Rainbow Sash Movement

The Rainbow Sash Movement refers to two organizations created by and advanced by practicing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Catholics who believe they should be able to receive Holy Communion.[1][2][3]

The leaders of the US movement founded by Joe Murray must be Roman Catholic while the Australian movement are ecumenical about it. The two movements are completely separate from each other but share the same vision.

The Rainbow Sash itself is a strip of a rainbow colored fabric which is worn over the left shoulder and is put on at the beginning of the Liturgy. The members go up to receive Eucharist.[4] If denied, they go back to pews and remain standing,[3] but if the Eucharist is received then they go back to the pew and kneel in the traditional way.[5]

As Archbishop of Melbourne, and later as Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell attracted some attention in 2002 for refusing Holy Communion to self-declared practising gays.[3][6] Activists have appeared on Pentecost Sunday at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne and St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney wearing rainbow sashes and requesting communion. Pell has consistently and steadfastly refused them communion, offering blessings which are usually refused.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Prop 8 briefs: Republicans come out against 8" Published 08/07/2008 by Seth Hemmelgarn
  2. ↑ "Nun, Catholic Parents Defy Chicago's Roman Catholic Archbishop"
  3. 1 2 3 Rainbow Sash Movement History in the United States, Australia, and England
  4. ↑ "Rainbow Sash Movement at London's Westminister Cathedral" Archived May 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "Group tries to block gays at communion in St. Paul Cathedral", by Chao Xiong, Star Tribune, May 31, 2004
  6. ↑ "Dr. George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia: people who reject Church teaching not entitled to Holy Communion..."
  7. ↑ "Pell lashes out after gays refused communion" Kelly Burke, Religious Affairs Writer, May 20, 2002.


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