When Carol Parker's (right) partner was mentioned in her
deceased mother's (left) obituary this December, the priest at their
local Catholic church took notice and took action.
Parker and her partner, Josephine Martin, were members of Saint
Columban Catholic Church for 12 years until the priest, Father Benjamin
Kneib, denied them communion upon learning of their romantic
partnership. Parker sang in the choir, and worked as a cantor and lector
for the church, and both women were saddened by the church's actions.
Fox News 4 reports:
“He had called me the day of the rosary
and said he wouldn’t be able to give us communion because of our
same-sex relationship,” said Parker.
The couple says they will never step foot in the church again. Parker said it took away a final opportunity.
“It was very important to me, my last opportunity to worship here at the church with her,” Parker said...
“To be singing in the choir and be
lectors, and everything, it’s all God. He just took it away in a
second,” Martin said. “I just really don’t understand where his heart
is.”
Fox News 4 attempted to contact Father Kneib, but his secretary said
"he did not wish to comment." Parker and Martin have found a new place
of worship where they are accepted. Parker has also found resilience in
faith.
“My faith is strong enough that I wasn’t going to let this deter me to go to church,” she said.
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