The Pope, NYC Style

Although I think creator Tim Minchin is a Brit.
For Friviality Friday.
Oh, did I mention NSFW?

Word O' Teh Day: Phallophanies

Say it with me — phallophanies!

Catholic Church: The Dowd Verdict

I don't read Mo very much anymore and have to wince when she describes herself as "adversarial." Yeah, and so is my puppy.
And I really hate it when she cites her brother Kevin.
Still, in this case, she's got a voice with some weight behind it.
In all the column, though, it's the following tidbit that gets to me the most, especially in light of the D.C. diocese's decision to pull out of social programs in that beleaguered city after the council legalized gay marriage and mandated health coverage for all spouses.

The church is dying from a thousand cuts. Its cover-up has cost a fortune and been a betrayal worthy of Judas. The money spent came from social programs, Catholic schools and the poor.

Is The Pope Catholic?

And other compelling questions o' teh day. For instance, who created the Vatican "state."
Ans.: Benito Mussolini
Q: How legitimate is the Pope's claimed immunity from prosecution as a head of state?
A.: Not very bloody likely sweet cheeks.

Nugget:

If acts of sexual abuse by priests are not isolated or sporadic events but part of a wide practice both known to and unpunished by their de facto authority—i.e. the Catholic Church—then under the command responsibility principle of international law (laid down by the U.S. Supreme Court) the commander can be held criminally liable. He falls within the temporal jurisdiction of the ICC so long as that abusive practice and the policy to tolerate it continued after July 2002, when the court was established.

The Cult Of Catholicism

I am always quick to point out that I am the satisfied product of a vigorous, generous and valuable Catholic education. I have no bitter stories, I harbor no bitterness, and I defend Catholicism against ignorant critics as vigorously as I stand up against racial intolerance. I have alienated people because of it.
On the other hand, it is not possible to stand up against valid criticism, and to call it criticism is and understatement. The Church is in crisis. It may not last as anything more than a rich, bizarre and exotic cult.

Pope: Day Two

Apparently the BBC has a documentary going on tonight with even more damning evidence of Benedict's determination to cover it all up.
I honestly don't see how the Catholic Church survives this without a tornado of openness and inquiry and accountability, starting with Pope.

OMFG!

Benedict may as well have died today.
We kinda knew this was coming, right? It was just a matter of time.

As a cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI and other Vatican officials did not punish or even hold a trial within the Catholic church for a Wisconsin priest who may have molested as many as 200 deaf boys, according to The New York Times.

Question O' Teh Day

Will the pope's failure to resign be the final straw for Andrew Sullivan? Will he decide to leave the church that, basically, hates him for his homosexuality while protecting child abusers?
I'm not holding my breath here.
Oh, and happy day after St. Paddy's Day.
Thank God it's over, as if he cares.

Clawing Their Way Back To The Dark Ages

I guess I've read that phrase before, but it didn't resonate until Andrew published this outake from a reader, who included the last paragraph of a letter the Catholic Archdiocese of Guam put out regarding a gay marriage proposal put forth by a legislator who was victimized by clergy in his youth.

"Islamic fundamentalists clearly understand the damage that homosexual behavior inflicts on a culture. This is why they repress such behavior by death...It may be brutal at times, but any culture that is able to produce wave after wave of suicide bombers...is a culture that at least knows how to value self sacrifice."

I know it doesn't make sense for any number of reasons, but not only will many adults swallow this crap, but they pass it along.