Rainbow Sash
Encyclopedia
The Rainbow Sash Movement refers to two organizations created by and advanced by practicing gay
, lesbian
, bisexual
, and transgender
Catholics who believe they should be able to receive Holy Communion.
The leaders of the US movement founded by Joe Murray must be Roman Catholic while the Australian movement are ecumenical about it. The two movements are completely separate from each other but share the same vision.
The Rainbow Sash itself is a strip of a rainbow colored fabric which is worn over the left shoulder and is put on at the beginning of the Liturgy
. The members go up to receive Eucharist
. If denied, they go back to pews and remain standing, but if the Eucharist is received then they go back to the pew and kneel in the traditional way.
As Archbishop of Melbourne, and later as Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell
attracted some attention in 2002 for refusing holy communion to self-declared practising gay
s. Activists have appeared on Pentecost Sunday at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne
and St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
wearing rainbow sashes and requesting communion. Pell has consistently and steadfastly refused them communion, offering blessings which are usually refused.
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, bisexual
Bisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
, and transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
Catholics who believe they should be able to receive Holy Communion.
The leaders of the US movement founded by Joe Murray must be Roman Catholic while the Australian movement are ecumenical about it. The two movements are completely separate from each other but share the same vision.
The Rainbow Sash itself is a strip of a rainbow colored fabric which is worn over the left shoulder and is put on at the beginning of the Liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
. The members go up to receive Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
. If denied, they go back to pews and remain standing, but if the Eucharist is received then they go back to the pew and kneel in the traditional way.
As Archbishop of Melbourne, and later as Archbishop of Sydney, George Pell
George Pell
George Pell AC is an Australian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the eighth and current Archbishop of Sydney, serving since 2001. He previously served as auxiliary bishop and archbishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne...
attracted some attention in 2002 for refusing holy communion to self-declared practising gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
s. Activists have appeared on Pentecost Sunday at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne
St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne
St Patrick's Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, and seat of its archbishop, currently Denis J. Hart. The building is known internationally as a leading example of the Gothic Revival style of architecture.In 1974 Pope Paul VI...
and St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
The Metropolitan Cathedral of St Mary is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell. The cathedral is dedicated to "Mary, Help of Christians", Patron of Australia...
wearing rainbow sashes and requesting communion. Pell has consistently and steadfastly refused them communion, offering blessings which are usually refused.