Wafergate: Did Harper eat the communion wafer? - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Rerun · 07-08-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4X4

Just another dopey ritual the church concocted to make sure people come to church so that they can jack them for money.

Hey... I take offense to that. The church has parishes in some very poor countries and that may be the only meal some of the parishoners (sp?) get all day.

Rerun · 07-08-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

And I thought it was just a way to get altar boys used to putting into their mouths whatever the Priest tells them to.

Thats a low blow.

4X4 · 07-08-2009, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rerun

Thats a low blow.

I see what you did there.

sclitheroe · 07-08-2009, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rerun

Its just a symbol. Catholics really don't believe that wine turns into the blood of Christ or the bread changes into his flesh.

The Catholic Church would beg to differ...

The entire thing is a story for Catholics precisely because of the belief in transubstatiation - it would have been a (relatively speaking) faux pas for a protestant to partake in communion, but communion in the Catholic faith is absolutely the sacred made manifest, and cannot be simply slipped into a pocket. For that, you have to get yourself a Pyx (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyx), and even then, that's only to take it to a sick Catholic who can't attend Mass.

Shazam · 07-08-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alltherage

And FYI If you ever go to a Catholic Church and you dont want to accept the bread, yet find yourself in line, cross your arms over your chest and you'll just get a blessing.

Thanks. I'll be sure to never whip my dick out like I did the last time.

Rerun · 07-08-2009, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shazam

Thanks. I'll be sure to never whip my dick out like I did the last time.

Were you perhaps looking for an exorcism?

GreenTeaFrapp · 07-08-2009, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rerun

Were you perhaps looking for an exorcism?

I think he was applying for a job.

FanIn80 · 07-08-2009, 06:57 PM

Well... when the other parties run out of real issues to complain about, a nice little popular-religion-backed story to remind us all how close the PCs are to Nazis will always suffice.

One day, there will be a solid debate around real issues, and the parties involved will care more about those real issues than they do about their own issues.

I have a dream...

photon · 07-08-2009, 07:02 PM

From a very devout Catholic's point of view that's a pretty serious thing, though most would probably take the intent into account, as mentioned it's not like he has a history of animosity towards the Catholic church. To me it looks like he just got caught in a situation ad wasn't sure what to do.

Really he should have not accepted it, but it's not like he lined up to take it, they came up to him, so he just made an honest mistake it looks like. I went to a Catholic school and all that and didn't know about crossing the arms, just that if you don't want to receive it don't go up.

No matter what he does there someone's going to be unhappy.

Huntingwhale · 07-08-2009, 07:22 PM

I went to Catholic school, was never baptised as a child, never had 1st communion or any of the other sacrements. But I ate that damn wafer every single time, and I still do when I attend mass. Jesus ain't gonna care if you are "pure" when he "enters" you. In fact, just because you were baptised as a child does not mean you are "pure". It's all about symbolism.

Plus the wafers kind of taste like cardboard anyways. It's only bread without the yeast.

FiftyBelow · 07-08-2009, 07:26 PM

I'm a Catholic and from my perspective, Harper's actions may be representative of an honest mistake. However, I expect the Prime Minister of a country that is nearly 50% Catholic to at least understand the etiquette involved in communion. He should have never lined up in the first place. I'm not appalled by his actions but I'm certainly disappointed. Is it too much to ask people to respect certain aspects of a religion that it's followers hold dearly?

metallicat · 07-08-2009, 07:36 PM

Lord love a duck, what a ridiculous story. This is coming from a non-practicing, atheistic Catholic.

tete · 07-08-2009, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiftyBelow

I'm a Catholic and from my perspective, Harper's actions may be representative of an honest mistake. However, I expect the Prime Minister of a country that is nearly 50% Catholic to at least understand the etiquette involved in communion. He should have never lined up in the first place. I'm not appalled by his actions but I'm certainly disappointed. Is it too much to ask people to respect certain aspects of a religion that it's followers hold dearly?

But he didn't line up - he was in the first row with the mourners - the priest offered it down the row. I do find it odd that the priest would offer it to him in the first place - it's pretty well known that he's an evangelical protestant. Maybe he ate the wafer after the camera left him? I think he was damned no matter what he did.

FiftyBelow · 07-08-2009, 07:42 PM

ahh yeah just caught the video. In that case... Harper should have still refused it. But then again if the priest was aware that he was not Catholic he shouldn't have offered it either.

Bigtime · 07-08-2009, 08:08 PM

Is anyone else thinking of the Family Guy scene with Peter and the wine in the church?

"Is that really the blood of Christ? He must have been wasted all the time!"

longsuffering · 07-08-2009, 08:10 PM

I don't care whether he accepted it or didn't accept it, ate it or didn't eat it, but why lie about it?

Why say he ate it when all video evidence suggests he didn't.

A small lie maybe, Lord knows he's told bigger fibs, but still a lie.

Hack&Lube · 07-08-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rerun

Hey... I take offense to that. The church has parishes in some very poor countries and that may be the only meal some of the parishoners (sp?) get all day.

Ah, the famous "Body of Christ" diet. Cuts fat like magic. A bit high in carbs though.

For Harper, a protestant, it was probably just a symbolic wafer and he made a mistake in accepting it in just being in an awkward moment standing there in line and not knowing proper protocol. For devout Catholics, that wafer is quite literally the body of Christ (transubstantiation). It physically is the body of Christ manifest in the bread and that's basically Harper stuffing a piece of Jesus into his pocket (okay, I exaggerate, it doesn't become the body of Christ until it is eaten right?).

photon · 07-08-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

okay, I exaggerate, it doesn't become the body of Christ until it is eaten right?

That question is only a theological discussion that has raged on for centuries.

It depends on which Church, some believe it becomes Jesus' body and blood upon consecration, others at other times. In this case yes Harper put Jesus in his pocket (RCC I think believes not just that the bread and wine ARE the body and blood, but that Jesus is fully present as well). That's why for some it's pretty serious.

HOZ · 07-09-2009, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alltherage

If you want an actual answer...

Catholics believe that the "host" transforms literally in to the flesh of Jesus. Therefore, to accept it without having gone to confession recently is a sin, even if you are Catholic, let alone have never gone to confession at all. It's about purifying your soul before letting Jesus enter.

It's a big deal to Catholics. Very big actually.

And FYI If you ever go to a Catholic Church and you dont want to accept the bread, yet find yourself in line, cross your arms over your chest and you'll just get a blessing.

If you don't want an actual answer...

Yeah! How stupid! What a waste of time!

Thanks. Didn't know that.