the unforgivable sin

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Mar 06, 2006

A pastor in California has told a group of recalcitrant parishioners that because they have defied Church authority, they are guilty of "rebellion, grave disobedience and mortal sin, separating oneself from the Church." They are now "invited" (whatever that means) to leave the parish and the diocese, and instructed not to return until they repent.

Wow. What had they done? Must have been really bad.

Did they lobby for legal abortion? No.
Did they endorse same-sex marriage? No.
Did they insist that women should be ordained to the priesthood? No.
Did they deny the Real Presence? Not at all.

In fact, this strange case developed because parishioners insisted on kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, when the pastor said they shouldn't.

(Tip to Dom for the lead.)