Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Ale Mary’s–Who could have issues with this?

How did I miss this one?  I mean seriously?  With a name like “Ale Mary’s” – this is right up my alley.

AleMarys

What is interesting – Next year I will be spending some time in Baltamore (looking at you Jeff and Jim) and I thought – what fun can I have there?  Now I know.

For the record, I was raised Catholic, my Grandmother was a Nun (seriously) and I still find this hilarious.

I honestly think that the 500K Against Ale Mary’s wouldn’t go into bar to begin with – so they have their panties in a bunch as they try to impose their beliefs on someone else. 

Am I off base here, or does anyone else think God (or whatever divine being you believe in) is probably chuckling from above saying “Well Played my children – well played”.

PS – As an added bonus to my Masonic Brothers, their website has women wearing a York Right Chapeau.  You can see it HERE.

PSS- The FB Group protesting is a CLOSED GROUP and only has 850+ Members.

 

Catholic group calls Fells Point's Ale Mary's bar 'blasphemous'

On the eve of Easter, a religious group is coming down hard on the Fells Point bar Ale Mary's.

Why?

Well, its name for starters. And all of the other things the church-themed bar does for kitsch value.

They decorate with photos of nuns. They post their draft list on a hymn board. They offer Father Luies Grilled Wings and Father Tom's Fried Ice Cream Sundae. And, possibly their most serious transgression according to the group: the bar's "chalice" club where people can get their beer served in a chalice.

The group 500,000 Against Ale Mary's isn't amused.

In fact, they're highly offended.

They have started a Facebook campaign railing against the bar and encouraging others to join the protest. It's not clear where the group is based but at least one of the active members lives in Baltimore. With just over 200 supporters online, they've got a ways to 500,000.

"This group has been formed to protest, and make known, the deeply offensive and blasphemous use of sacred objects used in the Catholic Church in Her most profound rituals and liturgies by the bar Ale Mary," organizers say on their Facebook page. "In this establishment Chalices that contain the precious blood of Christ are being used as common drinking cups, and a Monstrance that is to be used to display the Sacred body of Christ for adoration is being used as a kitch decoration sitting on a bar where patrons while their time over drinks. A holy water font is also used as a simple candy dish."

Tom and Mary Rivers, who opened Ale Mary's about seven years ago, say they've gotten about a dozen angry phone calls and about the same number of emails in the last week or so.

And, as both of them were raised Catholic in Baltimore, they still can't believe anyone would have a problem with what they consider fun decor.

"With the exception of these nut balls I've had one person in seven years say this is kind of in bad taste," Tom Rivers said. "And that person still comes in here."

The couple says that all of their religious items were donated by customers, including the monstrance behind the bar.

"I didn't put these things here to offend anyone," says Mary Rivers, who was named after a nun. "They were here because they were kinda cool."

Protesters say they want Ale Mary's to get rid of the church artifacts. They're also considering other actions.

One member of the group suggested performing an exorcism on the sidewalk outside the bar. Another suggested covertly placing "Miraculous Medals" in corners of the bar. Still another told the story of how her sister sprinkled holy water on a porn shop near her home and it closed soon after.

The Rivers have no plans to remove any of the objects from their bar.

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the support !!! We never intended to insult or offend anyone. We have been open for over 7 years and have had only one other instance of an issue, where one woman approached us with her concerns of the misuse of sacred items. Once we sat down and spoke to her, reassuring her that the items had in fact been desanctified and many were brought in-donated from our customers, she felt relieved and has herself become one of our regular customers. All of this banter-blogs-threats-insults have stemmed from one woman that visited our establishment and decided to lie on her blog about persobaly speaking to me about returning these items back to the church. She also accused us of stealing the items. Once she was called out on her lies, the blogs ran wild. She mass emailed & blogged several Catholic sites and has now co-headed a hate page on face book (500,000 Against Ale Mary's). She has posted hate mail on several local review sites under aliases which have all been taken down. Once she contacted the Baltimore Sun that created a mass media frenzy which wound up on Fox National News. Now these crazed Catholics have announced a protest-exorcism to be held on Saturday April 14th at 3pm. As far as I know 6 people have respond to attend. Business as usual, but our regulars are having more fun with this than I. All I can say is that I couldn't have asked for free press like this if I'd tried. I thank you for your support and appreciate your time. Cheers

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  2. Hell, all she is doing is driving a marketing campaign for you. LOL, you may have to thank her later for all the business. Regardless, keep it real and the truth will remain.

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