AVONDALE — After a flurry of pun-filled headlines and outrage from burger-loving Catholics across the country, Kuma's Corner issued a statement about its controversial "Ghost" burger, which features an unconsecrated communion wafer, Friday afternoon.
And the restaurant is making no apologies.
In a statement on the restaurant's Facebook page, owner Michael Cain and director of operations Luke Tobias said they did not create the burger "as a commentary on religion or as an attack on anyone's personal beliefs."
"In the past we have done a number of burgers dealing with this same exact topic to very little fanfare," the statement read. "Never in the spirit of offending anyone, and always in mindset of praising a band for the work that they do."
However, the restaurant made a $1,500 donation to the Catholic Charities of the Chicago Archdiocese "in standing with our police of supporting charity and Chicago at large," according to the statement.
The famous burger joint, which boasts the "best burgers on Earth," began serving the "Ghost" burger Oct. 1. The burger features a beef patty, braised goat shoulder, white cheddar, ghost chile aioli, a communion wafer garnish and red wine reduction, also called "the blood of Christ."
The announcement on its Facebook page sparked a string of comments both supporting and condeming the burger, calling it everything from "horribly offensive" to "sacrilicious."
Kuma's owners cited the First Amendment in its defense of the burger Friday and vowed the restaurant will continue serving the burger throughout October.
The burger is named after Ghost B.C., a Swedish heavy metal rock band. The lead singer is known as "Papa Emeritus," a priest with skull face paint and a bishop's hat.
