I Just Can't Believe This Happened In Holland
But will the priest fold like do many other of his confrères?
Here's the entire article from Radio Netherlands Worldwide; (Emphasis mine)
Church controversy over gay Carnival Prince
A Catholic priest in the south of the Netherlands has stirred up controversy by refusing to allow the local Prince Carnival to receive Communion because he is openly gay. Father Luc Buyens of the small town of Reusel took his stand at last Saturday’s Carnival Mass.
Carnival is a major public holiday in the southern Netherlands: shops and schools close and normal life grinds to a halt for three days of fun and festivities. An important part of the tradition is the election of a Prince Carnival, often a prominent member of the local community, to lead the Carnival celebrations. This year in Reusel, the honour fell to openly gay resident Gijs Vermeulen, who made no secret of his five-year relationship with his partner Michael in the weeks leading up to the celebrations.
Both the Catholic church and Carnival are very much part of the social fabric in the Netherlands’ southern provinces. The two are closely linked, since the Carnival festivities mark the start of Lent, a Christian period of fasting and renunciation leading up to Easter.
Carnival Mass
In his capacity as Prince Carnival, Gijs Vermeulen was due to address the congregation at the Carnival Mass and then lead them to receive Communion. But one week before the festivities were due to start, Father Buyens called Gijs to tell him that he would not allow him to take the sacrament. The Catholic Church officially condemns homosexuality and priests can refuse to administer the sacraments to practising homosexuals, though the Dutch clergy rarely do so.
"I was on the phone with him for almost half an hour," Gijs Vermeulen explained to Dutch gay magazine Gaykrant. "I told him we’re not living in the 14th century anymore but he wasn’t prepared to change his position."
Equal treatment
In the end, Mr Vermeulen attended the mass because he did not want to spoil the celebrations, but he continued his discussion with the church on Thursday. "I want to be treated the same as everyone else,” he insists. “I'm a Catholic. I made my first Communion and took Confirmation."
The renewed discussion has not brought the two sides any closer together. After his conversation with Father Buyens, Mr Vermeulen told the press that he accepts that the church is entitled to exercise its rules, but he is saddened by the nature of those rules.
This may not be the final word on the controversy. Today’s AD newspaper reports that a Labour councillor from a nearby town has called on the gay community to protest at the church in Reusel until the priest admits the error of his ways. Both Father Buyens and Gijs Vermeulen have declined to comment on the initiative.
But will the priest fold like do many other of his confrères?
Here's the entire article from Radio Netherlands Worldwide; (Emphasis mine)
A Catholic priest in the south of the Netherlands has stirred up controversy by refusing to allow the local Prince Carnival to receive Communion because he is openly gay. Father Luc Buyens of the small town of Reusel took his stand at last Saturday’s Carnival Mass.
Carnival is a major public holiday in the southern Netherlands: shops and schools close and normal life grinds to a halt for three days of fun and festivities. An important part of the tradition is the election of a Prince Carnival, often a prominent member of the local community, to lead the Carnival celebrations. This year in Reusel, the honour fell to openly gay resident Gijs Vermeulen, who made no secret of his five-year relationship with his partner Michael in the weeks leading up to the celebrations.
Both the Catholic church and Carnival are very much part of the social fabric in the Netherlands’ southern provinces. The two are closely linked, since the Carnival festivities mark the start of Lent, a Christian period of fasting and renunciation leading up to Easter.
Carnival Mass
In his capacity as Prince Carnival, Gijs Vermeulen was due to address the congregation at the Carnival Mass and then lead them to receive Communion. But one week before the festivities were due to start, Father Buyens called Gijs to tell him that he would not allow him to take the sacrament. The Catholic Church officially condemns homosexuality and priests can refuse to administer the sacraments to practising homosexuals, though the Dutch clergy rarely do so.
"I was on the phone with him for almost half an hour," Gijs Vermeulen explained to Dutch gay magazine Gaykrant. "I told him we’re not living in the 14th century anymore but he wasn’t prepared to change his position."
Equal treatment
In the end, Mr Vermeulen attended the mass because he did not want to spoil the celebrations, but he continued his discussion with the church on Thursday. "I want to be treated the same as everyone else,” he insists. “I'm a Catholic. I made my first Communion and took Confirmation."
The renewed discussion has not brought the two sides any closer together. After his conversation with Father Buyens, Mr Vermeulen told the press that he accepts that the church is entitled to exercise its rules, but he is saddened by the nature of those rules.
This may not be the final word on the controversy. Today’s AD newspaper reports that a Labour councillor from a nearby town has called on the gay community to protest at the church in Reusel until the priest admits the error of his ways. Both Father Buyens and Gijs Vermeulen have declined to comment on the initiative.
posted by Kevin Whiteman at
6:07 AM
3 Comments:
I highly doubt Father Buyens will fold. As for his Bishop????
this is a prime example of false victimhood being used by Vermeulen & the gay community to undermine the Catholic Church & what it teaches.
The actions of those who oppose the priest barely deserve comments. Nonetheless, t
This is just one layman's opinion:
The "homosexuality" bit [I interpret this to mean willing practice and/or acceptance of the same-sex sexually active lifestyle] is not the main issue. I think the utter lack of integrity on the part of the opponents of this priest is the most egregious part of this controversy. By now, everybody has to know what the Church's position on "homosexuality" is, and should not be at all surprised that an official of the Church (the priest) would exercise the Church's pastoral approach to "homosexuality." I would normally have thought that the opponents would have been surprised (however pleasantly) had that priest caved in.
Nowadays what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right. Geez. A sure indication of the smoke of Satan in the Church and in the community.
I think we all should pray for this brave priest, and pray that he sticks to his guns.
If your a Catholic then that puts you under Catholic Law homo not above it.
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