Romeo LeBlanc funeral

Smallc · July 9, 2009

I was simply pointing out that there are people within the Church and Church establishment that will care. I could care less, and I think that there are enough other reasons to hate Harper.

Argus · July 9, 2009

I was simply pointing out that there are people within the Church and Church establishment that will care. I could care less, and I think that there are enough other reasons to hate Harper.

Yes, for doing all those other things you know he did, even though you don't actually know he did them, and all those things he wants to do, event though you actually don't have any evidence he wants to do them.

ToadBrother · July 9, 2009

You're right not many people care about it except those who are truly devout Catholics. Like I said I doubt it happened but Harper is too smart to screw up like this. Considering the polls he's not in a position to jeopardize any amount of potential votes. He may not be particularly pragmatic but he's certainly politically savvy.

Instead of "truly devout Catholics", you should put instead "rule-mongering psycho Catholics". My wife is a pretty devout Catholic, and it got little more than a shrug out of her.

Other than a few bloggers and the media looking for something to put up other than Michael Jackson, nobody gives a crap. I'm sure the Church is not going to call a Holy Crusade on Calgary Southwest over this.

This is a non-scandal, an ex-scandal, this scandal is no more, it has gone to see its maker. This scandal has kicked the bucket, shuffled off its mortal coil and joined the choir eternal.

Smallc · July 9, 2009

Yes, for doing all those other things you know he did,

I will never forgive him for his hatred of the Constitution (except when it suits him). I could never vote Conservative again with him at the helm.

Edited July 9, 2009 by Smallc

jdobbin · July 10, 2009

Who stands to gain the most if this pseudo scandal is built up to ridiculous proportions? The Liberals of course, who are courting the religious vote.

Radio Canada is trying to pull the footage from Youtube.

The problem for the Tories is sometimes the PMO Communications department goes to great lengths to deny the version of events as told by the priest. This makes people look to the video. As with the RCMP in Vancouver, the statement by the PMO and what the video shows let's people decide for themselves.

I don't know enough about Catholic communions. I do know that the heavy hand of PMO officials tend to make things worse than they are.

My advice to Harper is to fire his present protocol and PR people. They're asleep at the hitch of they can't get him to photo shoots or brief him on what happens at a funeral for a state leader.

eyeball · July 10, 2009

I'd probaby pass on communion too unless it was served with a bit of cream cheese and lox.

Molly · July 10, 2009

I don't know enough about Catholic communions. .

Neither do I, but you don't have to go so far as espousing transubstantiation to consider communion to be a very big deal - a very serious, sacred thing- not just symbolism, and not just a routine 'going through the motions'. I don't know if ritual gets any bigger than that. I can guarantee you that my mother would recoil in horror at the idea of dissing the consecrated host, and she's not Catholic.

Sir Bandelot · July 10, 2009

I AM THE NEUTRAL CHRIST

Neutered, more likely.

benny · July 10, 2009

Unrepentant sinners have to abstain from communion.

Topaz · July 10, 2009

The only questions I have for Harper is... what DID you do with it and IF you did put it in your mouth why wait until the people in your row were leaving? He was asked today about it and he never said what he did do with the wafer. Again his honesty and trust come in question and this has nothing to do with the communion.

noahbody · July 10, 2009

The only questions I have for Harper is... what DID you do with it and IF you did put it in your mouth why wait until the people in your row were leaving? He was asked today about it and he never said what he did do with the wafer. Again his honesty and trust come in question and this has nothing to do with the communion.

This sounds like the Canadian version of "I did not have sexual relations with that woman...." Just more boring.

IMO, calling this scandalous is a bit over the top. Isn't this the church that hid sexual abuse for years? :blink:

benny · July 10, 2009

IMO, calling this scandalous is a bit over the top. Isn't this the church that hid sexual abuse for years?

If you want to see an end to sexual abuse one day, you have to eat Jesus Christ's body (i.e. the so called "wafer").

Edited July 10, 2009 by benny

cybercoma · July 11, 2009

the Priest at a Catholic Mass announces that yu can only receive if you are a confirmed Catholic

That's not actually correct. After a Catholic receives their First Communion sacrament (typically when they are a child), they may take communion if they are without sin (Catholic confessions are typically the day before; however, a prayer is said during the mass before communion to ask God for forgiveness).

cybercoma · July 11, 2009

Here's what's bizarre about the story to me. Allegedly, the priest instructed Harper before the mass on how to handle the communion, when the Prime Minister had asked. Why did the priest not instruct Prime Minister Harper to fold his arms for a blessing? Did the priest mistakenly think that Stephen Harper is Catholic? Furthermore, regardless of what Harper did with the communion, why did he accept it when he is not a Catholic? He must have been told it was acceptable by the priest beforehand. If you ask me, it is the priest that misinformed the Prime Minister of how he should handle himself.

jdobbin · July 11, 2009

Here's what's bizarre about the story to me. Allegedly, the priest instructed Harper before the mass on how to handle the communion, when the Prime Minister had asked. Why did the priest not instruct Prime Minister Harper to fold his arms for a blessing? Did the priest mistakenly think that Stephen Harper is Catholic? Furthermore, regardless of what Harper did with the communion, why did he accept it when he is not a Catholic? He must have been told it was acceptable by the priest beforehand. If you ask me, it is the priest that misinformed the Prime Minister of how he should handle himself.

If this is true, why doesn't Harper say that the priest didn't give him proper instruction?

In the absence of knowing who is telling the truth, people are looking at the video on Youtube. If it had been a TV show, it would have ranked in the top 10 programs in Canada

capricorn · July 12, 2009

If this is true, why doesn't Harper say that the priest didn't give him proper instruction?

Oh yeah, Harper publicly blaming the priest. That would have gone down really well in the media. Large headline: HARPER BLAMES PRIEST FOR HIS IGNORANCE OF CATHOLIC EUCHARISTIC RITES.

jdobbin · July 12, 2009

Oh yeah, Harper publicly blaming the priest. That would have gone down really well in the media. Large headline: HARPER BLAMES PRIEST FOR HIS IGNORANCE OF CATHOLIC EUCHARISTIC RITES.

We already see conservatives here blaming the priest.

capricorn · July 12, 2009

Here is not the MSM.

jdobbin · July 12, 2009

Here is not the MSM.

Harper is blaming the mainstream media but the story originated with a priest.

cybercoma · July 12, 2009

If this is true, why doesn't Harper say that the priest didn't give him proper instruction?

How much worse would that look? The news did say that he consulted with the priest prior to the service to find out what exactly he should be doing as an Evangelical Christian. That's how I found out. I suppose Harper is not repeating that because not only would it make a bigger issue out of the whole thing, it would also look like he's shifting the blame onto the priest. It's probably best just to let it play out.

Besides, Harper has enough to deal with when he has to answer for all those Ignatieff attack ads.

cybercoma · July 12, 2009

We already see conservatives here blaming the priest.

I'm only blaming the priest in part. Harper is also responsible for what he did, but it's hard to tell. He should have just received a blessing, but why didn't the priest offer him that option when Harper consulted with him beforehand? Why didn't Harper's aides tell him about that before the service? A lot of people dropped the ball here.

Argus · July 12, 2009

I will never forgive him for his hatred of the Constitution (except when it suits him). I could never vote Conservative again with him at the helm.

I'm not sure you actually know what the constitution is.

Argus · July 12, 2009

If this is true, why doesn't Harper say that the priest didn't give him proper instruction?
In the absence of knowing who is telling the truth, people are looking at the video on Youtube. If it had been a TV show, it would have ranked in the top 10 programs in Canada

Who is telling the truth? Who alleges he saw the PM pocket the wafer? There are insinuations - a Warren Kinsella specialty - but no actual evidence.

benny · July 12, 2009

I'm only blaming the priest in part. Harper is also responsible for what he did, but it's hard to tell. He should have just received a blessing, but why didn't the priest offer him that option when Harper consulted with him beforehand? Why didn't Harper's aides tell him about that before the service? A lot of people dropped the ball here.

The division in between Catholics and Protestants is one of the main divisions in Canada therefore we need a PM able to address it front and center, not a PM trying to dodge it like Harper did here.

jdobbin · July 12, 2009

Who is telling the truth? Who alleges he saw the PM pocket the wafer? There are insinuations - a Warren Kinsella specialty - but no actual evidence.

Once again, the story started with the priest. I have no idea where the pocket part of it started but I think I can guarantee if the Tories could point to a Liberal as alleging that, they would.

In the absence of a clear answer, people have looked to YouTube. Radio-Canada has pulled the ad down a few times. There is a Canadian Press video up there now and the numbers of people looking at it keeps going up. The funeral itself didn't get those kind of numbers watching it.

Edited July 12, 2009 by jdobbin