Professor who threatened desecration claims to have consecrated Hosts

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Comments: 57

P.Z. Myers

Morris, MN, Jul 16, 2008 / 01:11 pm (CNA).- University of Minnesota Morris biology professor and science blogger Dr. Paul Zachary Myers, who last week threatened to desecrate the Eucharist and to broadcast the act on the internet, says he has acquired Eucharistic Hosts consecrated at a Catholic Mass.

Prof. Myers explained in an e-mail to CNA that he has received the Eucharist from several people. “So far, the crackers I have received have been given to me in person or sent to my home address.”

Myers has been derisively referring to the Eucharist as a “cracker.” He began his desecration campaign on his scienceblogs.com blog “Pharyngula” in reaction to an incident at the University of Central Florida in which a student senator allegedly held the Eucharist hostage.

When asked by CNA whether he considered taking consecrated Hosts from a Catholic church to be theft, he replied:

“I'm not taking the crackers from any church. I'm not interested in attending church, nor would I misrepresent myself as a Catholic to receive it.

“It is freely handed out to people taking communion in the church. The people who are sending me crackers have received it openly,” he wrote.

Myers also could not see how others could consider taking a consecrated Host to be theft. “No. This ‘theft’ nonsense is a rationalization people are making up to justify hysteria.”

Myers said the reason to abuse a Host is “to expose the witch-hunt tactics of extremist Catholics like Bill Donohue.”

CNA asked Myers if he had received any “intellectually worthy” replies to his desecration threat, to which he responded “No.” “It's your job to give me one. ‘I will pray for you,’ ‘you must hate Catholics,’ and ‘why don't you desecrate a Koran?’, which are the most common messages I'm being sent, are not rational.

He noted that his blog Pharyngula has an open comments policy where critiques are already posted.

On Friday the Catholic League reported that Thomas E. Foley, a Virginia delegate to the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Minneapolis has asked that increased security be considered for the event in light of Myers’ threat to acquire and desecrate the Eucharist.

“I just felt security at the Republican National Convention ought to look at him and his followers,” Foley told CNA in a phone interview on Wednesday morning. He reported that he had not received an update about his request.

Voicing his concerns about Myers, Foley said: “What I think he has done, he’s loaded a cyberpistol and he’s cocked it and he’s left it on the table. He may have set something in motion that no one can stop. It was irresponsible, a hell of a thing to do.”

Foley explained that he thought Myers should not be able to incite such acts with “impunity,” saying that he was especially disturbed by the comments posted on Myers’ blog. He said it was “eye-opening” to read the people who supported Myers’ action. Even at his age of 63, Foley said, he had never “personally encountered such bigotry.”

He also objected to Myers’ recent description of Catholic League President Bill Donohue as “braying,” which Foley, a self-described Irish Catholic, claimed was “a great insult for the Irish.”

Foley said he believes Myers was telling his readers to acquire a consecrated Host at Mass, which Foley thought would result in disruptions.

“What’s he telling them to do? Consecrated Hosts are not just lying around,” he said to CNA, noting that the only other possible way to secure a Host would be to accost a priest, nun, or layman taking the Sacrament to the sick. Even E-bay, Foley emphasized, has prevented the sale of consecrated Hosts.

Foley said he thinks Myers’ actions have ended his career. “Who can listen to him lecture on science without thinking ‘Polly wants a cracker’?” he asked.

Comments: 57

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Gianna
St.Louis MO,US 07/28/2008 06:58 AM EST

Why is it that when someone else's religion or belief is harassed like this it is all over the news ,yet when it is the Catholics-It is quiet and nobody cares?
Can anybody answer that for me!

Published by: roy
Little Rock/AR/USA 07/21/2008 12:51 AM EST

I think we should not provide Mr. Cook and Mr. Myers the media platform and attention they desire. This is very similar to Salman Rushdie writing "Satanic Verses". He wrote a few unexceptional books before realizing that he can get media attention by stirring fanatics from his home country with his most famous book. The best way to deal with Mr cook and Myers is not to deal with them. Ignore them and let their brand of First Amendment "rudeness" die out.

Published by: Tracy
Moorhead Mn. cass 07/19/2008 06:21 PM EST

They have to stop letting these professor at colleges do what ever there little brains tell them what they want them to do. They have no morals or good thoughts coming out of them. Just because they have a degree and are teaching doesn't mean they know what they are talking about. A degree is a degree you passed some test, but it doesn't not make you all wise and all powerful. God could take your life in one breath. The writting is on the wall.God is bigger than his creature....

Published by: Bing
St. Louis, MO, USA 07/18/2008 01:36 PM EST

Jennie, I disagree. What he is arguing is that the taboo against messing with the wafer is unfounded. The protest is rooted in the Florida incident, where a thoughtless person swiped a communion wafer and got death threats. I think that Meyers is protesting the idea that people would value the Host over the life of an individual. God, after all, presumably, can take care of Himself.

HJ

Published by: Margaret Boiteaux
Baton Rouge, La., 07/18/2008 11:37 AM EST

What satisfactin could he possibly receive from this horrible crime of defiling the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Our Lord? Jesus commands us to love the sinner and to hate the sin but Prof. Myers makes this a true test of our convictions as Christians. I will pray for him. I know Our Lord will forgive him if he wishes forgiveness. It's will take me a little longer.

Published by: Phil
USA 07/18/2008 11:35 AM EST

Note to "Kergillian": The point is that it is NOT simply a "cracker" or a "piece of bread". It is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ. Thus, to Catholics, it IS a very big deal, indeed.

Published by: Rose
Vestal, NY 07/18/2008 07:34 AM EST

I went on this guy's blog and what I saw has me so upset. I don't care that he doesn't believe that the Eucharist is the Body of Christ. I know it to be true. I know it by faith. Faith is a gift from God. That he is so disrespectful to one's faith is nothing short of evil. This is what we are up against in this world. We need to pray without ceasing for God's Kingdom to come.

Published by: WM
US 07/18/2008 03:57 AM EST

Someone posed the question about a ‘hate crime’ charge. Interesting thought. There is probably no federal hate crime, because first, a federal crime must be committed before the question of ‘hate’ (bias against a protected group) is considered. However, Minnesota has its own hate crime statute which very well may apply. It includes, “interference with religious worship,” and “institutional vandalism.” If the vandalism is aimed at houses of worship, criminal penalties are increased. The question is whether a ‘house of worship’ would extend to a ‘subject of worship.’ That’s one for the court to decide. Hello, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. Where are you?

Published by: Annamaria
Phoenix Arizona 07/18/2008 03:13 AM EST

I wonder if Webster Cook and Paul Myers do they know that if you put one Consecrated Communion Host in a plate full of non Consecrated Host the devil will pick the Consecrated one? The devil can recognize that special one?that's why the devil is always looking to recrute snyone who is willing to help him in desecrating and destroing anythings that is Catholic, and I think that everybody knows the answer to this question "why is the devil so against the Catholic Church?"
I feel sorry and I will pray for Webster Cook, for his ignorance, and from what I understand he is Catholic!I think he really need to study the Cathechism, repent and make pennance and reparation and fast because what he has done is very very serious.

Published by: WM
US 07/18/2008 02:24 AM EST

Myers isn’t unique - it’s all been done before. Christ has been mocked, cursed, spat upon, whipped, tortured, stripped naked, and crucified. In fact, every day mutilations of children from abortion are acts done to Christ. None of these atrocities against Christ changes who He is – King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Our knowledge of this is what separates faith from science. Myers reminds me of the Russian cosmonauts in the 60s who went into space, didn’t see God, and reported that He doesn’t exist. Foolish men have always expected God to be bound by the same temporal realm that we are and the fact that OUR faith isn’t limited by THEIR reason infuriates them. They act out the adult equivalent of a child throwing a tantrum and think their heresy is somehow ‘proven’ when it isn’t met with immediate divine consequences. In the end, our faith continues and they prove nothing. What very foolish men they are.

Published by: Ken Harris
Cold Lake, Alta., Canada 07/18/2008 12:18 AM EST

Today I listened to a tape of a presentation by Fr. Apostoli. From this presentation, Prof. is under control of the devil. Also, to rise to the top of the Freemasons - 33rd Degree - one must walk on consecrated hosts. From all of this, it is an excellent reason to return to ONLY receiving our Lord on the tongue. This year I was in Lanciano. I have already seen the Eucharistic miracle of Orvieto, Italy and the miracle of Santarem, Portugal.

Yes, we must pray for the converstion of Prof. Myers soul, to help him chose the non-smoking or smoking section, for eternity.

Published by: DJ Icenhower
Casa Grande, AZ, USA 07/17/2008 09:46 PM EST

To the University of Minnesota Morris:

If one of your faculty were to refer to a black person with the "N" word or to say something derogatory about a muslim extremest within a public forum, I'm certain that they would no longer be employed at your institution. How is then that Paul Zachary Myers can maintain his position when he publicly ridicules a faith with a billion believers?

Published by: Ryan
USA 07/17/2008 05:30 PM EST

If we truly believe that Christ is present body, blood, soul and divinity then we must take a stand to protect and defend him in the Eucharist. If we do not then we are like those who did not defend him when he was arrested and crucified. To those who handed over the Eucharist to Mr. Myer all I must say is that it would be wise to contemplate on the fact that someone else handed Christ over to be desecrated...Judas! I have called the Vatican (Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments / Cardinal Arinze's Office Phone# 011.39.06.6988.4318), US Embassy to the Vatican / Phone# 011.39.06.4674.3428, and the Chancellor of the University where Mr. Myer works / Phone# 320-589-2211, and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar / Phone# 202-224-3244 and I hope others will do the same to voice their disgust at these actions!

Published by: Fra Stefano
UK/ ITALY 07/17/2008 04:52 PM EST

Our Lord is not harmed by these inidents. He is beyond harm. He is offended but the harm is to the professor and those collaborating with him. They have done themselves such harm, and this is what we have to point out. They cannot harm our God, but their souls are in grave danger. Lord haave mercy on them, they know not what they do.

Published by: susan
ohio 07/17/2008 04:14 PM EST

we must pray more than ever for our country and our church and for unbelievers. maybe Jesus will use this man to show the world His true presence in the Holy Eucharist

Published by: Nate
Philadelphia, PA, USA 07/17/2008 03:49 PM EST

Meyers act is benificial in the sense that it will awaken more Catholics to the fact that have nothing in common with this pagan and we are travelers in a foreign land. The West is no longer our home and we should shake its dust from our sandels.

Published by: Dan Hogan
E. Machias ME USA 07/17/2008 03:11 PM EST

This is a sample of the complete lack of respect for others which is rampant in our society. It is not the emblem or symbol that is disrespected here - it is my belief, and my reverence for it. I believe that Christ gave the church the power to bring Him physically to earth through the Mass. It is that belief that this so-called professor (what is he professing?) is denying. At the very least, we should respect each other's beliefs; however, he makes it very difficult for me to respect his.

Published by: Steve
Albuquerque 07/17/2008 03:02 PM EST

He should be prosecuted for inciting unrest and infringing upon the freedom of religion!

Published by: Gabriel Espinosa
Monticello 07/17/2008 01:32 PM EST

Two things come to mind. First, I am extremely concerned that God's Justice may fall hard upon this poor confused soul. Who knows what his life story holds that has made him so bitter and filled with hatred as he is. Second thing that comes to mind is the state of Saint Paul's mind and actions prior to his conversion. What horrors against the Body of Christ was he guilty of? What horrific offenses issued from him - so horrific that Jesus Himself came down from Heaven to confront him! What this guy is professing he is ready to do, if taken to completion, could just be the pivotal point of his life. The horror of what he does might be to much for his soul to bear. As were Saint Paul's, Meyers eyes may suddenly be opened to the depth of his own blind hatred and it may be the cause of his conversion. None of us can point the finger at this guy as all of us are guilty of desecrating the Body of Christ in a multitude of ways. The physical abuse of the Sacred Host is not the only way to profane Christ. Actually, that might be one of the most forgivable as a person who does such a thing cannot possibly understand what he is doing. We, who are accusing him, are guilty of the worse sin as we profess to be Christians and yet, how many times a day do we hurt Christ in each other? How many times do we offend Jesus in each other every day?

Published by: Laura
United States 07/17/2008 01:08 PM EST

Why is this man not being charged with hate crimes?

Published by: Luz
No Ho Ca USA 07/17/2008 12:52 PM EST

we need to pray for the soul of this man who in his ignorance is committing a sacriledge. No this is not a cracker it is the body and Blood soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. I would hate to be this man on judgement day. He needs to respect our Catholic beliefs and stop spreading hatred around, if his career is over good. I wouldn't want my son or daughter being taught by someone like him.

Published by: Lance
Nashville 07/17/2008 12:07 PM EST

Rate: Good

Please quit giving this guy attention. That's all he wants. I understand CNA's intent - get a movement to stop [Myers]. But all it's doing, unfortunately, is empowering this man's hate.

Published by: regina smith
london england 07/17/2008 11:36 AM EST

He (Myers)is clearly unfit to be on the faculty of the university.He is a cryptic attention seeker and should be immediately suspended.

Published by: Rita
Walnut Creek CA 07/17/2008 11:23 AM EST

Pray for this person
who is so confused.

Published by: Vin
Ilion/NY/USA 07/17/2008 11:09 AM EST

It's hard to believe Myers is employed by an institution of higher(?) learning as a professor. Although the way this society is falling, nothing surprises me any more. Be assured God will take care of His own. Of course he doesn't have consecrated hosts. Hosts look the same before and after consecration. What a clown he is!!!!!

Published by: Chris
USA 07/17/2008 11:00 AM EST

This whole series of stories horrifies and nauseates me. Isn't there anything we can do to stop this evil abuse? St. Michael, we need you more than ever. "Defend us... Cast into hell those evil spirits who roam the world seeking the ruin of souls."

Published by: fonebone
minnesota 07/17/2008 10:50 AM EST

Isn't this a little overblown? Myers is a professor at U of M in Morris which is about 150 miles from Minneapolis.

Published by: Michael G. Batcho
McAdoo, PA 07/17/2008 10:45 AM EST

"Mr." Myers lies when he said that he recieved "no intellectually worthy" reseponses" concerning his hate words and intentions against Christ and against Christian faith and belief . . . "I" wrote to Mister Myers that as one who claims the title "Professor" more is expected in the way of respecting other's values and faith than his public disdain and mocking ridicule and sacrilege . . . Mister Myers expects others to respect HIS disbelief, yet HE cannot respect other's "belief" . . .he is a complete and absolute fraud and doesn't merit holding a position anyweher as a "professor" of any merit . . . and he now is also a LIAR! (like the "father of lies" which he follows.

Published by: MaryTheresa Reich
Los Angeles, CA 07/17/2008 10:30 AM EST

I can't believe this man thinks he's an intellectual.He is, rather,desperate for fame and attention. As for his desire to harm the Eucharist and grossly offend Catholics worldwide, he can't prove he actually has consecrated hosts.He himself doesn't even know whether or not the hosts sent to him were consecrated.He must put faith in those who did get them for him.Even if he says he got them himself,we'd have to take his word for it, and since he's revealed himself to be a man of low character, to say the least,how could anyone trust him? His "show" is futile, because he can never prove to viewers that the hosts have been consecrated.God knows the truth, and those who were base enough to accept the "professor's" challenge. There are certainly many Judases in this world.

Published by: Laura
Cleveland,OH, USA 07/17/2008 10:14 AM EST

This professor has a great hatred for the Catholic Church.
Had someone given him scrolls from a Jewish temple would he "desecrate" these on the internet? Hopefully he will lose his job for showing such hatred towards one religion.

Published by: Gerri Kirkpatrick
De Soto, KS, USA 07/17/2008 10:07 AM EST

Rate: Excellent

This is one more reason why we may have to return to receiving the Eucharist on the tongue instead of having the option of receiving it on the hand. This man is a disgrace to the teaching profession. I have seen the host in Lanciano, Italy which turned to flesh and blood. I know it is more than a "cracker". This man is playing a very dangerous game.

Published by: Mary Ann Kerkvliet
Hutchinson, MN USA 07/17/2008 09:59 AM EST

I will pray for him that the Holy Spirit will convert his heart. If he acts now as he is when he dies he WILL believe. I just hope it isn't too late and hell is his only option.

Published by: Emmaus31
Crosby, Texas 07/17/2008 09:53 AM EST

I'm appalled. Never in my 64 years have I seen such Anti-Catholic bigotry. Devout Catholics in America this is the future for us in America unless we confront these bigots. When will we rise up and demand action to protect us from this kind of bigotry? Imagine what would happen if this clown announced he intended to desecrate desicrate a copy of the Koran?

Published by: Barbara
Shreveport, La. USA 07/17/2008 09:48 AM EST

To the latest list of "God/Catholic Bashers" like Moyers and Carlin Mr. Myers has answered the call of "NEXT" !!!!!!
I pray that God will have Mercy on his soul when Mr. Myers time on earth has run out...and he hears St. Peter say "NEXT" !!!

Published by: MAD
Baton Rouge, LA, USA 07/17/2008 09:43 AM EST

Someone has got to stop him...

Published by: Johnnie Davidson
Beaumont,Tx 77705 07/17/2008 09:27 AM EST

We must pray for this this man to be delivered from evil.

Published by: florence stein
wayland, ma., usa 07/17/2008 09:18 AM EST

i really feel very sorry for this man and i do not envy him at all.

Published by: Mary Dieal
New Jersey 07/17/2008 09:08 AM EST

we have to pray for this horible act at our Getsemani hours

Published by: Elizabeth Pomfred
E. Bridgewater MA 07/17/2008 08:52 AM EST

Why is this person not charged with a hate crime? If something this sacrilegious was done in another faith, arrests would be made. It is time for all Catholics to defend our faith. I also believe that priests need to emphasize who is invited to receive the Body of Christ at each Mass and how it should be received. It's appalling what you see at masses,and I belong to a wonderful, faithful parish. There is such little respect and we need to insist that it be respectful because that is the only way we can teach others of the sacredness of our Mass and Consecration.

Published by: Deacon George
Pittsburgh/ PA/USA 07/17/2008 08:35 AM EST

This individual should research the historical accounts of those who desecrated host and gone unrepented. His co-opting others to do his collecting of host for him, obviously speaks of satan wanting his minions to do his bidding. Sign of the times.

Published by: E C Neufeld
NY 07/17/2008 08:24 AM EST

Without "Communion in the hand" this whole mess would be far less possible. As a Eucharistic Minister several years ago I caught someone trying to hide the Host in his hand. There are also people who use the Host for witchcraft type rituals. We should be more willing to protect the Body of Christ.

Published by: Jim
Michigan 07/17/2008 08:17 AM EST

Since the anti-Obama crowd got their blog removed for spamming, or so it's called, because it incites some negative notion or possibly violence, why does this guy still have an operating blog when he is inciting bigotry and possible violence towards Catholics? Is there a double standard here? It's OK to attack a religion in this country and get away with it, but a political figure who has many that disagree with him you're not allowed to. Seems I may have woke up in Facist Germany or Communist Russia. This surely can't be the United States.

Published by: Greg Cwik
Buffalo NY USA 07/17/2008 08:12 AM EST

Dr. Paul Zachary Myers, may God have mercy on your soul.

Published by: John
Madison 07/17/2008 08:11 AM EST

This is a wake-up call for the Church regarding the manner of distributing the Blessed Sacrament to the faithful during Mass. They must return to everyone kneeling and receiving communion on the tongue. Granted, if this is done it is still possible for a non-Catholic to steal a consecrated host, but it will make it more difficult, and many people simply will not kneel before a priest for communion. This must be done to resist this great sacrilege.

Published by: Crystal Simoneaux
Knoxville, Tn. 07/17/2008 08:01 AM EST

Is the local bishop not trying to talk some sense into this man, and to retrieve the sacred host from his wretched hands?

Published by: marie
Toronto, Canada 07/17/2008 07:46 AM EST

Prof.Myers is doing this only for shock value. We have to pray that good sense prevails. May God forgive him and this whole incident gets blown over

Published by: Cynthia Hintz
Cleveland/Ohio/USA 07/17/2008 07:44 AM EST

This man is obviously mentally ill.

Published by: Steve
Boston/MA/USA 07/17/2008 07:40 AM EST

He probably has ads on his blog and by doing this tunt gets millions of visitors and ad revenue. By reporting on his claims and including the blog, you play into his hands.

Published by: Francesco
usa 07/17/2008 06:15 AM EST

This is why communion in the hand must be forbidden.

Published by: Colocharis
Belts/MD/USA 07/17/2008 05:51 AM EST

Foley is from Virginia, and born in 1945. "Never seen such bigotry?" Hmmm..... Did he have his eyes closed in the fifties and sixties? Jim Crow anyone?

Published by: Dan in Calgary
Calgary Alberta Canada 07/16/2008 10:05 PM EST

Can we PLEASE stop paying attention to this nut-job?

He is only trying to get our attention and the fact that he is succeeding is the unfortunate part.

He hasn't the guts to do this kind of thing to the Muslim community, and our morbid fascination with him is providing him with the reward he wants for his actions.

Our Lord Jesus, I am sure, can take care of Himself, and the nutty professor's willful desecration will take its toll only on him.

Ignore him, and he will disappear.

Dan in Calgary

Published by: Jim
Gaithersburg, MD 07/16/2008 10:03 PM EST

Consecrated hosts are at risk. Some communions are so large that we cannot possibly determine whether a host is being kidnapped. With concerted efforts on the atheists part, it is likely that Myers will receive several consecrated hosts, although it is doubtful he can attach such pedigree to them. Nevertheless, we should all be watchful of suspicious characters in church and report anything untoward. I hope a warning has been issued to all church leaders.

If this were a terror alert, it would be at RED.

Published by: Kergillian
Michigan 07/16/2008 07:42 PM EST

Rate: Regular

“Who can listen to him lecture on science without thinking ‘Polly wants a cracker’?”

A better question might be:

Who can take communion without thinking "Polly wants a cracker"?

Seriously, get real. This isn't a story. If this is what you spend your time worrying about, you really need to get out more. Violence in Darfur, record inflation in the US, The Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan, and you're worried about a cracker? People are dying all over the world and you get motivated to pester a Biologist because he insulted a piece of bread?
Here's a thought: Every time someone gets you ticked off by insulting the Host, rather than send a threatening email, give $5 to a homeless shelter instead.

Published by: Cynthia
McHenry IL 07/16/2008 03:30 PM EST

I wonder if Professor Myers would consider it theft if every student in his labs took home a petri dish and gave it to a Catholic activist to be smashed in front of his office by way of protest? Why is it that tolerance only applies to the anti-establishment, not the establishment?

Published by: Jennie
Indialantic, FL, USA 07/16/2008 02:36 PM EST

If the "cracker" is meaningless to him, then why desecrate it on the internet? Apparently, his underlying belief is that the Eucharist is in fact our Lord! We will pray for him.

Published by: Fr Don Malin
Montrose, CO USA 07/16/2008 01:50 PM EST

Could not this man be taken to task for hate speech? Could not the Bishops of the USA take him to Court?

Published by: Miguel Antonio Espino Perigault
Boquete- Panamá 07/16/2008 01:42 PM EST

I remmember that it was Papini, an Italian XX century writer who said that anyone who wanted to be a cellebrity only needed to attack the Catholic Church or the Pope. This is what this poor and mediocre professor is traying to do.

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