Good icebreaker for conversation with the Pope

From today's Telegraph-Journal, this little story:

A senior New Brunswick Roman Catholic priest is demanding the Prime Minister's Office explain what happened to the sacramental communion wafer Stephen Harper was given at Roméo LeBlanc's funeral mass.

During communion at the solemn and dignified service held last Friday in Memramcook for the former governor general, the prime minister slipped the thin wafer that Catholics call "the host" into his jacket pocket.

And here's the video, courtesy of Canadian Press and YouTube. Watch at the 30-second mark or so.

Comments

[LOCKSTOCK93]

If you are going to participate in a cultural proceeding, participate fully. If your beliefs preclude you from taking part, by all means, offer your explanation and act accordingly.

Honor your hosts and honor yourself; be clear and honest about your intentions and your actions. Steven Harper surely doesn't see this as important.

[LOCKSTOCK93]

hahaha, i meant the host of the event, not the body of the Lord

[Aron]

Maybe he was saving it for later, or he's going to sell it on eBay. Either way you are taking this way too seriously.

[Brent Wilkins]

Jews are not allowed to eat those wafers. What is the big deal?

[Greg Smith-Young]

Why was Stephen Harper served communion in the first place? I think the Roman Catholic Church's teaching is that only RCs can receive the host. Can Harper then be blamed for not understanding the wafer's significance to Catholics? The fault lies with the priest, not with Harper.

[JoeBlow]

...who really cares whether he ate it or not. Seriously...this makes news?

[Jim]

I don't see him put it in his pocket ... sorry.

[Don]

Isn't it fun when religion and politics mix. I guess being a Fundy, Harper did not think he could consume the Catholic Host. So why didn't he just stay in his pew and not take communion instead of hiding it.

[Mark Kedrick]

too funny, he may be saving it for a later day when he is runned out of the office.

[Taylor]

Oh please. This is headline news? Several Catholics I know - all good people - are at odds with many of the Church's teachings. Is this instance a slam towards all Catholics? I hope Canadians aren't that naive as to fall for that premise. To make it a top story on a mainstream news site is crazy. Separation of Church and State anyone?

[ebrench]

So what if he didn't consume the "body of Christ"? I don't think he's a catholic, and even if he was, who's to say he has to? He was merely there paying his respects to another politician.

[tresjohn]

You should have known by now that PM Harper is not roman catholic, He is a true believer of Jesus Christ. Jesus body was resurrected in heaven after three days of burial and no need to be eaten by catholics. salute to PM for standing up.

[Fonetix]

Being Jewish, I was told to very elegantly stand and bow my head forward in respect putting my hand up slightly to indicate I would not accept it. I was taught that this is the proper way to refuse the wafer in a public service which is Cristian.

I can't believe this made the news though - too much attention on Michael Jackson perhaps?

[Adam]

Harper has bungled so many substantive policy issues like Khadr, the budget, and global warming, yet this total non-story is the first item on the Star's web page?

[Ron Gower]

My understanding is that the only people who can accept the wafer are Roman Catholics. Whenever I've been in this situation myself the priest has always cautioned the guests on that point, namely that if you are not Roman Catholic, don't come up.

[joseph]

40% of Canadians are Catholic. If Stephen Harper desecrated a Mosque, a Quran, a Torah or showed extreme ignorance and disrespect to any other faith it would also make the news.

[Cathy Lyon-Schlender]

I totally agree with Aron - they are taking this too seriously. In most cases, the priest will rip the host out of your hand when he learns you are Protestant. Stephen Harper only got one because he was the Prime Minister and the priest didn't dare treat him like he would most other Christians who are not Catholic.

[JE]

From what I understand if you are not catholic (like Stephen Harper) it is sacreligious to take holy communion in the Catholic Church. So with that in mind he did the right thing. Give the guy a break!

[keith]

Does this really matter? I attended religious events for others, and I didn't participate. Does this make me in the wrong? No. Because I don't believe something that another person does, I choose to be supportable and be there for that person, not for what they believe in.

[E. Lee]

Who cares? Maybe he has a wheat allergy. He's our Prime Minister, not a religious leader.
The host is just a symbol, and worshipping it is in this manner is worshipping a false idol.

[Karl Rice]

I think we all know why Harper opted not to take part in the mass after being given the offering. I think any personal excuse would work in this situation, perhaps he was feeling ill, a number of reasons would qualify if were ever approached, and im sure it will be explained just as simply. I belive he was using his position to extend an opinion on todays world state, i hope that such religious figures wouldn't see this the wrong way and actually perhaps act on such an occurance.

[Victor]

Hahaha.... I can't believe he slid it into his pocket. I'm mailing this to the Vatican.

[Samuel Ooi]

The Prime Minister is an evangelical Christian of the Christian & Missionary Alliance tradition. Refusing to consume the "host" is what many evangelicals would have done. So what's wrong with Mr. Harper acting upon his faith?

[Russell]

It is also said by the churches that if the person is not ready to receive the communion he or she does not have to take it. I'm no fan of Harper so it's sad I have to stick up for him on this. Come on The Star! When are you going to stop being so biased and give us real news for once?

[Rya n]

he dropped accidently and was too embarrassed to pick it up - grow up.

[venture]

too all you ignorant, obviously non-catholic people.............this is a big thing for roman catholics, and respect to whatever each religious beliefs or practices is what is that matters here so if people should even bother respecting your thoughts try respecting other first!!!!

[Chris]

This is unbelievable. This is what Canadians are concerned about? Whether or not the leader of our country ate the waffer or not? Do we not think there are more pressing issues both our leaders and our citizens should be concerned about?

Shame on the people making this a story. I sincerely hope the Prime Minister doesn't acknowledge this nonsense and waste his and our valuable time with this type of petty grievance.

[J. Gardiner]

I agree with Greg Smith-Young; it is the priest who screwed up. Since most Liberal politicians are Catholic I imagine they are going to milk this for all it is worth and in this day and age its worth is absolutely nothing

[Earl Nelville]

The GG eats raw seal heart. What's up with the PM? I guess there may be a security measure involved in this too. The church has been known to poison it's own pope.

[Kevin - Toronto]

Wow - this is so offensive. I generally don't care about politics but this guy is not fit to be the leader of my country. There are probably a million Catholics just like me that would vote liberal because of this single offensive act. An apology doesn't excuse this ignorance and insensitivity. Accepted protocol is to politely refuse the host or to remain seated. Surely he knows at least one or two Catholics that could have advised him on how not to offend millions of Canadian Catholics. I am extremely disappointed and shocked.

[Dennis Regan]

How this is not a big deal to some is beyond my comprehension. For those unaware, this is the ultimate practice of the Catholic religion. The priest has no time, or knowledge, as to who before him should receive the host. How can Harper receive this and hide it? If he thought the host was so meaningless that he could put it in his pocket, then why not his mouth? That would at least for a while, keep him from saying something stupid also.

[scott]

If he's not Catholic (he isn't) he isn't supposed to take communion. So I guess he wasn't supposed to even receive the host but once he did he shouldn't have eaten it, so he did the right thing.

[Eddy]

Who really cares. The person taping this and posting this on youtube for political gain, should apologize to the family. This is a time for mourning, and Harper was there to show his support. Next you will say he had one shoe lace untied, or tied it in such a way that angered muslims.

[MJB]

its a cracker. its not the body of the lord. who cares.

[Lapsed]

JoeBlow this makes news to the 12.8 million people, or 43% of the Canadian population that self-identify as Roman Catholics. Believe me, for millions of these people it would be a significant vote-casting consideration.

This is not the Priest's fault either. When going to Communion it is incumbent on a non-Catholic to indicate that he/she is not entitled to take Holy Communion by a shake of their head or hand. Most people that I know are aware of this. The Prime Minister (or his protocol people) seriously messed this one up.

[d. alexander]

A bunch of hullabaloo about nothing...why does the press bother with this crap with real news needing reporting..save this for The Enquirer.

[post-it]

This is probably the only time I'll agree with something Harper has done. Harper tried to hide the host discreetly, showing some sensitivity to the proceedings. I'm not Catholic and I would have done the same thing. Talk about religious intolerance on the part of the priest/RC church. They're missing the main issue - LeBlanc's memorial. Get over it.

[Lorraine Bell]

Religion is religion. Stephen Harper is the leader of a country which is multicultrual with many religious backgrounds. If he is attending a service in an official capcity he should know what to do. When you attend a Catholic mass and you do not intend to participate in communion, you simple sit back int he pew and leave room for those who are seated next to you to leave. You do not go up to the alter and accept the host from the priest. This also stands true in the the Anglican Church and the United Church. Stephen Harper's religious affiliation is Evangelical (Christian and Missionary Alliance). He is not Jewish, so commenting that Jews are not allowed to to eat the host has nothing to do with whether Stephen Harper took the host.

[Andrew]

LOL. I demand an apology.

[Greta]

I have been refused the host in a Catholic Church as I am Protestant. Stephen Harper, since he is not Catholic, should have not received the host but a blessing instead. Don't make mountains of molehills. Greta

[Lola]

Is he Catholic? I thought only those who are Catholic are allowed to take communion. If he's not he should not have gone up.

[Kevin - Toronto]

List of things that Harper has a problem respecting;

Toronto
Gay people / Pride week
The Catholic church
World AIDS day - he didn't attend

Feel free to add...

[Mike]

I don't find myself defending Stephen Harper all that often, but: it's a cracker! He's not obliged to do anything with it.

[Alan Breck]

Harper isn't RC so the priest shouldn't have offered communion to him in the first place!

[zezi-b]

Harper is not a catholic so he shouldn't eat it (though it might be worth finding out specifically how this applies to other christians), but then he shouldn't have stood up from his seat to take communion.

[Jordan]

It was my understanding that only baptised Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox are allowed to take the Host. Is Harper not an evangelical Protestant?

[Ryan L]

I'm not a big Harper fan, but that rocked! Why must we convince ourselves that all political leaders must believe in God in order to run a country properly?
Stick it to the man!

[witty]

Clearly he is an experienced shoplifter. Next stop - Nunavit - where Harper will pocket seal heart.

[Ted C.]

Obviously, someone didn't brief him on the correct etiquette.

As a non-believer, he shouldn't have accepted the wafer in the first place.

[Bob McKnight]

As prime Minister, Mr Harper or his staff should have investigated the expectations of people who attend. Common sense would tell him that any church service would have procedures that would not necessarily be known to the public at large. Failure to investigate displays a total lack of regard for the Catholic church and its followers.

We should be able to expect our Prime Minister to be sensitive to such things. I am not Catholic but if I were invited to some church service I would inquire as to what practices I should be aware of.