Couple Arrested for Having Sex in New York City Cathedral

Fox News/NY Post ^ | Friday, August 16, 2002 | By Philip Messing, Marianne Garvey and Hasani Gittens

[Askel5]

No reason you can't have been desensitized just as the rest of us. We all have our moments ... save those among us who are saints.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Vile based on what?

The way you made your entrance on this thread (announcing that you listened to the show and found it humorous), followed by the way you try to demean and personally insult others.

(You asked.)

Or are you just lashing out?

I don't think so, no...but what does that mean, exactly?

As a Roman Catholic I found the act to be horrendous and sacriligeous, but I found the broadcast funny. How is that wrong?

I see that you've already had this explained to you by a few people, and that you seem to have "gotten" it, to some degree - but since I was the one you asked, I feel obligated to give you an answer:

You should have trusted your first instincts - you were correct to find this act horrendous and sacreligious. The people involved in this broadcast, from the producers to the shock jock to the couple who defiled the church essentially spit in the face of God; spitting in the face of God is not funny. If you love God, it should grieve you to hear about something like this...so maybe you're not as "devout" a Roman Catholic as you believe you are. The good news is it's not too late to change.

[yendu bwam]

I'm not Catholic, but it is not funny to deliberately go into a place someone else considers sacred and do something to degrade it. These people are pigs, and anybody who thinks it is funny is a pig. What has happened to common decency and respect for others?

Well said, lady lawyer. What these people did was a highly uncharitable act - so lacking in consideration for others and what others believe. It's like forcing a Hindu to eat beef, or a Muslim to drink alcohol. It was unkind and unloving.

[Theodore R.]

But would there have been the outrage expressed here if the participants were BOTH men? Not in our politically correct society, two guys in embrace would have been hailed as breaking ground for social reform.

[yendu bwam]

Slouching toward Gomorrah. Years ago I was in a niteclub listening to the featured comedian and to this day I regret that I did not stand up and tell him that enough was enough. I did not defend my catholic faith from stupid, not so funny one liners. My failing. Not his.

I have had similar acts of cowardice. I'm not proud of them. I hope to be stronger in the future.

[yendu bwam]

Many, myself included, view certain places with reverence and respect. Churches, the White House, most war memorials, etc. By saying you thought the entire act w/commentary being performed in one of those respected places was funny, you degrade that which I, and obviously others, take seriously.

Justshe is right. Purposefully defiling what others consider sacred for the sole purpose of offending and making fun of their sensibilities and beliefs is a low and little thing. Using such an act to promote oneself on the radio is ever lower. To hurt others in such a way flies in the face of the Christian commandment to love others as you would want to be loved yourself. Their act, and the radio jock's act, were entirely selfish and thougtless ones. They should be ashamed of their own personal selfishness, but obviously they aren't. Maybe a little of God's grace will reach them somehow through this.

[yendu bwam]

Well, here I am waiting for somebody, anybody, to ask stanz why a sex stunt in the cathedral is funny.

Yes, why is intentionally offending others in their place of worship a funny thing? I would also be interested in your answer to that.

[BeAllYouCanBe]

"two guys in embrace would have been hailed as breaking ground for social reform."

Other things that we couldn't do because they're not funny in a politically correct way:

1. Two whites in black face doing a minstrel show dance in the church.

2. A Native American buffalo butchering ceremony to give thanks for the hunt in the church.

3. Even mentioning AIDS is spread by gay males in an*l s*x.

[crazykatz]

Bravo!!Excellent retort!!

[crazykatz]

Bravo!! True, very true.

You are one of the wisest on FR. Your Roman Catholic Faith shows through in your posts. BRAVO!! What an asset to FR and to the rest of us. THANK YOU!

[GOP_1900AD]

What would have been the punishment for this act in 1805? it is time to renew the old ways.

[ladylib]

Not funny. Pathetic.

[ladylib]

Maybe society would be better off if more people were willing to "judge." If more people were willing to say that we have standards and we really don't want to have those standards defiled by ignoramous clowns or people who feel that they have to make some sort of statement. What's wrong with saying "We don't want that here?" Who are you going to upset in the long run? People whose opinions don't matter to you anyway?

[mountainfolk]

Cowardice was probably lurking but I was having a good time and didn't want to spoil the evening. That is the slouching part. Just not bothering to do the right thing. This couple and all concerned in egging them on are so warped spiritually that they obviously didn't consider the desecration of a place of worship as anything but funny. Personally, I would throw the legal book at those involved on any grounds I could come up with. This is another time when I really feel sorry for God! Bet He is thinking---back to the drawing board for these humans. Time to retool.

[Cultural Jihad]

I don't care what anybody does as long as it doesn't involve me. Is that "bashing?"

Yours is an expression of cruel moral-liberalism. Obviously it does involve you since you live in the same society which this sacrilege took place.

[StarFan]

Don't want to rain on your parade but I doubt the station will face more than a fine from the FCC since catholic bashing seems to be the vogue. I think they've coughed up close to $1 million over Sterns disgusting and outrageous behavior and the publicity this stunt generated almost makes it worthwhile for them. What we should do is get a list of their sponsors (if anyone has the stomach to listen to this program) and be sure to cc the station on all letters written.

[Travis McGee]

BTTT!

[Romulus]

I never said the act was funny...

---

To: Travis McGee

First of all, I'm a female. Secondly, I think whatever other people do that does not concern me is strictly their business. What I hold sacred is my business. Those people who took part in that stunt will get what the law allows as their punishment. Other than that, it does not concern me. Do I think it was a nice thing to do? No. Do I think it was humorous? Yes. Do I think that what Catholic priests have done is nice OR humorous? No. That is the extent of what I am going to discuss here. If you don't think my original reply was funny, good. I think it was.

102 posted on 8/16/02 1:00 PM Central by stanz
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[river rat]

I will NOT admit it, but.......
Semper Fi