People act oddly during times of political uncertainty. Even so, I've been surprised lately to find myself agreeing with the perennially aggrieved William A. Donohue. For the uninitiated, Donohue serves as president, CEO and chief controversialist of "The Catholic League," a laymen's organization devoted to the dubious premise that bias against Roman Catholics is "more virulent and more pervasive than ever before in American history." He's always on television, and he's almost always furious.
Actually, overt religious bigotry has become so rare as to be almost quaint in American life. That's not to say the Catholic League's brand of pre-Vatican II moral and theological conservatism is regnant everywhere -- particularly not among Catholics. Even so, Donohue's recently had a couple of real humdingers to wax apoplectic about.
First came Sally Quinn, the famous Georgetown hostess and founding editor of the Washington Post-Newsweek Web site "On Faith." Quinn's marriage to legendary Post editor Ben Bradlee -- the story of their adulterous courtship is narrated in his book "A Good Life" -- has made her a Washington social arbiter.
Attending Tim Russert's funeral Mass, Quinn decided to receive communion, then wrote about
it. "Oddly," she reported, "I had a slightly nauseated sensation after I took it, knowing that in some way it represented the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Last Wednesday I was determined to take it for Tim, transubstantiation notwithstanding. I'm so glad I did."
Has "On Faith" no adult editors to inform Quinn that Catholic communion isn't for spiritual tourists? For once, Donohue got it right: "Just reading what Sally Quinn said is enough to give any Christian, especially Catholics, more than a 'slightly nauseating sensation.' ... Moreover, Quinn's statement not only reeks of narcissism, it shows a profound disrespect for Catholics and the beliefs they hold dear."
Elsewhere, a hubbub broke out at the University of Central Florida over a student who absconded from Mass with a consecrated communion wafer, either to exhibit it to his roommate or protest student funds supporting religious organizations on campus. The young man gave conflicting explanations to reporters. Church officials called his actions disruptive and disrespectful. He, in turn, complained that a woman attempted to wrestle the purloined Eucharist from his hand, and demanded a meeting with the bishop regarding church policy on physical force.
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