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, dont 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.
**Some people are in for a rude awakening.**
Yes, on judgment day!
"There seems to be quite a bit of that going on within this thread."
And I thought we were the ones who were sick of everybody being offended all the time. We sound like a bunch of DUmmies.
As I said earlier, it would be wrong for me to participate in a ritual in which I do not believe -- that is why I no longer take communion in the Episcopal church (in which I was raised), since I no longer acknowledge the validity of Anglican Orders. And given what you have said on this thread, it would be wrong for you to participate in a ritual in which you do not believe.
But it would be silly for me to be offended because, say, I'm not allowed into a Mormon Temple. That's their belief, and it's their church, and it's their call. Nothing "holier than thou" about it.
Good question!
Why would I bother going to to a Catholic Church just so I could "pretend" to be offended? Don't be silly.
My Catholic freind who TOOK me to mass knew I wasn't Catholic and was the one who told me that THEY did not allow non-Catholics to take communion.
Now if that was a Koran the NBC would have stopped the show from running in the first place.
I asked a friend and he said that St Vincent de Paul society owns companies that will also make them. They have disabled workers making them. There are also regular companies and it depends on the country.
I think you made it up so you could pretend to be offended.
Actually, I have heard a priest announce this - it was years ago, probably around 1980, when I was attending a wedding over at St. Thomas More in Decatur.
I think when there is a wedding or funeral where the priest knows there are a lot of non-Catholics in attendance, he may make an announcement because of the likelihood that somebody may not know about/understand the Catholic practice.
Agree with you that they knew exactly what they were doing.
After all what it the one church that has stood firm against contracepting, abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, clonging, etc.?? Even when it was unpopular to do so.
Only one -- the Catholic Church.
You're the one handing out long reading assignments because you are unable to articulate a coherant defense for your positions.
And because I can't be bothered doing your homework for you you call me "ignorant".
You are too funny.
I didn't see the episode in question, but, if the accounts proffered within this thread are accurate, then the very first sentence of the Newsmax article is bogus......
An episode of the NBC sitcom "Committed, featuring two characters who flush a Communion wafer down a toilet,.
You think NBC would do a show on a muslim being slipped a peice of bacon or better yet a vegan eatting egg custurd when he thought it was tofu? You think producers would think that okay? SOME how I doubt it. They do this stuff for the ratings. Cheap tricks to pull another couple hundred thousand viewers for sweeps and neilsons.
Well when the letters start to go to those companies telling them we are no longer going to use their products we will get the standard....." We do not pick the shows our products sponsor, it is done buy a media buying group out of NYC blah blah blah ... thanks for your concern..."
What needs to happen is that we need to keep track of the WRITERS and PRODUCERS names that write this shlock and notify the studios that we will make sure no one watches these programs in the future as long as they hire these type of people.
With the internet this is possible by watching the trades and such. We are the consumers we are the ones with the power, we just need to wield it at the throats of the media.
"Only one -- the Catholic Church."
Tell that to the Mormons and the Jehova's Witnesses. I can't seem to recall the Baptists approving of sodomy lately either.
Good grief. I didn't even know that he was still alive.
The last I remember seeing him was when they were trying to resuscitate Mork & Mindy for one more agonizing season.
Sure there is.
That a church refuses communion or even to admit a person they consider a pagan or unbeliever is NOT a "holier than thou" attitude is unreasonable. That is EXACTLY their view of those they are rejecting.
I agreed that the writers were probably going for a dig, but in their defense, if they were just portraying what a person ignorant of Catholic rituals might do when confronted with the unknown, I have a true story that could have come off their page.
Then the best case scenario is that you are defending something you acknowledge isn't funny. Why?
the other option is that you brought up your own situation defending the show with the "un-voiced argument" that it IS funny because it could happen. At least that's what it looks like.
"On the same subject of "making stuff up". I didn't see the episode in question, but, if the accounts proffered within this thread are accurate, then the very first sentence of the Newsmax article is bogus......"
Absolutely correct. A pretend priest ate the pretend host. By definition, it was only a cracker. Whoever wrote the article was trying to get the reaction that this group has exhibited. We're out here calling for mass boycotts and letter writing campaigns about something that didn't happen.
This is silly.
" Good grief. I didn't even know that he was still alive."
Tom Poston is very much alive and very funny. The clown jokes are what makes the show worth watching.
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