Clergy confraternity calls for prayer and fasting in reparation for Eucharistic desecration

Baltimore, Md., Jul 29, 2008 / 20:51 pm

The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, a national association of over 600 priests and deacons, has responded to the reported desecration of the Eucharist at the hands of a Minnesota biology professor and science blogger by asking for the Catholics of Minnesota and the entire nation to join in a day of prayer and fasting.

“We find the actions of University of Minnesota (Morris) Professor Paul Myers reprehensible, inexcusable, and unconstitutional,” the group said in a statement. “His flagrant display of irreverence by profaning a consecrated Host from a Catholic church goes beyond the limit of academic freedom and free speech.”

The confraternity argued that Myers’ claim to have acquired and desecrated a consecrated Host is a violation of the freedom of religion guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.

“Lies and hate speech which incite contempt or violence are not protected under the law,” they further asserted, arguing that freedom of religion means “no one has the right to attack, malign or grossly offend a faith tradition they personally do not have membership [in] or ascribe allegiance.”

The confraternity lamented the inaction of the University of Minnesota chancellor, who they said refused to reprimand or censure Myers.
“Tolerating such behavior by university officials is equally repugnant as it lends credibility to the act of religious hatred,” they stated.

The confraternity said it would pray “that Professor Myers contritely repent and apologize.”