Chicago, Ill., May 24, 2004 / 22:00 pm
The Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George, has written a memo to all pastors in the Archdiocese of Chicago saying the Church should deny communion to gay Catholics who wear a rainbow sash at Mass on Sunday.
The wearing of the sash next Sunday is a protest sponsored by the "Rainbow Sash Movement," which plans to send members to parishes across Chicago and to Holy Name Cathedral to "denounce the Catholic Church's segregation of gay members."
In his memo, Cardinal George says wearing the sash indicates disagreement with Church teachings that gay sexual relations are sinful, and therefore communion must be denied to avoid turning it into a statement.
The Cardinal is in Rome for his Ad Limina visit.