God Bless the Judge....she is a reflection of Jesu. (Washington, DC) - The three gay Catholics who were arrested in November 2002 at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. during the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) were found guilty of the criminal misdemeanor of unlawful entry after a two day bench trial with Judge Mildred Edwards in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

However, Judge Edwards refused to order the defendants to stay away from the Hyatt in the future, and declared the complete suspension of the imposition of sentence. They could have received 6 months in jail and a file of $350.

Kara Speltz, Ken Einhaus, and Mike Perez, the defendants in the case, are all life-long Catholics and had been denied the Eucharist (Communion) for no apparent reason during the Bishops' Mass at the National Shrine on November 11, 2002. They all testified that they entered the lobby of the Hyatt Hotel the next day and knelt in hopes that at least one bishop present would serve them the Eucharist. No bishops came forward and the three were arrested, charged with unlawful entry, and spent over 30 hours in jail.

“Terrible violence was done to you when the body of Christ was denied to you,” said Judge Mildred Edwards, who also ordered the defendants to each pay $50 to the Victims of Violent Crimes Compensation Fund.

“You are in solidarity with all victims of violence,” Judge Edwards continued as she addressed the three defendants. “I am terribly sorry for what happened to you. As a member of the Church, I ask you to forgive our Church. There is no way I am going to order you away from the Hyatt. You can engage in peaceful demonstration as long as it is law abiding. Go in Peace.”

Tears of joy were visible as court was adjourned. Kara, Ken, and Mike had all testified that they have made repeated attempts over the past few years to dialogue with several of the Bishops regarding the spiritual violence and mistreatment of gays and lesbians in the Catholic Church, but to no avail. They all plan to come back to Washington D.C. with Soulforce in November 2003 for the annual meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to once again attempt to dialogue with the Bishops.

“This verdict gives me hope that the desire of people of the church for justice and healing will prevail over the church leaders who misuse authority to control and silence us,” said Ken Einhaus. “This is a great victory for the three of us as faithful gay Catholics, and for all those who love God and seek healing for the wounds the Church has inflicted upon gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.”

Lead witness for the defense was Catholic Bishop Thomas Gumbleton from the Archdiocese of Detroit. Bishop Gumbleton testified that he was at the Hyatt for the USCCB, and was leaving the meeting during lunch recess when he saw the police arresting the defendants in the lobby of the hotel, and was unable to approach them because of the police.

“This experience reinforces my opinion about how important it is that the Catholic Church reach out to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people,” said Bishop Gumbleton after his court testimony.

Kara, Ken, and Mike were all in Washington D.C in November with Soulforce, a national movement committed to ending spiritual violence committed by religious policies and teachings against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

Soulforce was at the Conference of Catholic Bishops for the third year in a row to protest of the churches anti-gay policies and teachings when they were denied the Eucharist without explanation or justification. Soulforce plans to once again be in Washington D.C for the annual United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2003.

-- Lydia (LLD@temp.edu), January 31, 2003

Answers

> "a national movement committed to ending spiritual violence committed by religious policies and teachings against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people."

Violence implies an act of physical harm, so "spiritual violence" makes no sense. I give the gay movement full marks for their propaganda language in distorting the truth. They are masters at it, and have been at it for a long time, in that they have made thier lifestyle choice a human right, which makes no sense at all!

Gay, implies a practicing homosexual. A person who is living in mortal sin, and receives the Holy Eucharist, commits an act of sacrilege, and receives no graces from God in receiving the Eucharist, but commits a very serious sin!

These people are clearly trying to make a statement, that their sinful practices is OK, but the Church has condemned such sinful behaviour for 2000 years.

Soulforce is an organization that has to be condemned in the strongest possible words, because people's souls are at stake, and we have a duty to promote God's truth. The Gay lifestyle is one of misery, that may very well end with the person spending all eternity in hell, if they die in a state of mortal sin.

-- Gordon (gvink@yahoo.com), February 02, 2003.

Gordon - I read your post with a wryful eye. Some of us live and love a God who understands our inner hearts and inner soul. " He who is without sin - cast the first stone. "

The Thief

The crowd laughed and jeered Tears of joy and happiness appeared They said he got a death he deserved

Christ looked to His Brother and knew He got a life he did not.

Jean Bouchard - August 1995 -

-- jean bouchard (jeanb@cwk.imag.net), February 03, 2003.

Well, this sounds really nice and everything, but the fact is, whether you like it or not, the Catholic Church does teach that ALL sex outside of heterosexual marriage - whether between two men, two women or a man and a woman - is (objectively) a mortal sin. It also teaches that you're not supposed to receive the Eucharist if you're in a state of mortal sin.

If your conscience doesn't permit you to agree with that teaching, then fine, but you should have the courage to accept the consequences of your decision and leave the Church, or at least stop receiving Communion till either the Church or your conscience changes, whichever comes first.

-- Christine L. :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), February 03, 2003.

I feel so uplifted when I hear the wisdom of the truly holy women who post here. As if light beamed from their words and thoughts. I think they must pray a lot to write this kind of posts with such a great power! Thank you so much!

-- (RoseB@vox.com), February 03, 2003.

Rose, nice sarcasm there.

If I refused to take off my shoes before entering a mosque, and a security guard asked me to leave, would I have the right to be offended and demand that an entire world religion change its rules just so I won't have to take off my flip-flops? Shouldn't we respect each other's beliefs, even if we don't share them?

-- Christine L :-) (christine_lehman@hotmail.com), February 03, 2003.

> "Gordon - I read your post with a wryful eye. Some of us live and love a God who understands our inner hearts and inner soul. " He who is without sin - cast the first stone. ""

That's the thing, I'm NOT casting any stones. I speak with charity towards my fellow human beings, and I would be doing them a HUGE disservice by telling them that living in a state of sin is OK.

To love God is to do his holy will! Christ never said to the adultress, go and continue in your sins, but said go and sin NO MORE!

Soulforce is a foolish organization, for they feel they can fool God, but you cannot fool God. They are making a huge mistake if they think God will ever accept their disordered lifestyle.

Excellent post Christine!

-- Gordon (gvink@yahoo.com), February 03, 2003.