St. Michaels Church Mahim refuses Communion to a Kneeler – Has Jesus Christ been insulted?
By
The Voice Of Bombay’s Catholic Laity, THE LAITYTUDE June 24, 2013
June 22nd 2013 will go down as a very sad day in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Mumbai as in my opinion Jesus has been insulted.
One of the persons who came for the 6 am mass and knelt down to refuse communion was refused communion by an Assistant Parish Priest Fr. Blaise and told that he would receive Jesus only if he stood up.
Mr. Dominic Fernandes a daily mass goer and a resident of Mahim for many decades who was also in the line then told the priest that what he has done is totally wrong and is not acceptable. He was then taken away by an usher, Mr. Tim.
The said complete incident was witnessed by the new Parish Priest Fr. Simon Borges who was standing at the side of Fr. Blaise and also distributing Holy Communion. He too did nothing.
After the mass and novena got over the said usher Mr. Tim was confronted by many catholic daily mass goers and his explanation for communion to be given to only standees was that it flies away. He also spoke about Canon Law.
What could be the reason for the Church authorities refusing to give communion to a kneeler?
Does it take extra time?
Has the mass got less relevance to the Church authorities as compared to the novena?
Some years ago during the last stint of late Fr. Salvadore Rodrigues had just taken over he had also made announcements that communion would not be given to any person who kneels.
It is a pity that such was the stand taken by person who was the Episcopal Vicar of the Mumbai Church.
How many priests have got guts to refuse communion to persons who are not properly dressed?
Yes Jesus is being persecuted and will continue to be persecuted not by outsiders but by insiders.
It is high time that the religious come out openly against their fellow brothers for doing these types of acts as more and more people may leave the church or will it be a case of turning the blind eye?
