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.”
Excellent explanation. Thank you.
Had NBC insulted Islam, a homicide bomber would have blown themself up in its HQ lobby, don't you think?
Good point
Bump for #87!
Please educate yourself!
"Jesus said "this is my body"
I can't read ancient Aramaic and I don't know anyone who can, nor can I read ancient Hebrew, butt... Is it possible that another translation might be, "this represents my body" or "think of this as my body?"
I have been lead to believe that the King James version translators, who translated from the Latin, Greek or Hebrew, or from Latin translations of the ancient Hebrew or Aramaic might have taken some license.
Anybody an expert in dead languages out there?
It would have been perilous for your soul had you taken it. Your friend was watching out for you.
"I wonder if the next episode will feature characters flushing the Koran down the toilet? "
The wafer wasn't flushed down the toilet. Honest. The actor playing the priest at it. I saw the show. The article is in error.
Am I the only one who saw the show?
Fascinating facts there about religion. Just wish it wasn't CNN.
**Catholics believe anybody who is NOT Catholic is going to Hell.**
This is not true. I don't know where you are getting your Catholic bashing information, but you are definitely misinformed.
I love the Lord, and I receive his Body in my hand. It doesn't make me any less respectful of Holy Communion. I'm also an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, and I'm happy to give people the Lord's Body and Blood however they are most comfortable receiving it. Some people receive in the hand very respectfully, some don't. That's a problem of education that the Parish priest needs to address, and I have hopes that our priests will do so in this Year of the Eucharist.
Yah' know... I've really tried to stay off these Catholic-bashing threads, but in the excruciating read down this one I simply can't resist any longer.
I'm not even Catholic. Technically speaking I was raised Lutheran and came into my own as an evangelical. But I do think that anything that diminishes any of us, diminishes all of us.
There's been a whole lot of diminishin' goin' on around here. While I might have my differences about the essence of the eucharist I would still not EVER presume that I could rightly take communion in a Catholic service. It would be wrong for me to do it, not because of what I might believe, but because of my respect for what they believe.
Who's right? I dunno. Someday I expect we'll all find out. Come that day I also expect we'll all have something to feel kinda silly about. But I for one will not bother to cause my brother to stumble in the meantime. Because, like it or not, we are all brothers in Christ.
Whatever the differences, we got way bigger fish to fry.
Exactly!
Why are you yelling?
**if they get what is just.**
And they will. No partiality with God, only justice.
I will offer for them the same prayer I often make for myself:
Dear God, please spare me from what I deserve...
No, we would not participate in your Communion -- that would be committing a sacrilege on our part.
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