Suspending Fr. Guarnizo

MARYLAND
National Catholic Reporter

by Michael Sean Winters on Mar. 12, 2012

The Archdiocese of Washington suspended Fr. Marcel Guarnizo from ministry late last week, citing his intimidation of parishioners. Guarnizo landed on the archdiocese’s — and the nation’s — radar screen when he denied Communion to a lesbian at her mother’s funeral.

I have no inside information about why the archdiocese took the step it did, but I am betting that his decision to deny Communion led them to look more closely at the priest, and they found other instances of a troubling lack of judgment.

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