Gay patient says Catholic chaplain refused him last rites

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Ugh.

A Catholic chaplain at MedStar Washington Hospital Center stopped delivering a 63-year-old heart attack patient Communion prayers and last rites after the man said he was gay, the patient said Wednesday, describing a dramatic bedside scene starting with him citing Pope Francis and ending with him swearing at the cleric.

Details of the exchange this month between the Rev. Brian Coelho and retired travel agent Ronald Plishka couldn’t be confirmed with the priest, who did not respond to a direct e-mail or to requests left with the hospital and the archdiocese. The Archdiocese of Washington, for which he works, declined to comment and said Coelho “is not doing interviews.” The bedside discussion was first reported Monday in the Washington Blade.

In a statement, Washington Hospital Center emphasized its support of gay and lesbian patients and said it expects staff members and others working with patients to “adhere to our values.”

The question of how members of the clergy minister to gays and lesbians is becoming more explosive in traditional religion as society becomes more accepting of them. This is true in Catholicism, which is why the pope made worldwide news soon after taking office when he told reporters asking about gay people: “Who am I to judge?”

[rug]

1. This article has more details than the original story.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024515807

Looks like it came down to Confession.

[IrishAyes]

2. But did the priest really say he wouldn't give last rites because of the man's sexual orientation

after supposedly saying it didn't bother him? I'm missing something here.

[rug]

3. When this story first came out the details were murky.

From this article it appears the priest refused Confession. I bet the priest refused on the ground that the man would not make a "firm resolve to sin no more."

When my kids were smaller I took them to Confession so they would know what it was about. They asked me why I didn't go in. So I did. I told the priest I was in a second marriage and I didn't think he could give me absolution. He told me he would leave what I might do in the future for God to figure out and began to recite the Latin "Ego te absolve . . . ."

Sometimes we need priests who are not accountants.

[IrishAyes]

4. That's good to hear. Not only do we need more non-accountant priests,

I want the old confessionals back! By golly, when you went in there and took care of business, you knew something had been accomplished by the time you left.

hmmm.... I wonder if the vagueness of the priest at my last confession 2-3 years ago was his way of wiggling out of absolution? He's the one I told you about having such trouble with, laughing at my clothes and calling me a liar. To this day I'm unsure which made me angriest.

[rug]

5. There are so many horror stories and mmisunderstandings that come out of Confession.

I hope this sacrament gets dusted off and the priests learn to use it as the unique pastoral tool it is. It is the most human and most personal of the sacraments. This man has every right to be outraged.

[IrishAyes]

6. How can gays be included in the church if they're denied confession? Forget Francis - JESUS must be

horrified. Face palm time.