AVONDALE — Catholic Charities said Monday that it is refusing a $1,500 donation from Kuma's Corner over the burger bar's controversial communion-wafer-topped Ghost burger.
"We've already refunded it," said Catholic Charities spokeswoman Kristene Kappel in a phone interview Monday. "It appeared in our online donations this afternoon and we already refunded it to Michael Cain, one of the [Kuma's Corner] owners."
The famous heavy metal burger bar began offering the Ghost burger — named after Swedish metal band Ghost B.C. — as its burger of the month on Oct. 1. It 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."
In a statement on the restaurant's Facebook page Friday, Cain and director of operations Luke Tobias cited the First Amendment in its defense of the burger and vowed to continue serving it through October.
However, Cain and Tobias also pledged a $1,500 donation to the Catholic Charities of the Chicago Archdiocese "in standing with our policy of supporting charity and Chicago at large."
In its own written statement Monday, Catholic Charities said it has refused the gift.
"Catholic Charities will not accept a donation from Kuma's Corner. The Eucharist is a central part of the Catholic faith and we strongly urge Kuma's Corner to discontinue selling a burger that disrespects that faith and the faith of all Christians.”
No one from Kuma's Corner was immediately available for comment Monday afternoon.
