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	Catholic Reform Group Official Allegedly Denied Communion By Kevin O'Hanlon The Associated Press, carried in Lincoln Journal Star [Nebraska] March 4, 2005 An official with a Catholic reform group that has criticized the church's handling of priest sex-abuse cases says he was denied communion by Lincoln Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz and two other priests. John Krejci, a former priest and co-founder of the Nebraska chapter of Call to Action, said Bruskewitz denied him communion at Sacred Heart parish on Feb. 7, with "an unfriendly wave of his hand." "It was kind of like, "Go away!," Krejci said. "Then he spun around and went back to the alter." Bruskewitz said nothing, Krejci said. Call to Action has long been critical of how the church handled allegations of sexual abuse of children by priests. Nebraska's diocese in Lincoln was the only one in the nation to refuse to participate in the Catholic church's sex-abuse survey; Bruskewitz said it was flawed. The alleged incident with Krejci came some nine years after he and members of several other groups were excommunicated by Bruskewitz — a decision Krejci said is still on appeal to the Vatican. Church law is supposed to allow Krejci and the others to receive sacraments until their appeal is decided, Krejci said. A spokesman for the Lincoln Diocese, the Rev. Mark Huber, issued an unsigned statement from the diocese late Thursday that said there is "no evidence that an appeal from Mr. Krejci or his colleagues who have also abandoned the Catholic Church in order to belong to a sect entitled Call to Action is pending in Rome." The statement said the diocese believed the appeal was dismissed, but did not say when. Bruskewitz ordered Lincoln Catholics in 1996 to sever ties with 12 groups or risk excommunication themselves. The bishop said the groups — including Call to Action, several Masonic organizations, and abortion-rights groups Planned Parenthood and Catholics for a Free Choice — contradict and imperil Catholic faith. Krejci said that after Bruskewitz put down his vessel of communion wafers, Krejci walked over and took one himself. No one reacted, he said. "That might seem like a bold or overly dramatic gesture, but when someone violates your rights, sometimes you need to be dramatic and point that out," Krejci said. Krejci said he returned to Sacred Heart on Feb. 20 and was again denied communion, this time by the Rev. Tom Walsh. Krejci said Walsh explained that he had instructions from the Catholic Chancery office to deny communion. Walsh was out of town Thursday and not available for comment. Krejci said he was denied communion again on Tuesday at St. Patrick's parish by the Rev. David Hintz. "He said, 'John, I'm sorry, but I can't give you communion,"' Krejci said. Hintz did not immediately return a phone message left Thursday seeking comment. Krejci said he was unsure why he suddenly was denied communion. Bruskewitz and other priests had given him communion in the years since the excommunication. "I don't know if he acted spontaneously or what," Krejci said. The statement from the diocese ended with: "Mr., Krejci's behavior toward the Holy Eucharist has raised many concerns among the faithful who have heard of it. Any faithful Catholic realizes that he may not approach the sanctuary and take Holy Communion on his own. Mr. Krejci can be assured of our prayers, but must understand that we are obligated to follow the teachings of Christ and the laws of the Church." Krejci, 67, attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome with Bruskewitz in the 1960s. He left the priesthood in 1971 and is now married. Patty Hawk, national co-chair of Call To Action, said she was shocked by the incidents involving Krejci. "It's very sad," she said. No other members of the group have reported being denied communion in Lincoln, she said. Hawk said Bruskewitz has not responded to requests to talk about the situation. Call To Action was founded in 1979 and now has 25,000 members and 40 local chapters. It has long been critical of the church hierarchy on various issues and advocates for reforms such as the ordination of women and optional celibacy for priests, among other things.
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