Quote:
Originally Posted by llama64
"Who cares?"
Well... a small understanding of Catholicism would reveal that they treat the waffer as being transformed into the actual body of Christ. If he did not take it in after accepting it, it is a slight to the entire ritual - which is the single most important ritual in the Catholic faith.
Being a "protestant" as a child and going to Catholic school, we were instructed that unless we were confirmed as Catholics, we should not stand up to receive the Eucharist. It's ridiculous Church dogma to be sure, but it's also a core belief system of a great many people. For a public figure to think it's ok to accept the waffer and then try to dispose of it demonstrates a lack of knowledge about the people he's trying to appease.
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When it comes to cultural or religious ignorance, I think people should be a little forgiving though. It's not like he had bad intentions or anything. I could see some of my Protenstant or non-religious friends doing the same thing and not realizing that it was all that bad.
I'm sure that if I walked into a synogogue or mosque, I'd likely do things that might offend people without even realizing it. I'd hope the people would be a little forgiving.
I suppose that Harper, being a national leader whose country has a large number of Catholics, should probably educate himself more on the practices if he is going to attend them... Consider it one to grown on for him.