Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Biologist Balks at Request to Apologize

"I am not contrite, I will not repent, and I'm certainly not going to apologize for tossing a cracker in the garbage. All the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy will get from me is laughter."

That was Professor Myers response today on his blog . The man is in need of prayer as he is evidently oblivious to the spritual danger he is in and the harm he has done to his soul. Mocking religion is not pleasing to God. Showing contempt for sacred things is sacrilege and it is a violation of justice since we owe reverence to God and we are obliged to show respect and reverence for the things of God.

His supporters are even more vituperative in their comments. The CCC never advocated and in fact publicly disavows any and all acts of violence or threats thereof upon the person of Professor Myers. We condemn hateful speech and deeds and challenge all parties to utlize peaceful, rational and polite discourse. At the same time, we strongly repudiate all acts of blasphemy, from the horrible art exhibit that depicted the Virgin Mary in elephant dung, to the crucifix immersed in a jar of urine, to this recent instance of sacrilige against a consecrated Host.

No one is laughing. Many of us are in tears that our beloved Savior would be subjected to such vile treatment AGAIN. Was it not enough that Jesus was scourged at the pillar, crowned with thorns, and then nailed to a cross for three hours until He died? Like Our Lady of Sorrows, we must weep at the foot of Calvary once more as the Body of Christ is treated with the same disdain and dishonor. PRAY FOR PROFESSOR MYERS. We wish him no harm, rather, we pray for his soul that he abandon his pursuit of offending Catholic Christians. He may never come to believe what we believe, but he can at least respect our right to believe and profess what we believe without resorting to beligerant ridicule and attack.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

No surprise that you haven't allowed any comments yet. Everyone IS laughing at you and your silly cracker, and you can't let people express their contempt for you, can you?

Kristen J said...

Thank you, Fr. Trigilio, for your articulate call for prayers and compassion, both for Our Lord's suffering and for those who are full of hate for Him, Who is so full of love even for them!

Mr. Picton, perhaps what you really should consider is why you feel so comfortable expressing "contempt" for other people and are so inclined to seek them out to do so. Don't atheists like to brag that they do not need God or religion to be kind?! Well, I don't know anyone who considers seeking-out and verbally assaulting others who have not attacked you to be kind. How about some basic human decency if one cannot have the common sense to respect and love God?!

Black Biretta said...

I just saw your comment, and as you can see, have not disallowed it. Why the need to use such offensive terminology? You may not share our belief in the Real Presence but knowing that we do consider the consecrated Host to be the Body & Blood, Soul & Divinity of Christ, and then to insult our faith by calling our most cherished treasure in our religion a "silly cracker" is offensive and unnecessary.

Contempt for me is nothing since I am nothing more than a fallible, sinful human being. Contempt for God and the things of God (which we consider sacred) is another matter. Attacking a religious doctrine is not what Biology or Science in general is about. Theology discusses these matters.

What ever happened to respectful discourse and civil discussion? Why must people resort to insults and ad hominem attacks?

Anonymous said...

Was it not enough that Jesus was scourged at the pillar, crowned with thorns, and then nailed to a cross for three hours until He died? Like Our Lady of Sorrows, we must weep at the foot of Calvary once more as the Body of Christ is treated with the same disdain and dishonor.

What, instead of being eaten you mean? Even you know it's really just a silly cracker, or you'd be a cannibal.

Black Biretta said...

This is the last offensive (and puerile) comment I will allow. If someone has a respectful argument to make, fine. If you insist on using inflammatory and blasphemous language, like "silly cracker", then you obviously have no intention of continuing a rational discussion.

PuffsPlus said...

I agree with you about keeping things civil. I am an atheist and a former Catholic, was educated at an Opus Dei school, and I initially supported Myers's plans re: the Eucharist primarily because of how ugly the Catholic League/Bill Donohue was in the Webster Cook/UCF case. BUT, you are correct, it is best to remain civil. While I enjoy PZ's blog, I came to realize that what PZ did was indeed juvenile and mean-spirited, serving not to further some greater purpose but only to offend Catholics.

That being said, I will post a respectful though dissenting comment: I think the press release you wrote (assuming it was you) on behalf of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy condemning Dr. Myers was not logically sound, especially the argument that what he did was unconstitutional. Only laws can be unconstitutional, not individual actions.

Sarah - Kala said...

I'll pray for ALL those who feel it necessary to degrade our Lord in such a manner - at Adoration this Friday. I've linked this to my blog. HOpefully a few readers will pop on over here. **and for those who feel they can dump their junk on my blog, don't bother**

God bless you, Father.

Anonymous said...

Padre, While I can see that you are quite upset over some impolite comments I question your decision to ban such comments. Is not one of your duties to bring enlightenment to the unenlightened? Seems to me that you can hardly do so if you cut off an avenue of discussion with them.

That being said, I am an atheist and an unrepentant one at that... why exactly should I be required to show your beliefs respect when you show none to my lack of belief? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you... is that not a tenenant of Christianity in general?

Father Cory Sticha said...

I find it very interesting that atheists are always the first to accuse religious believers of being irrational, yet tend to be the last to actually have a rational discussion. Some can, and do a very good job of discussing rationally their position, but I have yet to see any of Prof. Myers' followers post anything that is not irrational and childish. I'd like to be proven wrong, but so far I've not seen evidence to the contrary.

For those who agree with Prof. Meyers, we're not forcing you to agree with us. We can't. That needs to be your own choice. We just ask that you respect our beliefs as you want us to respect yours! When I read the hateful, spiteful comments, both by Prof. Myers and those who agree with him, it makes me more certain that atheism is wrong. If you're right, there is absolutely no reason to be so full of vitriol and hatred. You wouldn't want me to act that way, so why do you think it's alright to act the same way towards us?

Anonymous said...

I give thanks every day that I am a Catholic. When I read these offensive comments about our Eucharist, I can understand why there is so much hatred in this world. Satan is having a field day with our Church and our cafeteria Catholics. We need more leaders like Archbishop Burke and Nienstedt to speak out on the teachings of the Catholic Church.

People that make these offensive remarks have a guilty conscience and by these offensive comments are trying to have society approve of their actions.

We need our leaders (Bishops) to be more aggressive in the media and they need to respond publicly and truthfully about these matters.

Dan L. said...

Father:

I totally agree and and understand your feelings and urgencey as you posted to your blog.

In spite of all the most appropriate uproar of the terrible acts agaist the the Eucharist as you have posted so very recently, we, all of us, as children destined to return to Our Father in heaven, are so blessed to be subject to His eternal mercy. May God bless this troublesome one individual so.

I must add, that I, too, am so incredibley saddend and very much offended.

I do believe that God wants us all to come home to Him. I pray that this person or persons are not as evil as we perceive. It may be a highest of hopes, but God's mercy is higher than than a lot of things.

Lord, have mercy on us,

--Dan L.

Anonymous said...

The words "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.." comes to mind. You are right Father....how our society nowadays shows lack of respect and basic common civility towards other people's beliefs. I am a devout Catholic, and I would never show such disrespect for anyone's religion, no matter how much I would have to disagree with it. That professor shows such ignorance and downright nastiness... and as it appears to be an act of provocation; he needs to be reprimanded severely. But above all, as you rightly say, he needs prayers.

Sherry said...

God Bless You, Father Trigilio. Thank you for defending our Dear Lord. It pains me so greatly that He is being treated in this manner and pains me also that there are people in this world with so much disdain in them that they would do such things to deliberately hurt others. We as Catholics must pray and pray to the Lord to have mercy on their souls and to give them the grace of Conversion.

O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen

Deacon Tom Lang said...

Dear Father John -

I posted the following on my blog, http://truthincharity.blogspot.com/ after Prof. Myers desecrated the Holy Eucharist, and I wanted to share it with your readers. I do not expect Prof. Myers and his supporters to understand at all, for it is said, "For those who believe, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe, no explanation is possible." Here is my post:

Let us recall Isaiah 53:4-12:

"4 Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.

6 We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all.

7 Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth.

8 Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away, and who would have thought any more of his destiny? When he was cut off from the land of the living, and smitten for the sin of his people,

9 A grave was assigned him among the wicked and a burial place with evildoers, Though he had done no wrong nor spoken any falsehood.

10 (But the LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity.) If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.

11 Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.

12 Therefore I will give him his portion among the great, and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because he surrendered himself to death and was counted among the wicked; And he shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses."

We must continue Christ's very own prayer by praying ourselves, "Father forgive him, for he knows not what he has done."

God bless you Father John for your sterling example of faith and faithfulness. Your strength in the face of such vile and criminal hate speech from Prof. Myers and his supporters is both inspiring and encouraging!

Anonymous said...

Thank you Father for this initiative. I don't understand the free hate for our Eucharist and even the deragatory comments posted here. I will join in prayer and fasting for reparation and conversion of hearts on August 1. Thanks for your great witness and orthodoxy.
To the haters, beware, because Hell is a real place and what goes on there is beyond our imagination...(See writings of some of the Saints).

Anonymous said...

Mr. Trigilio,

Another point that I am sure that you and a Protestant such as myself might agree on is that every time we sin, we put that nail through Jesus. We are failed humans, just as this Myers person is a failed human. I would suggest that this is a fine opportunity to reflect on our own sinfullness and what it does to our Lord.

Chris

The Crescat said...

the level of putrid hatred expressed in these comments is astonishing. Liberals are all for free speech, unless that speech & ideology differs from their own.

What has happened to our society when a priest is verbally attacked for suggesting we pray for Mr. Myers?

Anonymous said...

How Our Lord suffers! If someone, burnt the Koran, destroyed a Star of Daivd, or performed some other hideous act towards another religion, All Hell would have broken out. I feel sorry for the professor and all of those who back him up. Where is your respect for other people and their beliefs.A cracker to you, but for me and other Roman Catholics, you profained My Lord and My God. I feel sorry for you and pray for you. You professor Myers might be considered and educated man, you may have a list of letters after your name, but you lack common sense and respect for others and their beliefs. I pray for you and pray that someday, you will see the light and ask God for forgiveness for what you did to His Son.

Anonymous said...

GREETINGS FR.TRIGILIO

LAUDETUR JESUS CHRISTUS


PAUL BRENNAN
IRELAND

Anonymous said...

I don't know why people give Bill Donohue such a hard time for being passionate about what he believes in. He never calls for violence or reciprocal harm to those who harm/insult/deface the Church. All he uses are the laws and codes of conduct already in place. In some cases he appeals to the solidarity of those in communion with the Church to make a point, but that too is legal and appropriate in a democracy. (i.e. You have a right to say what you want, and I have a right to boycott you and your organization in return.) In this country we have recourse against slander and the like, why should the Church not have a vocal advocate? Why shouldn't someone get angry when part of their organization is wrongfully and/or hurtfully attacked?

Kate said...

He certainly needs our prayers-possibly those of exorcism

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