what the fork?

Forks were not generally used at table until the reign of James I in this country. They were, however, known in Europe long before this. The first fork mentioned in history belonged to a Byzantine lady, who, on coming to Venice as a bride in the middle of the eleventh century, brought with her a golden “prong” as it is called in the pamphlet describing it. This fork, which probably had only two prongs, evidently caused a great sensation, for St. Peter Damian, afterwards Bishop of Ostia, mentioned it in a sermon, wherein he severely rebuked the lady for her luxury and extravagance in actually taking up her food with a golden prong, when God had given her fingers for that very purpose.

from the gentleman’s magazine, volume 299 (1905).

first the accordion, now the fork? what retarded thing is the catholic church going to condemn next? harry potter? homosexuality?