Anglican Priest sparks congregation backlash after giving Holy Communion to a dog

Run_to_da_hills

Personally I wouldn't find anything wrong with this as I don't accept the doctrine of transubstantiation. I take the bread as just symbolic and don't take it literally. To me this is no difference to giving a dog any piece of bread.

However I believe that people that do take this bread at church should be conscious that the bread being broken is symbolic of Christ’s offering of his {broken} body on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1297759/Priest-sparks-congregation-backlash-giving-Holy-Communion-dog.html

johnfás

One can find this offensive without believing in the doctrine of transubstantiation. A wedding ring is simply a symbol of one's love, but I assume most people would find it offensive if someone took their wedding ring and smeared it in manure. Symbolism doesn't infer irreverence.

Michael G

Transubstantiation is not something that most Anglicans believe in (though we hope to welcome those who do into the Catholic Church soon), but what happened does suggest that this church is one that forgot long ago what it was supposed to be, and is now just something that brings people together to have nice vague feelings. Much like most Catholic Masses and Church of Ireland services these days.

Zombrex

I'm not a believer, so I don't know how this would insult me if I was, but by the sounds of it the priest was just having a bit of fun with the guy and his dog, who obviously means a lot to the man.

Plowman

This post has been deleted.

Fanny Cradock

I think it was a mistake. But then again we all make mistakes. She has apologised, been given a dressing down and I suspect that is that.

The Mad Hatter

"Congregation backlash"? This is what you get for reading the Daily Mail.

I've seen this story crop up a few places over the past couple of days. One person complained. Most of the congregation liked it, it seems.

JimiTime

johnfás wrote: »

One can find this offensive without believing in the doctrine of transubstantiation. A wedding ring is simply a symbol of one's love, but I assume most people would find it offensive if someone took their wedding ring and smeared it in manure. Symbolism doesn't infer irreverence.

QFT. Though I don't think anyone should be hung drawn and quartered, this was outstandingly thoughtless, and very disrespectful.

smurfhousing

Even though this wasn't, thankfully, a valid Eucharist, we must still bear the following in mind:

"Do not give what is holy to dogs, 4 or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces.
(Mt. 7:6)

owenc

The church of ireland don't call it "holy communion" ( i don't think anyway.) they call it communion? Anyway the minister/priest (do they call it priest or minister, as i was in a church of ireland thing and it said priest but then i heard them say minister?) probably only did it for a joke.

owenc

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

"Congregation backlash"? This is what you get for reading the Daily Mail.

I've seen this story crop up a few places over the past couple of days. One person complained. Most of the congregation liked it, it seems.

Is all you ones own south do is bash the daily mail i'm sick of hearing that and what are you doing reading british papers anyway, read your own if its that bad. Back on topic.

Fanny Cradock

owenc wrote: »

Is all you ones own south do is bash the daily mail i'm sick of hearing that and what are you doing reading british papers anyway, read your own if its that bad. Back on topic.

It's not just us down South who bash the Daily Mail.

JimiTime

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

It's not just us down South who bash the Daily Mail.

Indeed, you'll find that its those who have a brain, wherever they may be, that spot sensationalist rags. They do give away some good stuff on their Sunday edition every so often though. Once you can slip on your Daily Mail filter when reading it, you'll be ok.

If you don't put the filter on though, you may require exorcism.

The Mad Hatter

owenc wrote: »

Is all you ones own south do is bash the daily mail i'm sick of hearing that and what are you doing reading british papers anyway, read your own if its that bad. Back on topic.

I read Irish papers, and British papers, and American papers. I don't read the Daily Mail, for reasons that should be obvious to anyone who's ever tried.

owenc

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

I read Irish papers, and British papers, and American papers. I don't read the Daily Mail, for reasons that should be obvious to anyone who's ever tried.

Why because its conservative and most people down south are labour? Anyway back on topic or we will get banned.

owenc

JimiTime wrote: »

Indeed, you'll find that its those who have a brain, wherever they may be, that spot sensationalist rags. They do give away some good stuff on their Sunday edition every so often though. Once you can slip on your Daily Mail filter when reading it, you'll be ok.

If you don't put the filter on though, you may require exorcism.

How do you know this were did you get the daily mail at down south you can't buy it.

JimiTime

owenc wrote: »

How do you know this were did you get the daily mail at down south you can't buy it.

Firstly, you can get the daily mail in the free state, and I also lived in London for 3 years.

Fanny Cradock

Perhaps the media forum is better suited to this.

LeprachaunPope

The Pope would be shocked and appalled.

owenc

JimiTime wrote: »

Firstly, you can get the daily mail in the free state, and I also lived in London for 3 years.

Why are you alud to get foreign papers, i mean we can't get french papers here. anyway.

getz

do not know why everyone is so upset,pope john paul 11 [1980] said that;all animals have a soul,and men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller bretheren, www.all-creatures.org/gcm/godknows.html

JimiTime

owenc wrote: »

Why are you alud to get foreign papers, i mean we can't get french papers here. anyway.

I think we should pay attention to FC's advice, but to let you know that there is an Irish edition of the Mail. Also, we can get French, Spanish, American papers in the bigger newsagents here too. From my time working in Belfast, you can get them there too. I was also able to get the Irish Indo in London. Once there is a demand, you'll find a supply.