Christians outraged over dog's communion
The controversy began in June when Donald Keith walked into St. Peter's Church in Toronto, accompanied by his 4-year-old German shepherd.
By Agence France-PresseWed, Jul 28 2010 at 9:20 AM EST
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HOLY HOUNDS: Trapper isn’t the first dog to attend church. Zack, an 8-year-old German shepherd mix, is a regular at St. Giles the Abbot Parish Church in Britain and even takes communion. (Photo: ZUMA Press)
An Anglican priest is facing the wrath of some in Canada's Christian community after she offered holy communion to a man ... and his dog.
Marguerite Rea has apologized for the incident, which occurred last month, but it provoked anger and offense among some in the country's Anglican community.
"Communion to a dog is not something that will ever happen to our or any Bible-believing Christian church anywhere in the world," said Cheryl Chang, chancellor of the Anglican Network in Canada.
The controversy occurred last month, when Donald Keith, 56, walked into St. Peter's Church in downtown Toronto for the first time, accompanied by his four-year-old German Shepherd, Trapper.
Rea, an interim priest at the church, welcomed the pair inside, and when it came time to offer Keith holy communion, Trapper followed and was allowed to participate in the ceremony.
"The whole thing was all very innocent," Keith told the Toronto Star. "And the joy and happiness on the face of one old lady in the front row made it all worthwhile."
Reached Tuesday, Rea said she had nothing to add to the apology she has already offered to her congregation.
"The incident is done, it's over and I have no more comment about it," she told AFP. "I am not going to discuss anything about it."
Stuart Mann, director of communication of the Anglican Diocese of Toronto, said he would also have no further comment.
The incident has prompted smiles from some, but at least one parishioner was offended enough to file a formal complaint with the Toronto Diocese and leave the church over the communion.
Copyright 2010 AFP American Edition
Comments
James
07/30/2010 15:10 PM
Apparently Jesus doesnt love animals... thats sad to me, considering that humans are just another species of animal...
Mark Hamm
07/29/2010 13:46 PM
Women shouldn't be priests. The Catholics WIN!
michael.whittington
07/29/2010 13:46 PM
if thats all they've got to worry about, they have a very uncomplicated life.
