Catholic League Protests at YouTube Desecration of Blessed Sacrament

From catholic.org

The YouTube controversy involving Hate Speech against Catholics continues with the the apparent reposting of sacriligious, blasphemous videos of a student desecrating the Blessed Sacrament. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines sacrilege with these words:

"2120 Sacrilege consists in profaning or treating unworthily the sacraments and other liturgical actions, as well as persons, things, or places consecrated to God. Sacrilege is a grave sin especially when committed against the Eucharist, for in this sacrament the true Body of Christ is made substantially present for us."

The Catholic League is the nation's largest Catholic civil rights organization. The Catholic League defends the right of Catholics – lay and clergy alike – to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination. It is led by a modern day warrior for the Catholic faith, Bill Donohue. Once again, the Catholic League has taken the lead in defending the Church, sending this recent letter to YouTube in their continued defense of the Catholic Faith and the Catholic Church:

As president of the nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization, I have heard from Catholics across the country about the fact that YouTube has not removed approximately 40 videos by a Canadian student who claims he is desecrating the Eucharist. In an attempt to show his disdain for Catholic belief, the student is shown in his various videos flushing the Eucharist down the toilet, shooting it with a nail gun, and feeding it to an animal, among other desecrations.

Catholics believe that the consecrated Host is actually the Body and Blood of Christ, not a mere symbol. To have such a central tenet of our faith attacked in this manner is not acceptable. According to YouTube’s Community Guidelines, YouTube does not “permit hate speech” which is defined in part as “speech which attacks or demeans”; this includes religion. It then goes on to say that “YouTube staff review flagged videos 24 hours a day, seven days a week to determine whether they violate” the guidelines. If a video is in violation, it is removed.

Many Catholics who have contacted the league have flagged these videos but they have not been removed. Hate speech should not be tolerated against any religion on your website 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.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

William A. Donohue, Ph.D.
President