…let any Catholic opposition politician or *strategist who ever spoke out publicly against abortion cast the first communion wafer.
[*Warning: WK alert]
* * * *
Update: ChuckerCanuk is on the same wavelength.
Can I get a witness? – Macleans (H/T CJ). Kinsella comes to PM Harper’s defence!!!
And please check out Stephen Taylor – Introduction to Canadian media and politics.
And in other news - Canada’s economy set to shine on world stage: IMF – Financial Post
* * * *
Thursday Update: More on Wafergate – Harper Defended (Telegraph Journal):
…And Liberal MP Dominic LeBlanc, Roméo’s son and a eulogist at the ceremony celebrating the life of the much-admired politician and former governor general, expressed regret Wednesday that Harper might be in any way criticized in a controversy stemming from the event.
“Mr. Harper made a very generous gesture in coming to Memramcook for my father’s funeral,” said LeBlanc. “His conversations with me and my family there were generous and warm.
“And I know that my father would – as I do – regret that his attendance at the funeral would in any way lead to any embarrassment to him.”
Very classy, Dominic.
You could have taken the low road like some strategists and naysayers, but you didn’t. Your father would be proud of you.
Also Gabby passed along a link to a terrific column by CFRB’s Brian Lilley - Blame the Archbishop:
…All said though I don’t blame the PM, I blame his staff partly, but also Archbishop Richard.
As the video posted on YouTube shows, Mr. Harper was sitting in the first row of seats, the Archbishop came to him and offered him communion without the PM even leaving his seat. In the words of Mr. Harper’s press secretary Dimitri Soudas, “Who is the prime minister to question a priest who offered him communion?”
Archbishop Richard, the man who offered the sacrament to the PM, is quoted by CBC as saying, “Only the Catholics can receive communion.” While the Archbishhop proves he can read canon law, he also proves he cannot or does not read newspapers. It is widely known that the highest elected official in our country is not a Catholic and one would expect a spiritual leader to know a little bit about the religious views of the prime minister of more than three years…
Exactly.
Via Adam Daifallah, Paul Tuns explains the rules:
…Harper might not know the intricacies of Canon law but Archbishop Andre Richard should have. In other words, the scandal is the primate’s not the prime minister’s. And it goes beyond merely presenting the Eucharist to Harper, a non-Catholic. If you watch the video, it appears most of those at the state funeral were getting ready to go up for communion. I doubt they were all Catholic. When there is a strong likelihood of numerous non-Catholics being at Mass (such as for a funeral or a wedding), the celebrant should inform the congregation that non-Catholics are not allowed to receive communion although they may present themselves for a blessing…
and
(Technically, it is not just non-Catholics that should not receive communion, but Catholics who doubt the doctrine or who are in a state of mortal sin because one’s soul should not be so stained when receiving Christ.)
* * * *
Saturday Update: Great photos of the Harper family with the Pope at Dr. Roy’.
And some of my fellow Catholics (especially those with the initials WK) may want to brush up on the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-collector.
In my opnion, these sort of things are being deliberately publicised in order to take away from the fact that the Prime Minister is appearing somewhere on the world stage. It’s a deliberate attempt to trivialise what he is doing in terms of global affairs. Remember last time around it was “pottygate”, now we have “wafergate”.
I’m still in disbelief at hearing Special K even took Holy Communion.
Isn’t it a sin to take Holy Communion if you haven’t repented? Being a loudly pro-choice Catholic, in fact, criticizing other people for being pro-life, is indeed a sin. Same for being pro-gay marriage. Sure, be for it, but don’t call yourself a Catholic.
Kind of like the Kennedys and Paulie Martin, “devout” Catholics, they say they are. Well they sure don’t act like it, do they?
Isn’t it a sin to take Holy Communion if you haven’t repented?
That’s right. As I mentioned over at Chucker’s, if you have committed a serious sin, it must be confessed before you can receive communion. You must be in ‘the state of grace’.
It would be sacrilegious to do otherwise.
As I understand Catholic doctrine , non Catholics are not supposed to take communion. In any case this is a pretty personal decision. and wk again show what a horrible little man he really is, not surprising he is a liberal who has used religion extensively in his career to attack people.
Not to mention how much Special K critizes and makes fun of OTHER CHRISTIANS.
That HE was even offered Holy Communion is laughable…
Jad – you are right in your suggestion. EVERY time PM Harper goes abroad, there is some idiotic, stupid thing that erupts at home.
Hopefully most Canadians just laugh at the stupidity.
Kinsella, the Liberal organ grinder, even a Monkey would know enough to laugh at his pathetic attempts to slander.
Warren, pardon us, your desperation has risen to new heights. It even looks like there may be reason to believe it’s [allegedly] causing some brain damage.
Warren should heed a quote by Abe Lincoln:”When you have an elephant by the hind leg and he is trying to run away, it’s best to let him run”.
[edited by blog admin]
The one in error here, besides those who would make much ado about nothing, is the Catholic priest. Only Catholics receive communion at Catholic churches. Evangelicals such as PM Harper are considered apostates and as such are not eligible to receive communion.
As an Evangelical Christian I do not eat the Host until I have spent time reflecting and meditating on the Sacrifice. I suspect that PM Harper follows the same practice.
Another faux scandal and one that could blow up in the face of the Liberals if they try to run with it. I think they would be better off leaving this one alone.
ROy,
As a catholic, I think the priest should have blessed the Prime Minister and not put him in the situation he did.
Joanne:
The Liberals are desperate re the Catholics. Check out this academic paper http://tinyurl.com/ncexpn
In particular check out fig. 3 on page 16 of the link. The percentage of Catholics who identify themselves as Liberals has decreased from 53% in 2000 to 30% in 2008. The percentage of Catholics who identify themselves as Conservatives has increased from 34% in 2000 to 43% in 2008.
If PM Harper had just stayed seated, not getting up for Holy Communion, the same jokesters would be criticizing him for “rejecting” it and Catholics, or thinking himself too good to take Communion. We’d be reading headlines “Arrogant Harper Declines Holy Communion”.
PM Harper can’t win no matter what he does.
I was raised a Catholic, but have since converted to another Christian faith. I don’t take Communion when I visit my mom’s church with her.
Obviously PM Harper didn’t know this would be a faux pas. How about a little forgiveness for someone who is not studied up on Catholicism, you good Catholics??
But again, if he had sat it out, the critics would be howling from the rafters as well…so what do you do?
Canadian Journalism in action. We have some of the best(eyes roll).
I also read somewhere that The Times Transcript is owned by Paul Zed’s nephew(not 100 percent sure on this tho). Paul Zed is a former Liberal who is now Iggy’s chief of staff. Things that make you go hmmm.
As a catholic, I think the priest should have blessed the Prime Minister and not put him in the situation he did.
Exactly. Surely the priest knew that the Prime Minister was not Catholic? The whole thing is ridiculous anyway.
If I was in a Catholic Church for a special event such as this and the Priest offered me a Communion wafer, I also would take it.
It is extremely shallow to assume that a non-Catholic, would know and understand all of the traditional rituals.
I have attended many weddings, baptisms and communions in Catholic churches and none of them have been identical.
I agree with Aardvark,this could very easily blow up in the face of the hypocrite.
I hope it does, big time.
So now LifeSiteNews.com is an arm of the so-called Liberal-biased media???
“OTTAWA, July 7, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Prime Minister Stephen Harper is in hot water over a video that caught him taking Holy Communion in a Catholic Church, despite being a non-Catholic Christian. To make matters worse, the video** shows him walking away without consuming the host – although a spokesman for the Prime Minister told LifeSiteNews.com that the PM did consume the host off-camera.
The incident took place last Friday at the funeral of former Governor General Romeo Leblanc in Memramcook, New Brunswick.
In the video Harper is show being offered communion by the Archbishop of Moncton, André Richard. The Archbishop commented, regarding what Harper did with the host, that “I didn’t see anything wrong there because I was busy doing something else,” according to the Telegraph-Journal.
According to Catholic teaching the communion wafer becomes the body and blood of Jesus Christ after it is consecrated by the priest. The Church teaches that only practicing Catholics who are properly disposed to receive Holy Communion should present themselves to receive the sacrament.
Catholic officials are blaming Prime Minister Harper for the incident. Monsignor Brian Henneberry, Vicar General and Chancellor for the Diocese of St. John called for an explanation from the Prime Minister’s office. “If the prime minister is not a Catholic, he should not have been receiving communion,” he said, “and if he comes up it places the priest in an awkward position, especially at a national funeral because everyone is watching.”
He says that if Harper took the host without consuming it, “it’s worse than a faux pas, it’s a scandal from the Catholic point of view.”
“If I were the prime minister,” he said, “I would at least offer an explanation to say no offence was meant, and then (clarifying) what happened to the consecrated host is in order. I would hope the Prime Minister’s Office would have enough respect for the Catholic Church and for faith in general to make clear whatever happened.”"
Harper screwed up. Whether it was big deal or a little deal, he screwed up, made a faux pas. Why doesn’t he just say “ooops. my bad. won’t do it again next time I’m in a Catholic or Orthodox Church.” and put an end to the story? Why does he, his PMO, his caucus and his supporters feel the need to pretend or act like he is superhuman and infallible?
Maybe a good thing will be brought out about this: the hypocrisy of Liberals who consider themselves good Catholics.
Now THAT’S something a journalist should tackle. Come to think of it, the Catholic Church should tackle that issue as well and do some good, old-fashioned excommunication.
I’m Catholic and I’m not offended by what the PM did or didn’t do.
What offends me is that WK allegedgly felt it necessary to politicize the funeral of someone he claims to admire, and who is the god-father of his daughter.
The bottom-line question for me is to wonder whether the LPOC and its leader gave this kind of attack ad their blessing?
Did Greek Orthodox Ignatieff take communion?
As a Catholic I’m not the least bit offended, however if he were a liberal he’d probally ask for seconds.
Who cares…..This is worse than the MJ side show. Really, aren’t there more serious things we could be doing…
Did the same small minded people watch what Ignatieff did. He is an atheist. So, did he say amen at any time or bow his head in prayer?
BTW – in my Catholic church non catholic Christians are invited to take communion at funerals and weddings and it is a personal choice. As a Catholic I take communion at non Catholic churches. It is for the same reasons to the same God….a personal choice.
Only the small minded or hyper partisan hypocrits could even consider this as worthy of discussion let alone political criticism.
Well Ted…the answer to that is “just to piss you off”. Lets save everyone a lot of grief.
The Bloc supporters are pissed at Harper for taking the wafer and say they’ll never vote for him. The NDP supporters are angry because none of them were invited and, well, wont vote Con next time around. The Lib supporters (Ted) say that Harper screwed up and proof again that he’s not fit for the job and will not vote Tory next election. Mean time…80% of Canadians are outside playing or working and most have had the same situation happen to them at a wedding or funeral and if they ever did read or hear about it over the next one day news cycle would say…”hey honey..remember when I did that at you cousin Betty’s wedding”…
Honestly..a priest running to the media about who took or didnt take a wafer is where most sane Canadians would stop reading or listening and caring.
JDot @ # 13
The Telegraph Journal not the The Times Transcript..
But my point still stans..
The only solution to this situation is to be as religiously radical as the Muslims, after-all this is at least as important as a cartoon of some guy with a bomb in his hat . We could riot in the streets ,burn cars, let Catholic and Evangelical gangs get it on… Some people need to get a life.
the liberals stole from the nation still owe canadians 40 million dollars……
Joe #8, you may have a point there about the reflection on the host.
What the prime minidter did was done innocently- the Lord knows that.
You know how the media like to go to the source for their input. In this case:
Media to God ” God, did You see what the prime minister did with your host?”
God to media ” Yes, I saw, but I also saw what you did to the public”
“Media to God ” God, did You see what the prime minister did with your host?”
God to media ” Yes, I saw, but I also saw what you did to the public””
Well said, Jen!
[Roman] “Catholic priest faces kid porn charges
OTTAWA – A local Roman Catholic congregation is stunned to learn one of their own is facing child pornography charges.
Father James Anthony Jordan, 63, a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, was arrested Monday and charged with one count of possessing child pornography.”
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Crime/2009/07/07/10060836-sun.html
Some might even consider it a mockery for a non-Catholic to partake of the communion.
Bottom line,is it proven that Mr Harper did in fact refuse the wafer as in “a proof is a proof, if it is proven, it is a good proof”, or something like that!
You know what is telling? That Liberals everywhere complain bitterly about truth ads describing their leader in his own words. But when the chips are down, Liberals continue, here yet again with this issue over the Communion wafer, with their own unsuccessful 7 year smear campaign against Harper. Once again, it is proven that hypocrisy defines who and what the Liberals are.
You see, they’ve run out of stuff to fling against the wall. A firewall letter, “culture of defeat”, its all been done, old news. So what do they have to resort to? Scouring current videos of Harper, trying so desperatley to catch him in a “gotcha moment”. What a joke.
This is so very weak. With polls just starting to reflect another narrative they don’t like, and without the presence of a credible scandal to bludgeon the voters with, the Liberals are telegraphing that weakness with this desperate fishing trip.
A witness has come forward to say that the PM consummed the Host. Now its a case of “he said, she said.” Hardly the stuff of legends -
http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/07/08/can-i-get-a-witness/
This is yet another Liberal non-scandal that will fizzle out once again. How many is that now? Desperate much, LPC?
If you’re not Catholic, you shouldn’t accept the host, period. Harper should have stayed out of line. He blew it.
Pro-Harper comments are getting way more “thumbs up”, and anti-Harper comments are getting way more “thumbs down”, over at CTV
Back to the drawing board for WK.
Update over at MacLeans Blogs …
Noel Kinsella, speaker of the senate, comes to the Prime Minister’s defence.
There have been some media reports focusing on the Communion Service during the funeral of the Right Honourable Roméo LeBlanc last Friday in Memramcook, New Brunswick. These reports have questioned whether Prime Minister Stephen Harper consumed the host that was given to him at the funeral.
I would like to state that I personally witnessed Prime Minister Harper consume the host that was given to him by Archbishop André Richard. Sitting only a few seats behind him I had a full view of the proceedings and clearly saw the Prime Minister accept the host after Archbishop Richard offered it. The Prime Minister consumed it.
Link
“He blew it.”
Ha Ha Micheal…I would say the ones who “blew it” are those who thought, in their wildest dreams, that this would somehow resonate with ordinary Canadians.
PULEEZE……
CJ – Thanks for that link.
Now can we please put this ridiculous story to rest?
No wait. It shows how absolutely desperate and despicable the PM’s rivals are.
Re Michael @ #31: What if he’s not up on the teachings of the Catholic Church?
And I’ll ask you: Do you think it’s OK for pro-choice Liberals to accept Communion? Even if they regularly mock pro-life supporters? Hmmmmm? Many of these “Catholics” are well aware of the church’s position on abortion, yet they mock the church and take Holy Communion? When they know they are going against the church?
Which is the more grievous sin, I wonder?
Despicable doesn’t even begin to describe these hypocrites, Joanne.
How nice to know that WK is such a devout Catholic that he will never ever again write or post or appear on a tv program to, support gay marriage, abortion, divorce. To do so would be hyprocracy. Same goes for all catholic liberal MPs, they will not vote for any of the above topics.
It is a little slice of god only knows what that taste like regurgitated cardboard. I know I was raised catlick. As a little kid my brother and I helped ourselves to a whole chalice full before mass. We got there early, and you could never eat before you went to mass, so we went in the back and scoffed the many host and washed them down with the holy wine. I felt truly blessed that day….we didn’t get caught, so we didn’t get our asses blistered. I felt guilty about that for years, but not real guilty, because I was hungry and the priest hadn’t blessed them yet. Blessed or not, they taste the same.
OT, but NNW has Iggys speech in London, where he complains about stimulus spending and bailouts. How many votes will he gain in London by slagging PMSH.
Oh, and also, the IMF says Canada is in the best shape. And when the PM meets the Pope he can ask about communion.
…where he complains about stimulus spending and bailouts.
Which he never wanted, right?
What a hypocrite.
We got there early, and you could never eat before you went to mass
I remember that! Mass at school in the corridor. I was kneeling down on the bare floor and keeled right over from hunger. That’s the truth.
Fainted dead away.
SoccerMom…You have said it all…..But don’t get too upset….you are dealing with an idiot
I’m Catholic as well. I remember one of the very first times taking communion. In those days you had to fast, no breakfast until later. Well, I was kneeling and all of a sudden everything went black. Somehow, through reflex, I got my hands up in time to prevent my head from hitting the pew. Never happened again, though.
“Canada’s economy set to shine on world stage: IMF ”
http://www.canada.com/business/fp/Canada+economy+shine+world+stage/1772058/story.html
And in other news Iggy thinks it is 1995. Via Liberal PR person Susan Delecout..
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/662968
As a Major CPC/Harper supporter, I just want to thank the LPC for crowning Iggy…
Ed, these days they’d call that child abuse. I remember being told that a class mate caught my head before I hit the floor.
On days that I didn’t faint, I spent the whole time imagining what the breakfast I had brought would taste like after Mass. I can still taste those peanut butter and corn syrup sandwiches. And the chocolate milk.
Thanks for the links JDot.
JDot, that Star link is incredible. If I weren’t so tired I’d open up a new post on this:
Ignatieff said that Liberals are not – contrary to expectations – totally comfortable with the wave of bailouts, deficit spending and government intervention that is now the hallmark of the global economic crisis.
“Liberals might be expected to welcome the interventionist turn. The problem is that we don’t actually believe in big, but in good government. It is not obvious that we get good government when government is asked to do everything.”
Ah c’mon. You’re kidding me right? Is this not the party of National Day Care?
Is this not the party that pushed for the coalition and then threatened the country if the Government didn’t put out a huge stimulus package?
Fasting did not bother me as much as having to wear a hat. And I can’t forget how a wife, who was pregnant would say, gee, no fasting.
Looks like Iffy is having an identity crisis again. Someone remind me which party he is leader of, because it sure doesn’t sound like the Liberals.
Exactly: the party of National Daycare and the leader says “It is not obvious that we get good government when government is asked to do everything.”
Someone frame that.
More re JDot @ #45.
“Canada’s economy set to shine on world stage: IMF
OTTAWA — Canada’s economy is set to outperform nearly all industrialized countries this year and next, the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday, leading analysts to declare the country does not need additional stimuli as advocated by certain world leaders at this week’s Group of Eight summit.”
“As for Canada, the IMF said the economy would contract the least among industrialized nations this year, with a drop of 2.3%, compared with the 3.8% shortfall expected among all advanced economies. In 2010, the Canadian economy is set to post growth of 1.6%, or second-best among advanced nations after Japan’s expected 1.7% gain. In contrast, the U.S. economy is seen recording meagre growth of 0.8%, or half the Canadian output.”
urlm.in/cscw
…-
[Liberal] “Budget officer [Kevin Page] calls for debate on economy”
“We think we’re going to need a debate,” he told CBC News,”.
urlm.in/cscx
Fasting did not bother me as much as having to wear a hat.
That’s right. We had little doilies at school we had to wear for mass. Amazing how much all that has changed.
Exactly: the party of National Daycare and the leader says “It is not obvious that we get good government when government is asked to do everything.”
Either Iffy or Dryden don’t belong.
“In those days you had to fast, no breakfast until later”
While I was not Catholic, the Anglican’s were much the same. I had forgotten about not being able to eat breakfast and that brought back the memory of fainting as well.
And I do remember having to wear hats MaryT.
I want to thank the Liberals for bringing all this to the forefront so that we can all jog our memories -lol
I don’t remember the fasting before Mass thing, but I sure do remember having to get to church by 8:00 a.m. in the dead of winter at -35 below. In the pitch darkness. And yes, MaryT, I remember all the ladies wearing hats.
Wow, have times changed!
Joanne @ #48
It is pure gold what Iggy said on his “ME” tour.
There will not be a election in the fall. There can’t be, Iggy is not ready for primetime.
Joanne, this is OT; but, is a good topic for ‘nother thread?
Missed this as I don’t shop at CeeBeeCEE.
…-
“Frost in July hits P.E.I. from CBC News”
“…frost has never been reported before in July”
Temperatures dropped to a record low in Prince Edward Island overnight Tuesday, with reports of frost throughout the province.
An official record low of 3.8 C was set early Wednesday morning at Charlottetown airport.
The previous record for that date was 5.1 C, set in 2005.
Bob Robichaud, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said that to his knowledge, frost has never been reported before in July in P.E.I.”
http://wattsupwiththat.com/
Has the budget officer read the IMF report. No wonder the PM wants a certain man muzzled.
Maz2, the environmentalists have that covered too – everything is climate change; especially extremes in weather. And if the weather doesn’t change, then that is climate change too.
Maybe Iggiasm is running for the Republican Party after all… What a hoot this guy is and it just gets better each time he is left to his own devices.
http://www.ask.com/bar?q=republicans+for+ignatief&page=1&qsrc=0&ab=0&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.republicansforignatieff.com%2F
As a practicing Catholic, I’m laughing my head off at how stupid this whole thing is. The Liberals once again demonstrating how foolish they really are. This is so silly, it’s beyond stupidity.
Words can not describe how utterly ridiculous this attack is. As someone said here, the Liberals are so desperate they come up with something that is so insignificant as this.
They have nothing significant to go after the PM with so they settle for the most asinine thing they can come up with. How pathetic, how low can they go.
The PM is not a Catholic. He does not know the Catholic ritual which is fully understandable. There is nothing wrong under the circumstances for the PM taking Holy Communion. Absolutely nothing wrong there at all!!
God understands that fully well, He doesn’t need a priest to say otherwise. I would expect a priest to find no fault, to be welcoming and understanding.
The bottom line is that it’s no big deal. I say that as a Catholic, and I challenge any Catholic who disagrees. We are not living in the Dark Ages, the Catholic Church has come a long way since the fifties.
It has a more mature attitude. It has its belief system but the responsibility is given to each Catholic as to how they live their faith. In the end, God and only God will judge.
Soccermom, it’s interesting to point out that Jesus was particularly upset with hypocrites. For example, He said, that religious leaders that did not practice what they preach, their punishment would be all the worse!! So I guess a few people out there ought to think twice about being hypocrites.
Let’s say thank you to Noel Kinsella for speaking up. Now, there’s a real Catholic from St.Thomas University on the campus of UNB in Fredericton, NB. And a great psychology professor, at that!! Hey, Noel, why did you join the Liberals?
In the end, God and only God will judge.
Amen.
Actually, I think God is very happy that the PM accepted Him. On the other hand, I believe God is not too happy with Warren attempting to discredit a fellow Christian.
The Liberal video asks if the PM will apologize to every Catholic and give back the host. Now, that’s juvenile.
BTW, there are Liberal priests out there as well. How about a separatist cardinal!!
Another point: for the past number of decades, the sacrament of confession seems to be passe. At least, in our neck of the woods. It’s rare to see people going to confession. In the old days, we had nuns that told us if we missed Mass we’d end up in hell and burn forever. It was considered a sacrilege, especially if you missed Mass and then went to Communion before going to confession. Today, people miss Mass or show up now or then or once or twice a year and go to communion without having gone to confession. That’s the way it is today.
Confirmed with my CWL ladies – a funeral or wedding is considered non denominational even when it includes a Catholic mass as part of the proceedings.
In our Roman Catholic diocese all Christians who attend can and do freely partake of the bread and wine as a celebration of the body and blood of Christ – which nearly all Christian churches do in their own ceremonies.
Catholics and non Catholic Christians partake of communion in our Roman Catholic church and our priest most often invites all to partake at funerals and weddings.
It is between the person and God what it means to them – not as something one does to be seen doing.
Bec, thanks for that link. I’m going to check out RepublicansforIgnatieff bright and early tomorrow, to see what new dirt they have on the nutty professor.
Great fun watching “fish out of water” Iggy flopping around. Like I’ve said, the guy cannot play the political game anywhere near Harper’s level. He should of stayed in academia.
Joanne, when is the next major meeting our PM has, out of the Country. When we know we must have a poll, What will the liberal/media make into another faux scandal.
What did Dion or Iggy do during Holy Communion at the funeral.
Lorraine @ #64 – Thanks for clearing that up.
Lorraine’s info @# 64 is precisely what I have been led to believe too.
I have however heard, that it depends on the priest.
Pretty much what ed has been saying so eloquently and most of the contributors.
“Signs of the rat
While Toronto’s Mayor struggles to deal with the three-week-old strike, some of the city’s inhabitats are revelling in it: rats.”
“Q Have you seen any actual rats so far?
A Actually I have. I’ve seen them on the TTC.”
http://www.nationalpost.com/todays-paper/story.html?id=1772667
…-
camus
Albert Camus’s The Plague (Vintage Books, New York: 1991, translated by …. A fascist plague, with its stormtrooper rats, can always be hiding in the …
home.insightbb.com/~adamwatson/showcase/camus.html
An interesting blog post from Brian Lilley:
http://www.cfrb.com/node/956736
Thanks Gabby.
Now however it has become a national story, The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, even CBC forgoing coverage of the G8 Summit to let Canadians know what Mr. Harper did after accepting communion from the hands of Archbishop Andre Richard.
Indeed.
Dominic LeBlanc a class act may he have a long career in politics
fh
I posted this at Lilley’s blog.
Once again, refreshing to read an informed and informative blog post.
As you stated “I am sure, with lapsed Catholics being the second largest religion in Canada, that Mr. Harper was not the only person to present themselves at the altar who should not have.”
It is particularly galling to have people like Warren Kinsella practice his brand of Catholicism – ridiculing another Christian’s belief, Stockwell Day – now feigning being scandalized at this event. And what about former PMs Jean Chretien and Paul Martin, both supposedly Catholic, who advocated pro-choice and gay marriage, both of which could be deemed excommunicable POVs?
But then, if the PM is out of the country attending an international meeting and making Canada’s viewpoint heard loud and clear, most journalists have to concentrate on such trivia rather than cover what the PM accomplished abroad. Wait … I just heard on CJAD that the PM was two minutes late for the “family photo” at the G8 again. Was he in the loo again? Headline news! Never mind what he advised on the economy or climate change files, people need to know if he went to the toilet.
Hats off to Domenic LeBlanc. He grows in national stature daily. Kinsella’s time left to switch horses is running out.
The excellent question is as commented on earlier. What about the atheist Ignatieff? What did he do about paticipating in the sacrements?
The Liberals are pathetic. Pity the PM can’t even attend a funeral mass without being eagle-eyed by desperate Liberals.
It appears they’re not above stirring religion into politics when they think they can put a wedge in.
It’s too ridiculous to even talk about. I believe the PM on this one.
We all remember the silliness when Mr Harper was late for a photo, they said he had to go potty. What kind of idiots would stoop to such depths?
The NP cover “cartoon” isn’t funny either.
[...] « All I can say is… [...]
Pity our PMSH, there will be other Catholic funerals for VIPs which he will attend. Everyone will be watching what he does. If he does not go to Communion he will be vilified, if he crosses his arms for a Blessing, liberals and the media will ask, why.
Sometimes one has to go with the flow, the GG ate seal heart, rather than embarrass her hosts, same goes for our PMSH.
Kudos to both of them.
It is very obvious by the coverage of this that many in the media and liberal caucus are anti-religious, not just anti Harper.
And yes, Dominic is a class act, and the liberals should have elected him as leader.
And to WK, we will be watching you, and every time you do something that is against your religion, we will call you on it.
Are we already seeing a backfire on this one?
This whole thing is just rediculous!
Most likely Liz. Now that we see that Romeo Leblanc’s son regrets the embarrassment this caused and was grateful for the PM being there, perhaps Warren “The Human Shrapnel” Kinsella will think next time before he flings his ultra partisan self so far out of step on such a sensitive issue.
Also, I noticed Mr. Kinsella hasn’t posted anything since. A “shut-up memo”, perhaps?
So now Warren Kinsella puts up another post regarding this non-issue. I wonder if he is going to fumble this one like he did that cat meat fiasco.
Mr. Kinsella, Romeo Leblanc’s own son was stated how gratified he that Stephen Harper was there to offer his respect, even after the video surfaced. At one time, you were likewise gratified that Stephen Harper did the same for you when someone from your family passed on.
Good Lord, just let it go already. You’re making yourself look like a fool.
Warren Kinsella, National Post – June 21, 2005
I am a Liberal, and liberal, but I like Stephen Harper.
The main reason for liking him is personal. When my Dad died, a year ago last week, Mr. Harper called me and my Mom to express condolences. He talked about meeting my Dad once, and he talked at length about his own father, who had passed away not long before.
There was no reason for the Conservative leader to call me in the middle of a hotly contested election campaign. As one of those so-called political strategists, I had in fact written and said plenty that was critical of Mr. Harper and his party over the years. But he called anyway, and that call was something my family and I will never forget. (From my own party’s putative leader, Paul Martin? Nothing. Even
though my father had done volunteer and fundraising work for the Liberal Party of Canada for many years — and even though he’d indicated his support for the Liberal party in his obituary notice. That, too, is something I will never forget.)
“So what?” you might say. How is this in any way relevant to the fitness of one man, or the other, to be prime minister of Canada? Well, because it matters. Because it provided a revealing glimpse into Stephen Harper’s character. Because it suggested to my family and me — die-hard Alberta Liberals, which is about as die-hard as a Liberal can get — that Stephen Harper was, at the end of the day, a nice person.
==============================================
Does Warren Kinsella have a memory problem?
OK, so the Archbishop CAME OVER TO WHERE MR. HARPER WAS SITTING and offered him Holy Communion.
This is REALLY a non-story. What was Mr. Harper to do?
If anybody is at fault, it is the Archbishop. And Liberal hypocrites for trying to blame Harper.
If Dominic LeBlanc has any sense about him, and it seems he does, he should never go anywhere near Special K. The guy is toxic waste.
I have a couple of questions – Where was Michael Ignatieff? Also, who was that just before the PM that received communion? Was that the GG’s husband?
“but Catholics who doubt the doctrine or who are in a state of mortal sin because one’s soul should not be so stained when receiving Christ.”
It’s sounding more and more to me that very few people there would be qualified to take Holy Communion in that church on that particular day, and certainly not those particular Liberal hypocrites who call themselves “Catholics”.
I have also questioned if MI was there. He was not in any head shots during the service, and not shown coming into the service. However, later the next day, when reporting on who was there Heather said liberals from Ignatieff to x were in attendance. Did she make that up to cover his missing in action again.
And I also thought that the GG received Communion when watching the crowd.
If she can eat seal she can take Communion.
I am sure there are some out there that are going over the entire service with a fine tooth comb and will let us know.
I have been to several weddings, funerals and other Special Masses, and in all cases our Priest has invited all in attendance to receive Communion or a Blessing if not Catholic. This was not done at the LeBlanc funeral. The error was by the Priest.
Other denominations do invite all in attendance to share in their communion, if you wish. So, it is not surprising that non catholics assumed it was ok. I do not know the practice in the PM’s Church.
And I also thought that the GG received Communion when watching the crowd.
If she can eat seal she can take Communion.
Yes, that seems reasonable except that I thought she was a non-believer?
Today Warren says, “…what’s more, it wouldn’t have occurred to me, before yesterday, to even look – the guy isn’t a Catholic, for Pete’s sakes, and he’s not supposed to be even touching the Eucharist…”
Does that apply to all non-Catholics and non-Christians who took part in Communion, or just to the PM?
” he’s not supposed to be even touching the Eucharist…””
Yeah, and neither is an ego-centric, pro-choice, pro-SSM guy who obviously doesn’t believe in what HIS OWN CHURCH stands for.
When I fly, I am searched, when I take Greyhound, I am searched but when I go to Church I am not screened to see if I am Catholic, atheist or anything else. I am accepted. When I go to Communion in a Church in another city, I am not asked by the Priest, are you Catholic, in a State of Grace, I am just accepted. When I see large crowds at funerals or weddings in my Church, and these strangers go to Communion, they are not questioned if they are worthy.
This might backfire in a positive way as lapsed Catholics will be upset by the attack on their Church and come back.
You know, like a brother or sister slagging their sibling, but watch out if others do it.
And just maybe the WK catholics out there will realize they should not be supporting such things as ssm, abortion etc. We will call them on it every time they do.
Don’t Touch that Ar-K.
The Babe is announced by Gaia’s NOAA-Gov on earth.
NOAA* knows what yer talking ’bout here. NOAA understands, too.
NOAA* built Noah’s Ark for MaoStlong, (Hi. I’m … Uncle Mo Strong from Canada.) who stole/re-christened Noah’s biblical Ark the Gaia Ark.
Mo Stlong waved a wafer and It Was Blessed by ARkBishop Hansen and the MSM Choir sang in chant: Gaia is Our Saverus.
…-
“NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit http://www.noaa.gov.”
*”NOAA announces the arrival of El Niño”
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/07/09/noaa-annouces-the-arrival-of-el-nino/#comments
This is embarrasing.
Perhaps, it should not be posted?
…-
“Irish tree stump looks like Virgin Mary
DUBLIN (AP) — Thousands of Irish Catholics are flocking to a church to pray at a tree stump — a recently cut-down willow that many say bears the shape of the Virgin Mary.”
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2009/07/09/10078506-ap.html
The Motts are talking about this on CFRB and people are calling in blaming the media for even running with this story.
One guy in particular said that it really hurts the memory of Romeo LeBlanc and that anyone who milks it should apologize to the family.
AdlerRoy Green talking about it now.Guest: Charles Lewis of the Post.
“The Motts”
What is that?
Re MI, I watched the entire service and did not see him. I would have said no, he wasn’t there but the news sources are saying he was there.
Bec, the Motts are a couple on a Toronto station that do an afternoon show. It’s over now, but the callers’ comments were interesting. Most thought it was a non-issue.
I can’t help wondering what Rick Mercer would do with this material.
Re: Michael Ignatieff’s presence at the funeral, yes he was there. I watched it too, Bec, and maybe that one time or two your eyes strayed from the TV
the cameras focussed on him.
I did not stay solidly through until communion, though, so I didn’t actually see the PM receiving the host, nor what Ignatieff did at that point. I picked up again once the mass had ended and the family headed towards the cemetery.
Gabby, I meant to comment earlier on your post at Lilley’s blog this morning. Very well done.
WK’s hypocrisy is breathtaking.
The priest who delivered the homily at the funeral mass of former governor-general Romeo LeBlanc said Stephen Harper behaved properly when he took part in the communion service last week.
“The Prime Minister did consume the host; he did not put it in his pocket,” said Father Arthur Bourgeois, who had been a friend of Mr. LeBlanc for 30 years.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/holy-post/archive/2009/07/09/wafergate-the-sequel.aspx
Thanks Gabby @# 98.
Re: Michael Ignatieff’s presence at the funeral, yes he was there.
So does anyone know if he received Communion?
But, Yaffe* says PM Harper committed a “faux pas” re the wafer. Liar.
YaffeMSM are always keerect, especially on Canonical Law, the Talmud, the Buddhavista, the Book of Norman, and the Queeran, the Watchtower, etc.
The waiting for Our Lady of the Cliches (LibSheila Copps) to weigh in is unbearable.
Sheila, where are you?
*Yaffe:
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Protestant+takes+wafer+Catholic+service+fuss/1777939/story.html
[...] regret for the embarrassment that the PM might be experiencing, you just have to wonder why a certain Liberal strategist who supposedly had deep affection for the former GG would continue to poke a stick in the [...]
I have just watched the video for the umteenth time, and I am watching the PM’s hands. Notice that he is holding something in his left hand, probably the program for the Funeral Mass, he is offered the Host, takes it, and the camera leaves him, (why) but the person in front of him consumes the host and immediately the PM is in view, with both hands on the program. Host had to have been consumed as his hands were both in view. Had he pocketed it, his hand would have been in his pocket, or coming out of it, with the time between both shots.
I wonder who the photographer was and why he didn’t stay on the PM and who followed him. And what did atheist Dion do during Communion, stay in his seat, go for a blessing or have a converstation with Iggy, with smirks on their faces.