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Priest Who Denied Communion to Lesbian at Funeral is Placed on Administrative Leave by Archdiocese
A priest who sparked a national uproar last month by refusing to give communion to a lesbian at her mother's funeral has been placed on administrative leave.
Barbara Johnson claimed that Father Marcel Guamizo "humiliated" her by denying her communion at St.John Neumann Catholic Church in Gaithersburg, Md.
Johnson told the Washington Post the priest "put his hand over the body of Christ and looked at me and said, "I cannot give you communion because you live with a women and in the eyes of the church that is a sin".
The priest then apparently refused to accompany Johnson and her mother's body to the cemetary. Johnson was told Guamizo was very ill.
The Washington-area archdiocese issued an apology a few days after the Feb. 25 incident, but took more severe action last Friday..."Father Marcel Cuamizo's assignment at St.John Neumann Parish is withdrawn and he has been placed on administrative leave with his priestly faculities removed until such time as an inquiry into his actions at the parish is completed", Bishop Barry C. Knestout wrote in a letter obtained by the Washington Post.
-NY Daily News, 03/12/12