Barbara Johnson, Maryland Lesbian Denied Communion At Mother's Funeral, Speaks About Incident

A Maryland lesbian who was denied Communion by a Catholic priest while attending her mother's funeral is speaking out about her experience.

CNN's Brooke Baldwin spoke to Barbara Johnson, who confirmed previously reported details of the incident. "I approached [Father Marcel Guarnizo of Gaithersburg's Saint John Neumann Catholic Church] to receive communion, and at that moment, he placed his hand over the bowl containing the Eucharist and looked into my eyes and said, 'I cannot give you Communion because you live with a woman, and in the eyes of the church, that is a sin.'"

Johnson, 51, now says that Father Marcel also left the altar as she was delivering her eulogy. Though Johnson has reached out via an email, the priest has yet to apologize.

Meanwhile, as The Washington Post is reporting, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has since apologized in a statement, noting that the priest has an obligation to "handle such a situation pastorally by discussing the consequences of such sin with the person privately before actually denying them Communion."

As Johnson noted, "My family are very appreciate of all of the outreach we've received. However, we believe the only reason to be talking about this still is because we would not want any other family to go through what was the worst experience on the very worst day of all of our lives…we feel that it is important that Father Marcel is removed from parish life."

The only concern I have is that the "kiss" might violate decorum rules.

It only took DOOL 47 years!

Sounds like Mr. Christie should stick to cookies.

Gay marriage is not likely to survive the popular referendum in New Jersey.

54% of the people may support it. But the people who respond to such surveys are not the same people who vote in elections.

Civil rights issues are not appropriately decided at the ballot box. Oppressed minorities would not be experiencing oppression in the first place if their cause was a popular one.

Gay marriage has never passed anywhere in the USA when it has been put to a popular vote.

Not once, not ever.

If NJ has a recall provision, we ought to petition for a recall of Gov. Christie.

Mr. Babeu ought to consider changing his loyalty to a party that won't penalize him for being gay.

YAY Maryland!!!  :cheers:

Just because he didn't flip out, doesn't mean something wasn't wrong. I do that sometimes, act like something doesn't bother me, but internally distraught.

Only thing that confuses me is it seems he was out…but nobody's exempt from feeling insecure and he had recently come out....

"The ombudsman will be charged with increasing awareness of the law regarding civil unions, will provide a clear point of contact for those who have questions or concerns and will be required to report any evidence of the law being violated. In this way, we can ensure equal treatment under the law," Christie said in a statement.

Yet he doesn't want equality under the law, that's why he's against gays having marriage.

Technically speaking, an executive decision is not a change in the law and change in executives can undo the previous decision.  However, the wind is blowing in the direction of equality so this is good news.  The law, however is another and amazing thing.  To justify racial marriage laws in 1940's, a judge actually said in his ruling that "almighty God placed the races on different continents for a reason."    So…..despite appearances that is cultivated by judges, legilslatures and lawyers, the law is often not neutral.  But "Cheers" for any progress!

but how to convedrse with muslim people. we usually don't learn arabic as our second language and they are lazy to learn english.