05/20/2002 "Gays and lesbians denied communion"

Gays and lesbians denied communion
- By CHRISTINE CAULFIELD (Herald Sun)

MELBOURNE Catholic Archbishop Denis Hart followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, George Pell, yesterday and refused communion to gay and lesbian churchgoers at St Patrick's Cathedral.

A dozen members of the Rainbow Sash movement, wearing sashes as a symbol of gay pride, were denied the eucharist for the fifth consecutive year when they approached the altar during mass.
In his first Pentecost Sunday mass as Melbourne's head Catholic cleric, Archbishop Hart withheld the communion bread from each member of the group as they walked to him with outstretched hands.

Instead he offered them a blessing.

Rainbow Sash activist John McGregor said he had renounced Catholicism because the church rejected his gay son.

Mr McGregor attended mass yesterday to ask for communion on his son's behalf.

"I believe it is wrong that the church excludes people who have a different sexuality," he said.

"God created the gay and lesbian people."

Rainbow Sash president David McKenna said members in Sydney were also refused communion yesterday.