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| Dutch gay protest over communion | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of Dutch activists have walked out of a Mass in protest at a Roman Catholic policy of denying communion to practising homosexuals. | |
| On this occasion, the church, in 's-Hertogenbosch, had already decided not to serve communion, so the protesters left, shouting and singing. | On this occasion, the church, in 's-Hertogenbosch, had already decided not to serve communion, so the protesters left, shouting and singing. |
| The dispute began earlier this month when a priest in a nearby town refused communion to an openly gay man. | The dispute began earlier this month when a priest in a nearby town refused communion to an openly gay man. |
| The Netherlands was the first country to introduce gay marriage in 2001. | The Netherlands was the first country to introduce gay marriage in 2001. |
| Most Dutch people support gay rights, but the Roman Catholic Church teaches that homosexual activity is sinful. | Most Dutch people support gay rights, but the Roman Catholic Church teaches that homosexual activity is sinful. |
| This dispute began during Dutch carnival celebrations earlier in February, when the man chosen to be carnival prince in nearby Reusel was refused communion because of his open homosexuality. | This dispute began during Dutch carnival celebrations earlier in February, when the man chosen to be carnival prince in nearby Reusel was refused communion because of his open homosexuality. |
| The refusal offended many in the local community. | The refusal offended many in the local community. |
| The Sint-Jan church in the city of 's-Hertogenbosch, also known as Den Bosch, was prepared for the protest and so decided not to give out Holy Communion during Sunday Mass. | The Sint-Jan church in the city of 's-Hertogenbosch, also known as Den Bosch, was prepared for the protest and so decided not to give out Holy Communion during Sunday Mass. |
| Several hundred demonstrators, dressed in pink wigs and clothes, left the church in protest. | Several hundred demonstrators, dressed in pink wigs and clothes, left the church in protest. |
| The man at the centre of the row has said he just wants equal treatment - if he is regarded as a sinner, he wants the priest to refuse communion to all other sinners too. | The man at the centre of the row has said he just wants equal treatment - if he is regarded as a sinner, he wants the priest to refuse communion to all other sinners too. |