Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by Jane, Toronto on June 13, 2008:

Having sex in the confessional of a Catholic church is similar to urinating on Canada's National War Memorial, or knocking over headstones in a Jewish cemetery. They were all acts which were deliberately undertaken in order to upset people. Just a building or just a big piece of (carved) stone? Perhaps, but that isn't how the parishioners or the families of the dead probably perceive those places. This sort of disrespect speaks volumes about the two participants, and their total lack of empathy for anyone besides themselves. I'm sure most atheists wouldn't want to associate with them, and very few would condone such rude behaviour.

Posted by Pierre, Ontario, Canada on June 13, 2008:

I think this is a perfectly legitimate story for you to email & post. And I was not offended either way. I think your tagline was apropos, and so was your commentary.
The story did not strike me as funny, though, merely unusual, and a bit sad. Sad at the 2 goths, AND sad at the Catholics. Or was I sad for both? I have not made up my mind on the issue.

I hope no one asks what the differences in sadnesses is, but I know you will know the difference - and a witty answer to boot! And my beliefs? Well I have swapped between what I was born, and what by nature I am, so many times... By birth a Catholic. By nature an Agnostic. For those who do not know, we Agnostics have one answer to religion: "We don't know." Or, like the Scottish third verdict (Besides Guilty or Not Guilty): "Not Proven." Theology is great, but it is after all, Theory, Study, Belief, regardless of your faith.

Posted by James, Highland Park, NJ on June 13, 2008:

I don't find the statement about a "purification rite" surprising, even if like most commenters I'm not Catholic and don't know exactly what he has in mind. But the principle is not so laughable to me, at least based upon what I understand of the Bible.

The sense I get from the text is that sin stains objects, it stains places, it stains people. And that not all sins are equal in God's view; he particularly disapproves of sexual immorality. In fact, Leviticus explicitly prescribes different purification rites for the state of being ritually unclean. Although I bet many of those had a lot to do with physical cleanliness, I can't help but believe that there was also a spiritual component to them.

To be sure, the whole tone of things changes after Christ, but one can't escape the sense that God is sensitive to exactly the sort of uncleanliness to which the Bishop refers. It's common for Christians to ask God to bless people, places and objects; it seems in the same spirit to ask God to make a thing clean. Consider baptism, the dipping of fingers into water upon entering a Catholic church, etc. It's not such a stretch to say that the God of the Bible believes there is something to be gained through such ceremonies.

The thing that I find most revealing about the discussion - and I don't mean to be too critical here - is how thin the idea of "respect" for religion seems. To claim to respect a person's religious choice (and not just to say you'll tolerate it, but to actually consider it a reasonable decision by a rational person) is a fine thing. But that doesn't have much substance if in the same breath the believer is labeled a superstitious crank for expressing something at least broadly in line with his faith's traditions.

Posted by Marie Wade Houston TX (ClearLake/NASA area!) on June 13, 2008:

OK, this may open me to raging bonfires of flame but, here goes.... creating a ritualistic atmosphere takes a lot of energy and usually a lot of time and it takes very little energy or time to break up that same atmosphere.

OK, OK, you have to accept here the possibility that there are in fact energy patterns that are created by humans repeating similar actions and emotions in contained spaces over time, rather like the sand carried by a river shapes a canyon over time. But that is what ritual and religion are about: people who care about such things putting their life energy over and over into creating a vibration, if you will, that will help subsequent visitors to that space to more easily enter that same vibration. And don't kid yourself that people cannot tell later. Some people CAN TELL.

Gothic cathedrals that smell of candles and that have a sound even when it's silent in there, meditation chambers that affect a person's brain waves as soon as they enter... etc.

I have my own issues with the RCC, but I know the outrage I would feel over someone coming into an energetic space I had cultivated for decades (in Italy, centuries, maybe) and intentionally (obviously) messing with it.

Part of the Goth culture is about ritual; they knew what they were about. At the very least, it was intended to be rude and childish.

That said, I wonder how many crucifixes they were wearing while they were in there and if the little Jesuses were spinning like tops?

heehee

Posted by Harriet, Albuquerque, NM on June 13, 2008:

Interesting comments, all. I'm inclined to agree with the assessment that this was a "thrill-seeking" thing, too. Most people (thank goodness) don't go through with this type of stunt, tempting though it may be.

As far as a "purification rite" for the booth, if I remember correctly from my days as an RC (just a stop on the path of the seeker), confession is considered to be a Sacrament of the Church. It would follow, then, that the location set aside for this sacrament would be a sanctified place, above and beyond the sacredness of the entire edifice.

The RC Church (institution) has developed a highly specialized and formalized language for dealing with things sacred. My pagan translation would be along the lines of needing to banish the negative or inappropriate energies that had been raised by the act performed. The couple, whatever their reason, intentionally performed a high-energy action in a place where that energy was not welcome or appropriate. Therefore, that must be undone, and the proper energies restored. A ritual that is aligned to the energy of the space and of its purpose must be performed properly to not only cleanse the area but reconfigure the energy flow to its proper state.

Posted by Trevor, Johannesburg, RSA on June 14, 2008:

I think the problem here is that in the world we live in, nobody has any respect for anyone else. My reaction is the same as 2 Catholics, or lesbians, or Moslems doing it in the confessional, or a synagogue or a Mosque or anywhere else that has a special significance to someone else. Just shows that the world we live in is very immature. People are just not willing to make the necessary sacrifices in order for everyone to get along.

Posted by Rimon, Israel on June 14, 2008:

While the comments and remarks are thought provoking and are meaningful in general, it seems that they do not apply to the specific situation: IMHO, They were caught in an embarrassing situation, and as "This is True" readers know a long time in cases like that, they just found *afterward* a very silly "explanation" for their behavior.

Probably they don't really consider themselves atheist, they didn't intended to be caught, the just are like most the people that supply the raw material for the stories of "This is True" - just bless them and Randy for the fun they give us (and of course, the opportunity to read so many thougthful comments after that...)

Posted by Scott, Killeen, TX on June 14, 2008:

If it's in a public place then it quite obviously is not a private act.

What is private about defecating? Least I heard, 100% of the (higher) animal population of the planet does it. I remember, when I was a kid, having a conversation with someone who was sitting in an outhouse. My understanding is that it is mostly modern North Americans who are concerned about privacy. Perhaps the people screaming about privacy just don't want others to know that they don't wash their hands afterwards?

Same for sex; 100% of your ancestors did it.

I agree, a church is NOT a public building. Being open to the public does not make it public. I would expect, though, that by being generally open to the public (and generally considered to be a public place, as many people clearly believe) confers some of the protections that public places get.

It is expected by society to act in certain ways in certain situations. If you want to do what you want, get your own universe; application forms are available at your nearest mental health clinic.

Trespassing is illegal? Wow, that's news! I was told by my local police that people had to be specifically warned not to trespass (verbally or with a sign) before the police could do anything.

What's wrong with sex in the White House? I guess people never heard of President Clinton. It wasn't the sex (with a "cigar" or whatever) that was the issue, the issue was who the alleged sex was with.

As for worshiping, perhaps some people should read about the closet in Matthew 6. (http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext05/bib4010h.htm)

Randy, chances are that the gossip is going around before the confession.

If I left the "l" out of "public" anywhere, its a typo. :)

(Before you reply to this, consider that there may, or may not, be bait present)

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Yes, I can see the bait. The only thing I wanted to reply to is your legal definition of trespassing: I don't think it's correct. In a "public" place, yes, I think it is. But I think it's a trespass to walk in a stranger's front door, even if it's unlocked. This of course may vary from state to state; in your state, it's also an invitation to be shot, but I digress.... -rc

Posted by Christine Searle -Ohio on June 14, 2008:

Put me in the column of people that laughed. I was raised catholic and now consider myself a "recovering catholic". I have many issues with the church but your condom comment made me laugh right out loud.

Posted by George, Ithaca, NY on June 14, 2008:

As an ordained Roman Catholic Deacon, I thought I'd add my spin on the story. Obviously, the couple was doing this just to shock the people. This has nothing to do with atheism or sex and everything to do with disrespect. Take the confessional and church out of the picture and add a public park or a Chucky Cheese, and you see what the goal of this couple was.

Now, as for the purification rite, that's mandated by Canon Law. Purification rituals are a response to desecrations (yes, even including abuse of altar boys!). God doesn't need it, but we do. It's like the prayers said at Ground Zero. For instance, one of my fellow deacons does prayers at the scene of murders in an upstate city. The idea is to bring healing and reconciliation. Isn't that what we all need?

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What we need is more people with a sense of humor, such as yourself! I love it you didn't take my bait about purification, but instead simply explained it -- and very well, too. Kudos. -rc