Thursday, July 22, 2010

Toronto: A Dog Receives Holy Communion from a Woman Anglican Priest

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Historic St. Peter's Anglican Church on Carlton Street, Toronto.
It was in this church that a dog received holy communion
from a woman Anglican priest

Photo courtesy: http://www.torontohistory.org/

It was the last Sunday of June, 2010. St. Peter's Anglican Church on Carlton Street is in downtown Toronto. Rev. Marguerite Rea, a woman Anglican priest, was officiating the Sunday morning service.

According to the Toronto Star, there was a first-timer church attendant who brought his dog to the church. While distributing holy communion, the stranger joined others in the line to receive the communion. Rev. Rea, as part of her welcoming gesture, spontaneously gave communion to the man as well as his accompanying dog.

One of the Anglican attendants took exception to this gesture and made a complaint to Rev. Rea and to the Anglican Diocesan headquarters in Toronto. He took it as an affront to the sacredness of the communion distribution ritual. As a protest, he also left his church.

Bishop Patrick Yu of York-Scarborough said: "I think the reverend was overcome by what I consider a misguided gesture of welcoming." He also mentioned, Rev. Rea expressed her apology for the incident and "she is quite embarrassed by it."

In the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches, the holy communion is considered to be the most holy item which is handled and taken with utmost reverence and care. When someone behaves differently regarding the communion, it creates a sense of shock and indignation among the faithful. Bookmark and Share

1 comment:

  1. Recently, the Times of India published a cartoon by famous cartoonist RK Laxman depicting the last supper as 'lost supper' in context of price rises in essential commodities in India.

    There has been widespread protests by catholics asking the paper to extend apology.

    I, being a community members has said that the 'Last Supper' that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples has been a lost cause since long and what is cgoing on is a complete farce. That even Jesus Christ would approve of this cartoon by RK Laxman.

    Now the dog receiving holy communion speaks volumes and my stand is vindicated.

    Cheers
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