Is Archbishop Flynn Going Far Enough?

Some Have Hats has an excellent post on the Rainbow Sash controversy, pointing out that Archbishop Flynn is saying Rainbow Sash protesters will be denied Communion if they wear their sashes when they go to received the Blessed Sacrament.

It's an excellent point. I think Archbishop Flynn's letter is being portrayed as very hard-nosed because in context of decades of the hierarchy bending over backward to be accommodating and "engage in dialogue" with groups like Rainbow Sash, even a modest step toward denying the Eucharist to a these folks seems very hard-nosed. People -- Catholic and non-Catholic alike -- by and large aren't used to seeing their bishops drawing lines in the sand like this.

This Rainbow Sash issue will no doubt continue to build in the coming days. I'm certain the MSM will try to turn it into some kind of "test for the new Pope" so they can engage in another round of Benedict-bashing.

Comments

[Karen Hall]

Just to be clear, my point was that the bishop's stand was a non-stand. Cardinal Arinze directly ordered him not to let the people wearing rainbow sashes to receive communion. He told them they could receive communion if they left their sashes in the pews. I know women who haven't received communion in years because they re-married and, for whatever reason, couldn't get an annulment. Leave your sin in the pews and we'll ignore it? Is this some new form of absolution?

[The King's Daughter]

I agree, the Rainbow Sash if worn in the Church, is a sign of protest and if left in the pew for one to go receive communion, that does nothing to negate someone wearing it to Mass in the first place.
I didn't catch that in the Archbishops letter and I think Karen is right. Anyone who wears a rainbow sash to Mass should be denied communion no matter where they hide it when they walk up to receive the Blessed Sacrament.