.
ST. JOHN MARIE VIANNEY, pray for us!
Father Marcel did what was right. He even tried to prevent the woman from commiting another serious sin. Father Marcel is a good and holy priest. He needs to be backed up by the archdiocese. I stand with him. No one should receive the Holy Eucharist in a state of mortal sin, and homosexuality is a MORTAL SIN. Like it or not.
In this thread, a Protestant complained that the Roman Catholic Church does not give communion to baptized Protestants and this Protestant found that "typical" of the RCC. I am not certain if this Protestant understands that communion means something quite different to Catholics than to Protestants. I am a former Roman Catholic who converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Guess what? We ALSO do not give "communion" to anyone not of the Eastern Orthodox faith. The radical Protestant reformers such as John Calvin and Ulrich Zwingli actually created the situation in that BOTH believed that Sacraments meant nothing and that communion for Protestants - with the possible exception of Lutherans - is merely symbolic. To Eastern Orthodox, Coptics, and Catholics of ALL rights, Holy Communion is NOT merely symbolic. By DENYING the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Christ, Protestants have removed themselves from the "communion" of believers. Orthodoxy/Coptics and Catholicism are rooted in Apostolic Succession; Protestantism is grounded firmly in The Enlightenment and the words of atheists such as Voltaire. As an Orthodox Christian, I prefer to trust in the words of St. Polycarp. As for relativism in our society, again this is a direct result of Enlightenment philosophy. How ironic that the Enlightenment has led us to an age of darkness!
As an "Ordered Priest" I am appalled at the actions of our Church officicials who sent a letter of apology to a quasi-Catholic who used her mother's funeral service for her own "lesbian agenda" forum. Father Guarnizo had just 2 options; follow Roman Catholic dogma as a matter of conscience of "people please" and bow to the homosexual/lesbian agenda He made the right decsision since his vows so exact that he is bound to "holy obedience " to his own RC dogma... isn't that what we are about or do we just hand out "Jesus Cookies," thus making a mockery of the Holy Communion? God bless him, he can sleep with what he did--I am sure. Just an opinion from another "anti-modernistic" monastic..One who sees the proper order is God first, man second. -- Fr. Augustine (Benedictine)
As a Benedictine I saw the actions by our ecclesiastics appalling for it was obvious that Catholic dogma took a back-seat to "political-inCorrectness." Like I, Fr. G took vows and one is "Holy Obedience" to RC dogma. IF we really believe in transubstantiation, we cannot treat Holy Communion as a "Jesus Cookie," there is a time to NOT administer "Christ's Body and Blood." I wonder IF that was a heterosexual couple being denied (by their own choice) Communion, if this would even be an issue? We must stop bowing down to the homosexual/lesbian agenda and stop being afraid to be Roman Catholics...Reality check, Proper order is God first, man second. In saecula saeculorum. Amen + Just an opinion from one of those peculiar priests who still follows Pope St Pius V's "antimodernism Oath." ~ Fr. Augustine, OSB
Fr. Marcel did the right thing. I am not a citizen of USA, so if would like to run for the Presidency of USA I will not be allowed to do it because this is the law of the state. If a gay person would like to get communion from the catholic church it will be not possible, because this is the theological law. End of the argumentation...
I strongly support Fr. Marcel Guarnizo as a great and very holy and dedicated priest. I am a Catholic priest and I have been through some situation and I stood strong and defending the teachings of our Mother Catholic Church.
I would have done exactly the same.
Fr. George
Post a Comment