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Newark Archbishop Bans Catholics Who Support Gay Marriage From Receiving Communion

Myers Newark, New Jersey Bishop John J. Meyers has issued new guidelines outlining who among his parishioners should not receive holy communion–a list that includes any Catholic who supports gay marriage.

Meyers’ “memo” to priests under his jurisdiction comes as Pope Francis’ synod on the family convenes in Rome, discussing, among other things, how the Church should treat the LGBT community.

Religion News Service reports:

[Myers] says Catholics, “especially ministers and others who represent the Church, should not participate in or be present at religious events or events intended to endorse or support those who reject or ignore Church teaching and Canon Law.” […]

The memo is titled “Principles to Aid in Preserving and Protecting the Catholic Faith in the Midst of an Increasingly Secular Culture.” It is dated Sept. 22 and was sent to priests this week, according to a source who provided a copy to Religion News Service.

In the memo, Myers writes: “The Church will continue to cherish and welcome her members and invite them to participate in her life to the degree that their personal situation permits them honestly to do so.

“Catholics,” he continues, “must be in a marriage recognized as valid by the Church to receive Holy Communion or the other sacraments. Non-Catholics and any Catholic who publicly rejects Church teaching or discipline, either by public statements or by joining or supporting organizations which do so, are not to receive the Sacraments.”