Posted on 02/24/2005 7:06:21 PM PST by wagglebee
An episode of the NBC sitcom "Committed,” featuring two characters who flush a Communion wafer down a toilet, has created a firestorm of protest among Catholics.
During the February 22 broadcast, two non-Catholics are mistakenly given Holy Communion at a Catholic funeral Mass. As recounted by the Catholic League:
"Nate, who is Jewish, and Bowie, a Protestant, don’t know what to do with the Eucharist, so they make several failed attempts to get rid of it. For example, they try slipping it into the pocket of a priest, dropping it on a tray of cheese and crackers, etc.
"At one point, the priest, who is portrayed as not knowing the difference between the Host and a cracker, goes to grab the 'cracker' from a tray of appetizers; he initially balks when he discovers that it is the last one. Then he changes his mind, saying, "Oh, what the hell.”
"By far the most offensive scene occurs when Nate and Bowie accidentally flush what they think is the Host down the toilet."
Catholic League President William Donahue is demanding that NBC apologize.
"To say that Catholics are angry about this show would be an understatement - the outrage is visceral and intense," he said Thursday.
"NBC has made a direct frontal assault on Roman Catholicism, choosing to mock, trivialize and ridicule the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ," Donahue added. "More than an apology is needed. This episode should be retired for good, and that is what we will demand.”
You may think that lightened it up. But, I for one consider it an insult.
It is not merely a communion wafer. At the moment of the Consecration it BECOMES the Body of Jesus. He IS present. It is not as though they are treating merely a symbol this way, no they are taking the actual one and only Redeemer, and pretending to flush him down a toilet. This IS God.
Any of the disciples could have heard what Jesus said, looked at the bread, and KNOWN that they were not ACTUALLY taking bites out of Jesus Himself.
And they could have just looked at Jesus and since he was not a man that had any outstanding features, as mentioned in Isaiah, they knew he was not the son of God. I mean, wouldn't the son of God be glorious looking? Yet they believed him to be the Son of God.
2.they did not pertend to flush him down the the toilet
it was a mix up, they showed respect and it was funny. take your blood pressure meds and calm down.
Why don't you post it in a larger Font to bring even more useless attention to yourself?
A majority of Christianity believes in either Transubstantiation or Consubstantiation - those are the Catholic, the Orthodox, the Anglican and the Lutheran. True, there are many sects that run the gamut from merely heretical to outright pagan that call themselves "Christian", the Church Christ founded believes He spoke the Literal Truth when he said:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Protestants take Holy Communion all the time, and believe it represents the Body and Blood of Christ.
For Catholics to deny Communion to ALL other Christians who happen to be Prostestant is simply saying that the Catholic Church rejects their profession of faith in Christ.
In other words it's saying Catholics believe anybody who is NOT Catholic is going to Hell.
I and all non-Catholic Christian find this offensive and disrespectful.
Reminds me of some of my protestant friends who believe all Catholics are going to Hell.
No different.
Basically I think in a few months FR will be nothing but people getting their panties in a gigantic wad being offended by TV shows or movies they haven't seen because they're mindless drones that believe whatever WingNutDaily or NewsCrapx tells them to be offended about.
As the poster stated, it was an innocent act done out of ignorance, nothing more.
"two non-Catholics are mistakenly given Holy Communion at a Catholic funeral Mass."
Mistakenly given?
I am not Catholic, but did attend a Catholic funeral a few weeks back. Those participating in Holy Communion had to step up to the alter to receive the Eucharist.
If this is the normal practice of the Catholic Church, in my view, it was not mistakenly given, it was "dishonestly taken".
>WingNutDaily or NewsCrapx
LMAO!
Spurious? Someone needs an attitude adjustment.
"For Catholics to deny Communion to ALL other Christians who happen to be Prostestant ..."
Actually, the Holy Roman Catholic Church denies the Sacrament to ALL who are not in a State of Grace, including Catholic sinners. Had you attended the Sacrament of Confession and assuming you were validly baptized and been given absolution, you could have taken part in the Sacrament of the Mass. When I am in a state of mortal sin, I cannopt ntake the Sacrament. Period. It is simply against the Gospel - the Literal Word of God - to eat of the Flesh of Our Lord while in a state of serious sin. If you need references directly taken from the Holy Writ, simply ask, we'll provide them.
Thank you Narses. :)
Same with serious Episcopalians (yes, there are some of us).
You used the word "represent". This is not the Catholic Belief. Catholic Doctrine states that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. Enormous difference. Maybe not to you, but it is to Catholics.
For Catholics to deny Communion to ALL other Christians who happen to be Prostestant is simply saying that the Catholic Church rejects their profession of faith in Christ.In order to recieve Holy Communion in the Catholic Church you must believe it IS the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.
In other words it's saying Catholics believe anybody who is NOT Catholic is going to Hell.
I and all non-Catholic Christian find this offensive and disrespectful.
Reminds me of some of my protestant friends who believe all Catholics are going to Hell.
No different.
Well, well, look who is offended now...I'm sorry you jumped into this thread to be offended. If you are so offended, then why do you bother posting to people who you think in your mind "hate you"?
I think you have the wrong Donohue. Are you thinking of Phil Donohue?
{smiles}
"Even if one believes in the spurious doctrine of transubstantiation, ..."
That "spirious doctrine" has existed from the very first days of the Church, is adhered to by ALL of the sects of the Christian community that trace their historical roots back beyond the middle ages and still represent the majority of those who are self described as "Christian".
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