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CPCSM Board Members and Friends
Participate in Rainbow Sash Alliance Action
at Cathedral on Pentecost Sunday
Amid Disruptive Protesters

Standing on the front steps of the St. Paul Cathedral after 12:00 Mass on Pentecost are many of those who wore rainbow sashes, including CPCSM Board members.

On Sunday, May 30th, at the Cathedral of St. Paul, eight CPCSM Board members donned rainbow-colored sashes, attended Mass, and received the Eucharist along with about 80 other persons who wore rainbow sashes and 165 supporters who wore rainbow ribbons. This peaceful and prayerful action was the annual Pentecost public action of witness sponsored and coordinated by the Rainbow Sash Alliance USA.

Members of the Alliance had successfully carried out similar nonviolent silent protests while wearing rainbow sashes at several liturgies at the Cathedral over the past 3 years. However, what was unusual about this event was that an attempt was made to stop the rainbow-wearers from receiving communion -- not by the Archdiocese but -- by an ad hoc group of about 40 conservative laymen, calling themselves "Ushers of the Eucharist."

Prior to the start of the liturgy, pairs of the so called "ushers" moved about the section of pews where the sash-wearers were seated and took up positions alongside or behind them as they sat or knelt in their pews waiting for the Mass to begin. The "ushers" attempted to engage the sash-wearers in conversations in order to dissuade them from receiving communion.

Failing in their attempts at dissuasion, some of these self-appointed protectors of the Eucharist then remained at the end of their pew, non-verbally implying that they might not allow those seated next to them to leave the pew at communion time.

At the Exchange of Peace, when the rainbow wearers reached out an open hand to the "ushers," instead of receiving the usual wish for peace, many were met with more lobbying about not committing a sacrilege by receiving the Eucharist.

Finally, communion time arrived. As those wearing the sash began to file out of their pews into the main aisle to join the communion procession, many were individually asked by the self-appointed ushers not to receive communion if they were not in a state of grace.

When it became clear that the rainbow sash wearers were not going to heed their pleas to refrain from receiving communion, the usher-protesters moved toward the front of the main aisle where the celebrant and other communion ministers were distributing the Eucharist, flanking the celebrant as if they were sentinels on guard duty.

A group of 12 of the usher-protesters then began kneeling in tandem pairs, facing the altar, in front of the celebrant and prayed the "Hail Mary" together aloud, blocking one of the communion lines in the main aisle from getting to the celebrant.

This quasi-blockade caused congestion in the main aisle, as communicants attempted to squeeze around the kneeling protesters. Communicants in the other unblocked procession line in the main aisle paused to let some of those in the blocked line merge into their line to get to the celebrant. Other blocked communicants were directed by the rector, Rev. Michael Skluzacek, to go around to side aisles where some of the communion ministers repositioned themselves.

In the end, no one was actually restrained from receiving communion, and no physical altercations were reported -- although there were some verbal confrontations before and during the liturgy. Nevertheless, the rector of the Cathedral, was heard to say aloud to the kneeling protesters attempting to frustrate the communicants' access to the celebrant: "We were told [by you] that none of this [disruptive behavior] would happen." It appeared that he felt that the ad hoc protesters disguised as ushers had violated their agreement with the Archdiocese.

There was another surprise aspect of the day's events: it appeared that the self-proclaimed ushers did not attempt, either before or during the liturgy, to approach or dissuade any of the women wearing a rainbow sash from receiving communion. Apparently, the link between homophobia and sexism appeared to rear its ugly head during the protest actions of these would-be ushers.

(Editor's Comment: Are lesbians so insignificant to the protesters -- and perhaps they believe to God as well -- that they would not attempt to protect the Eucharist from them as well? Or perhaps this all-male group does not feel as threatened by same-sex-oriented women as they do by Catholic gay men who challenge their definition of maleness as well as their notion of catholicity?)

Another group of protesters was also present on Sunday at the Cathedral. About 100 members calling themselves "Catholics Against Sacrilege," prayed the rosary aloud on the steps of the Cathedral prior to the Mass, offering their "prayers in reparation for sacrilege and scandal," according to one of their posters, as the rainbow-wearers gathered on the south side of the Cathedral.

Affiliated with the Rainbow Sash Movement International in Australia, the Rainbow Sash Alliance USA is coordinated by Brian McNeill, Executive Director of Dignity/Twin Cities, with the assistance of other members of the chapter.

According to the Alliance's mission statement, those who wear the rainbow sash proclaim that they are "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (lgbt) people who embrace and celebrate their sexuality as a sacred gift." Further, the rainbow sash symbolizes the "beauty and diversity of human sexuality" and is an "invitation to the Church to enter into public dialogue with the group and work with them for justice and understanding of lgbt persons."

David Pence, convener of so-called "Ushers of the Eucharist" and flanked by the papal flag, speaks to members of the media after the noon Pentecost liturgy at the Cathedral.

Click on the following links for coverage of this news event
by the Pioneer Press and the Star Tribune.

 

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