This week Cardinal Francis George of Chicago instructed the priests of his diocese to deny Communion to anyone wearing a rainbow sash. Members of the Rainbow Sash movement had indicated that they were planning to attend Mass this weekend wearing their rainbow sashes “to show that gay and lesbian Catholics are a part of the Body of Christ.” Thus the Cardinal joins the small minority of bishops in the United States who have chosen to use the Eucharist as an instrument of punishment.

Call To Action is appalled at this misuse of the Eucharist. “The Eucharist is a sign of the unity of the Church, not an instrument to divide us on the basis of our disagreements over particular issues,” said Linda Pieczynski, Call To Action spokesperson. “The Catholic community, just as the larger society, is attempting to have civilized discussion about important issues on which people of good will can have differing opinions. In sharing Eucharist we are reminded of our fundamental unity as children of God and therefore of the mandate to treat one another with respect and love no matter how serious our disagreements may be. If this were not the case Peter and Paul would have had to deny one another the Eucharist when they were in disagreement over baptizing the Gentiles.” “Cardinal George should respect the conscience of these Catholics,” said Pieczynski. “Asking those who distribute Communion to make a judgment as to the state of any individual’s conscience is totally inappropriate.”

The small group of bishops who have been persuaded to use denial of the Eucharist as a coercive tactic to compel adherence to their understanding of church teachings are undermining the Church. By using such methods the bishops further damage their teaching authority which has already been eroded by the clergy sex abuse scandal.

Call To Action is a national organization of 25,000 laity, religious, priests and bishops and 40 local chapters. It advocates for reforms in the Catholic Church such as the ordination of women, optional celibacy for priests, more focus on the church’s social justice teaching, Church financial accountability, and consultation with the Catholic people on church decision-making and sexuality