"Come, Let Us Reason Together, Says The Lord."

It was not a scandal and it wasn't deserving of the coverage it received. When Stephen Harper received the communion wafer at Romeo LeBlanc's funeral, he couldn't have known that he was entering a maelstrom of controversy with the church. A video showed he didn't take the wafer immediately and someone claimed that he pocketed the wafer instead of consuming it.  A high ranking New Brunswick church official reacted sharply to the news and stated that the Prime Minister owed the church an explanation.  A few hours later, the PM's office stated that Stephen Harper actually ate the wafer.I am a man of faith, though I'm quiet about it. I realize that such moments of solemnity such as the Roman Catholic mass are sacred affairs.  But by all accounts, Stephen Harper is a religious man and hasn't been hesitant to claim it.  Yet whether he pocketed or ate the wafer is a matter for himself and his own conscience, especially at such a solemn occasion. To chastise him in such a way undermines the true meaning of both church and state.  I'm with the Prime Minister on this one.  As was the faithful Roman Catholic church goer I met with this morning at a press conference about the Ontario Child Tax Benefit. He confessed that he was embarrassed that such a line had been drawn in the sand by the church.  "He doesn't owe an explanation," the man uttered humbly, "it's between him and his God."My children from Africa have all been raised Roman Catholic, in respect for their mother who died tragically in a raid years ago. In fact, they received their First Communion only three weeks ago.  On similar occasions, we have been unsure as to whether to take the wafer because we are not Roman Catholic and didn't wish to offend the priest or the church. This is natural and shows respect for the church. If the PM didn't take the wafer for the same reason, I commend him, as should we all.Stephen Harper was present at a loving and respectful funeral for a truly great Canadian - a Liberal, I might add. He showed up in respect and carried himself accordingly. He prayed, sang, and welcomed Romeo LeBlanc's legacy. But although he held the highest office in the country, he was also there as a guest of the church. There is no scandal here, only the need for the church to provide him an explanation as to why the welcome extended to him was treated in such a manner. In true respect, they should have kept this out of the media and reasoned together with another person of faith. Jesus didn't die for this. It's not a story.Enough said.