“How a Non-Catholic respectfully communes at Mass”(Bush At St Louis)

The Anchoress ^ | August 30, 2006 | anchoress

[catholicfreeper]

Filed under: Bride at every wedding, corpse at every funeral, Catholicism

Thus says from my Li’l Bro Thom, no Bush-lover, he, who very much appreciated seeing this

Non-Catholics and Catholics who have not yet gone through the process of formally receiving the sacrament of reconciliation and their first communion, but who wish to “participate” in that part of the Mass are invited to process to the minister dispensing the Holy Eucharist with their hands crossed upon their chest (not a humiliation, but a practical measure, so that there may be no confusion on the priest’s part that they are NOT receiving the Eucharist), whereupon the priest will simply touch his hand to their head and ask God’s blessing upon them. Here we see President and Mrs. Bush doing it the way we ask it to be done, and believe me we surely appreciate and honor their respectfulness.

That “arrogant” president, Bush, did Catholics the world over honor when he respected our ways.

And here we see how a Non-catholic disrespectfully communes at Mass:

(go to anchoress blog to pic of the "sacralige"

Bill Clinton, obviously. A Southern Baptist with a penchant for carrying around big bibles took communion during a Roman Catholic Mass in Africa in 1998. When New York’s Cardinal John O’ Connor, doing his job, called Clinton on it, he was told that his (Cardinal John O’ Connor’s) understanding was deficient. “They do things differently in Africa,” was the answer from the Clinton administration. When pressed on the fact that even the African Bishops Conference complained about it, things devolved into “well, we understood it this way…”

The transcript: Clinton Press Sec’y Mike McCurry and the press (all boldface emphasis added - admin)

Q: …as you know, Cardinal O’Connor had some very strong things to say yesterday about the President’s taking of communion. In that light, I wanted to ask you three things. One, the Cardinal suggested that no one should take communion who’s not in a state of grace. Did the President feel he was in a state of grace, one? Two, does he regret taking communion? And three, the White House suggested it had contact with officials at the church who thought it appropriate but the pastor has said he was not one of them. Can you give us some names of who said it was okay?

MCCURRY: …our team on the ground indicated that the conference of bishops in South Africa had a more ecumenical view of the holy eucharist and had advised members of the traveling party it was appropriate for baptized Christians to share in communion. And the President acted on that guidance…And that includes the priest, and I thought also the bishop who officiated as well, is my understanding, but we can double check that. […] Q: It’s a question about what the Cardinal is saying.

MCCURRY: Cardinal O’Connor may not be familiar with the doctrinal attitude towards the holy eucharist that the conference of bishops in South Africa brings to that question.

Q: The South African bishops have apparently now criticized the minister for having offered communion to the President or permitted him to take it. Does the White House have any reaction?

MCCURRY: I’m not aware of that. That’s contrary to the guidance that the President and his traveling delegation were given at the time of the service.

Q: Well, apparently they say he was supposed to have asked the local bishop for permission before permitting the President to take communion.

MCCURRY: Our understanding was that the invitation was extended on behalf of the Conference of South African Bishops.

Q: Mike, can you be specific about who extended it?

MCCURRY: I can find out if our advance people have got any idea who they spoke with.

Q: As I understand it, only Catholics are supposed to receive Catholic communion. Did that come up in the President’s mind?

MCCURRY: That is the attitude and posture of the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops, but our understanding is that the Conference of Bishops in South Africa have a different view of holy communion.

All so very vague, all so very arrogant…”someone told us…this was indicated…I’ll have to see if we know any names…” and “I’m not aware of that,” which seems to mean “that can’t be true…” It was all so very typical of that president and his administration which never admitted a mistake, not even one time. And boy, the press sure hates the Bush administration for not “admitting to mistakes…”. But different presidents, different letters after the name…they get treated differently, after all.

But you know, I don’t think I ever heard the besotted press call Clinton arrogant. “Not even one time.”

I’m frankly surprised to see that the issue came up at all, but then John O’ Connor was mighty, mighty - an enormous and heroic presence - and no one to be simply dismissed. Sadly, his successor - who hides out in his seat and keeps his mouth shut - seems to be a self-protective, aching void of a man. And we in NY feel the void keenly. I miss Cardinal O’ Connor.

For doing his job, Cardinal O’ Connor was also, apparently, targeted by the Clinton White House for surveillance.

This huge Clinton surveillance scheme was VAAPCON, the Violence Against Abortion Providers Task Force. According to the U.S. Justice Department, VAAPCON “was charged with determining whether there was a nationwide conspiracy to commit acts of violence against reproductive health care providers.” The more than 900 targets of all this surveillance included the Christian Coalition…the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, and even then-Roman Catholic Cardinal of New York John O’Connor. […] So if you were close to the late Cardinal O’Connor, or called him to discuss personal or family problems – even personal sins – to him, you may have been wiretapped and recorded by the Clinton’s VAAPCON surveillance. In that sense, the Clinton administration may have literally bugged the confessional.

That’s stretching it a bit, but the fact remains that America’s formost prelate seemed to pay a price for asking the president to just, you know…act respectable

John Cardinal Connor, Priest, Patriot, Veteran and Holy Man - pray for us

[catholicfreeper]

I must say sometimes just the plain class difference between the two men is so apparent

[sinkspur]

Very good, very good. Bush is a model of decorum, respect, and just plain old good manners.

[Larry Lucido]

Great post. I actually wasn't aware there was a way for a non-Catholic to respectfully commune. Glad to know otherwise.

[jocon307]

That was so ignorant when Clinton did that. Do Baptists even have Communion at all, ever?

[ConorMacNessa]

Before he was an Archbishop and Cardinal, he was a Rear Admiral in the Navy Chaplain Corps and the Divisional Chaplain of the 1st Marine Division during its deployment to Vietnam.

[tioga]

God bless George and Laura.

[catholicfreeper]

Well Baptist generally have communion I think every three months. That by the way I is a closed communion also. But Clinton knew what he was doing. There area ton of Catholic in Arkansas so he knew the protocal. I suspect he did it on purpose knowing it would raise a commotion just to be the center of the news cycle

[catholicfreeper]

You know I had no idea till I read this that O Conner was involved in the Military. Interesting. I wish they would have highlighted that more at his death.

[Blogger]

Yes we Baptists have communion, but we call it Lord's Supper. There isn't a set time for us to have it, but only as the Lord said "as oft as you do this." In my church, it is quarterly on a fifth Sunday. It does not have the same meaning as in Catholic churches ; rather, is a memorial "supper". "As often as you do this, do it in rememberance of me." It is a solemn time for the believer to examine their hearts and remember what Jesus has done for us.

Some Baptist Churches have closed communion (only the local body of believers can participate), some "close" communion (other churches that believe like we do, Sister churches have you may participate) and others Open Communion (all believers may participate - usually baptized believers).

Hope this helps.

Clinton's issues as a "Baptist" were a lot deeper than communion though. The likes of he and Carter make me cringe when I think they were part of my denomination.

[DrDeb]

The President's respect for Catholic protocol is laudable and his humility before the Lord is inspiring!

I thank God every day that this good man is our president!

[catholicfreeper]

You know that brings up a related subject. I have been meaning too look up. I swear the Southern Baptist Church issued a statement at one time on the need to convert the Jews. Well I remember Clinton piped up at a News Conference no less and said he thought that was inappropriate. My thought was why in the World is the President of the United States even commenting on that.

[Blogger]

They did. Got in big trouble for it too in the press; but, if you believe that the only way you get into Heaven is through explicit belief in Christ then it is a quite loving and humane attitude to have. I mean if a friend is heading for a door that opens to an abyss, do you not warn him of the danger ahead. That's all the Southern Baptists were saying. They didn't want Jewish people dying lost. Most evangelical Southern Baptists love the Jewish people regardless if they convert to Christianity or not.

As for Clinton, his commenting on a matter of theology is inappropriate; however, whenever he wanted to he made sure that he would misapply Scripture for his own political points. Clinton as preacher? That's inappropriate!

[Blogger]

By the way, we also put out pamphlets on the need to convert Muslims, Hindus, Mormons, etc., Jews weren't singled out in some anti-semitic rant.

[catholicfreeper]

Oh I agree. I mean I had no problem whatsoever what the SBC did. In fact I think that should be the attitude of all Christians. I wasnt so sure why there was a uproar about it myself.

I guess I was extremely upset that Clinton got involved in that stuff. Especially at a offical Press Conference. I mean I was pretty shocked that a President was telling a religious Group in this country that he thought it was "inappropriate". I suppose if that had been done in lets say a interview by "Christianity Today" that might have been different. BUt I thought it really was a bad move on his part.

[Blogger]

Well, Southern Baptists, like Catholics, have their liberal wing, which of course, is not driven by Scripture as much as emotion and personal opinions.

[Tamar1973]

That was so ignorant when Clinton did that. Do Baptists even have Communion at all, ever?

He didn't do it in ignorance. He attended Georgetown, which is a Catholic University. He should have known better.

[jocon307]

"Hope this helps."

Thanks, it did, very informative. As for Clinton and Carter, who is worse? I'd have to say Carter. One thing about Clinton, at least one knows that he knows that he's a sinner, something we'd all do well to remember about ourselves. Carter, otoh, thinks himself a saint and has become truly unbearable. And I never get the impression that Clinton hates America, unlike his wife and Jimmuh C.

[jocon307]

"He attended Georgetown, which is a Catholic University. He should have known better."

Good point, but if we're relying on Georgetown to convey Catholic Doctrine, that hope may be misplaced. But I think Clinton went to Catholic elementary school also, so you are quite right, he probably DID know better.

[Blogger]

Carter is self-exalted & prideful. Clinton is prideful also in that he may know he's a sinner but revels in his sin and really sees no reason to repent. Life is all about him, and if he can make a pious show for God then all the better for HIS reputation.

As for hating America, I don't know motivation, but selling our secrets to our enemies wasn't exactly a public display of affection.

Neither one is where they should be. But Carter is the harder to take. At least Clinton has a likeable side to him. Carter has NO redeeming qualities.

[Arrowhead1952]

Not much to say, except class vs trash. The impeached had no class, he was just a big hunk of trash. I hated having to serve in the armed forces with him as the CiC.

Even though I don't agree with everything the President is doing, at least I feel he is keeping our military in much better state of readiness.