Cardinal Stands by Decision on Holy Communion

"It's national policy and the bishops are supposed to act together," the archbishop said Monday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

About a dozen members of the Rainbow Sash Movement, a homosexual group, were refused Communion and given blessings instead.

Cardinal George, who was returning from a Rome trip, was not at the Mass. But he had told priests in a letter last week not to give Communion to group members wearing sashes.