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.”
Q: Do then the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ?
A. Not at all; but as the water of Baptism is not changed into the blood of Christ, neither is the washing awa of sin itself, being only the sign and confirmation thereof appointed by God: so the bread of the Lord's Supper is not changed into the very body of Christ, though, agreeably in tha nature and properties of the Sacraments, it is called the body of Christ Jesus.<.i>
Some have summarized this--quite accurately--as the doctrine of the Real Absence.
I am sorry you felt insulted. In fact, from our perspective, refusing you Communion is an act of Love. First, had you been allowed to recieve Communion, it would have implied your consent to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church -doctrines you obviously do not accept. Hence, by denying you Communion, we preserved for you your own integrity.
Second, being non-Catholic, it seems probable you are ill-equipped to ascertain at this point whether you are worthy to recieve Communion. St. Paul warns that those who recieve Communion unworthily (ie by 'not discerning the Body and Blood) drink condemnation on themselves. Hence, it is out of concern for your own immortal soul that Communion is withheld.
I understand you won't accept these provisions, but from our standpoint they are necessary out of a concern for you.
Nothing NBC, ABC, CBS, puts on will ever interest me. I quit watching them a decade ago. They have nothing good on, and all the shows have a political agenda. I got tired of that and have never missed them.
They took Jesus. Yes its Jesus if its a Catholic Mass, and pertended to flush Him down the toilet. How can't that be the most horrific matter in the world? This IS Jesus. The Son of God. He who came into the world, and died for our sins.
This is truly horrific on a grand scale. It IS the King of Kings, the Lord. It is not merely a representative, it IS His Body. He IS present in that Host.
To me, this indicates that the Eucharist HAD been blessed.
WTF?
So, Catholics "get over" someone demeaning this central tennant in their belief. What's next, "get over" homosexuality being wrong, that Jesus is "the Way, the Truth, and the Light"?
Heck, while we're at it, lets just "get over" the 10 Commandments. Who cares if we murder, commit adultery and the rest. People are gonna do it, so get over it.
I guess they don't watch Southpark:-)LOL
"Do you know of ANY Protestant Churches that share the Catholic belief on this?"
Yes, although not exactly the way Catholics view it, the Lutheran belief is that it IS the Body and Blood of Our Lord, the Anglican Community does in many respects and the entire Orthodox community does. Happy to help educate you.
with Approximately 1,370,000 abortions occur annually in the U.S. i find it hard to believe anything like this sitcom means anything at all.
You're joking right?
You're not aware that MOST Protestant denominations don't share the Catholic view that a Communion wafer IS the Body of Christ?
I can give you plenty of examples. Baptists. Pentacostals. Methodists. Calvary Chapels. Prespeterians.
Very few if any Protestants accept the Catholic doctrine on this.
Like I said, it was a farce about two inept non-Catholics trying to be respectful. Put an Ace bandage on that knee.
Blasphemy is funny isn't it? It makes great sitcom tv making fun of people's religions. Boy, it cracks me up when they do that on TV.
Maybe your right, I should just ignore it when people make fun of my faith and take it, right? I mean, when people are attacking your beliefs, you just take it right? After all, its free speech right? I mean, what is faith anyway? It's just another small part of the majority of Americans lives right? --huge sarcasm
"During the February 22 broadcast, two non-Catholics are mistakenly given Holy Communion at a Catholic funeral Mass."
Whoever wrote this didn't watch the show. It isn't true.
However, could you please be more specific as to which Christian denominations you believe do not partake of the Holy Eucharist as it is written in the Holy Bible?
Pretty disrespectful, but even if it's consumed as intended it still ends up in a toilet somewhere.
Its impossible to "get over it" when they insult, and desecrate my King and my God. This IS Jesus, not a symbol, not a representation, nope He IS present in that Host. It IS His Body.
Imagine your indignation if they took you, and flushed you down the toilet, head shoulders, arms and feet, all down to the bastion of sewage. Imagine swimming there. Your body.
It is so much worse because we are talking about God. Not a mere human, but this IS God here, and they mocked flushing him down a toilet. He IS really present in that Host.
As for this sitcom, I'll reserve judgment until I see the scene. If they flushed a consecrated host, or even what they thought was a consecrated host down the toilet, it is beyond offensive.
We should expect any better from these idiots?
let's see now...Jesus said "this is my body" AND YOU SAY MANY DENOMINATIONS DON'T THINK SO.... Jesus was kidding.....Jesus was mistaken...Jesus didn't mean it...only the Catholic church teaches EXACTLY what the bible does...THIS IS MY BODY ...get it straight Jesus also pointed out thet unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink of his blood, you shall not be saved.....THINK ABOUT IT
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