AN OPEN LETTER TO CARDINAL DEW, SENT THIS MORNING

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Dear Cardinal Dew

As a parishioner of Holy Trinity CHB, I ask for clarification on the restrictions in regard to COVID-19 currently in place in the Wellington Archdiocese, on receiving Holy Communion on the tongue.

I ask because the NZ Bishops issued a directive last Wednesday Mar 4 to the effect that if the need should arise for such a restriction, all parishes throughout New Zealand would be informed immediately. 

Naturally people in the Palmerston North Diocese wonder why we are refused Communion on the tongue, when Catholics in the rest of the country are not.

I ask also because in a practical sense there is no need for such a restriction. Communion on the tongue is recognised by health professionals, including at least one immunologist, as safer practice than Communion in the hand.

My Parish Priest, Fr Paul Kerridge, stated at Mass yesterday that in giving Holy Communion on the tongue his fingers come in contact with saliva. When a priest distributes the Blessed Sacrament correctly, and the communicant knows how to receive, he makes no contact with the tongue. I suggest some catechesis might help the priests of the Archdiocese in this regard.

Further, it is the unalienable right of every Catholic to receive Communion on the tongue: no priest or bishop can proscribe it. Only the consecrated hands of the priest may touch the Sacred Species. Communion in the hand has led to appalling abuses, such as described so ‘graphically’ on the Archdiocesan website by one Peter Gaines of New Plymouth, whose “ranting” has been cited by one Palmerston North parishioner as “hatred”.

To avoid embarrassing Father and causing scandal, rather than insisting on my right to receive on the tongue, I have gone up to receive the Sacrament as usual, knelt, adored our Lord, made Spiritual Communion and returned to my pew.

I find it highly ironic that on the front page of the current Welcom you urge “New Zealanders to reaffirm protection of religious beliefs”. Catholics’ reverence for the Blessed Sacrament, as evidenced by the 2000 year-old practice of receiving our Lord only on the tongue, is surely one of the ‘religious beliefs’ you urge us to protect.

I ask you please to explain why this restriction is in place in the Archdiocese but not elsewhere in New Zealand - and not in the US either as far as I can ascertain - and I ask for a return to the norm as prescribed in the GIRM and Redemptionis Sacramentum.

Thank you. I assure you of my continued prayerful support in your very difficult and untiring ministry to the Catholics of this nation.

AMDG

Julia du Fresne

Post Script: I emailed this letter to Cardinal Dew on the Archdiocesan website this morning.



Tony Keenan says:

I was told at Mass this morning that Dr Grayland refused a young lady Communion,
who was kneeling in front of him. He apparently told her in a rather loud voice that
he could not give her Communion.

Teresa said she did not see the young lady receive at all. I am convinced he is behind this.

We approached Fr Manoj this morning before Mass and requested Communion on the tongue.
He said that he could not do that as Mons Brian Walsh had given instructions not to.

I said it was a setup. Coronavirus is a very convenient excuse. The main transmitter of viruses is the hand,after all we do not lick door handles and other things hands are used for.

Communion on the tongue was still available in Wellington last Sunday.

Was Mr Gaines' rant part of a larger conspiracy? Is he being used by very cunning people, cowards who hide in the shadows and do not know TRUTH.(Jesus)? Who is behind changes in Palmerston North Diocese ? Is it the Liturgy Committee at the instigation of our learned Dr of Theology, Fr Joe Grayland? 

I recently attended the Eucharistic Convention in Wellington where I was made aware of the Society of Judases.Apparently many Bishops, Priests and learned lay innovators are clamouring to join.

Is a certain Bishop, earning his 30 pieces of silver, using Mr Gaines to show his hatred toward those who follow TRUTH?

Mr Gaines is obviously inept and should have been dismissed years ago. The anger he expresses is not doing his eternal salvation any good at all. The liturgy Committee have got to be behind this decision, cowards hiding behind Mr Gaines, massaging his ego and using him as their front man to disguise their hatred of those who receive on the tongue, kneel at the Consecration, attend Eucharistic Adoration, pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Is the reason for their hatred  the fact that we are an obstacle to their "one world religion" ambitions?

Jesus is the ONLY TRUTH and that will never change; Jesus founded ONE CHURCH and that will  

never change, but all are welcome to join.

It is time for people to stop being lukewarm, get off the fence and come back to the TRUTH, and above all, open their eyes and see what is really going on. The Mass is the Sacrifice of Calvary renewed at the Altar, not a meal at a table.

Those who stood at Calvary jeered: nothing noble about any of them.

Communion in the hand was introduced as an abuse and will always be an abuse.


Philippa O'Neill says:

It's war! They say that there should be no war between the conservatives and the libs in our church... well.. how can there not be.

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