Indiana teacher marries Jesus Christ in elaborate wedding ceremony, becomes a consecrated virgin

[trotsky]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/indiana-teacher-marries-jesus-christ-catholic-ceremony-article-1.2329845

An Indiana school teacher married Jesus Christ over the weekend, becoming a consecrated virgin in an elaborate white wedding.

Jessica Hayes, a 38-year-old theology teacher, donned a long white dress and lace veil while tying the knot before hundreds of guests at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne Saturday.

Standing at the altar as a bride of Christ, she vowed a life of virginity and was given a ring, as well as a book of daily prayers.

...

"I had to really consider the appropriateness of the occasion for my dress. I wanted my shoulders to be covered, and I would have to lie prostrate before the altar, so I really wanted to make sure that I was well-covered in a way that still shows the beauty of a bride,” Hayes said.

[DetlefK]

1. But... Can he bring home the bacon?

I don't think so. Pork isn't kosher.

[Journeyman]

2. Sly Stone said it best: "Different strokes for different folks . . .

"And so on and so on and scooby dooby doo."

[AtheistCrusader]

6. Joan Jett said it better. :D

[HappyinLA]

3. So she's basically

the nun you don't want to get as your teacher.

[gladium et scutum]

20. I disagree

The nuns that taught my son in elementary schools and middle school were about as dedicated educators as one could hope to fine. No worry about Union contract, summers off etc. The did their job because they felt that it was a calling to serve young people. Yes I am sure there are Attila the nuns out there but I never met one. My child came out of their system better prepared academically than was possible in the local public system.

[wendylaroux]

4. craaaaaaap!

i was going to do that!

[trotsky]

5. Don't worry! Jesus is apparently a polygamist - go for it! n/t

[wendylaroux]

7. well then

whoo hooo! now, i gotta say yes to a dress.

[AlbertCat]

8. bride of Christ, she vowed a life of virginity and....

So...


she's a nun.

[Cartoonist]

9. I guess she's not harming anyone

But this woman has serious mental problems. I wouldn't let kids get anywhere near her.

[BlueStreak]

57. Wrong headline. Should be "Jesus leaves bride at altar"

[3catwoman3]

10. Why would she...

...not just become a nun?

BTW, love the bit about Jesus being a polygamist.

[Act_of_Reparation]

18. Because becoming a nun necessarily involves certain entanglements that marrying a dead guy doesn't.

A convent. Mother Superior. Silly clothes. Roomates. Vows. Work. Et cetera.

All you have to do to marry a dead guy is say you're married to the dead guy. He doesn't give a shit what you do, 'cause he's dead.

[left-of-center2012]

11. Did the county clerk issue her a marriage license?

[Iggo]

12. Ew.

[rug]

13. There's a very long tradition of Consecrated Vigins.

That vocation is included in Canon Law;

Can. 604 §1. Similar to these forms of consecrated life is the order of virgins who, expressing the holy resolution of following Christ more closely, are consecrated to God by the diocesan bishop according to the approved liturgical rite, are mystically betrothed to Christ, the Son of God, and are dedicated to the service of the Church.

§2. In order to observe their own resolution more faithfully and to perform by mutual assistance service to the Church in harmony with their proper state, virgins can be associated together.

There's also a United States Association of Consecrated Virgins (USACV).

http://consecratedvirgins.org/

Do you object to her choice of life?

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. It seems odd to alert the media to it, literally

and say "look at me, everyone! I'm not going to have sex!".

Why does virginity need consecration? Millions of people manage to not have sex without it. This woman did for 20 years of adult life.

[rug]

15. If you think it means, "look at me, everyone! I'm not going to have sex!", you're missing the point.

The focus is on consecration, not virginity.

You can read the link I posted or you can read this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consecrated_virgin

Why don't you answer the question Trotsky hasn't?

Do you object to her choice of life?

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. I object to the media covering it

It places a personal lifestyle decision on a pedestal as somehow special and to be admired. You don't get media coverage for being a vegan, or reminding people about it after 20 years.

"The focus is on consecration" - then why are so few people consecrated? What other choices are you 'consecrated' for? And in what cases does it make any difference at all, apart from anyone who had been thinking about asking her out on a date (I can't even tell if she'd have non-sexual, but exclusive, relationships with other people, after all this.)

Is Wikipedia correct that this only applied to women?

[rug]

19. Why? The media covers all sorts of people and groups.

More to the point, what would or could you do about it?

The short answer to your question, a good one, is yes..

Specifically, the Roman Rite of Consecration to a Life of Virginity is for women only.

But there are rare lay groups like Institute of Saint Gabriel the Archangel in which its members, men only, vow to follow the three evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience while living a secular life.

http://www.instituteofsaintgabrielthearchangel.org/home.html

None of this is my cup of tea but I don't think scoffing or ridicule is either a tolerant or an intelligent response.

[cleanhippie]

21. And because she didn't try to kill anyone, it's not mental illness.

Killing in the name of Jesus = mental illness

Marrying (an obviously absent) Jesus is not.

Apparently.

[rug]

23. Do you have evidence she's mentally ill?

Or are you just bloviating?

[HFRN]

28. I object to the media covering it too-it compromises coverage of the Kardashians nt

[MellowDem]

22. Long tradition of patriarchy too...

I don't object to her choice, I object to the explicitly misogynistic beliefs of Catholicism.

I imagine if the Tea Party had consecrated virgins, I wouldn't be opposed to anyone who decided to become one, the issue would more be in their choice to serve the Tea Party.

[rug]

24. Do you see something misogynist in this woman's choice?

[MellowDem]

33. To serve a misogynistic organization?

Yes.

The idea of virginity in general has a lot of misogynistic baggage within the Catholic Church, and among all Abrahamic faiths, and a lot of the foundation for the beliefs are deeply misogynistic, IMHO. You really can't separate out any one ritual from a belief system that is fundamentally misogynistic as being not somehow tied to that fact.

Being a consecrated virgin in an organization that defines marriage as only between a man and a woman, and which is against birth control and women's choice, and doesn't allow women in its top leadership, and etc. etc. patriarchal misogynistic views, is going to be different than being a consecrated virgin in an organization that is a haven for asexuals, for example.

I think many women choose to serve patriarchy and perpetuate misogyny, as is their right, and as is my right to say I think that's not good for society.

[yeoman6987]

64. Her choice. We need to get back to allowing people choice of what they want to do

We all are slowly losing choice in our country. And it has been rapid. Choice does not mean you have to like it but you must respect it.

[MellowDem]

67. She's actively working against choice...

By serving the Catholic Church. I'm not the one trying to take away choice, it would be her and her church, and there may be a deep irony and privilege at work that so many religious people believe they are the victims.

She has chosen to serve a misogynistic organization.

[cleanhippie]

25. Don't you just love deflection in the afternoon?

Seems it's all that some have to offer.

[Yorktown]

35. Do I object to her choice of life? YES.

That vocation is included in Canon Law; Can. 604 §1.

There's also a United States Association of Consecrated Virgins (USACV).

Do you object to her choice of life?

The fact the 'canon law' of the christian sect approves

doesn't mean it's not bad for her mental health.

In fact, in an ideal socialized health world, she should get free visits to a psychotherapist.

[rug]

37. I object to armchair posters anonymously calling identifiable people mentally ill.

[Yorktown]

40. You're not posting from a chair? Are you an internet yogi?

And people 'getting married' to invisible inexisting people do have a mental health issue.

[rug]

41. And people worshipping spaghetti?

[Yorktown]

42. All praise be to the Holy Spaghetti Monster

But there is one big difference with this lady marrying an invisible man:

I am not getting married to the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

[rug]

43. Unlike you, I would not use that sentence as evidence of your mental illness.

I'll leave that to the professionals.

[Yorktown]

44. OK, so a woman marrying an invisible being is healthy?

I don't think I need to wait for the advice of a professional to doubt the complete sanity of all your opinions.

[rug]

45. Healthier than worshipping a plate of spaghetti.

A visible plate of spaghetti.

[Yorktown]

46. That's the point: nobody is marrying a plate of spaghettis

Thanks for demonstrating the believers in the Holy Flying Spaghetti Monster (peace and pesto sauce be upon Him) are systematically more sane than believers in invisible beings as some in that second category go to the extreme of marrying said invisible being.

[rug]

47. It's worse. It's being showered with "All praise" by the gullible.

And the insincere.

[Yorktown]

48. Is praising your deity a sign of gullibility in your opinion?

Do tell.

[rug]

49. Only if I can twirl it around a fork.

[Yorktown]

51. Can you twirl the Flying Spaghetti Monster with a fork?

[rug]

52. I'm not an acolyte. Can you?

[Yorktown]

53. I asked a question

[rug]

54. Yes, you did.

Quite observant.

[Yorktown]

55. Stop stalking me with your empty posts

This is a discussion board, not a primary school playground of which you would be the bully.

If you are not interested answering my points or my questions, kindly talk to someone else.

Thank you.

[rug]

56. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you just reply to me?

Who's stalking whom?

[Yorktown]

58. Your bad faith is astounding: YOU started it

I made a point about the OP. YOU answered it with an ad hominem.

It's in the debate arborescence.

If you're not bringing any fact or argument to the table, leave me alone.

[rug]

61. Do you know what follows zyzzyva in the dictionary?

A yorktown post.

[Yorktown]

62. Fascinating

[Warren Stupidity]

65. what's the difference between "the wafer" and "the pasta"?

It seems that the only substantial difference is that pasta can be "twirled with a fork". On the other hand the only transformation that pasta goes through is from pasta to shit. The wafer, on the other hand, according to its believers, turns into the body of god as it winds its way though your body. So which belief is nuttier?

[beam me up scottie]

50. Lol!

Well done! (although al dente is good too!)

[AtheistCrusader]

66. Worshipped a bit myself tonight.

''Twas good.

[Cartoonist]

59. I was OK with this up until

the last paragraph in the OP. That's nuts.
I don't need to be a licensed doctor to see that.

[rug]

60. I agree it's nuts. It's a fair opinion and not a diagnosis.

You'll remember the many strange devotions that were popular before Vatican II.

This is one of the strangest that's still around, "The Aroma of Christ".

http://www.seedsofthekingdom.com/devotionals/0070/the-aroma-of-christ.php

I think it's harmless, overly pious treacle but there are bigger fish to fry.

[Warren Stupidity]

16. Does Jesus get a say in this?

Or does any whack-a-doodle get to marry him without even a nod or a wink of assent? Seems downright abusive to me. Poor god, nobody leaves him alone. What if jesus is gay? Anyone consider that?

[cleanhippie]

26. Well, Jesus was conceived through non-consensual means (aka rape)

So Jesus' consent isn't even a thought.

[rug]

38. Ignorance.

Look up "fiat".

Then look at what rape really is instead of using it as a ignorant prop to attempt another anti-religious thought.

[cleanhippie]

27. Maybe Jesus did get a say, when he spoke to her.

Usually, hearing voices and talking to imaginary people earns one a trip to the ward.

But not when its Jesus!

[PeoViejo]

29. I was hoping that Junior would get his

trip with the 'Men in White.'

Well. at least she's not boinking some Guru.

[rurallib]

30. Well, he didn't even come to his own wedding

I think that says a lot.

[rurallib]

31. I wonder if Jesus will take care of any medical problems that arise?

you know, laying on of the hands? Or is that too intimate and she still has to go to the human doctors?

[hrmjustin]

32. I wish her the best and I hope she is happy with her choice.

[EvilAL]

34. lol.. oh well

Maybe she's hoping there will be a "second coming".

[cleanhippie]

36. Only if she's a Linda Blair fan.

[Turbineguy]

63. White Wedding is the way to go.

Did everybody get a nice slice of cake?