# Catholic Church Used Crop Duster To Spray Holy Water Over Louisiana Town **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 30, 2019, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630 "2019-12-30T21:18:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/61 "2020-01-02T08:19:11Z")
It seems bizarre all the people acting like the religious aspect is no big deal. It would seem entirely in line with the type of “forced religion” that posters on this board so often object to. I myself would not appreciate it but would probably say nothing. But I know several people who would object to being forced into part of a Catholic ritual, atheist and religious alike. I also would find it hard to believe this would be allowed without the religious aspect. You’d get in trouble if you walked up to people and sprayed them with a water mist (like from a spray bottle), so why would doing it from an airplane be okay? ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/62 "2020-01-02T12:44:15Z")
Isn’t there a rule against flying at less than 500 ft over populated areas? Did this violate that? That would be a big problem for me if so. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/63 "2020-01-02T13:14:08Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It seems bizarre all the people acting like the religious aspect is no big deal. It would seem entirely in line with the type of “forced religion” that posters on this board so often object to. > > I myself would not appreciate it but would probably say nothing. But I know several people who would object to being forced into part of a Catholic ritual, atheist and religious alike. First of all, if all the Catholics in my town want to get together and pray for me, they have every right to do that. If they want to make an effigy of me and spray water on it, no problem. The problem here arises because spraying liquid on me without my consent is assault (along with the violation of FAA regs, the risk of contamination, etc.). Similarly, kidnapping me and tying me to a chair while they prayed over me would be a problem! But these things would be assault and kidnapping whatever the motivation, so I don’t think the religious aspect is significant here. The type of situation a specifically religious motivation has great significance is not where you’re being assaulted or _physically_ coerced. It’s a situation like a school or a courtroom that has an important secular purpose, where participation in (say) prayer is ostensibly optional, but where those who do not participate may be marginalized. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/64 "2020-01-02T13:43:23Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > WWJS > > What would Jesus spray? Jesus sprays, Moses uses drip irrigation. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/65 "2020-01-02T13:57:53Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > I’m not sure why anyone would get in a snit about this. From the article, it sounds like the water wasn’t sprayed over the entire community but only over the farms of parishioners who’ve requested a traditional blessing of their fields. It’s not a baptism, and nobody believes it’d turn anyone Catholic. If you believe this water is any different from ordinary, non-blessed water, then you can believe that it can turn anyone Catholic. One belief is just as logical as the other. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/66 "2020-01-02T14:05:45Z")
For clarification, re nelliebly’s comment that Musicat quoted, that was _not_ the case. The water was deliberately targeted at _public_ places where people were gathered. See post #13. If it were sprayed solely on private land then there would be no problem. Musicat, you’ll have to explain your comment. I have no idea what you are getting at. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/67 "2020-01-02T14:18:33Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Musicat, you’ll have to explain your comment. I have no idea what you are getting at. I think it’s a general “this is a thread about religion so let me be the first to say that religion is fake and religious people are credulous.” ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/68 "2020-01-02T15:17:31Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > The RCC gets really upset if communion wafers are not properly taken care of. People used to be executed for stealing them and such in olden times. > > What is their rule of the proper treatment of holy water? Can it be deliberately used in such a manner? I know a priest can shake some out on a plot of land to bless it, but some of this ended up in sewers and what not. Some cow patties and such may have gotten blessed. Are they now Holy Patties? From my altar boy days - Holy Water should be respected, and you shouldn’t wash your car with it or anything like that, but it’s not the body and blood of Christ, which is what post consecration wafers and wine are. So at the conclusion of mass, every possible particle of the eucharist has to be swept up and eaten, extra wafers are stored in the tabernacle, all the wine is drunk. Holy Water isn’t treated nearly so carefully - e.g. there are stations where you enter the church with basins of holy water that you’re supposed to dip your fingertips in and bless yourself. There was an extra sink in the sacristy for disposal of holy water - I was told it went straight into the earth, and didn’t go into the sewer system. So actually putting holy water intentionally onto the ground is OK, as long as it’s done respectfully. Large scale blessings are often done with an [Aspergillum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergillum), so plenty of water will wind up on the ground/clothing/pets anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/69 "2020-01-02T16:11:59Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Large scale blessings are often done with an [Aspergillum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergillum), so plenty of water will wind up on the ground/clothing/pets anyway. For a moment there I wondered what [mold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergillus) had to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/70 "2020-01-02T16:40:59Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > I think it’s a general “this is a thread about religion so let me be the first to say that religion is fake and religious people are credulous.” No. If you believe holy water has magical powers of any kind, what are the limits to those powers? Even if the religious aren’t logical by scientific terms, can’t they be internally consistent? > [@Riemann](#): > > For clarification, re nelliebly’s comment that Musicat quoted, that was _not_ the case. The water was deliberately targeted at _public_ places where people were gathered. See post #13. If it were sprayed solely on private land then there would be no problem. > > Musicat, you’ll have to explain your comment. I have no idea what you are getting at. No matter where it is sprayed, how can you tell the difference between holy water and non-holy water? I can see an objection to being involuntarily sprayed by H[sub]2[/sub]O, but should there be a more serious concern if the water had been chanted over by a priest first? Does that make the offense more serious? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/71 "2020-01-02T16:50:59Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > No matter where it is sprayed, how can you tell the difference between holy water and non-holy water? I can see an objection to being involuntarily sprayed by H[sub]2[/sub]O, but should there be a more serious concern if the water had been chanted over by a priest first? Does that make the offense more serious? No, as I said I don’t think the fact that there is a religious motivation is relevant. It’s not some kind of Establishment Clause issue. Being sprayed with any liquid without your consent under these circumstances is simply assault, whatever the motivation. The offense would be worse if the liquid were harmful, but it’s assault even if the liquid turns out to be harmless. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/72 "2020-01-02T16:53:48Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > For a moment there I wondered what [mold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspergillus) had to do with it. I think this hilarious because: a.) As an ex-altar boy, I’m very familiar with the aspergllum\* b.) I’ve spent the past several months working with Aspergillum mold – cultivating it, growing it, and seeing what kills it. I see tubes full of black-covered agar medium in my dreams. The mold, by the way, is named that because of its resemblance, under the microscope, to the priest’s _aspergillus_. It was discovered and named by a priest. - When any of us had to attend the priest doing the blessing with holy water, we’d say we had “asparagus”. That’s not only because “aspergillus” sounds kinda like “asparagus”, but because the first line of the blessing begins “Asperges me…” (“Wash me with water”, basically) and because the Aspergillus really did kinda look like a big thick stalk of asparagus. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/73 "2020-01-03T04:27:43Z")
I visualize the rifle range near my kids’ place. A pilot would be mighty unwise to spray there. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/74 "2020-01-09T02:59:03Z")
I caught up with our local crop duster pilot today and asked him about this. At this time of year, he is busy spraying fungicides on the fields so they won’t get moldy in the damp weather. First of all, he hadn’t heard of this. (I thought maybe, just maybe, he’d have known about it through crop duster circles, or perhaps there might have been something about it in some Crop Duster Journal.) He agreed that it might be legal if the local jurisdiction approved of it (meaning, probably, the Mayor or city council) AND everyone involved somehow was notified in advance and consented. The news articles on the subject didn’t go into any details like that, so we don’t know. Seems a bit unlikely to me. OTOH, he pointed out that if it was a really small town, the Church might have been the center and driver of all social activity in the town. (He cited a small town near Fresno he knows of that is like this.) Maybe the Mayor and city council are all members of the congregation. He also suggested that if this is some smallish town in Louisiana, probably nobody really cares about enforcing regulations like that in any great detail. It might be the kind of thing that gets enforced only after-the-fact if some accident happens. He also mentioned that for this kind of airplane (I suppose this means at least the one he flies, a [Grumman/Schweizer Ag-Cat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_Ag_Cat), but probably all similar crop duster planes), flight over any populated area is required to be at or above 1000 feet above ground level. Again, probably only matters if an accident happens and the shit hits the fan. He also remarked, without me prompting him, that he thought spraying holy water over the community sounds like a neat idea, and if he sprayed holy water over the community here, probably half the local residents would go up in flame – Surprisingly similar to **EinsteinHund** ’s comment earlier in this thread! > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > I suspect it sizzled and burned on every pagan the magic water hit. ---
**Author:** ![Cumberdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Cumberdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cumberdale)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/75 "2020-01-09T19:42:14Z")
Whether it is harmless and all of the water evaporates before touching anyone there is still a lack of consent. I don’t want to participate and should not be forced to even if I never learn that it happened. It’s called respect. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/76 "2020-01-09T21:01:20Z")
I think Roman Catholicism is being confused with homeopathy. A hundred gallons of water over an entire county, from a couple of hundred feet in the air isn’t going to give anyone religious cooties. I like the previous idea of waiting for a rainstorm and blessing the cloud. Then they can sue God for assault. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/77 "2020-01-09T21:05:13Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > OTOH, he pointed out that if it was a really small town, the Church might have been the center and driver of all social activity in the town. (He cited a small town near Fresno he knows of that is like this.) Maybe the Mayor and city council are all members of the congregation. He also suggested that if this is some smallish town in Louisiana, probably nobody really cares about enforcing regulations like that in any great detail. It might be the kind of thing that gets enforced only after-the-fact if some accident happens. Abbeville is a really small town, and most of its residents have lived there or in the immediate vicinity for hundreds of years. SW Louisiana was isolated before the oil boom. Abbeville even has a different dialect of Cajun French from Lafayette, 15 miles away. And it being so Catholic, I can just imagine the reelection prospects of a mayor who prevented the priest from doing this. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/78 "2020-01-10T06:57:57Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Abbeville is a really small town, and most of its residents have lived there or in the immediate vicinity for hundreds of years. There’s a fountain of immortality around town, right? All those multi-centenarians! Or are they vampires? ---
**Author:** ![Tatterdemalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/79 "2020-01-10T13:30:19Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > There’s a fountain of immortality around town, right? All those multi-centenarians! Or are they vampires? They use too much garlic for that. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630/80 "2020-01-10T22:21:49Z")
> [@RioRico](#): > > There’s a fountain of immortality around town, right? All those multi-centenarians! Or are they vampires? Spritzing the whole town with holy water should help keep down the vampire population. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/catholic-church-used-crop-duster-to-spray-holy-water-over-louisiana-town/845630.md?page=5)