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Timmins Pastor Defends his Right to Refuse Communion to Public Dissenters from Catholic Teaching

Bishop supports his priest; MP Angus wrote for dissident Catholic paper

TIMMINS, March 9, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a lengthy article appearing in the March 7th edition of the Hill Times, Charlie Angus, the NDP MP for Timmins-James Bay, complained that he is being unfairly treated by his Church for his stand on same sex ‘marriage.’ On March 3, LifeSiteNews.com reported that Fr. John Lemire, the pastor of Angus’ Catholic parish had written a letter to Angus telling him that his support for the same sex ‘marriage’ legislation contradicts Catholic teaching and asked him to reconsider his position. Angus was told that he could become ineligible for reception of holy communion if he voted in favour of the bill.

Angus said that he has not been back to church since his discussion with Fr. Lemire.

LifeSiteNews.com spoke with Fr. Lemire who said, “Nowhere in this letter do I tell him that he can’t come to church.” Fr. Lemire said when Angus spoke with him later, he asked if Fr. Lemire was implying that Angus could not come to church. “I said, ‘No Charlie I’m not saying that. Everyone is always welcome in a Catholic church. The Church is made up of both saints and sinners.”

Fr. Lemire said, however, that a person who is in public dissent from Catholic teaching cannot receive communion. “If you vote in favour of this legislation, then I would have no choice but to bless you and not give you communion. He replied, ‘well Father, you have to do what you have to do in conscience.’ He was not angry or upset. He didn’t sound surprised or shocked.”

As of this writing, Angus has not been refused communion and both the parish and the diocese is still open to discussing the matter with him.

Angus said that he had contacted a canon lawyer in Ottawa - whom he does not name - and had a conversation with the bishop, Paul Marchand, about his situation. He told the Hill Times that both the canon lawyer and the bishop told him that the pastor does not have the right to refuse him communion. Angus told the Hill Times that the bishop’s comment to him was that the Church's job “is to propose, not to impose.”

Fr. Lemire, however, said that Angus’ claim is suspect. “I do not know who the canon lawyer is that Mr. Angus supposedly had met with. You can find anybody in this day and age who will support whatever you want to say.”

Fr. Lemire said that he discussed the Hill Times quote with Bishop Marchand who told him that the comment was taken out of context. The bishop said that the comment was not said in connection with the issue of communion. Bishop Marchand was not available for an interview but has made headlines recently by participating in a protest against the proposed legislation at Angus’ constituency office.

Fr. Lemire said he checked carefully with his bishop to make sure he was on solid ground in his denying communion. “Bishop Marchand has confirmed to me that he did not say that (Angus) cannot be denied communion. The code (of Canon Law) is very clear on that. The opinion of the Church is very clear that it is feasible for a pastor to deny someone.” Bishop Marchand also appeared on the local cable channel where he said that sometimes “we have to make tough decisions (like refusing communion) because of the reality of the situation.”

The idea that the Catholic teaching is a matter of suggestion and not of binding obligation is a favorite of left-liberal Catholics. The theme is emblematic of dissenting, anti-Catholic publications like the Catholic New Times for which Angus was a regular columnist. Most recently the paper ran an editorial supporting not only the same-sex legislation but Catholic politicians who dissent from the Church’s position.

Fr. Lemire said, “I have had parishioners saying that you cannot profess to be a practicing Roman Catholic and at the same time say that you are in favour of legislation to support same-sex marriage. The two of them are incompatible.”

Read Previous LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Catholic Priest to Withhold Communion from Pro Gay “Marriage” Politician
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/mar/05030305.html

Catholic Bishop Joins Protest Demonstration Outside Pro-Gay ‘Marriage’ Politicians Office
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/feb/05020903.html

Anti-Catholic Paper Allowed in 70% of London, Ontario Parishes Opposes Bishop’s Same-Sex Marriage Fight
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/feb/05022201.html

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