Business

‘Deeply Offensive & Blasphemous’?: Catholics Protesting ‘Ale Mary’s’ Bar in MD

Catholics Protest Ale Marys Bar in Maryland & Call Antics BlasphemousA bar in Fells Point, Maryland, is under fire as Catholics are claiming that the local business is mocking the church. But the owners of the establishment, Ale Mary’s, are defending themselves and dismissing the allegations that put it at the center of a religiously-based protest.

The business’ name, which is a play on the “Hail Mary,” a prayer devoted to Jesus Christ’s mother, is one of the main points of contention. But inside the bar, there are also religious relics and jokes that don’t seem to sit well with believers. From a holy water dish-turned-candy dish to a bobble-head Jesus, there’s plenty of religious imagery to go around. The Baltimore Sun has more:

They decorate with photos of nuns. They post their draft list on a hymn board. They offer Father Luies Grilled Wings and Father Tom’s Fried Ice Cream Sundae. And, possibly their most serious transgression according to the group: the bar’s “chalice” club where people can get their beer served in a chalice.

One of the bar’s owners, Tom Rivers, appeared in an interview with WBFF-TV, where he claimed that the name of Ale Mary’s was inspired by his wife and sister-in-law, not by the Catholic Church.

Catholics Protest Ale Marys Bar in Maryland & Call Antics Blasphemous

Image Credit: TheDrinkNation.com

“My wife is named Mary, my brother who is my partner — his wife was named Mary — we were brought up in a Catholic house — church — it just seemed to fit,” he explained. “It was cool.”

But local Catholics aren’t amused, nor are then accepting these explanations. Individuals opposed to the bar’s tactics and theme have launched a Facebook page called “500,000 Against Ale Mary’s.” The group explains the intentions behind the protest:

This group has been formed to protest, and make known, the deeply offensive and blasphemous use of sacred objects used in the Catholic Church in Her most profound rituals and liturgies by the bar Ale Mary. In this establishment Chalices that contain the precious blood of Christ are being used as common drinking cups, and a Monstrance that is to be used to display the Sacred body of Christ for adoration is being used as a kitch decoration sitting on a bar where patrons while their time over drinks. A holy water font is also used as a simple candy dish.

So far, the movement has 761 members.

Catholics Protest Ale Marys Bar in Maryland & Call Antics Blasphemous

Screen shot of the Facebook protest page

Rivers dismisses critics and says that the campaign against the bar has actually been a positive force for him and his family.

“It‘s all in fun and it’s not like we’re out picking these things up. Our customers are bringing these things to us,” he explained. ”It’s great publicity. I wish I would have thought of this myself.”

Comments (117)

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  • capitalismrocks
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:38am

    There is cute and clever marketing and then there is stepping over the line, this steps over the line, not really a good idea overall… plus seeing as drinkers, especially Irish, are generally not only Catholic, but devout, yeah, this is not going to go over well for their business… best to change course and change the name and whole persona of the bar theme while they can still save face.

    Report Post » capitalismrocks  
    • Locked
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:45am

      “this is not going to go over well for their business… best to change course and change the name and whole persona of the bar theme while they can still save face.”

      The bar’s been open since 2004. It’s nothing new; the only reason it’s getting press is because the boycott started on Easter weekend.

      Report Post »  
    • pavepaws
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 3:20pm

      The best response to this, don’t go. Drink elsewhere. If there is no market for this soon it will be called Ale E Babbas.

      Report Post »  
    • HonestGirlScouts_dot_com
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 12:13pm

      The name is cute, but the use of actual religious items is extremely disrespectful. They need to re-evaluate their goal.

      Report Post » HonestGirlScouts_dot_com  
    • deeberj
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 2:13pm

      Are they using “actual” religious items? Are they used ones that were actually previously used in a church? If they were then I don’t like it and think they have crossed a line.

      If they were not, and they are just getting them from a church supply store it’s not as bad.

      Either way, don‘t go if you don’t like it. Free market baby. There are lots of bars I would never set foot in – dancer bars, stripper bars, biker bars, etc. I personally would not go there as it would make me a bit uncomfortable even though I’ve never been a Catholic.

      Report Post » deeberj  
  • Miyegombo Bayartsogt
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:08am

    Catholics can tolerate institutionalized mass rape of their children by their clergy done in the name of God but if someone names a bar something silly the bar‘s owners feel the Church’s self-righteous rage. With the shameful history of the Popes and Roman and 600-year-long Inquisition, you‘d think these people would slink off to some dark corner and hope everyone would forget about the Catholic Church’s past infamy. Instead, we get this sort of squalid display by small-minded people who should know better.

     
    • JJStryder
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:30am

      You got nothin’ but a small mind.

      Report Post » JJStryder  
    • Juergensen
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:52am

      You sound like you’ll be outraged by this: http://www.stopbaptistpredators.org

      But then, you’re just a heretic anti-Catholic bigot, aren’t you?

      Report Post »  
    • mycomet123
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:02am

      Institutionalized mass rape of children????????????? REALLY. Here again, another SMALL MINDED individual whose only responce to Catholicism is sexual abuse of children. I am sick & tired of the stereotyping of Catholic priests!!!!!!!!!! The vast majority of priests are very devout holy men who have given up everything to serve Jesus!

      Report Post »  
    • mycomet123
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:07am

      I am sick & tired of the sterotyping of Catholic priests. The vast majority of priests are very devout holy men who have given up everything to serve Jesus! You are a SMALL MINDED BIGOT whose only response in regards to anything mentioned of Catholicism is sexual abuse!

      Report Post »  
    • AFreeManInTexas
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 11:10am

      I find it interesting that some how you forgot (or were afraid to post) your personal reglion? Was that an oversight, most likely you are ashamed by your believes? You are wrong, most Catholics are ashamed that the leaders of the Church, past and present have allowed evil to enter the lives and not denounced or stopped the actions of a few within the Church. We as members of the Cathlic Church do not support nor approve actions taken by the Church and Popes of the past. But that is the history of the Church and insead of “slinking off to the dark corners” we have come out against the dark history of our Church. The actions you spoke of as “institutional mass rape” of their children in the name of God is so far off base, when evil takes you over, those actions are NOT in the of name of God, but the actions of a MAN, NOT a God like man. It would make me believe you personally have an agenda, maybe standing with others in the world speaking from hate and fear.

      Report Post »  
    • COFemale
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 12:12pm

      @FreeMan: Our beliefs and religion is not relevant to this post. But since you are curious Presbyterian on official paper, but recently turned non-denominational.

      Although I truly believe this is in bad taste by the bar and offensive, I think this is one fight the Catholic church just shouldn’t ignore. We already know they are going to hell in a hand basket, let them. You are always going to have those people who disrespect religious beliefs and make fun of them; don’t fight them – they will sink themselves. Besides how many Catholics are going to drink at the bar?

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • NyPerspective
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 7:01pm

      It amazes me sometimes the perspectives people attempt to cite tying together problems of the past in an attempt to support a “best” course of action for the future. What do you suggest? Perhaps the faithful and devout Catholics should just stand back for a moratorium and allow an undetermined amount of indiscretions to pass in an effort to balance a perceived hipocrasy?? It doesn’t work that way. The teachings of the catholic church are sound whereas there are those who have fallen from grace. It is an appropriate action indeed for the devout to stand up to this as it is a controversial issue. And regardless if the bar was open for awhile, inappropriate is still inappropriate.

      -Very Catholic

      Report Post » NyPerspective  
    • Romanist
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 6:13pm

      Less than 2% of priest are found guilty of this crime. The institutionalized rape and cover up is in the public schools. If you care that much about it, then go after the biggest offender.

      Report Post »  
  • vaman
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:54am

    These catholics who are complaining should really find a better way to occupy their time. It’s a bar, not satan. Considering the amount of problems the church has and the amount of gross criminal behavior it has hidden and supported, the priority is not a bar. I hope the publicity is great and the owners become wealthy people.

    Report Post »  
    • bitterclinger
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 1:15pm

      I‘m sure you’d tell the Muzz to do the same if someone opened a joint called “Mo’s (Watering) Hole” and had turbans with bombs decorating the place. Let’s see, we could have a pix of Mo with child-bride Aaisha and list the drink menu is a giant open koran. All of the glasses and napkins should have the moon-god’s logo on them. When the place gets firebombed you’d say the owners were asking for it, right?

      The point is that respect and devotion of believers demands the respect of non-believers.

      Report Post » bitterclinger  
    • SanRemo1959
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 4:07pm

      Bitterclinger said, “The point is that respect and devotion of believers demands the respect of non-believers.”

      You can‘t demand someone’s respect! Who the hell do you think you are? If you’re a catholic I really feel sorry for you. Anyone who’d still follow a global group of organized child molesters, after it was proven that the pope himself was in charge of shuttling choir-boy-dittling priest out of town hours ahead of the police, needs to be pitied. Why have none of the hundreds of molesting priests gone to prison?

      Report Post »  
  • jimjims
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:49am

    Give me a break. Let me see, Christ Jesus’ birth is overtaken by a raindeer with a red nose and a jolly old elf. And Easter, the most important event of our faith, we have the Easter Bunny? Come on. Next thing you know, my fellow Catholics will be up in arms over the Hail Mary pass in football. We’ve abdicated our responsibilities to the State, but we draw a line when it comes to a trade mark infringement with our Holy Mother. That will get you in good with the big guy for sure.

    Report Post »  
    • spirited
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 6:18pm

      Interesting……..What a clever and honest perspective.

      :^> Thanks.

      Report Post » spirited  
    • Romanist
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 6:18pm

      As an organizer of this protest I have to correct the gross misinformation. We are not protesting the bar for its name. The bar has acquired a Monstrance, Chalices and Ciborium from Catholic churches. These are Sacred Vessels which have held the Most Blessed Sacrament. The Monstrances is displayed on the bar with a beer coaster where the Most Blessed Sacrament has been. The Chalices that have held the Most Precious Blood are filled with beer for patrons to drink out of like a common mug. This place even has a Holy Water Font filled with candy. This is an outrage and these Sacred Vessels must be given back to the Church. Before anyone protests that God doesn’t care about vessels, read Daniel chapter 5.

      Report Post »  
  • Silversmith
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:35am

    I haven’t been to this pub. But it’s clear that people are a little too worked up here. There are lots of theme bars, and this is not the only “religious” one. Like the Abby Pub on sixth street in NYC where your barmen are dressed in monks robes and the pub itself feels like a cathedrals vestibule. It’s clearly meant to be fun, not derogatory.

    A chalice is just as sacred as a juice glass. It‘s all part of God’s creation, as are you, and humor. Don’t lose your sense of it.

    Silversmith

    Report Post » Silversmith  
    • Apple Bite
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:41am

      Agreed.

      Was thinking the same with the Mayo v Miracle Whip topic….

      People are still allowed to advertise their product or business, They’re not out to infuriate anyone on purpose. To lose your mind over a play on words shows the lack of an open mind and little tolerance for things you deem offensive.

      Report Post » Apple Bite  
  • barber2
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:24am

    A bar is a bar. A church is a church. Think the Catholic Church has been targeted by the Obama Far Lefties because it stands between them and having their Big Brother total control. Atheist Big Brother governments like the Communists and the Fascists have always targeted the Church because it stands for the rights of the individual over the rights of the collective states. Big Brother does not like competition ! Seems as thought the Democrats are using women ( contraception / abortions RIGHTS ) to fight the Church and conservatives. Clever campaign tactic. A bar. A church. And Big Brother.

    Report Post »  
    • starman70
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 2:22pm

      While this bar may be stepping over the line a bit, Catholics have more to worry about with the HHS Secretary’s edict about abortion and contraception services being performed at their hospitals and universities at their expense. Don’t worry about that bar, if enough people are disturbed by the symbolism, they won’t go there and the enterprise will soon fail. Making a mockery of any Christian denomination still is abhorrent to most Americans.

      This administration and its leader are obviously anti religion or at least viruently anti Christian. This was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt when Obama demanded that the crucifix and other Christian symbols be covered up at at Georgetown University before he spoke there.

      Report Post »  
  • LindzJ
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:18am

    The name of the bar, the menu, and religious pictures are NOT the issue here. Catholics have a sense of humor and I don’t know of anyone that object to any of that. The problem is the use of sacred objects. The monstrance, the chalices, anything that was known to be ACTUALLY USED at any point in time for Mass and contained the body and blood of Christ is a HUGE DEAL. Absolutely beyond words awful. Now if they purchased these objects and they were never used before in that way, and they can be 100% sure, then it would not be a big deal and I’d go there and have a drink myself. If the owners are unsure, I would hope they would find out the history on each of the pieces before they consider using them again. Otherwise, I’d sign the petition and send it to every person I know.

    Report Post »  
    • Romanist
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 6:21pm

      These are actual church items. They were used by churches. Please join our facebook group if you are interested in protesting this outrage.

      Report Post »  
  • Tunesmith
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:13am

    Wow. I was just there on Good Friday. What this article fails to mention is that they are known for their ‘tots’ (yes, tater tots) and that they make a damn good steak sandwich.

    The bar is also lined with what looks like the front of confessional booths, and who hasn’t confessed stuff to their bartender?

    Report Post »  
  • qpwillie
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:11am

    I believe Mary is sleeping in her tomb, waiting for the resurrection, I don’t bow down before images and my holy Father occupies the entirety of existence. However, if I believed the way they do, my reaction would be to never patronize that bar.

    Report Post » qpwillie  
  • Atilla
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:09am

    Mary will not sue for copyright infringement. Not to worry. Don’t go there to drink.

    Report Post »  
  • BmoreAle
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:08am

    OMG some of you people are ridiculous. It’s a simple bar. It’s also been open for 7 years! So why the problem now? Have these people won their other hateful crusades that they have to take on a small neighborhood pub? Wow…and people wonder why the Catholic Church has some a negative stigma. I should now, I’m Catholic. Seriously people, look to your own houses and fix them before you criticize a neighborhood bar who is a good, honest, and fun place. If these hateful “Catholics” don‘t like it then they don’t have to go there. I will continue to go there and support them because the owners are awesome, the food is spectacular, and beer is cold. As far is Ale Mary’s being a passing fad then I guess you have never been there. It’s elbow to elbow for happy hour and people line up every Sunday for brunch. Seriously people, get a life and worry about your own problems rather than worry about a neighborhood pub that has done nothing but make its community better.

    Report Post »  
  • Tifn8r
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:06am

    I guess we need to consider where they got their “stuff”. Are the chalices, hymn boards, statues of nuns etc… consecrated items stolen from churches? No? Then what’s blasphemous about them.

    The Chalices and items in their bar are nothing more than products available to any of us online or in Catholic Bookstores and church garage sales around the country. They aren’t innately holy just because they are called chalices.

    God doesn’t reside in the chalice or the statue. He doesn’t reside in bread or wine either, until it is blessed and consecrated and becomes the Host.

    Don’t get caught up in the imagery, or the names of the items. It’s in the blessing, consecration, and venerated use of the item. A simple glass and cereal bowl could be used at Mass if necessary.

    As for blasphemy… we’ll leave that to their local priests to decide, and provide counsel.

    Report Post » Tifn8r  
  • BlackCrow
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:03am

    Offended? Don’t patronize them.You can’t tell me that its the only bar in town. I have read and re-read the Constitution and nowhere is there a “freedom from offense”.

    Report Post » BlackCrow  
    • Atilla
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:07am

      Ditto.

      Report Post »  
    • Duckhead
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:23am

      People are dying and going to hell. You don’t have time to be offended. Get over yourself. It is not about you and your prissy sensibilities, it is about rolling up your sleeves and doing the good works God has prepared for you to do.

      Offended! Makes me want to spit. Think Christians in China, Egypt, Iran, Indonesia, etc. etc. etc. have the luxury of taking offense to the name of a bar?

      Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:02am

    Just an example of the lack of respect and common decency which seems to be in fashion today. Hoodies. Rap music. Pants down to the ground. Tattoos. Occupies. Just an outer reflection of the inner ugly. People have lost the ability to disagree without being disagreeable. It’s all about ME..ME..ME..who cares about the other guy ?

    Report Post »  
  • myptofvu
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:00am

    I think Catholics would be much more offended if they did their research and learned how the Hail Mary Prayer came to be in the first place.

    Report Post »  
    • Sugabee
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 7:21pm

      Mypto- The Hail Mary prayer is taken DIRECTLY from Scripture! The beginning is the Annunciation from the angel Gabriel “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you”. The second line is what Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin, says to her as she greets her: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb”. “Holy Mary, Mother of God” – is she NOT the mother of God? Is she not, by virtue of her extraordinary station in life, holy? “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death” – would you NOT want a saint as close as Mary is to God to pray for you when you are dying or in trouble? What is so blasted wrong about this prayer? We ask her to pray FOR us to the Father – we’re NOT praying TO her! Do your own research!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Romanist
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 6:19pm

      The words of an angel and St. Elizabeth would shock us?

      Report Post »  
  • sawbuck
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:58am

    Maybe some drinking establishments should start
    Having….

    Ramadan-Perignon- Allah – Night -Long…!

    Report Post » sawbuck  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:49am

    .
    I don’t see the problem. Most Catholics I know drink like fish………………

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • Less1leg
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:40am

    If you haven’t noticed but when has the Catholic Church “owned” the word name “Mary”. Catholics have spent too much time associating your religious beliefs on Mary. Yeah, she was Jesus mother. But her roll ended after birth. But not with Catholics. They’ve built a religious industry around Mary, and now consider the name Mary as their own. I‘m sorry Catholics but your ownership isn’t there and Mary was a significant part of the Christian faith, but her part was completed upon birth. She doesn’t come back and forth as some Super Being only to be seen by selective Catholics. Funny, on this stuff. Why is it that “ ONLY CATHOLICS ” get visited by Mary and spiritual beings. Doesn’t a Bapist or a Morman deserve the same visitation rights from celestial beings. Nope, only Catholics. Shrouds of Turin, three little girls in Spain seeing Mary, etc. Only Catholics have religiously significant moments.
    Sorry, but Mary is just as available to a Beer Hall as all that Vatican Gold was stolen from South America, or other lands held under the domination of your Pope.

    Report Post » Less1leg  
    • Tom21773
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:47am

      Well, that’s a point I suppose. So, the musses don’t own the name Allah either, so it’s OK if I say screw allah.

      Report Post »  
    • dukeofpaducah
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:04am

      @Less1leg
      You are just as bad as those bar owners. Disparage us Catholics all you want, because we won’t go out and chop your head off, but someday you will have to face up to your stupidity. My first tendency was to call you every name in the book, but the Blessed Mother asked me not to. But I will say this, you are a pitiful, small person and because of that I have to forgive you.

      Report Post » dukeofpaducah  
    • moriarty70
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:44am

      @DUKEOFPADUCAH

      Why is it disparaging to say Catholics spend way too much time and effort on Mary? Look at the amount of art devoted to Mary inside churches and the fact that there are direct prayers to her. Given the first two commandments how is this not idolatry?

      Report Post » moriarty70  
    • quovadis
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 12:56pm

      For the umpteenth billionth time… Catholics don’t worshop Mary. She is the Mother of God. Her role did not end with the birth of Jesus. She just wasn’t any young girl on the block who just happened by when the angel of God was “looking” for a gal and asked her to become the Mother of God. She said “yes”. How many of you would say “yes” to God when an angel came to you and asked? Many talk a big talk, but would deny Him when pressured to defend. Maybe if you would stop attacking and ponder why she is so special in the Catholic faith, your heart would soften and she might just “visit” you like some of you Catholic haters mocked before. What are YOU afraid of?

      What is sad, is here is a bar run by Catholics and they choose to use litergical items used in Mass and church, and turning them into items for public sacriledge. This usage just further degrades the church in non-Catholics’ eyes. It is wrong, and other Catholics there should gently pull them aside and talk some sense of decency into them. If the owners are fallen away Catholics, it is worse. Of all the themes in the world to pick from, why do they have to pick the Catholic Church and Our Blessed Mother to use? It just further proves, to me anyway, that the world is afraid of the True Church, and like the hypocrites and pharisees will go to any length to mock it; even mocked by those of it’s own faith.

      People have a right to free enterprise, but not at the expense of mocking ot

      Report Post »  
  • Dismayed Veteran
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:39am

    I am a Catholic and find this offensive. I am also a conservative American who believes in free enterprise. I will vote with my dollar and not go there. This is just a passing issue. Like any bar, customers will come and go. Their patronage will level off and it will not be unique any more.

    Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • KathleenElsie
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 1:23pm

      I agree. Just because we are offended does not mean we become offensive to others. Seems to me that many anti-Catholics posting here are offending me to a much larger extent. Please just go back in you caves and keep your opinions of the Catholic Church inside your own group of friends.

      Report Post »  
  • teddyc73
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:32am

    Can we all just please PLEASE stop being offended by ever little thing!! It’s getting completely out of control. It’s tearing us apart. Lawsuits, protests, boycotts, and on and on and on. Oh yeah, don’t forget the stupid facebook pages to show how offended we are and stay in contact with other offended people to discuss how offended we are. Ridiculous. There is no law, right, statute, or anything in our country that says you are to be free from being offended. I will agree, Christians and Catholics are the usual targets and we are the national punching bag. I say rise above and dont sink to their level.

    Report Post »  
    • USPATRIOT101
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:43am

      Well put. Lets ask those who have lost their homes in recent tornados how much this crap matters.

      Report Post » USPATRIOT101  
    • Tom21773
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:44am

      No. How about Allah‘s Ale or Big Mo’s Bar? How do you think those would go over? It’s not sinking to their level; it’s standing up and fighting back.

      Report Post »  
  • DLCraig
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:26am

    Well, these are certainly naughty boys and when it comes to Catholic boys, the more naughty the better they’re liked. Just think of these lads as having recently busted out of Father Flannagan’s and it all seems to make more sense… Besides, I’ve never known a single Catholic who actually believes that the symbolic changing of the bread and wine is anything but symbolic… Besides, relics of this sort can’t be holy; these are not the temple relics of Daniel’s day…

    Report Post » DLCraig  
    • Tom21773
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:46am

      You clearly don’t know a single Catholic. Not a real one anyway.

      Report Post »  
    • Katydidnt
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:53am

      Where to begin, where to begin… There are a number of Catholics who were not properly taught their faith, you are probably encountering them. All of the early churches, the roman, orthodox and some smaller churches formed in India and Africa by the lesser known Apostles believed that the bread and wine were transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. Even Luther, Calvin and Wesley believed it. Wesley wrote beautiful hymn to it. This belief that it is symbolic is only been in the last couple of centuries an effort I believe to further separate themselves from the Roman Catholic Church.
      This belief has it’s foundations deep in the Old Testement. When Moses and the people of Israel made the original covenant with God. Animals were slain and blood poured on the people and the altar. Symbolism was twofold – 1. We are now family, we share the same blood, and 2. May this be done unto me if I ever break my word. Covenants of this sort were not uncommon and lasted until one of the people died. A rich man might send a servant to die for them, while a poor man paid with his life. The Lord allowed that the Isrealites offer an animal for their sins. They were to eat of the animal, as a way of participating in the sacrifice and death, but they were not to drink of the blood, since the life of the animal was in the blood. This was to be a death of their animal nature.

      Report Post »  
    • dukeofpaducah
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:06am

      Screw you.

      Report Post » dukeofpaducah  
    • Katydidnt
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:07am

      Moving on the New Covenant (Testement) at the last supper into the Crucifixtion Jesus offers His own Body and Blood as the sacrifice. He offers it first as bread and wine, so that through His Body we might participate in the death of the flesh, and for the first time we are drinking the blood! The Life is in the Blood. not the life of an animal, but the life of God. When we eat His Body and drink His Blood in the Eucharist we participate in the His life, death and resurrection. We become His family, because we share the same blood. Just like Jesus transformed water into wine at Cana. The Holy Spirit transforms the bread and wine into His Body and Blood.
      The last supper was the passover feast, that lamb had to eaten to fully participate. Jesus did not drink the last of four cups at the last supper, it was not drunk until on the cross when hyssop was placed in his mouth, The fourth cup was the cup of completion. It makes everything from the Last Supper to his death part of the same act. After He drank the final cup, it was finished.

      Why would chalices that held the Body and Blood of Jesus be less sacred than utensils that sacrificed animals? Believe me the desecration is worse.

      Report Post »  
    • Katydidnt
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 9:14am

      Oops forgot an important point, the old convenant couldn’t end unless all of Isreal or God died, thus ending the covenant. The Old Covenant ended when God died at Calvary, making way for the New Covenant.

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:23am

    I’m glad the bar owner is free to market his bar anyway he sees fit. I’m also glad that Catholics are free to spend their money elsewhere. Let the market decide if it’s a good idea.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Mapache
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:21am

    While I find the whole concept distasteful they have a right to have the bar. Picketing it might do it some damage but bars like that are generally fads and will not last. Most straight men that I know would not enjoy drinking in that ambience, religious people would not like it and those that despise religion would go there once as a novelty. Ignoring it, I think would be the best route.

    Ps. Of course you could always take up all the public parking by the bar!

    Report Post » Mapache  
    • LNER4472
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 2:05pm

      Some fad–it’s been there for seven years. And i, a straight man, have no problem drinking in that place, because the food and beer are several notches above ordinary “pub grub” and indeed it’s one of the better eating establishments in the neighborhood. Besides which, it’s hard finding parking around that neighborhood anyway, and the meter maids are more zealous than even these sanctimonious protestors–good luck trying to find more parking to occupy!

      Report Post »  
  • crazyoz
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:20am

    What do you expect. This is Biden country.

    Report Post »  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:27am

      Ok, according to the bible, to stop this, we are supposed to invade the building, break stuff, poo on everything and finally burn it to the ground…….Oh!!….sorry folks!…….picked up the Occupy Wall Street training manual by mistake…….

      Report Post » TXPilot  
    • Locked
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:46am

      Biden is from Delaware, not Maryland. Political knowledge fail.

      Report Post »  
    • Suzanne D
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 1:01am

      What “Locked” said … and also, Maryland voted for Obama in the Dumbocratic Primaries in 2008.

      Report Post » Suzanne D  
  • Jenny Lind
    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:16am

    I promise all who are the good folks who come to this blog all the time, IT WILL GET WORSE! I feel sick about the disrespect, and I am not Catholic. The ones who think it’s cute ad fun, and the athiests will find this great, I don’t. However, it is a sign of the times. The irreverance for things sacred has moved beyond “occasional” and become the daily hits by those who do not respect or care.

    Report Post »  
    • john654
      Posted on April 9, 2012 at 8:57am

      Great Post!

      Report Post »  
    • SanRemo1959
      Posted on April 10, 2012 at 4:18pm

      Who gets to decide what and or who is sacred? Are we supposed to tip toe around every faith, cult, and sect just to avoid offending someone? Get a grip. I think the ALLMIGHTY can handle a little clever marketing humor. Jeez!

      Report Post »  
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