Webster Cook is a student at the University of Central Florida. He is also a top notch jerk.
Last week Cook attended a campus mass. At that mass, he attempted skulk back to his pew with a consecrated host. The extraordinary minister saw what he was doing and blocked his path until he put into his mouth. However, when he got back to his pew he removed the host. A lady from the Church saw what he done and attempted to get the host back from him by trying to pry his hand open. Cook now claims he is a victim.
[WFTV] “She came up behind me, grabbed my wrist with her right hand, with her left hand grabbed my fingers and was trying to pry them open to get the Eucharist out of my hand,” Cook said, adding she wouldn’t immediately take her hands off him despite several requests.
…
“The church feels that I’m the problem here,” Cook said. “The problem is actually that this is a publicly-funded religious institution. Through student government here, we fund them through an activity and service, so they’re receiving student money.”
So now this smug jerk is holding the Eucharist he stole hostage until he gets an apology.
Cook said he’d consider returning the Eucharist if he gets an apology and a meeting with the Bishop’s office to discuss the Diocese’s policy on physical force.
I am trying very hard to respond to this reprehensible situation as Christ would have us. I admit I am finding it very difficult. Father Miguel Gonzales is doing better.
“It is hurtful,” said Father Migeul Gonzalez with the Diocese. “Imagine if they kidnapped somebody and you make a plea for that individual to please return that loved one to the family.”
Gonzalez said the Diocese is willing to meet with Cook and help him understand the importance of the Eucharist in hopes of him returning it. The Diocese is dispatching a nun to UCF’s campus to oversee the next mass, protect the Eucharist and in hopes Cook will return it…
“We have to make acts of reparation,” Gonzalez said. “The whole community is going to turn to prayer. We’ll ask the Lord for pardon, forgiveness, peace, not only for the whole community affected by it, but also for [Cook], we offer prayers for him as well.”
I think prayers are a good idea. However, if prayers don’t work, a good drubbing might a reasonable alternative.
July 9, 2008 at 2:32 am
Tony wrote, “If I own a diamond, and you don’t believe it’s a diamond, it doesn’t magically become a lump of coal.”
True, but those of us who aren’t Catholic could just as readily argue the reverse: you might believe that your lump of coal is really a diamond, but your sincere belief doesn’t magically transform that lump of coal into anything other than a lump of coal.
It’s issues like these that make me glad I’m no longer a believing Catholic.
That being said, I’m still glad the young man returned the consecrated host and cooled people’s anger and anxiety over the issue.
July 9, 2008 at 2:49 am
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July 9, 2008 at 3:00 am
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July 9, 2008 at 3:10 am
Dear Disgruntled Visitors,
You certainly have a right to your opinions, ill informed, venomous, or otherwise. However, you do not have the right to express your here without limit. Feel free to express your concerns here as long as you do it in a respectful manner. Disrespectful posts will be deleted summarily and we will this all be denied you superior intellects. That would be a shame.
July 9, 2008 at 5:12 am
Since we can’t follow rules…