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So I was in the Pope's House, the Heart of Darkness, today Posted by greenman on May 16, 2026, 6:38 pm Valued Poster At a graduation for a friend at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, which is under the DIRECT control of the Pope. I must say they laid on a nice buffet, though there was no wine, sacramental or otherwise... SAY ‘NO’ TO WAR! RESIST!

Why would there be anything related to the sacraments at a publicly attended graduation Posted by Sia on May 18, 2026, 5:55 pm, in reply to "So I was in the Pope's House, the Heart of Darkness, today" for seminary graduates? From my experience, the sacraments are done during Catholic services held BEFORE the graduation and not typically deliberately open to non-Catholics to share in. Catholics have very specific rules about communion: the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation). All wine there has been blessed and therefore its use is highly restricted. Participants must have gone to confession prior to receiving them. Obviously, Catholics can lie about it and others can do so by mistake if they come in off the street but it is highly frowned upon. From their website: "The Pontifical College Josephinum hosts its annual Commencement Exercises in May, where degrees are conferred to seminarians. Following the ceremonies, graduation events typically conclude with a public reception or a catered lunch for graduates, their families, faculty, and special guests in the campus refectory and auditoriums. Graduation & Public Meal Details Event Structure: Graduation day traditionally begins with a Baccalaureate Mass, followed by Commencement Exercises. Public/Guest Meals: Following the ceremony, a reception or celebratory meal is customarily hosted on campus (often in the Msgr. Leonard Fick Auditorium or the main Refectory). Access: While everyday dining in the refectory is limited to seminarians, staff, and those on meal plans, graduation meals are open to attending families and invited guests."

You know I was kidding, right? Posted by greenman on May 18, 2026, 6:07 pm, in reply to "Why would there be anything related to the sacraments at a publicly attended graduation" Valued Poster It was a very generous luncheon, though. SAY ‘NO’ TO WAR! RESIST!

I understood there was humorous sarcasm involved, of course. Posted by Sia on May 18, 2026, 6:32 pm, in reply to "You know I was kidding, right?" But having been "schooled" so many times by my M.i.L regarding participation in communion by "heretics", I figured I would explain why there was no wine served since your humor involved expecting wine at any Catholic event, particularly a seminary graduation open to non-Catholics. While I accept their beliefs as being just a valid (or stupid) as any others' regarding religion, I have a bone to pick with their snottiness regarding "rules of forgiveness" and their (demented) exclusion of everyone else's beliefs. In fact, when she attended weddings and funerals at my (then) Protestant church, she WAS invited to share communion, but refused. We didnt get married in the Catholic Church because I refused to lie on the paperwork that I'd agree to raise our children Cathoic. Boy she didnt like that! I was never so glad that my (then future) husband stood up, cursed the priest for even suggesting I just lie on the form when I refused to budge on it. They were also baptized in my family's Methodist church. I didnt want to baptise them at all, but couldn't leave her in constant "terror" that they'd wind up in some imaginary hell if they were not even baptized. She pissed me off big time with her rigidity in religious matters, but I was never so cruel that I would allow her to suffer more than simple annoyance over our choices. So, it struck an angry chord in me that drove me to "explain" their stupid rules rather than defend or outright attack them. I'm now past trying to avoid flat out criticism since I remembered than our Merlin is dead now, so wouldn't be collateral damage from my criticism. He was a solid Catholic who was often offended by my or others' attacks on Catholicism. I very much cared about him enough to avoid being so blatant about it. Until now that I remembered that he is gone.

I like what he's been saying to and about The Don. Posted by Trudy on May 18, 2026, 3:28 pm, in reply to "So I was in the Pope's House, the Heart of Darkness, today" Valued Poster I know pretty much nothing about Catholicism, but No wine? WTF No more letting the DNC choose our candidates for public office. They're not good at it.

Me too Posted by greenman on May 18, 2026, 6:09 pm, in reply to "I like what he's been saying to and about The Don." Valued Poster An American Pope, he knows all too well what we're going through. I was at a Catholic wedding once, and you bet the Priest was first in line at the open bar at the reception! lol SAY ‘NO’ TO WAR! RESIST!

LOL, but remember, that wasn't "special" Catholic blessed wine that only Posted by Sia on May 18, 2026, 6:41 pm, in reply to "Me too" ADMIN very special** people (confessed Catholics) could ever have. It was common liquor that anyone could over-indulge in. Probably one of his only secular joys as a priest that could be tolerated by his church community. ** dripping sarcasm

No kidding Posted by greenman on May 19, 2026, 7:09 pm, in reply to "LOL, but remember, that wasn't "special" Catholic blessed wine that only " Valued Poster I will say I went to Mass with my ex once, and went up to receive communion. As a Methodist I thought 'We're all Christians here, right?' Not knowing that according to the Church, some are 'better' Christians than others. Bottom line, the priest, a nice guy, knew I wasn't Catholic but administered the Sacraments anyway. So I did do that once. I actually like that the Roman Church does that at every Mass. That's something in their favor. SAY ‘NO’ TO WAR! RESIST!

Nope. No wine is normally served outside of a communion service during holy mass. Posted by Sia on May 18, 2026, 6:04 pm, in reply to "I like what he's been saying to and about The Don." ADMIN Catholic churches strictly do not serve wine at purely secular or social events like graduations. Consecrated Eucharistic wine is reserved exclusively for the Mass and the administration of Sacraments. Because the Church mandates that valid Eucharistic matter requires natural grape wine, any wine present inside the sacred space is intended for sacramental use. For non-sacramental events held on church grounds (such as parish halls, reception centers, or off-site celebrations), standard secular alcoholic beverages are permitted, but this is handled strictly as private catering or venue use, not as part of a church service or liturgy.

Pope is honest. Felon is not. Posted by Pikes Peak 14115 on May 18, 2026, 6:02 pm, in reply to "I like what he's been saying to and about The Don." ADMIN Many schools, especially smaller community schools have a somewhat religious commencement prayer service in addition to the public graduation. It's seen as a sacred rite of passage. You can look away from a painting, but you can't listen away from a symphony

I see this pope as being sincere and honest in his beliefs even Posted by Sia on May 18, 2026, 6:48 pm, in reply to "Pope is honest. Felon is not. " ADMIN though I wholeheartedly disagree with the basis of so many of his professed beliefs. He's still a good man in my estimation, unless he gives me reason to think otherwise.

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