A lesbian woman was denied communion at her mother's funeral last December after the priest learnt of her sexuality.
Father Benjamin Kneib of St Columban Catholic Church, Chillicothe, Missouri, learnt that Carol Parker was a lesbian after an obituary that listed her as the surviving daughter also mentioned her partner's name.
"It was a shock to hear him say that," Parker told St Joseph News-Press. "I never expected that, especially at my mother's funeral."
Parker has been in a relationship with Josie Martin for nearly 20 years. Parker told Fox 4 News that she was actively involved in the church since 2001 and also served as a lector, cantor, and choir singer. In spite of all this, Kneib called her on "the day of the rosary and said he wouldn't be able to give us communion because of our same-sex relationship," reports the Huffington Post.
She also said that most of the people who attended the funeral did not take the communion to show their solidarity with her and her partner. They have now stopped visiting the St Columba church and instead go to another one. "That was our faith community. It really took away a lot of things for us," Parker said. "He (Father Kneib) would still like to see us there, but I don't feel like I'm welcome if I can't take part in the main focus of the Mass."
The group also said that having same-sex relationship was not "sinful." "I t is only when a person moves from attraction to willfully acting upon it that the situation becomes a sinful matter."
Father Kneib also apologized to Ms. Parker that the events that had transpired took place at the time of her mother's funeral. He also sent her a letter in which he said that having same-sex relationship was not "sinful." "I t is only when a person moves from attraction to willfully acting upon it that the situation becomes a sinful matter."
When contacted by the News-Press, Father Kneib had no comment.
Parker and Martins, the partner, cited Pope Francis' comment on same-sex relationship. "You know what Pope Francis said, 'Who am I to judge?'" Martin told Fox. "Halleluljah! That means a lot to me."
