ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) --A UCF student claims he’s getting death threats for messing with something sacred.
Webster Cook says he smuggled a Eucharist, a small bread wafer that to Catholics symbolic of the Body of Christ after a priest blesses it, out of mass, didn’t eat it as he was supposed to do, but instead walked with it.
Catholics worldwide became furious.
Webster’s friend, who didn’t want to show his face, said he took the Eucharist, to show him what it meant to Catholics.
Webster gave the wafer back, but the Catholic League, a national watchdog organization for Catholic rights claims that is not enough.
“We don’t know 100% what Mr. Cooks motivation was,” said Susan Fani a spokesperson with the local Catholic diocese. “However, if anything were to qualify as a hate crime, to us this seems like this might be it.”
We just expect the University to take this seriously,” she added “To send a message to not just Mr. Cook but the whole community that this kind of really complete sacrilege will not be tolerated.”
Webster just wants all of this to go away. Especially now that he feels his life is in danger.
University officials said, that as for right now, Webster Cook is not in trouble. If anyone or any group wants to file a formal complaint with the University through the student judicial system, they can.
It that happens, Webster will go through a hearing either in front of an administrative panel or a panel of his peers.
As PZ Myers commented, it's a goddamned cracker! Seriously, read Pharyngula's take on it. It's funny but seriously pissed.
Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things... their number is negligible and they are stupid. --Dwight D. Eisenhower
I'm suddenly reminded of all the Christians who were laughing at the absurdity of Muslims getting outraged by the depictions of Mohammad in political cartoons.
I love the little ironies in life...
"A mind is like a parachute. It only works when it is open."
-Sir James Dewar
Without defending the religiously motivated outrage, where is the proof that the student in question received death threats? The report does mention the ridiculous reaction by the Catholic League, but not anything else (besides the student's own claim of being in danger).
It is quite possible that it has happened (religious fervor has done worse things in the past), but where is the proof?
Confiteor Deo omnipotenti; beatae Mariae semper Virgini; beato Michaeli Archangelo; sanctis Apostolis, omnibus sanctis... Tibit Pater, quia peccavi nimis, cogitatione, verbo et opere, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa! Kyrie Eleison!
The Imperial Senate (defunct) * Knights Astrum Clades * The Mess
However, we do not have people attempting to burn down the Iranian Embassy, or in this case, the UCF, the way that Western embassies and other establishments regularly get protested at and/or burnt to the ground when Muslims are angered over some triviality.
"The 4th Earl of Hereford led the fight on the bridge, but he and his men were caught in the arrow fire. Then one of de Harclay's pikemen, concealed beneath the bridge, thrust upwards between the planks and skewered the Earl of Hereford through the anus, twisting the head of the iron pike into his intestines. His dying screams turned the advance into a panic."'
Tiriol wrote:Without defending the religiously motivated outrage, where is the proof that the student in question received death threats? The report does mention the ridiculous reaction by the Catholic League, but not anything else (besides the student's own claim of being in danger).
It is quite possible that it has happened (religious fervor has done worse things in the past), but where is the proof?
Regardless of the unproven death threat claims, the local catholics think this is a 'hate crime'. That's fucking hilarious.
Stark wrote:Regardless of the unproven death threat claims, the local catholics think this is a 'hate crime'. That's fucking hilarious.
Damn, I initially assumed they meant the threats against the guy, not him taking the wafer... But upon re-reading, it would indeed seem they think the the latter is the problem instead of the former. That's crazy.
He should've swallowed the wafer, and then regurgitated it.
"DO YOU WORSHIP HOMOSEXUALS?" - Curtis Saxton (source) shroom is a lovely boy and i wont hear a bad word against him - LUSY-CHAN! Shit! Man, I didn't think of that! It took Shroom to properly interpret the screams of dying people - PeZook Shroom, I read out the stuff you write about us. You are an endless supply of morale down here. :p - an OWS street medic Pink Sugar Heart Attack!
Shroom Man 777 wrote:He should've swallowed the wafer, and then regurgitated it.
In the comments there's an anecdote of that happening in a church in Kentucky(?). The girl was feeling queasy after having eaten Jebus' flesh and consequently threw up. The vomit was buried.
Thought this comment was hilarious
Magic crackers. Immaterial monsters jumping into people's heads and making them do stuff they wouldn't do on their own. Dead people stepping out of tombs.
When it comes from a book that includes the words "hit points," it's an RPG. When it comes from a book that includes the word "Corinthians," it's a religion. They're not really all that different.
Tiriol wrote:Without defending the religiously motivated outrage, where is the proof that the student in question received death threats? The report does mention the ridiculous reaction by the Catholic League, but not anything else (besides the student's own claim of being in danger).
It is quite possible that it has happened (religious fervor has done worse things in the past), but where is the proof?
Regardless of the unproven death threat claims, the local catholics think this is a 'hate crime'. That's fucking hilarious.
Dude, it's from Central Florida. Or I called it when I lived there, "the shaft". You got tons of transplanted Catholics from New York and New England who view any perceived slight against "mother church" as nothing less than the holocaust.
We pissing our pants yet?
-Negan
You got your shittin' pants on? Because you’re about to Shit. Your. Pants!
-Negan
He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches.
-George Bernard Shaw
Tiriol wrote:Without defending the religiously motivated outrage, where is the proof that the student in question received death threats? The report does mention the ridiculous reaction by the Catholic League, but not anything else (besides the student's own claim of being in danger).
It is quite possible that it has happened (religious fervor has done worse things in the past), but where is the proof?
Regardless of the unproven death threat claims, the local catholics think this is a 'hate crime'. That's fucking hilarious.
It's not only a hate crime, but kidnapping as well:
"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."
Interesting definitions of hate crime and kidnapping. Even if we go with the Catholic dogma of Holy Communion waffer tuning into actual flesh of Christ, it still isn't kidnapping to take a part of someone who is dead away with you. And correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't a hate crime warrant a tad bit notable case, like stealing the waffer, pissing all over it in front of the church, shouting obsceneties at the cross and the priest and perhaps even assaulting church goers?
It's not even a prank, for God's sake - it didn't harm anyone, it was not directed at anyone, the student just didn't swallow his waffer. To get so upset over it is a sad testament to human stupidity.
Confiteor Deo omnipotenti; beatae Mariae semper Virgini; beato Michaeli Archangelo; sanctis Apostolis, omnibus sanctis... Tibit Pater, quia peccavi nimis, cogitatione, verbo et opere, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa! Kyrie Eleison!
The Imperial Senate (defunct) * Knights Astrum Clades * The Mess
This reminds me of the wonderful bit in V. It was poison to start with and after the transubstantiation, it was still poison. He should have taken it to be tested to see if it was flesh after the blessing...just making sure that they were adhering to their claims concerning the content of the food they were offering to the public....
Health and saftey inspection as well as advertising standards
"Prodesse Non Nocere." "It's all about popularity really, if your invisible friend that tells you to invade places is called Napoleon, you're a loony, if he's called Jesus then you're the president." "I'd drive more people insane, but I'd have to double back and pick them up first..." "All it takes for bullshit to thrive is for rational men to do nothing." - Kevin Farrell, B.A. Journalism. BOTM - EBC - Horseman - G&C - Vampire
Tiriol wrote:Without defending the religiously motivated outrage, where is the proof that the student in question received death threats? The report does mention the ridiculous reaction by the Catholic League, but not anything else (besides the student's own claim of being in danger).
It is quite possible that it has happened (religious fervor has done worse things in the past), but where is the proof?
I assumed the reports were confirmed because the headline of the article said he was getting death threats, but you're right: all we seem to have is the student's say-so. Is it normal for recipients of death threats to forward the threatening emails to news agencies?
Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things... their number is negligible and they are stupid. --Dwight D. Eisenhower
“We don’t know 100% what Mr. Cooks motivation was,” said Susan Fani a spokesperson with the local Catholic diocese. “However, if anything were to qualify as a hate crime, to us this seems like this might be it.”
Taking a cardboard flavored cracker is a hate crime? I wasn't aware of that.
2) I wonder if this is the same guy that held the Eucharist Hostage I heard about some time age... Link
3) The Church just needs to send me. I got the perfect tool to use on him. That is perfectly suited for his taking the Eucharist Hostage then (if it's the same guy) demandin
The perfect tool to respond to his demands...
"The real ideological schism in America is not Republican vs Democrat; it is North vs South, Urban vs Rural, and it has been since the 19th century."
-Mike Wong
Invictus ChiKen wrote:2) I wonder if this is the same guy that held the Eucharist Hostage I heard about some time age... Link
How many Webster Cooks do you think there are at UCF who steal Communion wafers?
Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things... their number is negligible and they are stupid. --Dwight D. Eisenhower
Metatwaddle wrote:I assumed the reports were confirmed because the headline of the article said he was getting death threats, but you're right: all we seem to have is the student's say-so. Is it normal for recipients of death threats to forward the threatening emails to news agencies?
Let's be honest though; if the leaders of the local religious groups are publicizing this kid's name and saying that he's guilty of "hate crimes against Catholics", there will be more than a few people who see that and think it would be OK to harass or even violently attack him.
"It's not evil for God to do it. Or for someone to do it at God's command."- Jonathan Boyd on baby-killing
"you guys are fascinated with the use of those "rules of logic" to the extent that you don't really want to discussus anything."- GC
"I do not believe Russian Roulette is a stupid act" - Embracer of Darkness
"Viagra commercials appear to save lives" - tharkûn on US health care.
Metatwaddle wrote:I assumed the reports were confirmed because the headline of the article said he was getting death threats, but you're right: all we seem to have is the student's say-so. Is it normal for recipients of death threats to forward the threatening emails to news agencies?
Let's be honest though; if the leaders of the local religious groups are publicizing this kid's name and saying that he's guilty of "hate crimes against Catholics", there will be more than a few people who see that and think it would be OK to harass or even violently attack him.
Yeah, I know. I'm not saying I'd be surprised if he were getting death threats; I suspect he's telling the truth. But the language in the article doesn't make it sound like the reporters have positive proof of these threats.
I wonder if it would be a "hate crime" if I stood up in a Catholic church and loudly sang Tom Lehrer's "Vatican Rag". I've always wanted to do that.
Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things... their number is negligible and they are stupid. --Dwight D. Eisenhower
KlavoHunter wrote:However, we do not have people attempting to burn down the Iranian Embassy, or in this case, the UCF, the way that Western embassies and other establishments regularly get protested at and/or burnt to the ground when Muslims are angered over some triviality.
That's a very good point. Americans are civilized enough to respond to provocations with bombing campaigns and invasions, not barbaric acts.
"It's not evil for God to do it. Or for someone to do it at God's command."- Jonathan Boyd on baby-killing
"you guys are fascinated with the use of those "rules of logic" to the extent that you don't really want to discussus anything."- GC
"I do not believe Russian Roulette is a stupid act" - Embracer of Darkness
"Viagra commercials appear to save lives" - tharkûn on US health care.
I don't think anybody should be surprised at the Catholic reaction. They (we?) take communion very seriously; after all, it is, according to dogma, the living flesh and blood of God. The kid's not guilty of a hate crime, but he is guilty of being a giant asshole.
A Government founded upon justice, and recognizing the equal rights of all men; claiming higher authority for existence, or sanction for its laws, that nature, reason, and the regularly ascertained will of the people; steadily refusing to put its sword and purse in the service of any religious creed or family is a standing offense to most of the Governments of the world, and to some narrow and bigoted people among ourselves.
Surlethe wrote:I don't think anybody should be surprised at the Catholic reaction. They (we?) take communion very seriously; after all, it is, according to dogma, the living flesh and blood of God. The kid's not guilty of a hate crime, but he is guilty of being a giant asshole.
I don't think anyone is surprised at the Catholic Church's reaction. It's an absurd kneejerk overreaction to something any rational person sees as minor and petty, which is completely typical for them.
"It's you Americans. There's something about nipples you hate. If this were Germany, we'd be romping around naked on the stage here."
Surlethe wrote:I don't think anybody should be surprised at the Catholic reaction. They (we?) take communion very seriously; after all, it is, according to dogma, the living flesh and blood of God. The kid's not guilty of a hate crime, but he is guilty of being a giant asshole.
I don't think anyone is surprised at the Catholic Church's reaction. It's an absurd kneejerk overreaction to something any rational person sees as minor and petty, which is completely typical for them.
Of course, Catholics are not rational. I don't know that it's a kneejerk overreaction on their part -- isn't it the case that generally someone who overreacts will calm down and see it later, even if he's too proud to admit it? This sort of incident, on the other hand, will inspire rage, disgust, and shaken heads among Catholics in a century.
A Government founded upon justice, and recognizing the equal rights of all men; claiming higher authority for existence, or sanction for its laws, that nature, reason, and the regularly ascertained will of the people; steadily refusing to put its sword and purse in the service of any religious creed or family is a standing offense to most of the Governments of the world, and to some narrow and bigoted people among ourselves.
Surlethe wrote:
Of course, Catholics are not rational. I don't know that it's a kneejerk overreaction on their part -- isn't it the case that generally someone who overreacts will calm down and see it later, even if he's too proud to admit it? This sort of incident, on the other hand, will inspire rage, disgust, and shaken heads among Catholics in a century.
I don't see how the length of time they're angry about it makes it any less of a kneejerk overreaction.
"It's you Americans. There's something about nipples you hate. If this were Germany, we'd be romping around naked on the stage here."
"
- PeZook
