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[Dust's Sister]

Priest Pricks Children With Pin

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 17, 2005

[url="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/17/national/main856311.shtml"]http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/17/...ain856311.shtml[/url]

(AP)



"I didn't think it was that big a deal. I can see the point now. I'll see to it that it doesn't happen again."
Rev. Arthur Michalka



(AP) The Catholic Diocese of Austin is investigating after a priest called about 15 children to come forward during evening Mass so he could ***** 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."


© MMV The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

Yikes.

[Fides_et_Ratio]

Considering the past publicity of the Church, and all the concern about "protecting our children" today, one would think the idea of "pricking" people with needles wouldn't need to be clarified as "not a good idea" --especially for a priest.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='Fides_et_Ratio' date='Sep 20 2005, 04:41 PM']Considering the past publicity of the Church, and all the concern about "protecting our children" today, one would think the idea of  "pricking" people with needles wouldn't need to be clarified as "not a good idea" --especially for a priest.
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you'd think so

[homeschoolmom]

I think my daughter would be so freeked out...

[StatingTheObvious]

Geez, what a bunch of whiney cry-babies that are second guessing everything.

Obvious observations from the article.
-There were other ADULTS present at the church service that had no problem with it.
-Where was the lady who seems to have sent her 11 year old daughter to church without a parent or an older person?
-Come on, it's just a pin prick.
-Come on, the priest is 78 years old. He didn't grow up in this gutless, overly-cautious, sissified society we have now.
-Suffering is a part of life. Accept it and get over it.

[Kilroy the Ninja]

[quote name='StatingTheObvious' date='Sep 21 2005, 09:20 AM']-Come on, the priest is 78 years old.  He didn't grow up in this gutless, overly-cautious, sissified society we have now.
-Suffering is a part of life.  Accept it and get over it.
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[Didacus]

StatingTheObvious, I agree with you.

Granted, there was a health concern that should have been thought through a bit more, but I would have no problem sending my son up there to be pricked (health problem aside).

Pain and suffering is not evil and it is something we need to learn.

Those children who where pricked, I am certain, gained a view from it that words would not relay.

Now this was not torture, it was a simple pin prick. A small demonstration. Some people litterally nail themselves to a cross during Easter - a bit extreme wouldn't it you say.

The real question here is where to draw the line, not if the priest's actions where wrong or not (health risk aside).

[theculturewarrior]

Not in Austin!

[Theoketos]

For sure a virtus vilolation.

[Dreamweaver]

Haha, I laughed at the censoring of a certain 5-letter word that isn't used in a bad context. Crazy automatic censoring stuff,

As it sounds like, the pin pricking was a voluntary event. Besides health factors, what is the big deal? If a child was deathly scared of needles (and what kid isn't at one point or another), they wouldn't be forced to get pricked. But, considering the risk of bloodborne pathogens (as low as it is among children), there were more appropriate things the priest could have done.

[let_go_let_God]

As a person who is and at one point was afraid of needles (now I am just afraid of having blood drawn) this could have been done in a better way, but it still leaves a real thought in the minds of children. Right now I believe that there is a minor need for concern, but everything should be alright.

God bless-
LGLG

[dUSt]

I think he would have made the point better if he stabbed them all with a spoon.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='dUSt' date='Sep 21 2005, 12:10 PM']I think he would have made the point better if he stabbed them all with a spoon.
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I laughed at this...and I shouldn't have.

[dUSt]

[quote name='Raphael' date='Sep 21 2005, 11:11 AM']I laughed at this...and I shouldn't have.
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Oh, it's not so bad as I edited it for vague movie line comedic purposed.

[Brother Adam]

yeah, that whole thing was kindof stupid. Kids know what pain is. Well..at least they should if they play outside. I've been bloodied up several times trying to do something when I was young.

[Era Might]

[quote]I've been bloodied up several times trying to do something when I was young. [/quote]

Oh you poor thing. Bullies are just unhappy with themselves. That's why they took it out on you.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

[quote name='Era Might' date='Sep 21 2005, 12:16 PM']Oh you poor thing. Bullies are just unhappy with themselves. That's why they took it out on you.
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Actually, I think Adam was the bully...he just had bad allergies...nose-bleeds, you know...

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='Era Might' date='Sep 21 2005, 12:16 PM']Oh you poor thing. Bullies are just unhappy with themselves. That's why they took it out on you.

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lol. Never got beat up. Some ijiot did try once. ended up breaking two of his fingers when he missed me and hit the teachers car in 5th grade.

I fell off of a bike once when I was 5 or 6, I barely remember it, but I hit the pavement, and I hit it hard. I wasn't wearing any kind of protective equipment and all I remember now is my grandma ran out of bandages trying to clean me up.

[Brother Adam]

[quote name='Raphael' date='Sep 21 2005, 12:18 PM']Actually, I think Adam was the bully...he just had bad allergies...nose-bleeds, you know...
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I know where you live.