Catholic diocese suspends priest for riding a hoverboard during Mass


A Catholic priest in the Philippines has been suspended after he rode around on a hoverboard during Christmas Eve services.
Video shot during the final blessing of the Mass shows the unidentified priest singing a Christmas song while going up and down the aisle on the hoverboard, with church members clapping and letting out cheers. The diocese of San Pablo in Laguna is not amused, and released a statement saying that what the priest did was "wrong" because "the Eucharist demands utmost respect and reverence" and is "not a personal celebration where one can capriciously introduce something to get the attention of the people."
The diocese said the incident was a "wake-up call" for the priest, who will "spend some time to reflect on this past event" — most likely with both feet on the ground. Catherine Garcia
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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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