Anglican Woman Priest Gives Dog Communion

[BernadetteM]

There is a story on the web that a woman priest in the Anglican church of Toronto, Canada gave a dog and his owner a communion wafer during the liturgy.

This should show anyone connected with the Anglican Communion that they do not believe in the Real Presence of Christ. When speaking of the incident the people at the church referred to the wafer as a wafer and not as the Body and Blood of Christ.

It is very sad to see what is going on in the Anglican Communion today. Actually it is quite shocking.

All the more reason for being Catholic.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

 

[GKC]

As you know, there are Anglicans and then, there are Anglicans. But this is an aberration, anywhere. The story was picked up by one of the main traditionalist, evangelical sites. The comments are blistering.

Would you suppose this reflects my belief?

There’s a thread on this already, down there somewhere.

GKC

Anglicanus-Catholicus

And there’s a thread on this already, down there somewhere.

There is a story on the web that a woman priest in the Anglican church of Toronto, Canada gave a dog and his owner a communion wafer during the liturgy.

This should show anyone connected with the Anglican Communion that they do not believe in the Real Presence of Christ. When speaking of the incident the people at the church referred to the wafer as a wafer and not as the Body and Blood of Christ.

It is very sad to see what is going on in the Anglican Communion today. Actually it is quite shocking.

All the more reason for being Catholic.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Your outrage is commendable in that this is an example of idiocy and over-the-top weirdness. You’re wrong in that you draw a quick conclusion that this somehow represents all Anglicans. I happen to be “connected” to the A.C. right now and resent the implication that my parish and diocese haven’t a clue about the Real Presence because some dipstick in Canada is out to lunch?

There is a story on the web that a woman priest in the Anglican church of Toronto, Canada gave a dog and his owner a communion wafer during the liturgy.

This should show anyone connected with the Anglican Communion that they do not believe in the Real Presence of Christ. When speaking of the incident the people at the church referred to the wafer as a wafer and not as the Body and Blood of Christ.

It is very sad to see what is going on in the Anglican Communion today. Actually it is quite shocking.

All the more reason for being Catholic.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

I happen to be “connected” to the A.C. right now and resent the implication that my parish and diocese haven’t a clue about the Real Presence because some dipstick in Canada is out to lunch?

Well, you might believe in Real Presence but there are Anglicans out there who don’t. This belief depends on who you ask - there is no theology behind it that stands for official Anglican belief in Real Presence.
This was explained to me by an Anglican priest.

 

[Dale_M]

There’s a thread on this already, down there somewhere.

Yep, here it is:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=477978

And here is the news article on which it is based.
thestar.com/news/gta/article/838717–can-a-dog-receive-communion

Apparently the priest is quite embarrassed by the incident, she gave it thoughtlessly, and promises that it will not happen again.

Allowing the dog into the church seems questionable, since it doesn’t seem to be a service animal. However, the church does an animal blessing once per year so the dog’s presence was deemed acceptable. The dog’s owner had been mistreated on the steps of the church a few weeks ago, so I think the priest was bending over to be extra-hospitable to someone she invited to attend.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

Apparently the priest is quite embarrassed by the incident, she gave it thoughtlessly, and promises that it will not happen again.

Wow. It’s alright then.
Anglicanism is such a mystery to me…

 

[aicirt]

Your outrage is commendable in that this is an example of idiocy and over-the-top weirdness. You’re wrong in that you draw a quick conclusion that this somehow represents all Anglicans. I happen to be “connected” to the A.C. right now and resent the implication that my parish and diocese haven’t a clue about the Real Presence because some dipstick in Canada is out to lunch?

I used “wackiness” in describing the incident on the other board wondering what has happened in the last 60 years. I seriously doubt this would have happened in an Anglican Church back then. By the time you are made a mininister, you should have the sense of the Divine totally meshed within yourself.

Have the adjustments to secular concerns eradicated the Anglican sense of the Divine to another scandalous incident?

 

[Jim_Dandy]

Anglicanism embraces the High Church (Anglo-Catholic), the Low Church (evangelical), and the Broad Church (liberal). What one believes about the communion bread depends upon the facet of Anglicanism with which one is affiliated. But the Catholic Church does not recognize Anglican orders. In most cases, the High Church “Eucharist” is not the real thing. So the “priestess” gave the dog a piece of bread. But still, it was communion bread, so it’s really shocking. The article in the Toronto Star did not say whether or not the “priestess” was High Church, but it did say that the “wafer” was meant to “represent” the body of Chirst.

 

[wmscott]

There is a story on the web that a woman priest in the Anglican church of Toronto, Canada gave a dog and his owner a communion wafer during the liturgy.

This should show anyone connected with the Anglican Communion that they do not believe in the Real Presence of Christ. When speaking of the incident the people at the church referred to the wafer as a wafer and not as the Body and Blood of Christ.

It is very sad to see what is going on in the Anglican Communion today. Actually it is quite shocking.

All the more reason for being Catholic.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Whether the AC believes in the real presence or not I find this action absolutely repugnant. Even the belief that some or most Protestants may hold that communion is just symbolic, how dare a minister of the Lord defile and blaspheme even the memory of our Lords last supper that way. It is just plain unconscionable that this minister has so little regard for one of the most sacred aspects of Christianity.

 

[Bruce_in_Iloilo]

Most of the posters are focusing on the issue of the Real Presence. I would like to focus on another issue, which might be called tolerance.

This is tolerance run amok. The impulse of the Anglican minister, and here I am speculating, was not to embarrass the woman when she came up with her dog. When faced with the woman doing something clearly inappropriate with her dog (regardless of whether one believes in the Real Presence or that this is an important symbol of faith or something in between) the minister did not publicly correct her but rather went along with it. What should a caring, compassionate person do when someone else is misbehaving in public, especially if one is a leader? How should a minister react pastorally to this rude, or worse, behavior? Do you public correct and thereby embarrass her or do you let it slide?

This I think is the problem with much of contemporary Anglicanism and even much of modern Western society; there is an unwillingness to stand up and publicly defend standards of behavior, and thereby embarrass others.

To me, a religious, moral leader’s job is to stand up and take unpopular stands, embarrassing other people even. The instinct of this minister – because I don’t think that she really thought about it much – was the opposite, was just to go along to get along. Being caring and loving is part of the job of pastor. Another part is to publicly correct – yes even publicly shame – erring congregants. It is time that ministers and churches embrace their full complete roles as pastors – as both teachers and lovers.

 

[aicirt]

Bruce…I totally agree with your take. If the person with the dog was a raving lunatic and the minister was fearful for the safety of the others, then it would be a different issue.
I would think ministers and our priests would be instructed as to how to handle disruptions. The idea of just giving communion to an animal should be so out of the realm of possibilities, it just wouldn’t have happened. The minister could have blessed the beast and said to the woman that a special dog treat was available after Church. And then move on.

The woman with the dog obviously had mental problems. Many people, such as nurses, police, social workers, must deal with the unexpected. The priest should have handled it better. Personally, I think she is disconnected as to if she really believes the Anglican communion is the Real Presence. This has nothing to do what a Catholic thinks she should believe. It has to do with what she should believe as an Anglican and, having embraced that belief into her very soul, act accordingly. She failed.

 

[Soldier_X]

Sorry to see that this made TWO threads, while the hundreds of wonderful Anglican priests and laity that I know - who love Christ, believe in the Real Presence, and abhor such events - will NEVER make a thread on any forum ever. For every fringe Anglican nut, there are thousands upon thousands of Faithful.

 

[wmscott]

Sorry to see that this made TWO threads, while the hundreds of wonderful Anglican priests and laity that I know - who love Christ, believe in the Real Presence, and abhor such events - will NEVER make a thread on any forum ever. For every fringe Anglican nut, there are thousands upon thousands of Faithful.

There is always that 1% or less who give the good and holy a bad name.

 

[CMatt25]

Wow. It’s alright then.
Anglicanism is such a mystery to me…

Wow and all the mistakes of Catholic priests and bishops make it alright then because they are Catholic priests and bishops? Something tells me there are Protestants and Anglicans who might say the exact same thing about our Church… a mystery.

 

[BernadetteM]

As you know, there are Anglicans and then, there are Anglicans. But this is an aberration, anywhere. The story was picked up by one of the main traditionalist, evangelical sites. The comments are blistering.

Would you suppose this reflects my belief?

There’s a thread on this already, down there somewhere.

GKC

Anglicanus-Catholicus

And there’s a thread on this already, down there somewhere.

Yes I know, but as you also can see from my post I said anyone connected to the Anglican Communion and as far as I know you and the Continuing groups are not. I was thninking of TEC. As a former Episcopalian and brought up in low church, they didn’t believe in the Real Presence, it was a symbol. My parents felt they were protestants.

I got this from a website of a Continuing Anglican and the responses to it were from both members of TEC and Cont. Anglicans and they were less charitable than many of CAF.

Of course I know exactly what the Anglican Communion NOW teaches, anything and everything. Sorry if you misunderstood what I meant by people still attached. I can’t understand why anyone would stay in TEC etc. My brother has a IQ that they couldn’t measure when he was young, but he will always be in TEC. We don’t discuss religion or politics because he knows BEST. His Ph.d is from Princeton.

You should know me by now that I don’t judge Anglicans who are like you and really I am not judging people in TEC as far as their salvation, but can judge actions taken by this woman and why anyone would stay in that parish.

Yes there are still some parishes in TEC that are Anglo Catholic and hold to their former beliefs, but for how long will they be allowed to?

God Bless

Bernadette

 

[CMatt25]

I can’t understand why anyone would stay in TEC etc. My brother has a IQ that they couldn’t measure when he was young, but he will always be in TEC. We don’t discuss religion or politics because he knows BEST. His Ph.d is from Princeton.

Hmm… maybe you should dialogue with your brother with the Ph.d and ask why he stays? You and he might not agree but can always agree to disagree. But for some I imagine it could be because they find there Christ’s love and His followers who do not judge and welcome all. And where aside from this one dog instance, takes its cue from Christ in Jn 6:37 and doesn’t turn away anyone from receiving Christ on any given Sunday as long as one has been baptized in the trinity form? Anyway those might be some reasons. Just a thought. God bless and peace.

 

[BernadetteM]

Your outrage is commendable in that this is an example of idiocy and over-the-top weirdness. You’re wrong in that you draw a quick conclusion that this somehow represents all Anglicans. I happen to be “connected” to the A.C. right now and resent the implication that my parish and diocese haven’t a clue about the Real Presence because some dipstick in Canada is out to lunch?

See my post I think it is #15 to GKC, I wasn’t referring to those who have left TEC and the Anglican Communion as a whole, but those who still feel they can stay within that Communion and hang on to the former beliefs of the Anglican Communion.

My comments were nothing compared to many people still in TEC or the Anglican Communion and also by Continuing Anglicans on other websites. I also don’t perceive what I said as “outrage”.

We can all be charitable towards those who just can’t make a decision to leave, but also must recognize the fact that the leaders of the Anglican Communion have destroyed it. Those being harmed are the members. Whether your a Baptist, Methodist etc. people ususally know what their church believes, but at this point in time I think it would be very difficult for a member of the Anglican Communion to say what the church believes.

Maybe to some this is not serious, just another strange incident within their church, but when your speaking of the Real Presence of Christ it is another issue.

Either the Anglican Communion as a whole teaches in the Real Presence or they don’t. As I stated growing up it was considered a symbol in my parish. After going to an Anglo Catholic parish for many years I was out of the loop as far as how the Episcopal church had changed. When I was young most clergy did not wear chasubles etc. Years later I noticed that most do. The outer elements like incense, vestments etc. does not reflect what is actually being taught and believed. Because the name Anglican does appear to others that all who use this title are connected to the Anglican Communion creates a problem as I can see by your response. I was not speaking of the Continuing churches, but those who are still within the Anglican Communion. From what I know these churches have left it many years ago. Most people in general don’t have a clue as to the difference.

In my opinion the whole Anglican Communioin is a mess, it is not the church I know from my past and as I have said many times I feel only sadness for those who stay. There are many continuing Anglican churches that one can choose to belong to, where they have clear teachings and they are much more condemning of this incident than I.

Bernadette

 

[Newbie2]

There is a story on the web that a woman priest in the Anglican church of Toronto, Canada gave a dog and his owner a communion wafer during the liturgy.

This should show anyone connected with the Anglican Communion that they do not believe in the Real Presence of Christ. When speaking of the incident the people at the church referred to the wafer as a wafer and not as the Body and Blood of Christ.

It is very sad to see what is going on in the Anglican Communion today. Actually it is quite shocking.

All the more reason for being Catholic.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Shocking. The dog was Lutheran.

Seriously, is this a true story or an internet urban legend?

 

[BernadetteM]

Hmm… maybe you should dialogue with your brother with the Ph.d and ask why he stays? You and he might not agree but can always agree to disagree. But for some I imagine it could be because they find there Christ’s love and His followers who do not judge and welcome all. And where aside from this one dog instance, takes its cue from Christ in Jn 6:37 and doesn’t turn away anyone from receiving Christ on any given Sunday as long as one has been baptized in the trinity form? Anyway those might be some reasons. Just a thought. God bless and peace.

Matt,

You can’t dialog with him. He is always right and I am always wrong!. I really don’t care that he has chosen to stay in TEC. We have a complicated relationship and this is his choice. His daughter’s FIL was the TEC Bishop of a very large diocese years ago and didn’t believe in the Resurrection, so that should tell you something about where he is coming from.

I wish it was different as he is my only brother, but the decision was made by him years ago to distance himself from his family and I think it was because he wouldn’t have to take any responsibility for my mother or father or any other issues he felt would be a burden to him. I can’t judge why he would rather do more for others than family as we were a normal family, but sometimes he is more radical in his beliefs. I am very conservative.

We do talk, but not about anything serious and he hasn’t lived close since he was in University.

Thanks for the thought.

God Bless

Bernadette

 

[jay29]

It was nothing more than a piece of bread. Big whoop.