Thursday, April 5, 2012

Anti-Catholic Baltimore Sun "Weighs" in on Blasphemous Bar

Many Will be as Shocked as Belshazzar Was
Definition Hypocrisy: The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense. 



Edit: most of the world isn't going to understand the significance of the Mass, that it's the unbloody commemoration of the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, the most sacred event a Catholic can experience in this life. What is a sacrilege? A sacrilege is a deliberate, or otherwise, confusion of divine and profane categories. At a bar in Baltimore, the rituals, ministers and symbols of Catholicism are offered as accompaniments to carousing and boozing.
Disgraceful!


The owner doesn't plan on honoring the concerns of Catholics who do object to this sacrilege, and the anti-Clerical Baltimore Sun has written an article sympathetic of those who have no respect for Catholicism, and despite spending their lives being educated in Catholic schools have almost no understanding of the importance of the symbols that they hold in contempt.

   
In all fairness, we must also mention that these objects are no longer conseecrated, most likely, although they may have been purchased as part of a sacrilege from E-BAY.

 In any event, what gets lost in the shuffle is that Catholic rituals and Catholic beliefs are held up to ridicule here. That owner insists that he intends no disrespect, but the lie is given to that in his public comments and the rude way he treats those who call with concerns about his blasphemy.

His patrons share his contempt for Catholic things, and they can be seen in blogs and comment boxes, building on to the offense which is this bar.

 They refer to those who hold revere these symbols and don't want to see them manifestly disrespected (as they clearly are in the personal testimonies on the site and in the comments section on the first article we featured on this place) as "nut balls".  Anti-Catholic paper writes:
Tom and Mary Rivers, who opened Ale Mary's about seven years ago, say they've gotten about a dozen angry phone calls and about the same number of emails in the last week or so. And, as both of them were raised Catholic in Baltimore, [Are Baltimore Catholics less Catholic than elsewhere?  Being raised Catholic doesn't guarantee respect for others beliefs, apparently]  they still can't believe anyone would have a problem with what they consider fun decor. "With the exception of these nut balls I've had one person in seven years say this is kind of in bad taste," Tom Rivers said. "And that person still comes in here." The couple  says that all of their religious items were donated by customers, including the monstrance behind the bar.
Kiddish Cup
Despite the disrespectful photograph which appears in the article, the journalist in question who wrote it after appearing on the FB group "500,000 Against "Ale Mary's" Abuse of the Sacred and the Sublime", she is blissfully unaware of the strident hypocrisy.

 Clearly, the owners of the bar and many of its patrons wouldn't be too happy if the things they find sacred or important were denigrated and held to ridicule in such ways. Imagine if a similar bar were in existence which featured and ridiculed Jews or Muslims. It's unlikely that a bar of this type would get insurance coverage, and would certain face closure.

 In normal societies, like Singapore, for example,  such disrespectful behavior toward Catholicism isn't tolerated, actually, like Singapore, for example. Imagine if a bar were build around a Jewish house of worship, complete with mezuzah's, satirical pictures of respected Rabbis hanging on the wall? Imagine too if the beginning of Colt's games were signaled at the bar with a shofar horn? Or instead of chalices, imagine if patrons drank from kiddush cups?  How about a game of strip dreddle?  Two can play at that game!


Shofar Horn
Obviously, if you insult Jews or Muslims, it may not only be physically dangerous to do so, but you can also lose your liquor license and find yourself out of business for offending such as they. Since the state of journalism is so poor at the anti-Clerical paper, we've sought to augment it by our own contribution.

44 comments:

  1. My wife and I would like you to know that, as a result of your amusing articles, we plan on making a special trip to our favorite Baltimore bar this weekend. I'm not sure that this is what you intended, but nonetheless it's happening and we're bringing 10 friends! Cheers! Life is short, might we suggest that your recent obsession with Ale Mary's would be better spent helping the poor, or volunteering at a hospital?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I really wish you would take all of this energy you take in writing this terribly written blog and use it for some type of good.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Singapore....blah blah blah, hypocrisy Jews and Muslims....blah blah blah. Tater Tots are evil....blah blah blah.

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Anonymous"? Seriously?

    I suppose there are people, probably a lot of people, who expect everyone else to be either encouraged or deterred by some anonymous moron's perception of coolness.

    Anonymous.

    Well, obviously, these three well-considered and articulate posts change everything...

    ReplyDelete
  5. "Normal societites, like Singapore" It was at that moment that I realized this is an elaborate hoax. No one but a prankster or someone with very limited intelligence would think a society where chewing gum is illegal is a "normal" one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Why is it that with about two or three exceptions, those commenting, who come from the Baltimore are are unable to come up with reasonable responses to anything?

      I suppose people in Singapore view chewing gum as a disrespectful and intrusive cultural dimension of Americana. An Irish priest who was our prefect banned gum chewing because he was sick of cleaning the gum from the bottom of chairs, walls, hard to reach places and the carpeting. He also hated talking to students chewing gum while he talked to them. At the time, we ridiculed him for his aversion to it, but in retrospect, it makes sense.

      I can't imagine why their society would want to curb the intrusion of Americana into their society.

      But none of you can really address the obvious double-standard at work here. Have a nice day.

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  6. Did you just call the Sun papers anti Catholic and the reporter doing her job a hypocrite?

    Why all the hate? Just don't go there if you don't agree with their decor.

    Let go of the hate and try some loaded tots (take out of course). Have a good day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Had it ever occurred to you that you might be asked the same question?

      Delete
    2. Your response doesn't even make sense lol.

      Delete
    3. It's the English language, you should try it sometime. It communicates ideas and emotions from across cultural barriers and even centuries.

      Delete
    4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  7. Looks like you've riled up the rubes, Tancred. I, for one, think that Singapore is a great example of a state that is democratic and tolerant, while at the same time upholding standards of public decency and morality.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Calling Singapore a democracy is a bit of a stretch.

      Delete
    2. I'm more concerned about the racism implied by that statement by a divebar customer disparaging Singapore than I am about your observations of what does and doesn't constitute a democracy.

      Are you people for real?

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  9. After spending most of my childhood in Catholic schools and going thru the discernment process for seminary, reading your article makes me proud to say that I was Catholic once and I'm thankful that I recovered and moved on. I would have to say that Ale Mary's, much like several pubs through out the Baltimore area, have been extremely supportive of the church and do not denigrate the ideals of the church at all.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Now we know why there is a Heaven and a Hell and why little Jacinta of Fatima saw souls falling into Hell like snowflakes.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Shocking, yes, but hardly surprising. Ours is a drenched-in-pornography culture. Any individual, organization, or institution that seeks to do his or its part to drain and cleanse the Augean stable that had once been the Christian West is considered a "killjoy" -- despised, detested, and vilified. And, sooner rather than later, will undergo veritable martyrdom.

    The Church (despite the self-demolition since and because of Vatican II) remains the sturdiest dam against the sewage (though the filth is at least up to our armpits, and the drowning will soon begin). It's no wonder, therefore, that she suffers at the unwashed hands of the infantile and narcissistic owners of Ale Mary's, and its imbecilic and hate-filled patrons and supporters. But take heart! The Church has resisted and defeated far more formidable foes than beer-guzzling twerps in her more than 2,000-year history. She'll be here long after Ale Mary's is nothing more than an ale-gone-flat memory.

    ReplyDelete
  12. How are all of you bible thumping cowards doing today?? Having a good Easter ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Who are you calling anyone a coward!!? I'm a Catholic Scottish shipyard worker who has never idly stood by and listened to a clown run off at the mouth. I'm thinking of coming over to the United States of A...oles soon, to have a little discussion with you.

      Delete
  13. The reason why the Catholic Church is constantly attacked, is because Her enemies view Her as an obstacle to the implementation of a secular new world order, devoid of any respect for the dignity of man, who is viewed as being no different than dogs, cats, pigs or goats. The sin of blasphemy is a direct offense against God by His creature - man - who has free will. So, why do some people choose to use their free will in order to destroy their own dignity by blaspheming their Creator?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dear Anonymous,
    You may stay anonymous to us, but God knows who you are. May God have mercy on your soul for taking the blasphemous stand you have against HIM and HIS MOTHER.
    Anita Schatz
    USA

    ReplyDelete
  15. "Obviously, if you insult Jews or Muslims, it may not only be physically dangerous to do so, but you can also lose your liquor license and find yourself out of business for offending such as they."

    Could you please cite examples of bars, restaurants, or breweries that have lost their licenses or found themselves out of business for "offending" Jews or Muslims? Or is this purely speculation on your part?

    The only thing even close I can find is http://www.shmaltzbrewing.com/ , and rather than being rejected or protested by Jews, the Jews I know love and embrace the beer and the concept, as "sacrilegious" as it may be.

    Rather, I believe that your hyperbole is strictly unproven speculation at best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rather, not really, cases of this kind are so ubiquitous I can scarcely believe that you expect to be taken seriously.

      Delete
  16. You guys sure know how to beat a dead horse! The archdiocese of baltimore made a statement that there isn't anything wrong with the bar owning these things!! Yet you still are talking about this. I guess that means you know more this than they do? Or maybe you just can't find anything else to complain about. Oh and let's not forget the whopping 4 people that turned out for the prayer/protest against the the bar, you guys really showed them! MOVE ON WITH YOUR LIVES!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stop abusing and misusing things which don't belong to you then.

      Delete
  17. So the bar stole them? How do they not belong to them? The chuch sold them. Anyone can buy them, Jews, Muslims, ect, and the archdiocese says they are ok to use for every day use. So what's your beef now? Could it be your just not happy being ....... WRONG!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No, the Church didn't sell them. They were purchased on e-bay.

      The patrons of this bar and the owners have no right to disrespect Catholic beliefs and objects in this way.

      Get over yourself, surely there are more important things to do in life than to ridicule the things your neighbors believe.

      Delete
  18. So the person who sold them on eBay stole them? Is that what your saying? Are you saying that the church doesn't sell these things off? It took about 5 seconds to find a place in n.j. That sells used alters, chalices, monstances, Ect on line....And what about the archdiocese saying that these items are fine for every day use?? And no one is ridiculing anything, are they acting out a mass... NO. Are they acting out communion ....NO. Please tell me what position is it that you hold for the church? Priest ? Bishop? Let me guess.... none of the above!! I think it would be fair to say your blog has never ever gotten as much traffic over any subject as this one... Has it?? I tend to think you are keeping this whole thing going out of spite and the fact that you can't deal with the fact your WRONG!!. The fact that no one has said much of anything about this in weeks says it all!!...... It's over!!...... Have a nice after life if you believe in such a thing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be exactly as if you took the bones and gravestones of holocaust victims and used them as decor in your bar. Misappropriating (stealing) the cultural heritage of others and publicly mistreating them.

      Delete
    2. You're lying, the Archdiocese won't be saying anything about this till the Archbishop assumes his office at some point in the summer.

      Some unqualified statement from a secretary who works in the chancery doesn't count for much, I'm afraid.

      Delete
    3. Wrong liar, they've already stated everything is copecetic except for the fools trying to take church business into their own hands.

      Delete
    4. No, the Archdiocese would never make a statement like that.

      Delete
    5. You forgot to answer what position you hold in the church? Are you a priest? And how did the person selling them get a hold of them? answer the question DOES THE CHURCH SELL OFF OLD ITEMS???? You know the answer .... ITS .......YES THEY DO!!! you must hate the fact that you are sooooooo wrong!, I won't bother you with any more questions that you don't know the answers to or will have to lie about! See you at the protest.

      Delete
  19. Worst Bar in Baltimore!
    by CraigOlney (1 review)
    What an awful experience at this place, some friends said to check it out, so myself and a couple people did. Well, after waiting for over 30 minutes for someone to wait on us, a server did come by to get us drinks, that took another 25 minutes, we asked to speak with the manager, well a stocky man with a head way too big for his body came out to say he was the owner, he told us that if we didn't like the way he runs his bar at his own pace then we can go "F" ourselves, then tells us that we had better not think about taking one step outside without paying or he will have us thrown in jail with all the "N's". So, we dropped our cash, had to hold back my one buddy from knocking him out, and left. Worst experience ever in a Baltimore establishment, this guy is a blatant racist and should have his bar shut down. What an eyesore on Baltimores great restaurants. Never will myself or anyone I know spend a dime with that bigot.

    ReplyDelete
  20. So let me get this straight .... The sun is lying .....Fox new is lying ....Channel 11 is lying...... The washington times is lying.... The church doesnt sell the the old chalices, alters, Ect...And you know more then anyone @ the archdiocese..... And you expect me to believe this annoyomos review!!! NO one would ever get away with saying that to a table of people in a bar. Oh and your comparing having no longer holy items in a bar to Grave stones and Holocaust bones.... Your an Idiot!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Fox has lied. They claimed they tried to contact us, and they never did, for example.

    If they're telling the truth, it should be easy to ascertain. Who did they talk to at the Diocese? Don the janitor?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your an idiot!! Plain and simple. You have no affiliation to the church . Your know one important!! You just think that your comments matter ...and they don't . I am now going to do what all the media and the archdioses has done to you.. Ignore you!! I hope the bar has another killer day when do your half ass you protest again

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm a Catholic. Of course I'm "affiliated" to the Church. If you have an official statement from the Archdiocese, I'm dying to see it, but as yet, no priest or Bishop has dared to give an endorsement to your bar.

    I'd love to see an endorsement of your blasphemy from a priest or Bishop, but that's not going to happen.

    ReplyDelete
  24. In the mean time, this report about your behavior becomes more credible, Tom:

    >>"F" ourselves, then tells us that we had better not think about taking one step outside without paying or he will have us thrown in jail with all the "N's". So, we dropped our cash, had to hold back my one buddy from knocking him out, and left. Worst experience ever in a Baltimore establishment, this guy is a blatant racist and should have his bar shut down. What an eyesore on Baltimores great restaurants. Never will myself or anyone I know spend a dime with that bigot.<<

    ReplyDelete