Phil Little, Ladysmith, B.C.

On Saturday February 12, 2022 it was my privilege to attend the Mass of Christian Burial for our beloved brother and bishop, Remi De Roo. As with so many on the Island Remi was friend as well as bishop. My mother many years ago was a member of a diocesan committee for women. Remi assisted me with a situation some 40 years ago.

Later when my family retired to the Island we had the opportunity to meet Remi at the Bethlehem Retreat Centre. In Nanaimo there was an annual “Romero Commemoration Ceremony” which was a truly Ecumenical experience. The ceremony was once held at the Bethlehem Retreat Centre but more often the venue was at St. Andrew’s United Church or Hope Lutheran Church because these locations were more centrally located.

Until the appearance of Covid-19 Bishop Remi was a treasured keynote opening speaker. He was truly loved and admired by participants from other communions. Remi had a personal connection to Archbishop Oscar Romero, now St. Romero of the Americas. The Commemoration Ceremony was not designed to remember the past of this great prophet and witness, but we asked “If Bishop Romero were with us today, what would he be saying to us today about …” and each year a theme would be chosen such as “violence suffered by women”, “outreach to immigrants and refugees”, or “ecological justice”.

As a “Council Father” Remi understood and promoted the spirit of the council. He was a leader in connecting on common grounds with different communities, especially other Christian communions. The Anglican Diocese of Islands and Inlets posted the news of Remi’s death and funeral on its website.

About Remi’s Funeral

About Remi the heartfelt tributes from Remi’s family, from Senator Douglas Roche and finally from Cardinal Michael Czerny cannot be bettered. Bringing greetings from Pope Francis the Cardinal summed it all up: “He was complex, controversial, and faithful to his convictions until the end. Above all he was a Council Father who dedicated the subsequent 55 years to continually rediscovering what it means to live as a Council Christian and as a Council Church … and now indeed as a Synodal Church.”

There was one aspect that to me seemed out of place with the spirit and message of Remi’s prophetic ministry and legacy. In attendance were persons of different communions and some who were not church people. There was a small group who identified as Ministers of other communions by their use of liturgical vestments. I was seated right behind them. At the time of approaching the altar for communion these Ministers, men and women, were denied communion and offered an empty raised hand and an air “blessing”. I do not know how they felt at this refusal; perhaps they anticipated this rebuke or exclusion so much unlike Remi. Participants of other communions who were not dressed in liturgical garments could have according to their own judgment approached the altar and received the Eucharist.

In the pews there was a card informing of diocesan policy regarding reception of communion. So this refusal and exclusion was consistent with diocesan policy. How unfortunate.

You are a Francis bishop. We should expect more. You have for years participated in inter-church dialogue.

In November 2015 Pope Francis was asked about such a situation. He encouraged a Lutheran woman to decide for herself whether she should receive communion when attending mass with her Catholic husband. The Holy Father was visiting the Evangelical Lutheran communion, Christuskirche, in Rome. Without a doubt the Pope is aware of the typically cold and legalistic direction in the official catechism (1400), a document that is constantly subject to revision and improvement.

Pope Francis dared to venture into this difficulty with his sense of pastor, leaving it to the theologians to work out the intricacies. “Do we not have the same Baptism? And if we have the same Baptism, we should walk together.” Then Francis added “You believe the Lord is present,” he said. “And what’s the difference? There are explanations and interpretations, but life is bigger than explanations and interpretations.” While the Pope felt that it was not his place to give permission he returned the decision to the questioner: “One Baptism, one Lord, one faith. Speak with the Lord and go ahead.”

There are extraordinary situations where non-Catholics are permitted to receive communion. Of course there are the publicized occurrences when high profile non-Catholics such as Bill Clinton or Ronald Regan were allowed to receive communion. Generally the practice of “fencing the table” or “closed communion” has fallen out of favour in many Protestant churches. It is left to the communicant to decide if they are comfortable with the understanding of Eucharist in that church. Of course there are many courses to be offered on “trans-substantiation” and “real presence”, but those discussions are best reserved for the study halls.

It is my simple and humble view that those honorable and esteemed guests at Remi’s funeral, who came vested in their sacramental vestments as a sign of their personal and their church respect for Remi, probably had a more developed understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist than most of those in attendance. The funeral of our beloved Remi was not the time for theological debate but rather a grand joining together of family, friends and admirers to express their common sorrow in the passing of this beloved brother and to celebrate and give gratitude for his many years of listening and walking among us.

I was hurt and ashamed as I approached the altar to see that these brothers and sisters of other churches were met by the cold canonical wall of separation rather than being allowed to come to the altar guided by their own faith and conscience.