The TikTok Punch a Priest challenge is gaining converts and controversy minute by minute. The social media platform TikTok is being flooded with short videos of people of all ages punching priests and the occasional bishop. Uploaders are including jaunty soundtracks, special filters, and other special effects competing against each other to make the perfect punch a priest video.
How Punch A Priest Started
The challenge started spontaneously when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of religion and against common-sense public health regulations. The Catholic Church and others brought a legal case charging the government is discriminating against the faithful. Their implied argument is that religious freedom allows them to infect their communities with the deadly COVID-19 virus.
In a 5-4 ruling, the US Supreme Court sided with religious organizations in a dispute over Covid-19 restrictions put in place by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo limiting the number of people attending religious services.
The case is the latest pitting religious groups against city and state officials seeking to stop the spread of Covid-19, and it highlights the impact of Justice Amy Coney Barrett on the court. The decision comes as coronavirus cases surge across the country.
One TikTok user read about the decision and took matters into his own hands fist.
Enter ‘User X’
A new TikTok user known only as User X uploaded one video titled Watch me punch Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn in the ear. The video shows Reverend DiMarzio, one of the parties responsible for fighting against public health regulations, walking down the street. Suddenly, a young man (?) punches him in the left ear and dropping the bishop to the ground. The young man turns to the camera and says, “That’s for my dead nana!”
The video quickly went viral. Soon copycats replicated the beat downs.
Some uploaders strove to hit their targets on the left ear in the same fashion as User X. Others freestyled. Priests and bishops were kicked in the groin, others poked in the eyes, and some given monstrous wedgies.
Uploaders strove to point out they weren’t just miffed at the Catholic Church for spreading COVID-19. The decades (centuries) of child abuse also played a role. The recent Supreme Court ruling simply ignited a powder keg.
Professor Andrew Canard teaches classes about the Reformation at Miskatonic University. He reflected on the recent turn of events. “While this is purely conjecture, it’s my deeply held belief Martin Luther would be punching priests today.”
In related news, Emily Murphy tells President Trump he is a loser.
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