Thomas Griffin 6/18/25
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Speaking up for the truth is critical in times of crisis. When religious faith is demeaned and mocked we must respond in a holy and vocal way. For Catholics, we do so because our faith is not a set of ideas but a relationship with a person. Failing to speak up is ultimately a lack of love for Christ.
The Catholic faithful are rightfully appalled by a scene from an episode in the show “Your Friends and Neighbors” on Apple TV.
The scene shows a male character entering into a Catholic Church and stealing consecrated hosts from the tabernacle. He eats them “as a snack” with a female character in the pews. They jokingly note that they are eating the “Body of Christ” as they do so. After their “snack” they begin romantic activity in the pews until the priest enters the church and they flee.
Jon Hamm plays the main character of Coop. He is a former hedge fund manager in New York City who loses his job, gets divorced and uses criminal activity to maintain his lifestyle. The scene referenced above has caused many online Catholic personalities to call for an apology from Apple CEO Tim Cook and the removal of the scene.
The writers of the show clearly knew that this was sacred because they reference the hosts as the Body of Christ. There can be no excuse given that they did not know what they were mocking or the hurt that it could cause.
At a minimum the scene is a violation of Apple’s own commitment to “inclusivity.” On its website it says, “At Apple, we create a culture of collaboration where different experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives come together to make something magical and meaningful. A culture with a North Star of dignity, respect, and opportunity for everyone. Because we’re not all the same. And that remains one of our greatest strengths.”
First, we must note that being “inclusive” has become an idol. It often means that a company is becoming relativistic in its values. There is no truth so all should feel included, no one will ever be asked to do something that could violate their feelings in reality unless those feelings are for the objectivity of truth. The only truth is that there is no truth.
Desecrating the belief of millions of American Catholics is certainly not aligned with a culture of collaboration and the North Star of respect and dignity. What about the viewers of Apple TV that are devout Catholics? It seems that all beliefs are appreciated except for the most important and public Catholic belief in the Eucharist.
Such a blatant disregard for religious reverence must be responded to bluntly and rationally.
Speaking out against those who are demeaned is a non-negotiable for every disciple. It’s rooted in the love for Christ who is present in our neighbor. When Jesus is the one demeaned we are called to respond in an even greater way because Chrsit himself said, “whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father” (Matthew 10:33).
Jesus knew that some would accept him and others would reject him. From the time of his earthly ministry the belief in the Real Presence has brought division (John 6:66). This fact doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t publicly voice our hurt over this desecration. Speaking out against it ought to be motivated by a love for Jesus and the truth.
Those who we love deserve to be protected and the truth must be upheld. Christianity is different from all other religions because it is based on a real person who claimed to be God. That real historical person was killed for his teachings. But before he laid down his life he gave the Church the gift of the Eucharist. It was in this way that he would remain tangibly present to his followers across generations.
This isn’t a belief connected to a way of life or a philosophy of living. Catholic teaching is founded on faith and reason. God is real. Jesus is God. Jesus gave us the Eucharist. The Eucharist is Jesus. The Catholic Church has evidence and reasons for holding these as objectively true.
If this is the case then reverence and respect for the Body of Christ must be tantamount. No religion deserves to have their most fundamental belief scoffed at. In our case, we aren’t just talking about an abstract concept being mocked, but Jesus himself being desecrated. For these truths, we must be willing to be loud and cling to prayer.
So, let’s use this abomination as an opportunity to be more vocal about our faith. Let’s also use it as a chance to grow in our knowledge and devotion of the Eucharist. When you receive Holy Communion, love him as others disrespect him and ask for the grace to speak up for him. Because committing to being vocal and more in love with Christ is always a good thing, and in our culture today it sounds like it’s becoming more and more necessary.
Thomas Griffin is the chairperson of the religion department at a Catholic high school on Long Island where he lives with his wife and three children. He has a masters degree in theology and is a masters candidate in philosophy. Thomas is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Empty Tomb Project: The Magazine. He is the author of Let Us Begin: Saint Francis’s Way of Becoming Like Christ and Renewing the World.
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