Posted on 08/06/2008 5:57:39 AM PDT by NYer
Priests at the London Oratory have called for prayers of reparation after a consecrated Host was allegedly stolen during High Mass and desecrated by an atheist professor in America.
Several priests have celebrated Masses of reparation this week responding to a video posted on the internet of a young man taking the Host and later placing it next to a condom, claiming he was holding it "hostage" inside the prophylactic until the Pope changed his policy on contraception in light of Africa's Aids epidemic.
An evening of reparation with Mass and Adoration with prayers, litanies and silent meditation is planned for next Wednesday. Oratorians have also called on the faithful to make personal acts of reparation this week and next "for all the outrages against the Blessed Sacrament around the world".
"Close observation of the film and of the facts seems to suggest that this is not an elaborate hoax, but depicts something that really occurred," said the e-mail asking people to make acts of reparation. It also asked people to pray for "the conversion of the culprits, that they will answer God's call to repentance and open their hearts to receive His forgiveness".
The incident took place during the Oratory's High Mass on July 13 and was posted on the internet soon after. It said: "The Catholic Church forfeits all rights to respect for its ludicrous beliefs, including 'transubstantiation', while its anti-condom campaign in Africa results in tens of thousands of deaths."
It further said: "Just because you believe that the cracker has some special significance doesn't mean that I have to respect that ridiculous belief. I think the moral cost of disrespecting a cracker is a lot less than the moral cost of disrespecting human life; a concept that should be more important to you people."
A follow-up link to the video claimed that the young man had sent the host to Paul Myers, an atheist professor at the University of Minnesota who is thought to have further desecrated the Host by piercing it with a rusty nail and throwing it in the bin. In a post on his blog, dated July 24, Prof Myers wrote: "I thought of a simple, quick thing to do: I pierced it with a rusty nail (I hope Jesus's tetanus shots are up to date). And then I simply threw it in the trash, followed by the classic, decorative items of trash cans everywhere, old coffee grounds and a banana peel. My apologies to those who hoped for more, but the worst I can do is show my unconcerned contempt."
Prof Myers caused controversy earlier in July when he called a "Eucharist challenge" in which he incited people to steal consecrated Hosts from Catholic churches and send them to him so that he can desecrate them.
He wrote: "Can anyone out there score me some consecrated communion wafers? There's no way I can personally get them - my local churches have stakes prepared for me, I'm sure - but if any of you would be willing to do what it takes to get me some, or even one, and mail it to me, I'll show you sacrilege, gladly, and with much fanfare. I won't be tempted to hold it hostage (no, not even if I have a choice between returning the Eucharist and watching Bill Donohue kick the Pope in the ---s, which would apparently be a more humane act than desecrating a goddamned cracker), but will instead treat it with profound disrespect and heinous cracker abuse, all photographed and presented here on the web. I shall do so joyfully and with laughter in my heart."
His words followed a theft of a Host in Florida earlier this year which had American Catholics up in arms.
As a result of July's alleged theft and desecration of the Eucharist, priests at the London Oratory are urging worshipers to be vigilant at Mass and to receive Communion on the tongue. Communion plates have started being used at certain Masses again.
Catholics make up about 20% of the population. That's a lot of voters and Minnesota alumni. Do you thnk any more than an unbelievably tiny handful care enough to complain? These wounds are pretty much self inflicted.
This clown will get a first class ticket to hell....no pillow and he sure won’t need a blanket.
When he speared the host with a nail and tossed it in the trash and no lightning bolts appeared, he thought that he'd proved his point and that the issue was now closed.
It aint.
Just like the Jews who left Jesus to die on the cross assuming that he was a fraud after all and that the whole story was at an end. It wasn't. It was just the beginning.
Atheist professor proves to the world that he can behave like a petulant 8 year old.....
My guess is that God's glory remains undiminished and, unlike our Muslim friends, does not require us to spill atheist blood to recoup His honor.
He should show the world the depth of his conviction and his courage by trying something similar on the RoP.
Atheist cowards like this “professor” would never dare desecrate a Quran or insult Muhammad because they know it may cost them their lives.
He flatters himself.
I suppose the rest of the libs will consider this sacrilege a courageous act. Hey professor, in the spirit of liberal tolerance and to further demonstrate your bravery why not flush a koran down the toilet next time. I shall sit here joyfully and with laughter in my heart as they rip your worthless head from your shoulders.
If he was really an atheist then desecration would be a philosophical contradiction, and not hold any merit for him.
Exactly. It's always the same with these pissants. When jerks from PETA throw red paint on people wearing fur screaming "Fur is murder!" you notice it is usually some blue-haired old lady they target. It would show more conviction if they were to stand outside a Hells Angels club and do the same thing to the bikers leathers. If you feel that it is important to confront the religious by desecrating things they hold sacred, it is so easy to pick a religion that preaches turning the other cheek. These guys make me puke.
Paul Myers: “Watch Me! Pay attention to me! Me, Me Me!”
“...a lot less than the moral cost of disrespecting human life; a concept that should be more important to you people.”
I’m sure that, since he is so very concerned with “the moral cost of disrespecting human life,” he is going to protest abortion, as well. Perhaps he could post pictures of trash that is removed from abortion clinics. It might have an even more visual impact that the picture he is so proud of at the moment. And he is, after all “so very concerned with the moral cost of disrespecting human life.”
Actually, he ripped several pages from the Koran and tossed coffee grinds and a banana peel on them as well. A photo of the desecration was sent to the 'appropriate' authorities ;-)
wow- did he really? why don’t we hear THAT all over the news?
If he is going to be consistant then that is something...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2051117/posts
You beat me to it!
“Dr. Sacrilege” here is proof enough that evolution is highly overrated. According to his faculty profile (http://www.morris.umn.edu/academic/biology/faculty.html), his main interests are developmental biology and neurobiology. Ironic, given the man has not developed a sound mind himself.
As Christians, our only weapon against “Dr. Sacrilege” is prayer, and plenty of it. He and his ilk will not prevail.
Thanks for the info.
I have heretofore been somewhat indifferent between receiving in the hand or on the tongue, but this is certainly a good argument for the latter.
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