March 19, 2004

EPISCOPAL CHURCH GOES TO THE DOGS:

Look what the church dragged in (Miami Herald, 8/9/2003; via Curt Jester)

Rover, of course, needs his run in the park. But what about his spiritual needs?

All Saints Episcopal Church in Fort Lauderdale wants to meet those needs ...

The church just started monthly services for pets and their loved ones, even providing doggie treats for Rover at communion time.


Houses of Worship Are Reaching Out To a Flock of Pets (WSJ, 3/10/2004)
For the first time in 10 years, Mary Wilkinson went to church one Sunday in January. She sat in a back pew at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Stamford, Conn., flipping through a prayer book and listening intently to the priest's sermon.

What drew Ms. Wilkinson back into the fold was a new monthly program the church introduced -- Holy Communion for pets. As part of the service, the 59-year-old retired portfolio manager carried her 17-year-old tiger cat to the altar, waited in line behind three panting dogs to receive the host ...


As a Catholic, I'm more pleased than ever that we're not in communion with the Episcopal Church.

Posted by Paul Jaminet at March 19, 2004 12:00 AM
Comments

Dogs are aware enough to sin, assuming they have souls.

They may not be aware enough to repent.

Posted by: Michael Herdegen at March 19, 2004 2:04 AM

Time for the whip to crack in the sanctuary again.

Posted by: jim hamlen at March 19, 2004 7:55 AM

Jim - Please, no comments on Bishop Robinson's sexual practices.

Any guesses on when the Episcopalians will let people marry their pets?

Posted by: pj at March 19, 2004 8:17 AM

I was feeling very superior until I came to the "bark mitzvahs".

Posted by: David Cohen at March 19, 2004 9:21 AM

I'd be more concerned about the dogs lying under the pews if there weren't so many standing in the pulpits. That is why I'm glad I'm not in communion with ANY mainline church. Bow Wow.

Posted by: NC3 at March 19, 2004 9:26 AM

I wish I could remember which movie (was it one of the Zucker films?) it was that had the lines:

"Are you a religious man?"
"No, I'm Episcopalian."

Posted by: Mike Earl at March 19, 2004 10:25 AM

They've been blessing pets for years, and when I lived in Virginia, more than 30 years ago, were blessing fish.

The fish were destined to be caught and eaten, so I was always unclear on the concept. Cui bono?

Posted by: Harry Eagar at March 19, 2004 6:50 PM
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