Sect leader Edwin Gonzalez Concepcion and his followers can no longer receive communion or participate in church activities, according to the order issued by Mayaguez Bishop Ulises Casiano Vargas.
Gonzalez, a former firefighter in the town of Aguada, has told his followers that he became a manifestation of John Paul when the pope died in April and that Pope Benedict XVI is the "antichrist," according to the order, which priests in the diocese read to their congregations Sunday.
Members of the group couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
The bishop also alleged that another sect leader, Gladys Miranda, claims she is the Virgin Mary, and that followers of the group make it hard for parishioners to receive communion by lying face-down in the aisle.
"After many public and private warnings … these brothers refuse to abandon their practices and repeatedly continue their affirmations that are contrary to the Catholic faith," the bishop wrote. [Source]
Lying face down makes it hard for parishioners to receive Communion? I want to know how the communicant could receive Communion face down?
5 comments
I want to know how the communicant could receive Communion face down?
Well, I suppose they could install specially designed flooring with holes in them where the parishoners’ mouths would be and have a robot push preconsecrated hosts up through the floor. Of course that would be extremely tacky and I should think sacrilegious to boot, but it could be done.
It kind of sounds like something a protester would do…perhaps they are interfering with communion in some of the “antichrist’s” parishes.
It sounds to me like they are lying down in the isles trying to preventing others from making it up to the altar. If it was me going up for communion there would be some pinched fingers and maybe my foot up someones prostrate. ( With all of the grace and charity I could muster of course.) :c)
They wouldn’t be lying there for long when I got up to go to Communion. I mean, if they really want to play floor tiles and get stepped on by a large lady in hard shoes, that’s their lookout, but they wouldn’t stop me receiving the Sacrament.
A couple pictures are available in Vivificat in Spanish for your inspection:
http://vivificar.blogspot.com
-Theo