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AUSTIN -- The Catholic Diocese of Austin is investigating after a priest called about 15 children to come forward during evening Mass so he could prick them with an unsterilized pin to demonstrate the pain Jesus suffered during crucifixion.
"What I was trying to teach them is that suffering is a part of life," said the Rev. Arthur Michalka, 78, on Friday.
No one reacted strongly during the incident at evening Mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Corn Hill on Wednesday, said Helen Osman, communications director for the Austin diocese. Osman said that the priest pricked both adults and children.
"What were you thinking?" said Debbie Sybert, a Jarrell resident whose 11-year-old daughter, Amanda, was pricked during Mass. "Apparently our father has lost his mind."
Sybert said the pinpoint drew Amanda's blood. But Michalka said none of the children bled.
Regardless of whether blood was drawn, Osman said, pricking children with a needle is "not appropriate religious training."
Osman said workers at the Williamson County and Cities Health District will conduct confidential interviews with the Mass attendees to find out whether they have any communicable diseases and whether skin was broken.
Officials will then determine whether the children might be at risk for exposure to diseases such as HIV or hepatitis and whether a blood test is needed.
Dr. Ed Sherwood, health authority for the Williamson district, said the likelihood of transmitting blood-borne diseases by a pinprick is "real but quite small." He said the risk would increase if adults and children were pricked with the same pin because adults are more likely to be sexually active.
"As a parent, I would not be happy about it," Sherwood said. "But I would be consoled by the fact that statistically, the overwhelming probability is that these kids will be just fine."
Michalka said he plans to apologize in church this Sunday for not sterilizing the pin.
"I didn't think it was that big a deal," Michalka said. "I can see the point now. I'll see to it that it doesn't happen again."
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I guess that is better than a priest pinning them with ......
ooooooooooooooooooo........
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Here's to the Army and Navy and the battles they have won; here's to America's colors, the colors that never run. May the wings of liberty never lose a feather. ....
I actually misread the title at first glance. "Priest pins kids with..."
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oderint dum metuant (Latin for 'let them hate, so long as they fear').
Well, in truth I'm actually not a total hawk, but I'm not a dove either -- I'm more like an angry pigeon flying over the political arena after a really big meal. -Abba Gav
I actually misread the title at first glance. "Priest pins kids with..."
__________________
Here's to the Army and Navy and the battles they have won; here's to America's colors, the colors that never run. May the wings of liberty never lose a feather. ....
Poor guy just doesn't rank high enough to get away with stuff:
Quote:
Pope immune from abuse lawsuit
20/09/2005 13:44 - (SA)
Rome - The United States government has told a Texas court that Pope Benedict XVI should be given immunity from a lawsuit accusing him of conspiring to cover up the sexual molestation of three boys by a seminarian, court documents show.
Assistant attorney general Peter Keisler said in Monday's filing that, as pope, Benedict enjoys immunity as the head of a state - the Vatican. He said allowing the lawsuit to proceed would be "incompatible with the United States' foreign policy interests".
dreamcastrocks--My Hero!!
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