Cardinal and Communion
I am the co-founder and former member of the Rainbow Sash Movement. Joe Murray’s comments about being denied communion by Cardinal George [‘Cardinal says no communion for gay protesters Sunday,’ May 25, 2004, Sun-Times] in the past were correct but Mr. Murray failed to explain the reason we were initially denied communion. The fact is that after first being denied communion the Cardinal sent us a letter inviting us to meet with him in an atmosphere of mutual respect to discuss the situation. We met with the Cardinal and explained that our intentions were not to politicalize the Eucharist, as the Cardinal had originally perceived, but rather to just be visible as openly gay persons. He not only allowed us to receive communion the following Pentecost while we wore our sashes but in that meeting expressed his concern and love for the gay community. In particular he discussed his distress with the violence against gay people and the formation of a gay and lesbian ministry at the parish level. I had left the Rainbow Sash Movement shortly after the eventful Pentecost when we were permitted to receive communion.
Since that time Mr. Murray has been writing inflammatory and critical statements on the Rainbow Sash Movement Web site, thus re-politicalizing the Eucharist. This is the reason the Cardinal is denying them communion. Mr. Murray says that, ‘The cardinal is refusing to give out-of-the-closet gays communion. As long as you remain hidden, that’s fine.’ This is totally inaccurate. The Cardinal supports the Archdiocese Gay and Lesbian Outreach (AGLO) and gay and lesbian ministries and organizations at some parishes. If Mr. Murray were to attend mass identifying himself as gay, perhaps wearing the very brightly colored 2004 Gay Pride Button, I am confident that he would not be denied communion as an ‘out-of-the-closet gay.’ It is the rainbow sash itself that Mr. Murray has placed as visible opposition to the Church and as a symbol used to politicize the Eucharist.
Since the Cardinal has invited Mr. Murray to attend mass and receive communion without the sash perhaps Mr. Murray could wear his sash before, or after, mass in front of Holy Name and discuss his differences publicly as a visible gay person yet after removing his political ‘armor’ join in the non-political celebration of Pentecost. The streets are a wonderful place for political discourse. The inside of Holy Name Cathedral during a Sacred Holy Mass is not.
Gene Janowski, Chicago
Coors and Gays
Subject: Coors and the GLBT Community’s Boycott; Re: ‘Straight Talk from Coors.’
A company is only as good as the people that head it up and represent it. While ‘Coors the Company’ may be doing things right by the GLBT Community—it’s the family members of Coors who benefit from our dollars purchasing their beer who are the scum who stab us in the back by supporting those organizations lying about the GLBT community’s existence. … So, we have to deny money to ‘Coors the Company’ and boycott the beers to teach ‘Coors the Family’ that we resent that their contributions are going to such sicko organizations. …
I applaud the fact that Coors the Company is doing the right things within the corporate working environment but I’m disgusted to think that Coors the Family is benefiting and double crossing the GLBT community—in effect, undoing all the good work Coors the Company is attempting to do. …
Steven A. Martin, Chicago