Sisters of Perpetual Cowardice.

Some people like to play with fire, metaphysically speaking.

Two members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence attended a Catholic Mass in San Fransisco this past week, accepting communion as an act of agitation against the Church which so publicly has opposed their actions.

(If you're not familiar with the "sisters," please read my blog "Is it time to boycott San Fran?" or check the Catholic League website.)

Regardless of your own beliefs, Catholic teaching holds that communion is only to be received by Catholics of good standing and moral certainty. For a non-Catholic to receive communion -- from the Bishop, no-less -- is blatant mockery. For Catholics, it amounts to a violation of the Sacred flesh of God -- no small action.

The Bishop has since apologized for distributing communion to these confused people, claiming he did not know their identity or affiliation. Fair enough: the burden of such a gesture -- a sin in Catholic eyes -- rests on the "sisters."

I will once again encourage the "sisters" to play fair: Catholics and Catholic countries denounce homosexual behavior, but certain Islamic countries behead people for indulging in it. Old Catholic Bishops and non-violent laity are easy targets for cynical (and sick) people. I suggest their next trip be to the local Mosque. After all, Christians have been martyred for their beliefs for over 2,000 years. Peter and Paul walked straight up to the gates of their "Babylon" itself, and paid the ultimate price for it. In fact, the 20th century has seen more Christian martyrdom than any other century in Christ's millennium. Can the "sisters" and their sister-organizations say anything comparable?

Let's see it, then: An international pilgrimage to Iran, with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence leading the way. Only then will I give them credit for being anything else but easy-opportunity, showboating cowards.