Stephen Harper ruffled many a cassock this week after speculations he may have pocketed a communion wafer at the funeral mass for Roméo LeBlanc, Canada's former governor-general. Such an act would be considered sacrilegious in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church and Mr. Harper's office has denied any religious misconduct.
Still, the incident serves as a cautionary tale for those unfamiliar with religious protocol – especially non-churchgoers who might find themselves attending a Catholic wedding or two this summer.
For the uninitiated, Catholic mass can be a daunting experience, admits Father Adam Lech of Edmonton's St. Joseph's Basilica.
When it comes to receiving communion, only baptized, practising Catholics should receive the host, he says.
Others should refrain from accepting the holy sacrament or indicate their desire to be blessed by crossing their arms over their chest.
But what if in a moment of confusion, you suddenly find yourself holding a wafer in your outstretched hand?
“We would just ask them to consume it,” says Father Andrew Leung of St. Basil's Church in Toronto.
“By not consuming communion, we don't know where the host is going ... it could be treated as a desecration.”
For non-believers, group prayers can also be uncomfortable. In such circumstances, one should just respect established customs by kneeling or standing with the rest of the congregation, even if they don't recite the prayers, Father Leung advises.
Overall, people should just remember that churches are places of worship, religious experts agree.
This means staying mindful of proper attire and refraining from inappropriate behaviour, like talking too loud or bringing your Starbucks into church.
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