University of Central Florida student Webster F. Cook responds below to community critics on why he stole the Most Holy Eucharist from Mass and will hold Jesus Christ hostage in a “sandwich baggy” until he’s granted a meeting with the local Bishop. I say grant him the meeting with the Bishop, and after he returns the Sacred Host, the Bishop should “man-up” and show him a bit of fatherly correction by promptly pulling out the paddle ( a ruler won’t do in this case). Then, have him swiftly arrested for theft…
First the video, followed by juvenile excuses…
( Webster F. Cook in his own world words)…
I want you to read this, carefully:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”
As you hopefully know, this is the beginning of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Its general interpretation prohibits government from aiding religion in any way and from supporting a religious idea with no identifiable secular purpose. In a 1822 letter, James Madison called it a “perfect separation between ecclesiastical and civil matters”.
Due to another part of our Constitution, known as the Supremacy Clause, the State of Florida is required to uphold this separation of church and state. All UCF Student Government Association funds are property of the State of Florida. Therefore, it is illegal to allocate funds to a religious organization, such as Catholic Campus Ministry.
I also oppose public funding for NORML and the Chocolate Club; however, it is actually legal for them to receive it.
This is only half of my problem with the Catholic Campus Ministry. If Sean Lavin was capable of broadcasting a complete and accurate story, you would know that the other half is their use of physical force against me.
A member of the church grabbed me after I took a mere three steps from the altar. This physical aggression continued until I loudly asked them to “STOP TOUCHING ME” three times. A member of the Catholic Campus Ministry told me I was attacked because they thought I was going to use the holy wafer to perform WITCHCRAFT or BLACK MAGIC. In fact, I was going to show it to my non-Catholic friend and then consume it. Although my friend attended the mass, non-Catholics are prohibited from receiving communion, explaining the need to delay consumption.
According to the organization, the Catholic Church mandates this policy of using physical intervention against people who fail to immediately consume the holy wafer. Therefore, the individuals who attacked me were enforcing the policies of their organization. This prompted me to file a student conduct violation against the Catholic Campus Ministry for personal abuse.
Their initiation of physical force was inappropriate and unnecessary in this situation. It is also the reason I did not eventually consume the holy wafer. I will keep the holy wafer until I receive a sufficient apology and a meeting with the bishop to discuss the Catholic Church’s policies.
Now I need to address your conclusion that I am an idiot.
An idiot is someone who lacks intelligence, which is partially the ability to acquire and apply knowledge. Modern moral principles are a form of knowledge. I espouse moral principles that do not tolerate the use of physical force. Consuming or returning the holy wafer until I have addressed this violation of my moral principles, would constitute an inability to apply them, and therefore my knowledge.
Before you apply an insulting term to someone, think about what the word actually means.
This logic can also be used to create an argument for calling you an idiot. As I previously stated, intelligence is partially the ability to acquire and apply knowledge. As a journalism student at UCF, you are taught to write objectively using reliable information. Sean Lavin’s news stories are far from reliable. Basing your writing, and your reputation, on his two minutes of information is highly unprofessional and displays an inability to your apply knowledge. Unlike you, however, I’ll let the readers reach their own conclusion.
Webster F. Cook
Senator, Student Government Association
University of Central Florida
Pitiful..
fratres.wordpress.com 
Excuses? You call them excuses? American’s don’t need excuses to act offensively. It’s their right. And to place religion ahead of the state is the act of a person who can NEVER be trusted here on Earth. Could a Muslim soldier in the US Army truly be trusted if his religion was first in his mind? The same goes for a Christian soldier.
And the value of a stolen HOST WAFER in a court of law wouldn’t be infinite and immeasurable. A judge would value it monetarily, not religiously. Of course, I say this assuming that you believe in the rule of law, and not the lash of the Catholic Church’s whip.
Dear James Mary Evans,
You previously said:
“Yes, we do believe that Christ rose from the dead. Approximately 2008 years ago. He rose from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
I am an atheist, but even I know that theologians think Jesus died around 33 AD, not 0 AD. Jesus was born around 5 BC, but traditionally unschooled people such as yourself have pointed to the date of birth as 0 AD. I’m always shocked how Christians don’t even know the specifics of their own religion. According to your numbers Jesus arose from the dead when he was 5 years old.
Marcus,
In order of comments,
You said,
Excuses? You call them excuses? American’s don’t need excuses to act offensively. It’s their right.
Well Marcus, your comments certainly are dramatic. This one however is laughable. It’s “our right to act offensively.” A perfect tribute to American freedom, which I’m sure many foreign countries–friend and foe alike–currently resonate with; although generally, we are not offensive as a people, are God fearing, and come to the aid of even our enemies when their need arises. As I recall, it was America (along with many other Christian countries) who came to the aid of suffering Muslim countries in the devastation following the last tsunami. The point is, our compassion as Americans does not derive from a Godless state of rules as your practical atheism presupposes, but is born instead from a deeper realization of the dignity of man and his sacred nature that comes from the Creator alone.
As for Webster’s (previous) excuses: He is a Catholic and American. A basic tenet of the faith (its spirituality) is that the baptized Christian is to be in the world, but not of the world. Admittedly, as I’ve found as a former atheist now Catholic convert, the line is blurred here in many respects today, but that doesn’t change the fact or truth, only reveals the weakness of human nature. What all this means is, just as there is a hierarchal reality within the divinity (the spiritual world) there is also a hierarchal reality on earth within the church. Webster simply transgressed the rules of the practice of our faith at the Mass, and carried it to a point of offending God and our love for God, Who is indeed present within the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar and deserves love and respect. Bottom line: A young Catholic had a serious moment of lapsed judgment.
You said,
And to place religion ahead of the state is the act of a person who can NEVER be trusted here on Earth. Could a Muslim soldier in the US Army truly be trusted if his religion was first in his mind? The same goes for a Christian soldier.
Brother, western civilization and its freedoms were born from, and remain intact, because of Christianity. The freedoms and rights you enjoy, yet feel the need to protect (from the curse of religion), find origin in the natural law (of God) present within human hearts. The temporary freedom you now enjoy on earth is but a miniscule light compared to the full light of eternal freedom found in God.
As for a Muslim soldier serving in the US Army: Your confused. I’ve been in the Marines. There are religious services held for all believers in God as I recall, although I didn’t at the time. Would I trust a Muslim if his religion was first in his mind? Ah, yea. I would hope his faith in God would supercede the material plane. It seems to me you are confusing radical terrorists with all Muslims here. A quick Google shows that in 2001 there were between 4,000 and 12,000 Muslims serving. No, I would have no problem serving with a Muslim soldier; religious faith is not a detriment in defending ones country as history demonstrates. The problem with the religion of Atheism (as a former adherent) is that it ends at the shore; whereas faith in God reveals the power of God to carry one past the shore through the waters of death into the pure air of eternal spiritual life. The Power of God who created the heavens and the earth can quite easily make all things new—body and soul. You have yet to experience the power, as you have not received the Spirit, and so you are at odds with that you don’t understand.
You said,
And the value of a stolen HOST WAFER in a court of law wouldn’t be infinite and immeasurable. A judge would value it monetarily, not religiously. Of course, I say this assuming that you believe in the rule of law, and not the lash of the Catholic Church’s whip.
Yes, it would not be the first judge to underestimate the infinite and immeasurable value of the Son of God and Son of Man. As for the rule of law, He died in fulfilling it perfectly for the love of all men—and I try my best accordingly.
You said,
You previously said:
“Yes, we do believe that Christ rose from the dead. Approximately 2008 years ago. He rose from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
I am an atheist, but even I know that theologians think Jesus died around 33 AD, not 0 AD. Jesus was born around 5 BC, but traditionally unschooled people such as yourself have pointed to the date of birth as 0 AD. I’m always shocked how Christians don’t even know the specifics of their own religion. According to your numbers Jesus arose from the dead when he was 5 years old.
My remarks were written in the fast lane here Marcus in responding; the word “approximately” reveals this. Thanks for the correction. On the second point, I’m shocked too at the level of knowledge concerning the Christian faith. You need to keep in mind however that the mysteries of our faith are just that, mysteries. There are mysteries revealed to man by God for salvation, but there are also mysteries far above human comprehension that God has chosen not to reveal. As for instance, the end of time…
Placing your criticism of my intellect aside, I have not claimed to be “schooled.” The truth is, you know nothing about my education. But here is what I’ve found as a former atheist—it is possible to educate ones self into complete ignorance to the point of intellectual pride; and it is better to be little than great when it comes to the spiritual life.
As for those Catholic Whips… Please spare me.
Hope this helps,
James mary evans
Just so you know, physicists have pretty much narrowed down the possibilities as to the nature of the end of time to a few options. Surprisingly they have scientific evidence and real logic to back them up. Maybe god didn’t feel like revealing what it is, but were close to figuring out. Also, the existence of any god is unnecessary in the current model of the universe. We pretty much know how it began and will end, without any god.
amazing that you suggest paddling a man for taking a terrible tasting cracker that was given to him, and then arresting him. Isn’t your lord the prince of peace, and you’re recommending violence over a nonsense issue. If it’s really jesus, aren’t you a cannibal? There are no laws protecting your asinine cracker god after it has been freely given to an individual. Furthermore, would your virgin bishop be arrested in your scenario for using physical violence against someone who didn’t eat a cracker? Your religion is a joke, and the rituals are worse. Enjoy worshiping a jewish man who’s been dead for 2000 years, while simultaneously hating men who love other men in the comfort of their own home.