When interviewed by Eyeblast.tv last month, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said that YouTube, the video-sharing site owned by his company, is "pretty serious" about removing the "strange" videos that keep popping up on the site, especially videos "that can be used to incite bad outcomes." Apparently videos designed to incite Catholics don't fall into that category.
A YouTube user who goes by the moniker "fsmdude" has posted more than 30 videos under the title "Eucharist Desecration." Each video features an attack on a symbol that Catholics consider sacred -- by blow gun, nail gun, boiling, sword and cigarette in a few recent episodes.
The creator of the videos isn't subtle about his intent. He was angered by reports of a college student allegedly receiving e-mail threats from "fanatical Catholics" after the student snatched a wafer at mass, so "fsmdude" decided to repeatedly profane the Eucharist on camera for all to see.
Catholics have been flagging the videos and reporting the user to YouTube. A user dubbed "OneTrueChurch" called the videos "a hate crime against Catholocism" and started a petition against them.
YouTube's definition of "inappropriate content" includes speech "that promotes or encourages hatred or violence toward a group" based on religion, among other categories. But thus far the company has ignored Catholics' appeals to remove the "Eucharist Desecration" series or ban the user.
YouTube's inaction prompted the Catholic League to lodge a complaint with the company.
"Many Catholics who have contacted the league have flagged these videos, but they have not been removed," league president William Donohue wrote to YouTube CEO Chad Hurley. "Hate speech should not be tolerated against any religion on your Web site in accordance with your guidelines. I request that you review these videos posted by 'fsmdude' and remove them since they clearly violate YouTube's guidelines."
The Euchararist desecration on YouTube was inspired by another instance of it that the Catholic League protested in the summer. University of Minnesota professor Paul Myers was the offender then.
He nailed a wafer to pages torn from the Koran and from the book The God Delusion. The university refused the league's appeal to punish Myers.
While YouTube thus far has ignored complaints about the "Eucharist Desecretion" videos, it has pulled videos perceived as attacks on other beliefs.
Two years ago today, conservative blogger Michelle Malkin reported that YouTube had removed "First, They Came," her "simple slideshow highlighting the victims of Islamic violence over the years."
"OneTrueChurch," the YouTube user who started a flagging campaign against the anti-Catholic clips, also said in a video that he knows Christians who have been suspended from YouTube simply because they spoke against Islam or atheism.
Cross-posted at Video Done Right.
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If this kid was doing
October 6, 2008 - 14:48 ET by Ken ShepherdIf this kid was doing similar things to depictions of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, he'd quickly be yanked, maybe banned, from YouTube, I think. At the very least, he'd be roundly condemned.
You're kidding, right, Ken?
October 6, 2008 - 18:59 ET by Indiana JoeIf this kid even thought about doing anything to Muhammad, he'd be condemned all right... to death. And our "tolerant" friends would explain to us that we must respect and honor "other" cultures.
"Other" cultures... but not our culture.
"To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection." - H. Poincaré
GOD can take care of himself
October 6, 2008 - 14:53 ET by c5thenIt's all about the freedom and the liberty to make your own choice. That's what the atheists don't get. These are the people who really need our prayers and help.
Christ
October 6, 2008 - 15:13 ET by iveseenitallChrist said that Christians will suffer this. Moreover, it is hate---pure and simple. And it is a sign of the times in which we live. It is also part of the culture wars which pit immature, dumb "liberals" and radicals against mature, intelligent conservatives and traditionalists. Just as in this election.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
You're right,c5then
October 6, 2008 - 19:17 ET by Indiana JoeBut I guess I'm not a good Catholic, because I just can't pray for them. I don't see them as deserving or wanting our prayers or help.
All I can see is people who accuse others of "intolerance" practicing it. I see people who accuse others of "bigotry" practicing it. I see people who accuse others of "hatred" practicing it.
I see people who accuse others of "sowing discord" actually sowing it. I see people who demand respect going to extremes to show disrespect. I see people who love no one or nothing attacking others' highest devotion.
But mostly, I see YouTube choosing sides in the culture wars, clearly and unashamedly. They use "freedom of speech" to stop speech they don't like, and to promote speech they agree with. They clearly agree with this.
When you get down to it, I see nothing here deserving of my help or prayers. I don't define this as them "helping" themselves, but as offending others, and they do it at their own peril. God helps those who help themselves, right?
Well, who am I to disagree with God?
"To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection." - H. Poincaré
Ironic (or intentional,
October 6, 2008 - 15:43 ET by lotrIronic (or intentional, perhaps?) that apparently one of the most common sacrileges described is the piercing with a nail, one of the dreaded instruments of the Passion.
In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! -- Mark 15:31
And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all. -- Edgar Allan Poe
More than a symbol.
October 6, 2008 - 15:48 ET by NBFDaniel, Catholics believe that it is more than just a symbol. We believe that it is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ under the outward appearance of bread. From the Catechism:
1374 The mode of Christ's presence under the Eucharistic species is unique. It raises the Eucharist above all the sacraments as "the perfection of the spiritual life and the end to which all the sacraments tend." In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist "the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained." "This presence is called 'real' - by which is not intended to exclude the other types of presence as if they could not be 'real' too, but because it is presence in the fullest sense: that is to say, it is a substantial presence by which Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present."
Early Church Fathers on the Eucharist:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Christ_in_the_Eucharist.asp
http://www.catholic.com/library/Real_Presence.asp
Good point, NBF, which only
October 6, 2008 - 17:54 ET by Ken ShepherdGood point, NBF, which only shows the heightened outrage of the matter. Of course, we don't know for certain if he is desecrating consecrated hosts or non-consecrated ones that he claims to have been consecrated. But either way, the intent is blasphemy and the offense of the conscience of Christians, particularly Catholics.
Ken, I'll add that Catholic
October 6, 2008 - 18:44 ET by lotrKen, I'll add that Catholic and Orthodox theology on the matter are pretty much identical. Furthermore, I would imagine most Protestants would find desecration or mockery of their own Communion practices offensive, even if they believe it to be "symbolic."
And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all. -- Edgar Allan Poe
Freedom To Slander Religion
October 6, 2008 - 18:13 ET by JDWGov Palin's religious affiliation has been incessantly defamed yet mention BHO Muslim ties and hide.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
'Hey Chuck, Stand Up!'
Is the Community Reinvestment Act part of free enterprise?
Maybe a different approach is in order
October 6, 2008 - 19:11 ET by AFCloneHow about we tell YouTube that the videos are insulting Muslims...Christ was a prophet in the Muslim faith. That will get them yanked.
AFClone,
October 6, 2008 - 19:20 ET by Indiana JoeI don't think they'd believe the Muslims were offended unless there were some riots, bombings and beheadings.
The "Religion of Peace" really knows how to sell it.
"To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection." - H. Poincaré
That's for sure
October 6, 2008 - 19:24 ET by AFCloneMakes me regret not being a member of the "religion of peace" so when someone pi$$Es me off, I could go completely nuclear on them and get away with it.