Fresh Out of Pandora's Box... Can Catholics in a Gay Marriage Participate in Parish Life?

WALKING ON EGGSHELLS
from California Catholic Daily

The California Supreme Court’s May 15 ruling that creates a right to homosexual marriage provoked an immediate response from California’s bishops, whose spokesman, Ned Dolejsi, expressed the bishops’ “disappointment” with the decision the same day it was published. But what does the ruling mean specifically for Catholics?

California Catholic Daily contacted every chancery in the state, asking what would happen to the canonical status of Catholics of the same sex who were civilly married: Could they be catechists? Extraordinary ministers? Lectors? Would they be permitted to receive Communion?

Maurice Healy, spokesman for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, was out of town when called. However, an employee in the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s Communications Office said, “Do you want to know what the archdiocese’s position is or what Canon Law says? Because they’re one and the same.” She then said that she was not the official spokesman for the archdiocese and asked not to be quoted.

Bishop Mar Sarhad Yawsip Hermiz Jammo of the Chaldean Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle in San Diego was hesitant to make a definitive statement without first consulting his brother bishops. “This is not an issue that will affect just one diocese,” he said. “The Conference of Bishops should have some commentary about this issue, so I will wait and not formally comment. It is a large issue with not just one case or one incident. It is better that I wait and see the statement that is made collectively by the bishops.”

Bishop Gerald Dino of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Van Nuys was more direct. “They wouldn’t be able to function in any position in the Catholic Church as catechists or anything like that,” said Bishop Dino. “They wouldn’t be able to go to Communion either. Obviously, they are living in a way that the Church considers immoral, in sin. As a result, you cannot go to Communion then. This isn’t saying that the Catholic Church discriminates against homosexuals. We understand that homosexuality is not a choice for these people, but we say that homosexuality is an inadequate psychosexual development that occurs in one’s youth, from circumstances in their family lives.”

The Diocese of San Bernardino referred us to Fr. Howard Lincoln, a parish priest who often speaks to the media. “I have a meeting next week with the bishop and we will be discussing a number of issues dealing with the media,” said Fr. Lincoln. “I think this is one issue that the bishops are going to have to address. Can I call you back next week?” (This story was written before Fr. Lincoln could call back.)

Fr. Robert Herbst, adjutant judicial vicar for the Diocese of Oakland, said that Catholics who engage in a homosexual marriage would definitely be subject to consequences. “Canonically, going through a civil marriage ceremony could be considered an act contrary to the basics of the faith,” said Fr. Herbst. “It’s an act that is publicly against the basic theology of marriage. People that do this can be penalized, but not immediately. There would have to be an investigation, but it doesn’t appear that the layperson would incur an automatic penalty. But that begs the question, are the bishops willing to go forward and start these investigations if these are made public? If someone goes to the bishop and says, ‘This couple went to San Francisco and was married in a civil ceremony,’ is the bishop actually going to look into it? That, I can tell you, we haven’t even discussed. When all the civil stuff was going on over in San Francisco, there was talk about this, but never any action, because it was for such a brief period of time.”

Kevin Drabinksy, communications director for the Diocese of Monterey, said, “I spoke to our bishop, Richard Garcia, and he says that if it was well-known that they were a married couple, he would say ‘no’ to them serving as Eucharistic ministers or lectors because it would cause scandal.”

Other chanceries in California, were not as forthcoming:

Todd Tamberg, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, did not return emails or phone calls.

Deacon Jesse Avila, communications director for the Diocese of Fresno, said he would forward the question to a Canon lawyer for a response. There were no further responses at press time.

Ryan Lilyengren, spokesman for the Diocese of Orange, asked that we email him the question and promised to call back. There was no response by press time.

Sister Eileen Enright, vicar for pastoral ministries for the Diocese of Sacramento and the main contact for the diocesan Communications Department, did not return phone calls.

Kent Peters, spokesman for the Diocese of San Diego, said the good question was a good one, but that he preferred to let diocesan Chancellor Rodrigo Valdivia answer it, and forwarded the question to him. Valdivia did not respond by press time.

Sister Rose Mary Kuklok at the Tribunal for the Diocese of Santa Rosa did not return emails or phone calls.

Father Hien Nguyen, judicial vicar for the Diocese of San Jose, did not return phone calls.

Father Jovito Roldan, judicial vicar for the Diocese of Stockton, did not respond to emails or phone calls.

(Editor’s note: The various chanceries were given four working days to respond to our query.)