Pro-Life

Hundreds of Dutch Gay Activists Protest at Cathedral over Communion Refusal

March 2nd, 2010 by Patrick B. Craine Print This Article Print This Article ·

Hundreds of homosexual activists flocked to Mass at St. John’s Cathedral in ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Den Bosch) on Sunday to challenge the bishop for his support of a priest in Reusel who denied Communion to an openly practicing homosexual.

The protesters joined the Mass wearing pink triangles, and some came dressed in pink wigs and gowns.  Most of the throng walked out, shouting and singing, during the homily, which was given by Fr. Geertjan van Rossem.

“Homosexuals are welcome in the church. But we ask practising homosexuals not to take part in communion out of respect for the sacrament,” he said, according to DutchNews.nl.

Anticipating the protest, the diocese announced that Communion would not be distributed.  In his homily, Fr. van Rossem explained that he was “compelled by conscience” to not offer Communion because it would be a “grave sacrilege” that the Holy Eucharist would become an object of protest and demonstration.  Instead, he urged the congregation to make a spiritual communion.

The protest was organized by local politicians and various homosexualist organizations in the country after a smaller protest had been carried off at Sunday Mass in Reusel the week before.  They were protesting the decision of the pastor, Fr. Luc Buyens, to withhold Communion from Gijs Vermeulen,  who had flaunted his homosexuality leading up to his participation in the town’s annual pre-Lenten carnival as its prince.

The homosexualists directed their protest at the Cathedral because the Bishop of Den Bosch, Antoon Hurkmans, had supported Fr. Buyens, and had advised him not to distribute Communion to anyone at Sunday’s Mass just over a week ago.

The activists are vowing to continue attending Masses in protest.

Kees van der Staaij, a member of the country’s Reformed Political Party (known as SGP), called the protests “criminal acts” and has asked the Public Prosecutors’ Office to carry out a law that forbids disturbing a church service.
Contact Information:

Fr. Luc Buyens
Our Lady of the Assumption Parish
Kerkstraat 1
5541 EM
Reusel, Netherlands
Phone: 0497-641360
E-mail: kerkreusel@hetnet.nl
Bishop Antoon Hurkmans
Diocese of Den Bosch
Parade 11
5211 KL
‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
Phone: 073 6125488
Fax: 073 6136850
E-mail: info@bisdomdenbosch.nl

This article is courtesy of LifeSiteNews.com.




  • credo

    The Priest and Bishop are only looking out for the ‘activists’ who would condemn themselves in receiving the Sacrament in an unprepared state. They should be thankful that they were spared from eternal damnation, and still have a chance to go to Confession and do penance. However, many of them are perhaps not even Baptized so can’t receive anyway. The problem is that they believe it is their ‘civil right’. The Sacred Rites are privileges that must be earned according to Cannon Law. They have intentionally ‘abandoned themselves to the Civil Authority’, so go and be satisfied with the consequences and leave what you do not comprehend alone. Sadly they will not, and it will be soon enough that they will become violent and profane the Altar and the Sacrament with their evil rebellion against God. They have murdered their conscience and sold their souls to the fire of the flesh, so will not be restrained in their lust. The Church needs to understand that this is the beginning of the tempest where Satan will unleash his slaves and bring the very gates of Hell against Christ’s One True Church.

  • geisteswissenschaften

    Hundreds? Hmm.
    That’s negligible.
    Hardly newsworthy – I wouldn’t give them the attention they desire for their cause. I may love the person, but I sho nuff don’t love their cause.

  • treehugger

    As a Catholic myself, I find it shameful that we have continued this antiquated bigotry against valuable members of our faith community for so long. It is time for the Church to recognize the contribution of modern science in this regard – people are born gay in the same way that people are born straight. It is not a lifestyle choice, it is a fact of nature. The Church is alienating and closing its doors to human beings just like you and I who have God-given sexual urges just like you and I. By blatantly withholding this Sacrament, the Church is promulgating an image precisely opposite to that which it seeks to foster: one of judgment in the face of diversity, and fear in the face equality.

    I highly recommend that anyone who is interested in learning more about this pertinent issue read Myers and Scanzoni`s, What God has Joined Together: The Christian Case for Gay Marriage. Or make a gay friend and then ask yourself whether you believe that he or she deserves an active participation in Church life through the Sacraments, in union with a congregation that recognizes him/ her as an equally worthy being.

  • maggied

    The comment from “treehugger” that the Church’s position is “antiquated bigotry” gives little comfort to those who are trying to find the truth. “valuable members of our faith” or not, those who choose to commit such a grave sin as sodomy must be told, again, again, and again if necessary, that such acts are abominable for good reasons stated here and everywhere the Church teaches. Modern science does not justify adultery or fornication either. There never was a gay gene found and never will there be. It is an act that is truly unnatural. They don’t fit. There’s ample evidence in nature this is true. There’s ample understanding throughout history that male and female were intended to be complimentary, particularly in this sense. It doesn’t diminish manly love for men or womanly love for women. The Church is right on.
    When Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery he was compassionate and showed the utmost love for her when he said, “Go, and sin no more”. He understood she was a “worthy (human) being”. He understood that she had sinned because of her own choice. He loved her just as His Catholic Church loves the homosexual.
    This sin homosexuals claim as their right is not beneficial to anyone. It does not result in a greater love for God, self or another because it is an act that does not honor God’s law, as does the marriage act.
    I cannot tell you how sad I feel dealing with loved ones who disagree. It is so painful to be told “Don’t ever talk to me about it”. Jesus said, “Go and sin no more” and the whole world understands he said that, but so many try to justify the sin rather than acknowledge it is sin. I pray that the love of God will touch your heart and all who lack understanding on this important matter.