#EU #Spain – A Catholic parish priest in this small Seville municipality faced public backlash after he reportedly denied Holy Communion to a longtime parishioner in a same-sex marriage, citing Church doctrine on the sacrament.
On May 30, 2026, following Holy Mass, Father Manuel Carrasco García-Moreno asked José Antonio Hurtado Rubio to remain behind. He informed Hurtado, who had received Communion that day, that he would no longer administer the Eucharist to him because of his public and active same-sex marriage. According to Hurtado’s account, the priest described giving him Communion as offering “poison” and called both Hurtado and his husband “unworthy” people destined for eternal purgatory.
Hurtado, a resident with nearly 40 years of active involvement in the local Church and brotherhoods, reacted strongly. He raised his voice outside the parish to share what had happened, expressing feelings of humiliation. “In my 40 years as a Christian, something so terribly strong has never happened to me,” he later posted on social media.
Several days later, on June 2, the priest contacted Hurtado by phone to apologize for the tone of his remarks and invited him to his office. However, Father Carrasco reportedly stood by his decision, stating that granting Communion would validate the same-sex union, which the entire town knew about. Hurtado claimed the priest added that such media complaints were “very common for people like you.”
The incident quickly drew local attention. Residents organized protests against the priest, with some demanding his transfer. Hurtado reported that other parishioners approached him with similar complaints, alleging the priest had denied sacraments or made critical remarks to divorced individuals, cohabiting couples, pharmacists selling condoms, widows not attending Mass regularly, and mothers whose children were conceived via in vitro fertilization.
The Archdiocese of Seville confirmed it was gathering information on the case but had not yet issued a public statement as of early June 2026. The matter came amid broader discussions on inclusion in the Church under recent papal guidance.
Hurtado emphasized that his public complaint did not aim to challenge core Catholic teachings but sought respect, dignity, and Christian charity. He referenced messages of welcome from Popes Francis and Leo XIV, stating, “No one should feel rejected when they seek God.” He affirmed his continued commitment to his faith.
Catholic teaching holds that recipients of the Eucharist should be in a state of grace, free from unrepented grave sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes homosexual acts as “intrinsically disordered” while calling for respect and compassion toward persons with same-sex attraction. Priests have a duty to safeguard the sacrament, though pastoral approaches vary.
Image: Parroquia de San Fernando in the Archdiocese of Seville.
