Georgetown Professor explains how the Eucharist is insignificant

In yet another podcast on This Is Catholic, (this name is truly misused, as most of what is being said is anything but Catholic) Professor Joseph Jensen explains how the Eucharist (the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ) is made "insignificant". 

If you haven't seen yesterday's post "Catholic Professor says Jesus was prejudice and broken until he was cured by a woman" I would suggest taking a look as that is podcast 1 from Professor Joseph Jensen. 

In podcast 1.2 Jensen suggests that any man or woman can change the bread and wine into the Eucharist. (He has a very twisted, Protestant actually, view of the Real Presence).

Matthew 18:20 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA) 20 "For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

His theology is that "the Real Presence is bigger than just the Eucharist". He twists scripture to say that "where ever two or three are gathered in my name" (Matthew 18:20) is the same "Real Presence" as the Eucharist at any Catholic parish. That there is no difference between the Consecrated Host (the real Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus) and every human being walking the earth because Jesus is with us all. This is what many Protestant communities teach because they reject the Catholic interpretation of John 6 and all the Catholic Church has taught on the subject for over two thousand years. 

He says, "If you worship the bread and wine as the Real Presence of Jesus, but then can't see the real presence of Jesus in the person next to you or the people around you, the bread and wine is totally insignificant." 

Big problem here, Jensen refers to the Consecrated Host as "bread and wine", indicating he has serious issues with Church teaching on the Eucharist. That's a really big problem for any Catholic, but especially for a Permanent Roman Catholic Deacon and professor at Catholic institutions! 

Jensen continues saying, "It [the Real Presence] is ONLY significant in terms of where two or three are gathered in the midst, and only significant in the living word that has been proclaimed- you've heard and then you go out and proclaim..." He's speaking here of the readings at Mass. 

He finishes with his final opinion on when the Eucharist is significant by saying, "...and its only significant in you becoming the real presence of Jesus so that your words are Jesus' words, your actions are Jesus' actions and that begins to mend the brokenness in the same way that Jesus, in the time he was physically present on earth as the human that lived and died and is now resurrected and present in believers continuing to do exactly what Jesus did back then. That is what the Eucharist is about." 

Oh dear, where to begin? 

The Eucharist does not stop being the Real Presence (Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity) of Christ if we mere humans fail in our words and our actions. The Eucharist is not dependent on us, we are dependent on the Eucharist to nourish our souls and give us the graces we need. 

Jensen says "in the time he [Jesus] was physically present on earth"... For goodness-sake! Jesus IS physically present on earth in the Eucharist, that is basic Catholic teaching! 

"Christ held Himself in His hands when He gave His Body to His disciples saying: 'This is My Body.' No one partakes of this Flesh before he has adored it."- St. Augustine 

Professor Jensen wants open Holy Communion for all people, not just Catholics. He says "closed communion invalidates the whole meaning of Eucharist and it invalidates the whole meaning of communion." 

Again, nothing we do by our words or actions "invalidates" the Sacred Host. 

Yet this [closed communion] is something many Catholics are confused about. I've heard this from many progressive Catholics. My suggestion, read Saint Paul in Scripture...

1 Cor. 27 "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself."  

...and the Saints/Doctors of the Church to get a better understanding of just what you are doing when you receive Christ in the Eucharist.

Jensen is clearly poorly formed in the faith or a heretic who was rightly taught the Faith but rejects it, protesting Her teachings as so many Protestants have done. Either way, he's not teaching the authentic Catholic Faith. 

Here is the authentic teaching of the Eucharist...

"Holy Eucharist is a sacrament instituted by Our Lord Jesus Christ, and contains our adorable Saviour Himself, under the appearance of bread and wine. The day before His Passion, Jesus Christ took bread into His sacred hands, blessed it, and changed it by His almighty power into His own Body and Blood. 'Take,' said He to His Apostles, 'take and eat ye of this; FOR THIS IS MY BODY.' And when they had communicated, He took a chalice of wine, blessed it, saying, 'Take and drink ye all of this; FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD, the blood of the new and eternal testament, which shall be shed for you and for many, to the remission of sins.' Then He gave to His Apostles, who thus became the first priests, the command and the power to do what He Himself had done, to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. 'And you,' he added, 'as often as ye do these things, ye shall do them in remembrance of Me.' Ever since that time, the Apostles, and their legitimate successors, the bishops and priests of the Catholic Church, have every day, when celebrating Mass, consecrated bread and wine; and it is this bread and wine, miraculously changed into the Body and Blood of our Lord, that we call the sacrament of Holy Eucharist, or the Blessed Sacrament. To communicate is to receive the sacrament of Holy Eucharist, or, in other words, it is to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, really present, though hidden beneath the veils of the sacred Host. This Body is verily the same Body that was once upon this earth, but is not under the same conditions. In the Holy Eucharist it is in a glorified condition, and is thus immeasurably removed from the grossness of the natural and earthly body. To make a good communion is to receive Jesus Christ with right dispositions; to make a bad communion is to receive Him with evil dispositions. The first, the noblest, holiest, and most sublime action of which a creature is capable, for it is to unite one's self to God. The last is a terrible sacrilege, by which we betray Jesus Christ, like Judas, with a kiss." [Source: The Fountain of Catholic Knowledge: A Comprehensive Statement of All the Truths of the Holy Religion, Published by Office of Catholic Publications, copyright 1900]

That teaching is not what Professor Jensen is teaching. Jensen tells engaged couples that he councils before marriage, "to have one meal a week where they talk about scripture and life and have a Eucharist meal - cause Jesus can show up anywhere, don't worry about not being ordained - and treat this meal as you would the Eucharist." Jensen promises that this homemade Eucharist meal "can be more effective than what you find at Mass." 

"more effective"??? 😕

"If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion."- St. Maximilian Kolbe

The stuff Jensen is peddling is pure Protestantism. This is NOT Catholic teaching. You cannot find the Real Presence of Christ in your cheese burger and french fries! 

I am floored this man is teaching in any Catholic institute. This is scandalous and so sad. How many well meaning Catholics have looked to him for answers because of his position at these institutes or because he is a Deacon only to be fed heretical nonsense! How many of Christ's flock has he lead away from the authentic Faith into heresy? 

This is truly disturbing. 

Please people, if you hear something that sounds new or different from what you've always been taught, let that be alarm bells for you. Seek out the authentic Faith NOT IN MEN, but in the official documents and teachings of Christ's Holy Catholic Church where Christ Himself has promised the gates of Hell would never prevail. 


In Christ, 

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 

**A reminder for Deacon Joseph Jensen...you don't get to change authentic teaching of the Faith. 

Catholic Catechism #939 Helped by the priests, their co-workers, and by the deacons, the bishops have the duty of authentically teaching the faith, celebrating divine worship, above all the Eucharist, and guiding their Churches as true pastors. Their responsibility also includes concern for all the Churches, with and under the Pope.




Sources: 

https://soundcloud.com/thisiscatholic/reallypresent

https://scs.georgetown.edu/programs/4/bachelor-of-arts-in-liberal-studies/faculty-bio/3627/joseph-e-jensen 

http://connecticutcatholiccorner.blogspot.com/2018/02/catholic-professor-says-jesus-was.html

Apology to Ave Maria Radio

Earlier today I posted an article about Ave Maria Radio (an EWTN affiliate) reporting that convicted killer Ledell Lee's last meal was the "Eucharist" while all other media sources reported "communion" from an unknown denomination. 

Another Catholic blogger picked up the story from me and linked back to my post. 

I questioned Ave Maria Radio's article title using "Eucharist" without waiting for Ave Maria Radio's answer to the question "where was their source?" 

That was wrong and I apologize to Ave Maria Radio for not waiting for their return phone call before posting the story or a return email from EWTN whom I did ask clarification from as Ave Maria Radio is an EWTN affiliate. 

I have spoken with Ave Maria Radio's news director and he told me it was an honest mistake by a person being a bit "overzealous" in posting their story. 

Seems there is a lot of that going on lately. 

I am removing the original article from my blog. 

Again, my apologies to Ave Maria Radio for not giving them more time to respond before posting my article. 


God bless.


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 


*I did also receive an email from EWTN. 

Babble from the Vatican?

I am so sad to hear such protestant-like talk coming from the Vatican.  It never seems to stop...it just grows and grows - perhaps this is to prepare us for the "celebration" of the heretic Martin Luther in 2017?

Anyone who follows this blog, knows that I grew up in a protestant church and converted to the Catholic faith as an adult.  I had more than 30 years of protestantism in my life- and I was not someone who never attended a church.  I grew up in church, joined everything they had...youth groups, Sunday school for children and adults, bible studies, Christian book clubs and on and on.

I heard over and over again, that as a Christian I could discover God anywhere at any time because every believer was a "priest" (in the "universal priesthood" theology from dear ol' heretic Martin Luther).  That my personal relationship with God was my own to explore in whatever manner worked for me.  I didn't need a specific church or a minister/priest because ALL believers and followers of Christ were themselves members of the "universal priesthood"-there was no royal priesthood and still isn't for Protestants and their theology. As the saying goes "Protestants are their own popes!" - its true.  Each Protestant gets to decide everything for themselves.

For some people, that means never setting foot in a church building.  This is why so many people tune in to watch televangelists- they are taught they can find their "personal relationship with God" anywhere so there is no need to attend or belong to a church community.  They can instead tune in to Christian televangelists to occasionally "be fed the Word of God" and to "grow in their Bible knowledge".

This is protestant theology for many Christians.

Today when I heard it (via Rome Reports) coming from the Vatican my heart sank.

Quote from Rome Reports:

"The gift of mercy is the announcement that the Church is called to transmit in her work of evangelization in this time of great change.”

It was the plenary meeting of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. The Pope asked them to continue questioning without fear about what exactly is "the most coherent place to find Christ and follow Him.”

Knowingly or unknowingly, people at the Vatican (including our current pope) are promoting Protestantism and telling people (people who hear the words of televangelists on TV and other protestant leaders will recognize this in a heartbeat) that they DO NOT NEED THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. That the "great change" in the Catholic Church is suddenly Protestant theology.  It's not, but that is how it sounds to people who have heard this sort of teaching before.  This isn't new to protestants, this is the foundation of their theology.

When people hear the Pope telling anyone (yes, I realize this is spoken to the PCNE) to "continue questioning without fear about what exactly is the most coherent place to find Christ and follow Him" what they will get out of that is exactly what Protestants have been teaching for centuries "You don't need the Catholic Church to have a personal relationship with God.  You can find that anywhere all on your own."

That IS the message being heard here.

If the Church doesn't make the message loud and CLEAR (something this Pope has a problem with) that the Holy Catholic Church IS "the most coherent place to find Christ and follow Him" then the Church is COMPLETELY failing in Her mission. 

There should be NO question here.

Jesus Christ created ONE Church and that Church is the best place to "find Christ and follow Him".

Why is the Catholic Church ENCOURAGING anyone to "question" this?

Why is the Catholic Church telling anyone to question these beliefs "without fear"?

Its almost as if they have forgotten the existence of the Eucharist to hear such talk.

They are knowingly or unknowingly making the Church irrelevant to many people when such messaging comes out.

The Church must BOLDLY proclaim that She has always been and always will be "the most coherent place to find Christ and follow Him" because She is the ONLY place He is found Body, Soul, Blood and Divinity.  Period.

I wish Pope Francis would understand that.



In Christ & praying for the Church,


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner



Rome Reports: http://www.romereports.com/pg161627-pope-invites-christians-to-rethink-their-method-of-catechesis-en

Related link: http://connecticutcatholiccorner.blogspot.com/2013/08/catholics-to-begin-commemorating.html

Holy Thursday

Washing feet didn't make Holy Thursday holy, the Eucharist did.



In Christ,


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

The Eucharist

Music: "Jesus My Lord, My God, My All"- produced by David Phillips

Album: The Prayer of the Church: The Rosary



In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Drats! Sign of Peace stays in Mass

By Connecticut Catholic Corner

I don't like the "Sign of Peace" at Mass.  

I just don't.  

First, it seems like an interruption of the Mass to me. Secondly, it appears to me to be completely out of hand and not at all what it was/is supposed to be.  And third...well I am not a touchy-feely type person who wants to be subjected to shaking strangers hands and/or getting hugs or kisses by strangers.

I don't like it.

I thought at first it might just be me and the particular parishes I have attended (remember I live in liberal Connecticut).  But after reading Pat Archbold's piece at the National Catholic Register, I see he too has experienced what I have at some Masses.

"I will admit that most times, the ridiculousness that ensues during the sign of peace has me cringing. Worse, I have had perfect strangers hug me. Last year I went to mass while travelling on business and this lady, before my Kung Fu training could kick in, hugged me.  Sensing my profound discomfort, she said, "That is how we do it here!"  This left me channeling Chuck Heston for my inner dialogue at the unruly and distracting anthropocentric mauling, "Take your stinking paws off me you darn dirty ape! That is Jesus up there!"  But hey, that's just me."-end quote-

I feel your pain! 

I've seen the Sign of Peace wave, kiss and bear hugs.  

My strategic defense has for years been placing one of my kids on each side of me.  I've notice strangers are less likely to grab a kid or teenager to hug or kiss.  

What I would have liked to have happened:

1) do away with the Sign of Peace completely 
- OR
2) have the priest say it to the laity and the laity say it back to the priest only- no getting physical with each other 
-OR
3) let us give a simple nod to each other- no physical contact necessary


But the Church has decided the "Sign of Peace" will not only remain as part of the Mass but also remain exactly where it is in the Mass.  Right smack dab in the middle.  So as distasteful as it is to me personally, I have to accept the Church's decision and live with it because that is what Church Authority is all about.  

On a side note, besides disliking the hippie love fest which often ensues during the Sign of Peace I DO NOT WANT to shake hands with people coughing, sneezing, blowing their noses, kids picking their noses and/or doing other disgusting things.  I don't like it. I'm really not a germaphobe I simply don't like it- particularly at Mass.

Call me finicky I don't care.  It's another reason (in my opinion) to receive the Eucharist on the tongue and NOT in the hands.

Those germ ridden typhoid Mary hands then go up and take the Eucharist in their hands for Holy Communion without a thought.  That just screams "THIS IS WRONG" to me.  But that is a subject for another day.


In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner



Source: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/pat-archbold/ditch-the-sign-of-peace-or-take-your-stinking-paws-off-me-you-darn-dirty-ap

Can you spot the problem in this Catholic procession?

By Connecticut Catholic Corner

Anyone see anything wrong here?




In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner


Source: GloriaTV (Mexico) http://gloria.tv/?media=636622

Mississippi Mass Confusion

This weekend parishioners at St. John the Evangelists Catholic Church in Gulfport, Mississippi celebrated their sixth year “International Celebration” Mass. 

What is “International Celebration Mass” you ask?  It’s a Mass with a procession of international flags, dancing children during Mass and our Lord’s altar draped in a world map. 

What’s the point of such a Mass?

To celebrate the peoples diversity of course!

Move over Jesus, this Mass isn’t about you, it’s about US.

Look at us! 

See how diverse we are! 

See how we come together to celebrate how special we are!

See how we use words like “unite” and “diversity” and “come together” to divert attention from the fact that we have reduced you Jesus, to a mere excuse to gather at Church so we can celebrate how great we the people are!  

See us celebrate US!  See us celebrate how wonderfully diverse we all are!

See us NOT celebrating Jesus.  :(

Once the guitar strumming and dancing is done, the diversity Mass is followed by a buffet of diverse food for all the diverse people to eat in order to complete the celebration of their diversity.

 Quote from the Sun Herald:

       “Parishioners dressed in the attire depicting their background and carried flags from each country of origin represented at the church to begin the Mass. St. John's Church Choir, St. John's Hispanic Choir and the Vietnamese Martyrs Church Angels Choir of Biloxi provided music during the service. Children's groups from Vietnamese Martyrs and St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church performed ceremonial dances during the Mass as well.  Coordinator of the event Vickie Tiner said South Mississippi is rich in other cultures and this is a way of celebrating those cultures.” –end quote-

What does parish priest Father Joseph Uko say about this Mass? He says, “the celebration highlights the differences and the one reason everyone comes together.”

Really Father?  The “one reason everyone comes together” for Mass is to celebrate our own diversity?

God save us from priests like this!!

A reminder for those who think this sort of Mass is what the Church teaches…

Catholic Catechism on the Mass…

VI. The Paschal Banquet

1382 The Mass is at the same time, and inseparably, the sacrificial memorial in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated and the sacred banquet of communion with the Lord's body and blood. But the celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice is wholly directed toward the intimate union of the faithful with Christ through communion. To receive communion is to receive Christ himself who has offered himself for us.

1387 To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church.²¹⁸ Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.                                                         

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Source & images: http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/25/5600514/catholic-mass-celebrates-diversity.html?sp=/99/184/201/

Parish information: http://www.biloxidiocese.org/index.cfm?load=org&org=48

Vatican Catechism: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P42.HTM

Adoring Him in the Eucharist

Music: "Jesus My Lord, My God, My All"- produced by David Phillips
Album: The Prayer of the Church: The Rosary

I HIGHLY recommend this CD.



In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner


link: http://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Church-Rosary-David-Phillips/dp/B000033Z9N

What about Joe?

In a recent (and wonderful) interview, Cardinal Raymond Burke made it perfectly clear (I just love when our clergy speak in no uncertain terms) that Nancy Pelosi could NOT have Holy Communion at Mass because of her support and work on behalf of child killing- abortion.

Cardinal Burke said in his interview regarding Nancy Pelosi, Holy Communion and Canon Law 915: “Certainly this is a case when Canon 915 must be applied. This is a person who obstinately, after repeated admonitions, persists in a grave sin — cooperating with the crime of procured abortion — and still professes to be a devout Catholic. This is a prime example of what Blessed John Paul II referred to as the situation of Catholics who have divorced their faith from their public life and therefore are not serving their brothers and sisters in the way that they must — in safeguarding and promoting the life of the innocent and defenseless unborn, in safeguarding and promoting the integrity of marriage and the family.

Let's all pretend we don't see this.

What Congresswoman Pelosi is speaking of is not particular confessional beliefs or practices of the Catholic Church. It belongs to the natural moral law which is written on every human heart and which the Catholic Church obviously also teaches: that natural moral law which is so wonderfully illumined for us by Our Lord Jesus Christ by His saving teaching, but most of all by His Passion and death.
To say that these are simply questions of Catholic Faith which have no part in politics is just false and wrong. I fear for Congresswoman Pelosi if she does not come to understand how gravely in error she is. I invite her to reflect upon the example of St. Thomas More who acted rightly in a similar situation even at the cost of his life." [End]

Wonderful! 

Thank you Cardinal Burke!

But…umm… what about Joe Biden?

He’s still pretending to be Catholic isn’t he?

How about taking on the Vice President who is guilty of the EXACT same thing as Nancy Pelosi?

Why didn’t anyone put their foot down to the Kennedy boys?

If you are going to put your foot down (and you should), let it come down on ALL the guilty parties.  And don’t forget the mental midgets calling themselves “nuns” riding buses and waving rainbow flags in support of “gay marriage”. 

Let the Church REALLY enforce Canon Law 915 with an across the world excommunication for Catholics who do what Pelosi does?  Let's not single one out one from among the hordes, lets apply it to all who are guilty.  

The Church had no problem (for a day) excommunicating the ENTIRE NATION of wayward Catholic lawmakers and voters in Uruguay…

Quote: “Bishop Heriberto Bodeant, secretary for the Uruguayan bishops’ conference, said the lawmakers essentially excommunicated themselves by voting for abortion.
“Automatic excommunication is for those who collaborate in the execution of an abortion in a direct way,” he said. “If a Catholic votes…with the manifest intention that he thinks the Church is wrong about this, he separates himself from the communion of the Church.”[End]

Ooops! *another case of Catholic whiplash*

That’s right, you publicly called them excommunicated, then the media went crazy and the next day it was all a terrible “misunderstanding” and the Church backpedaled and the media "updated" the story.

Update quote:  “The Uruguayan bishops’ conference has explained recent statements regarding Catholic lawmakers who voted to legalize abortion in the country, saying they are not excommunicated if they voted in favor of abortion.“Excommunication applies to Catholics who have acted directly in carrying out an abortion, which does not include those who vote for a law that allows it,” Bishop Heriberto Bodeant, secretary general of the conference said.”[End]

We get a lot of these explanations when someone in the Church says something.  We hear something said, we hold our breath waiting for the explanation to come for fear to believe what we hear the first time around.

How about we stop playing games, end the Catholic whiplash from our Bishops and enforce what Church Canon Laws say to enforce?  If you don’t… what’s the point in writing Canon Law?

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

                                                                                      

Canon Law Can.  #915 Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.

Links to quotes:

Source: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_P39.HTM

Source: http://www.thewandererpress.com/ee/wandererpress/index.php?pSetup=wandererpress&curDate=20130905

Source: http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/23/uruguay-bishops-excommunicate-lawmakers-who-legalized-abortion/

Source: http://www.ewtnnews.com/catholic-news/Americas.php?id=6408#ixzz2AFv6fJDm

Episcopal Bishop sticks his nose in Catholic Communion

I am not feeling particularly nice this morning, so this may come off as more of a rant, than anything else. 

Oh where do I begin!  Last week the openly gay retired Episcopal Bishop Rev. Gene Robinson wrote an article for the Washington Post [link at bottom]telling the Catholic Church what it should do and how it should run its own faith regarding Holy Communion.  After learning of Edward Peters (Catholic Canon Law Teacher) comments reminding Catholics that it is wrong to receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin- which includes rejected official Catholic faith, the Episcopal retired Bishop decided he would tell the Catholic Church who should be allowed to receive the Eucharist at Catholic masses around the world. 

The puffed up and far too often delusional openly homosexual Robinson said…”

    “I believe that using Communion as such a manipulative tool surely profanes the sacrament. Perhaps these Catholic leaders should revisit their church’s theology of the Eucharist. Reception of the body and blood of Christ at Communion is God’s gift to God’s people, not a reward for right behavior. We receive Communion not because we are worthy of it, but because God’s offers us the body and blood of Christ despite our unworthiness.”

A “manipulative tool”?  Asking people to be in a state of grace to eat the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ is “manipulating” people?  Was Saint Paul manipulating people when he said…

1 Corinthians 11:27-29

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Partaking of the Supper Unworthily

 ^"Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself."

Perhaps Robinson’s bible doesn’t include these verses… better bet is Robinson wants to wallow in his own homosexual abomination relationship so he deliberately attempts to ignore these verses. He not only waltzes himself down the road toward Hell, he also attempts to grab as many others as he can to take along with him. I suggest the feeble sin ridden minded Robinson read the bible and pray so that one day he can repent and get off the road to Hell that he is currently on.  Yes I said that.

Anyone- I don’t care who you are- anyone who continues in mortal sin, changing the Word of God in an attempt redefine what is or isn’t sin IS on the road to Hell. If you repent you get off the road to Hell, if you continue in mortal sin you continue down the road to Hell. Until our very last breath, we have the opportunity repent and ask God to forgive us our sins. It is my prayer that ALL sinners - Robinson included- will repent before reaching the end of that road.  Catholics: GO TO CONFESSION and mean it!

God did not ask for our input on what should be sin and what should not be sin.  God tells us what sin is and when we commit sin, we MUST repent of it.  We are called to repent of ALL sins- fornication,rape, murder, gossip, lust, homosexual relationships, adultery and so on.  Sin separates us from God.  Being truly contrite and repenting of our sins brings us closer to God.  Jesus Christ died for our sin- ALL our sins.  He then asked one thing of us… to repent and pick up our crosses to follow Him.

No one is following Christ, if they haven’t first repented and at the very least are attempting to “sin no more”.  The Act of Contrition says it best…

“My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.”

That is a key part of being contrite for sins… not wanting to commit them again. Not wanting to offend our Lord. What homosexuals in sexual relationships and their supporters want is to remove the “sin no more and to avoid whatever leads me to sin” part of being contrite and repenting.  They seem to think that if a secular government redefines marriage or makes a new law saying this or that is now legal, that somehow God is under a secular government’s authority and will suddenly stop calling sin a sin!  As if sinners then won't be held accountable for sinning!    Ridiculous!  They think they can stand before God on Judgment Day and whine "But God, it was legal".  God will probably say something like "Not by MY Laws".  You can't tell God what He declared sin is no longer a sin.  He's GOD!

The first Commandment is “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex.20) - that includes governments!  Our salvation does NOT come from any government- it comes from our Lord. We don’t get to pick and choose what sins we would like to redefine so that our sins are no longer sins.  I am sure there are lots of people out there who would like adultery, fornication and rape to be redefined so that they are no longer sins.  Secular society does not get to decide what a sin is or what is not.

What the profanely delusional Robinson doesn’t seem to grasp (either intentionally or cluelessly) is that ANY Catholic clergy who denies Holy Communion to a person in mortal sin is LOVING that person.  It is a GREAT act of love to withhold the Eucharist from a person in mortal sin.  Read again Saint Paul’s words to the Corinthians…  ^“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord” and “ For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.”

He says “guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord”- that IS serious!  How serious? Verse 29 tells us to do so is to bring “judgment upon himself”- what judgment?  ETERNAL JUDGMENT! It is a mortal sin!  This is what the Apostles taught and it is what the Catholic Church still teaches today.  Catholic clergy SHOULD deny the Eucharist to one and all IF they know the person is in mortal sin.  Not to use the Eucharist as a “manipulating tool” as Robinson declares, but rather to show PROFOUND LOVE and care for a person’s eternal soul.

Robinson has a mill stone around his neck and he’s too delusional to see it.  He reminds me of Jesus’ teaching about the speck in another eye and the log in your own and not giving what is holy to those who aren’t clean (state of grace)…

   

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. “Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you.” [Matthew 7]

So when you see Episcopal Bishop Robinson contradict Holy Scriptures by saying, ”We receive Communion not because we are worthy of it, but because God’s offers us the body and blood of Christ despite our unworthiness”…and Saint Paul in the Bible say… ”Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord” be sure to listen to Saint Paul in Holy Scripture rather than a man who wishes to redefine sin to suit his own perversions.  The mill stone around such a person's neck is sure to bring down others with him.  For more on the likes of such people, read 1 Corinthians 5 and pay close attention to verse eleven.
REPENT!  Robinson and others who believe like him need to REPENT so they can have eternal salvation with the Lord.  If they don't, they ARE going to end up in Hell.  Mortal sin sends people to Hell if they do not repent.  Repentance leads to Heaven.  It's really that simply. I will pray for you Gene Robinson and those who believe as you do.

link that set me off: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/catholic-leaders-using-communion-as-a-weapon-in-the-culture-wars/2013/04/24/fd4f60d2-acdf-11e2-b6fd-ba6f5f26d70e_story.html