Catholic school girl "pockets" the host

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onetruechurch

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A student at a “Catholic” high school in San Jose (Archbishop Mitty) wrote a scandalous feature column in today’s (Saturday July 23) San Jose Mercury on page 7D of the Faith and Spirituality section. The article was called “Seeking Her Own Answers” and it was ridiculing the sacrament of the eucharist. I wish I knew how to print the article for you because I believe someone needs to take action and have the girl expelled…or if the school approves of her “free speech” the school should be sanctioned.

Her article has about 22 paragraphs so I will give you a sample of the first four:

“The lights in the cathedral were dimmed, relaxing almost, but I felt I was about to choke. In my hand lay the holy host, the body of Christ, passed on from generation to generation, carrying an immense onus despite its obvious frality and paleness.
Usually, I would simply pop the flavorless round wafer into my mouth and kneel for the customary prayer without as much as a blink. But this evening was different.
I felt digusted with myself. “Why am I doing this again?” As guitars droned and a baby intoned a screech, I decided I was tired of following a religion that did not satisfy me.
So, very slowly, I folded my fingers to hide the holy Eucharist and glanced around apologetically, first, at the people beside me and then at the pallid saints on the stained-glass window. I placed the paper-thin cracker in my jacket pocket without a word.”

Miss Lisette Arellano goes on with four and a half more columns of blaspheming the church, thinking it was funny that she “pocketed the host”, and telling why she is quitting religion and going for secularism. She ends the article by saying she still has one more year at the “Catholic” high school.

I was so upset after reading her blaspheming the church that I sent an e-mail to the principal of the school asking him if he planned to expel the student or if his “Catholic” school thought free speech was more important than scandal.

What is more important??..free speech or preventing scandal?
 
Assuming she destroyed the most precious body of our Lord Jesus Christ, this woman has already excommunicated herself by desecration of the host. She should be expelled from the school, if she refuses to recant her words and repent.

Now if we just all recieved Christ on our tounge loonies would not be able to walk off the Christ or sell him on Ebay!
 
I decided I was tired of following a religion that did not satisfy me
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If she wasn’t satisfied by Jesus in the Eucharist, wait until she tries the barren wasteland that is the secular world…

I think, from her actions, she knows in her heart the “wafer” is what it really is but she is too prideful to admit. If she truly thought it was just a wafer, she wouldn’t have made such a big production out of taking it, nor would she have bragged about her scandalous act. If it was just a wafer worshipped by some religious idiots, then who cares?

My prediction: once this girl hits absolute rock bottom in the secular world, and all her pride has been destroyed by her fall, she’ll be back.
 
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onetruechurch:
What is more important??..free speech or preventing scandal?
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There is no dichotomy here. One does have “free speech” but should also be willing to endure the repercussions of that “free speech”.

The young lady needs to be confronted by the school with regard to her actions.
 
Assuming she destroyed the most precious body of our Lord Jesus Christ, this woman has already excommunicated herself by desecration of the host
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Because she is a minor, she wouldn’t be excommunicated.
*Can. 1323 No one is liable to a penalty who, when violating a law or precept: *
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*1ƒ has not completed the sixteenth year of age; *
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**
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*Can. 1324 ß1 The perpetrator of a violation is not exempted from penalty, but the penalty prescribed in the law or precept must be diminished, or a penance substituted in its place, if the offence was committed by: *

…

*4ƒ a minor who has completed the sixteenth year of age; **
 
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A.Pelliccio:
Assuming she destroyed the most precious body of our Lord Jesus Christ, this woman has already excommunicated herself by desecration of the host. She should be expelled from the school, if she refuses to recant her words and repent.

Now if we just all recieved Christ on our tounge loonies would not be able to walk off the Christ or sell him on Ebay!
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People pocketed the host long before people recieved in the hand. Recieving in mouth doesn’t stop anyone from pocketing the Host if they want to.
 
Instead of trying to damn this poor girl to Hell why can’t we do the Christian thing and pray for her. Pray that she sees the error of her ways and repents for her sins before it’s too late.

God, bless this young woman who has closed her heart to Jesus. Bless her and open her heart to your love and help her to see the error of her ways and have mercy on her and help her get back on the path of salvation. Amen.
 
Disgusting. If she had done a similar act to any other religion it would have been deemed a “hate crime.”
 
Disgusting. If she had done something similar to any other religion it would have been a “hate crime.” She should be bullwhipped.
 
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onetruechurch:
A student at a “Catholic” high school in San Jose (Archbishop Mitty) wrote a scandalous feature column in today’s (Saturday July 23) San Jose Mercury on page 7D of the Faith and Spirituality section. The article was called “Seeking Her Own Answers” and it was ridiculing the sacrament of the eucharist. I wish I knew how to print the article for you because I believe someone needs to take action and have the girl expelled…or if the school approves of her “free speech” the school should be sanctioned.

Her article has about 22 paragraphs so I will give you a sample of the first four:

“The lights in the cathedral were dimmed, relaxing almost, but I felt I was about to choke. In my hand lay the holy host, the body of Christ, passed on from generation to generation, carrying an immense onus despite its obvious frality and paleness.
Usually, I would simply pop the flavorless round wafer into my mouth and kneel for the customary prayer without as much as a blink. But this evening was different.
I felt digusted with myself. “Why am I doing this again?” As guitars droned and a baby intoned a screech, I decided I was tired of following a religion that did not satisfy me.
So, very slowly, I folded my fingers to hide the holy Eucharist and glanced around apologetically, first, at the people beside me and then at the pallid saints on the stained-glass window. I placed the paper-thin cracker in my jacket pocket without a word.”

Miss Lisette Arellano goes on with four and a half more columns of blaspheming the church, thinking it was funny that she “pocketed the host”, and telling why she is quitting religion and going for secularism. She ends the article by saying she still has one more year at the “Catholic” high school.

I was so upset after reading her blaspheming the church that I sent an e-mail to the principal of the school asking him if he planned to expel the student or if his “Catholic” school thought free speech was more important than scandal.

What is more important??..free speech or preventing scandal?
Click to expand...
WRITE A LETTER WITH A CLIP OF THE ARTICLE to the BISHOP and Cc it as well to the Chancellor of the Diocese, and to The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican!! Archbishop Levada’s office. THIS IS A SAD THING GOING ON IN MANY SO CALLED CATHOLIC FAMILIES WHO NEVER GIVE AN OUNCE OF INSTRUCTION ON THE FAITH TO THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS, BUT THEN SEND THEM TO SO CALLED CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WHO HAVE WORSE TEACHERS: NOT COMMITED TO TEACHING THE CATHOLIC FAITH.
ONE MORE GOOD IDEA: SEND THE ARTICLE WITH A LETTER TO THE CATHOLIC LEAGE.
I GET ANGRY WHEN HERETICS DESECRATE THE BODY OF CHRIST AND THE CATHOLIC FAITH IS MOCKED.:mad:
I am here exercising now my First Ammendment Right to Free Speech.
 
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onetruechurch:
A student at a “Catholic” high school in San Jose (Archbishop Mitty) wrote a scandalous feature column in today’s (Saturday July 23) San Jose Mercury on page 7D of the Faith and Spirituality section. The article was called “Seeking Her Own Answers” and it was ridiculing the sacrament of the eucharist. I wish I knew how to print the article for you because I believe someone needs to take action and have the girl expelled…or if the school approves of her “free speech” the school should be sanctioned.

Her article has about 22 paragraphs so I will give you a sample of the first four:

“The lights in the cathedral were dimmed, relaxing almost, but I felt I was about to choke. In my hand lay the holy host, the body of Christ, passed on from generation to generation, carrying an immense onus despite its obvious frality and paleness.
Usually, I would simply pop the flavorless round wafer into my mouth and kneel for the customary prayer without as much as a blink. But this evening was different.
I felt digusted with myself. “Why am I doing this again?” As guitars droned and a baby intoned a screech, I decided I was tired of following a religion that did not satisfy me.
So, very slowly, I folded my fingers to hide the holy Eucharist and glanced around apologetically, first, at the people beside me and then at the pallid saints on the stained-glass window. I placed the paper-thin cracker in my jacket pocket without a word.”

Miss Lisette Arellano goes on with four and a half more columns of blaspheming the church, thinking it was funny that she “pocketed the host”, and telling why she is quitting religion and going for secularism. She ends the article by saying she still has one more year at the “Catholic” high school.

I was so upset after reading her blaspheming the church that I sent an e-mail to the principal of the school asking him if he planned to expel the student or if his “Catholic” school thought free speech was more important than scandal.

What is more important??..free speech or preventing scandal?
Click to expand...
According to the New Code Of Canon Law: if this is true, this person is automatically EXCOMMUNICATED FROM THE CHURCH.
 
Anima Christi:
Disgusting. If she had done a similar act to any other religion it would have been deemed a “hate crime.” She should be bullwhipped.
Click to expand...
Exactly. However, sad to say it seems “hate crime laws” seem to protect (and rightfully so) all OTHER religions BUT the CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THIS COUNTRY!! How sad.
 
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misericordie:
According to the New Code Of Canon Law: if this is true, this person is automatically EXCOMMUNICATED FROM THE CHURCH.
Click to expand...
Not if she was under 18, as Kielbasi correctly points out.
 
Both of the citations of canonical law state “sixteenth year.”

If she has one year to go in Catholic school, she is almost certainly older than 16, now, but perhaps was not at the time that she began “seeking her own anwers” - which somehow seemed to require desecrating the consecrated host.

I’m so very sorry for her. Throwing away the precious body and blood for the** nothing** that is “out there.” 😦
San Jose Mercury News Story
SEEKING HER OWN ANSWERS
INCREASING DOUBTS SPUR TEEN TO LEAVE HER CHILDHOOD CHURCH, ASK NEW QUESTIONS
By Lisette Arellano
Special to the Mercury News
The lights in the cathedral were dimmed, relaxing almost, but I felt I was about to choke. In my hand lay the holy host, the body of Christ, passed on from generation to generation, carrying an immense onus despite its obvious frailty and paleness.

Usually, I would simply pop the flavorless round wafer into my mouth and kneel for the customary prayer without as much as a blink. But this evening was different.

I felt disgusted with myself. ``Why am I doing this again?’’

As guitars droned and a baby intoned a screech, I decided I was tired of following a religion that did not satisfy me.

So, very slowly, I folded my fingers to hide the holy Eucharist and glanced around apologetically, first at the people beside me and then at the pallid saints on the stained-glass windows. I placed the paper-thin cracker in my jacket pocket without a word. I haven’t been to a Mass since that fall evening.

But my musings about religion and the nature of faith continued, taking me in a search for answers.

A faith unravels

The secret ritual that finalized my separation from the Roman Catholic Church did not come abruptly, but rather was the result of lengthy ruminations during my later adolescence. For someone growing up in a Mexican family, being a Catholic was merely a given, like brushing my teeth. For most of my life, I attended church every Sunday and even listened attentively simply because my parents had taught me to do so.

I took an ounce of pride in being Catholic, especially when I was accepted into a prestigious Catholic high school. Little did I suspect that my education there would demolish my taste for religion.

Sitting in religion class, I began to perceive tiny holes in the fabric of the Catholic doctrine – the ban on female priests, the aversion toward gay marriage, the constant portrayal of Jesus as a white man – that unraveled into massive questions.

As I flipped through my religion textbooks with the usual boredom, I discovered an awful tear in the texture of the religion: the church’s stance on the environment. Catholic social teaching does promote care for the environment, but this attitude is rarely emphasized.

I am wholeheartedly an environmentalist. And yes, trees are holy in my eyes. So, to me, the 16-page chapter on environmental justice in Justice and Peace'' seemed like an add-on placed there to appease the post-Earth Day crowd. I found the large pictures of teenagers happily planting trees and the paragraphs with recycling’’ and ``stewardship’’ highlighted pathetically insufficient. More significantly, this section of the 282-page text was never mentioned in class.

In other words, I wasn’t buying the doctrine.

The doubts born in the classroom gradually began to manifest at home. Soon, my parents’ question every Sunday bothered me like a mosquito at my ear on a summer evening. With my car keys in hand and one foot out the door, they would ask, ``Are you going to go to Mass this week?’’ I took to swatting the problem away with myriad excuses instead of speaking my mind.
Click to expand...
Cont…
 
Cont…
Parental reaction

A few weeks after pocketing the host, I finally did.

My parents definitely saw the storm on my horizon, so when I blatantly announced my separation from the church, the shock was diminished. They did not collapse on the living room floor as I feared, nor did they jive around the house in joy.

They simply listened to my dilemma and then asked, ``OK, so what are you going to do now?’’

I don’t recall my answer, but now I know what I wanted to say: ``Hopefully I’ll figure out what I believe in sometime before I die.’’

So what have I figured out so far? Up until now, not much. (At least consciously.) So I decided to delve into the matter by visiting a Christian media store and talking to some of the young people there.

I stepped through the glass doors feeling slightly queasy. My greatest fear: What if these people insist on saving my poor heathen soul? I soon discovered that ``these people’’ were a figment of my imagination. Instead, I met individuals of various Christian sects that shed some light into thoughts I had failed to previously articulate. To begin with, there was a general consensus among young people that religion and faith are not equal.

Religion is the candle in a red glass used to pray to St. Jude so he can solve your crisis. It’s the holy'' water in little plastic bottles and the sitting, standing and sitting again during Mass. It's the ritual that grows tedious. Indeed, one of the shoppers, 23-year-old Brittany Staffield, pointed out that in terms of religion, the more rigidity, the less appealing and the less accessible.’’

And I agree.

I also discovered that faith attracts many of these young people to Christianity. And I heard from them the resounding phrase: ``Faith is a relationship with God.’’

Tough new questions

So my conversations left me with some new questions: What is God to me? Do I have a relationship? Do I even want a relationship?

Well, . . .

I know what I don’t want: I don’t want a religion. I don’t even want to pray.

But I do believe that life has been too kind to me to completely dismiss the presence of something unfathomable. So for now, I stand in awe at the fact that even as people cry, forests are destroyed, and people stand idle at the reality of global warming, beauty, love and goodness exist somewhere.

Yes, it sounds naive, but I have seen both sides in my life. And I choose to believe in the vividness of my heartbeat after a long uphill run, in the perfection of a freshly plucked persimmon with translucent, vermilion skin, in the tenderness of a first kiss.

I’ll keep these thoughts in mind this fall as I venture into my last year at a Catholic school.

I can’t wait.
Click to expand...
 
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ElizabethJoy:
Both of the citations of canonical law state “sixteenth year.”
Click to expand...
Canon 1323 covers “under 16”. Canon 1324 covers “16 or older, but still a minor”.

The combined effect is to exclude all minors. BTW, canon 97 clarifies that minor = “under 18”.
 
All we can do is to pray for this lost soul.

I will offer my communion up for her this day. At some point, she may feel compelled to return to the faith. Since she is not praying - we can pray for her.

Did the article state what she did with the Blessed Host? If she still has it, hopefully someone has asked her to give it back to the priest.
 
:twocents: Firstly, this girl is doing what a lot of teenagers do to their parents - she is thumbing her nose. As we say over here - “it’s a wind-up”. Teenagers are good at it; it is what they do.

Secondly, teenagers are also curious and not willing to support the status quo without asking some questions first. This child is looking for something; she doesn’t think she has it where she is, in the Catholic Church. So she is, or thinks she is, on a spiritual pilgrimage. Again, it is what teenagers do.Isn’t this not what many of us on this forum have done/still do? How else are we to grow in faith?

The answers she gets may be to her liking; or they may not. The grace of the Holy Spirit will guide her to the Truth in His own time.

I imagine that inwardly she knows she has done wrong, especially with the Host. She needs our prayers and not our condemnation. Her parents need our prayers, her Priest, and the school also.
 
SEEKING HER OWN ANSWERS

http://www.mercurynews.com/images/common/spacer.gif
INCREASING DOUBTS SPUR TEEN TO LEAVE HER CHILDHOOD CHURCH, ASK NEW QUESTIONS
http://www.mercurynews.com/images/common/spacer.gif
By Lisette Arellano
http://www.mercurynews.com/images/common/spacer.gif
Special to the Mercury News
http://www.mercurynews.com/images/common/spacer.gif
The lights in the cathedral were dimmed, relaxing almost, but I felt I was about to choke. In my hand lay the holy host, the body of Christ, passed on from generation to generation, carrying an immense onus despite its obvious frailty and paleness.

Usually, I would simply pop the flavorless round wafer into my mouth and kneel for the customary prayer without as much as a blink. But this evening was different.

I felt disgusted with myself. ``Why am I doing this again?’’

As guitars droned and a baby intoned a screech, I decided I was tired of following a religion that did not satisfy me.

So, very slowly, I folded my fingers to hide the holy Eucharist and glanced around apologetically, first at the people beside me and then at the pallid saints on the stained-glass windows. I placed the paper-thin cracker in my jacket pocket without a word. I haven’t been to a Mass since that fall evening.

But my musings about religion and the nature of faith continued, taking me in a search for answers.

A faith unravels

The secret ritual that finalized my separation from the Roman Catholic Church did not come abruptly, but rather was the result of lengthy ruminations during my later adolescence. For someone growing up in a Mexican family, being a Catholic was merely a given, like brushing my teeth. For most of my life, I attended church every Sunday and even listened attentively simply because my parents had taught me to do so.

I took an ounce of pride in being Catholic, especially when I was accepted into a prestigious Catholic high school. Little did I suspect that my education there would demolish my taste for religion.

Sitting in religion class, I began to perceive tiny holes in the fabric of the Catholic doctrine – the ban on female priests, the aversion toward gay marriage, the constant portrayal of Jesus as a white man – that unraveled into massive questions.

As I flipped through my religion textbooks with the usual boredom, I discovered an awful tear in the texture of the religion: the church’s stance on the environment. Catholic social teaching does promote care for the environment, but this attitude is rarely emphasized.

I am wholeheartedly an environmentalist. And yes, trees are holy in my eyes. So, to me, the 16-page chapter on environmental justice in Justice and Peace'' seemed like an add-on placed there to appease the post-Earth Day crowd. I found the large pictures of teenagers happily planting trees and the paragraphs with recycling’’ and ``stewardship’’ highlighted pathetically insufficient. More significantly, this section of the 282-page text was never mentioned in class.

In other words, I wasn’t buying the doctrine.

The doubts born in the classroom gradually began to manifest at home. Soon, my parents’ question every Sunday bothered me like a mosquito at my ear on a summer evening. With my car keys in hand and one foot out the door, they would ask, ``Are you going to go to Mass this week?’’ I took to swatting the problem away with myriad excuses instead of speaking my mind.

Parental reaction

A few weeks after pocketing the host, I finally did.

My parents definitely saw the storm on my horizon, so when I blatantly announced my separation from the church, the shock was diminished. They did not collapse on the living room floor as I feared, nor did they jive around the house in joy.

They simply listened to my dilemma and then asked, ``OK, so what are you going to do now?’’

I don’t recall my answer, but now I know what I wanted to say: ``Hopefully I’ll figure out what I believe in sometime before I die.’’

So what have I figured out so far? Up until now, not much. (At least consciously.) So I decided to delve into the matter by visiting a Christian media store and talking to some of the young people there.
 
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