April 9, 2013 | Sex & Society

No communion for you

Catholic supporters of gay marriage are being advised that they should not try to receive Holy Communion.

Edward Peters, a Detroit professor and legal adviser to the Vatican, argued that the Bible and Catholic Church clearly indicate that marriage can only exist between a man and a woman.

"Catholics who promote 'same-sex marriage' act contrary to" Catholic law "and should not approach for Holy Communion," he wrote. "They also risk having Holy Communion withheld from them ... being rebuked and/or being sanctioned."

His position was seconded by the archbishop of Detroit, Allen Vigneron, who said Sunday that Catholics who receive Communion while advocating gay marriage would "logically bring shame for a double-dealing that is not unlike perjury."

"Were we to abandon [positions against abortion and gay-marriage], we would be like physicians who didn't tell their patients that certain forms of behavior are not really in their best interest," said Vigneron.

Thomas Reese, a Catholic priest, claimed the position of Peters and Vigneron were in the minority. "Most American bishops do not favor denying either politicians or voters Communion because of their positions on controversial issues," he said. Still, he admitted that "about 30 or so bishops have said that pro-choice or pro-gay-marriage Catholics should not present themselves for Communion."

I'd love to pay Peters a visit one Sunday, accept Communion (does it burn the unbaptized?) and then walk away with a bumper sticker on my back saying 'Jesus loves gay marriage.'

Detroit-area Catholic leaders urge gay marriage supporters to skip Communion [Detroit Free Press]