As the extraordinary action unfolded, men broke out in spontaneous prayer, women wept and the presiding priest shifted back and forth in an attempt to offer the Communion host to those coming forward.

What is typically an orderly line of communicants became jumbled along the center aisle, as a group calling itself Ushers of the Eucharist knelt and blocked a direct path to the priest.

No one appeared to be denied Communion, and no physical altercations were reported.

Although some bishops of the Catholic Church have debated whether it is appropriate to deny Holy Eucharist to those opposed to church teachings, it was 35 laymen on Sunday who confronted fellow laypeople during Communion.

About 2,000 people attended the Mass, roughly twice the normal attendance of a noon Mass at the Cathedral, spokeswoman Sheryl Rose said. No mention was made of the gay-rights issue during any part of the Mass.

About 80 people wearing rainbow-colored sashes attended the Mass, an annual worldwide practice of gay-rights advocates in many Catholic churches on Pentecost Sunday — the day Christians celebrate the Holy Spirit and the founding of the church.

The Rainbow Sash Alliance says that by wearing the sashes to Mass, it seeks to increase the awareness of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics in the church and calls for a dialogue with church leaders.

Rainbow Sash members have been denied Communion in some dioceses for making a political statement during the Mass. In Chicago, priests at Holy Name Cathedral refused Sunday to give the Eucharist to about 10 people wearing the sashes.

An internal memo from Chicago Cardinal Francis George that became public last week, instructing priests not to give Communion to people wearing the sashes, says the sashes are a symbol of opposition to church doctrine on homosexuality and exploit the Communion ritual.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, however, said in a statement it would not deny Communion to those wearing sashes because "members of this group have previously assured us, in writing, that their attendance at the annual Pentecost Mass … is not in protest of the Church's teachings.''

That is what prompted a group — Ushers of the Eucharist — led by layman David Pence, 56, to gather Sunday to keep those wearing the sash from the Communion table.

"Those who object ask how we can disobey the bishop's authority,'' Pence said. "The bishop has abdicated his authority. That's the problem in the Catholic Church.

"Bishops have not protected the flock from this large predator movement of sexual dissent and homosexuality in the priesthood and in the church bureaucracy.''

Some members of Pence's group began reciting the Hail Mary at the priest's feet as he attempted to serve Communion.

As they did so, sisters Anne and Sarah Kosel of St. Paul, both 21 and regular worshippers at the Cathedral, wept in the second row. They were not identified with either group.

"The Eucharist is not a war zone,'' Sarah Kosel said afterward. "This is our church, and an attempt to block the Eucharist should be the last place to demonstrate.

"We didn't think it would be this bad.''

Regina Martino of Afton came to Mass specifically to support Pence's group and decided to kneel next to them.

"I just saw (Rainbow Sash members) were getting through, so I tried to kneel and block a spot,'' Martino said. "I don't feel they have a right to come and disrupt the most sacred part of what Catholics believe in.''

Pence conceded some worshippers considered his group's actions disruptive, too.

"I apologize to those who feel we disrupted Mass,'' Pence said. "But the weakness of the bishops in responding to this very aggressive social movement has to be responded to with courage, even if it's from laymen.''

Pence's group chose not to receive Communion.

Members of his group engaged in discussions — some heated — with Rainbow Sash members outside the Cathedral before Mass.

"Confrontation is difficult,'' Rainbow Sash organizer Brian McNeill of Minneapolis said afterward. "I'm stunned these men feel like they know the state of my soul. They told me I need to go to confession. The fact is how could they know the last time I went to confession? They simply don't know.''

Meanwhile, nearly 100 people prayed the rosary on the Cathedral steps before the Mass. Calling themselves Catholics Against Sacrilege, the group in a statement said Rainbow Sash members should adhere to church teaching declaring that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.''

"They're praying for us over there. I'm praying for them,'' said Pepper Wolf of Red Wing, as she put on a rainbow sash about 100 feet away. "I believe Catholic social teaching says all people deserve respect and dignity.''

In a private interview, the presiding priest, Monsignor James Habiger, said there is a place for protest and opinion, but not at the Eucharist. "Let's not be injurious to the integrity of the religious service,'' he said.

A letter from the Cathedral rector, the Rev. Michael Skluzacek, was given to all worshippers as they arrived, alerting them to the possibility of protest or disruption. He asked worshippers to pray that "nothing will occur here that takes our focus off our worship.''

His letter also asked prayers for "all those who, well intentioned though they may be, are mistakenly using the Mass and the Eucharist to make their own personal statements.''