I am not one to judge an entire faith by the actions of a few. All faith (and secular) groups are comprised of human beings, any of whom can commit disturbing acts for reasons unrelated to their faith. I firmly believe, however, that it is much more informative and accurate to evaluate a group by how they react to the disturbing acts in their midsts. To they respond with honesty and honor or do they enact coverups and offer excuses? It will be interesting to see what happens in this case, assuming the allegations prove to be true (just because it’s reported in the media doesn’t make it true).
“The Vatican has been thrown into chaos by reports that one of the Pope’s ceremonial ushers, as well as a member of the elite Vatican choir, were involved in a homosexual prostitution ring.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/05/vatican-hit-by-gay-sex-sc_n_486218.html
Kathleen
The catholics who continue to support the church are trash plain and simple.Fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me is the old saying.
Whether we blame all Catholics for the actions of this paragon of virtue who pals around with the Rat in a Hat or not, it sure is juicy when the sex scandals get this close to the ex-Nazi himself.
Praise Jeebus!
Man, the Catholics can’t catch a break. They are even being badgered by the intolerant Christians here in the USA:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,588172,00.html
It is the year 1300. You’re gay. Human rights and democracy are hundreds of years away. Where in society do you fit in? I think this explains many of the church’s peculiar traditions. It must have been strange for straight people who tried to become monks or priests.
Who do you think you’re kidding Dave…of course you do. You express your intolerance daily with each thread. Anyone doing a simple search of your posts would find that your opening statement is not true…
Tell us…why can’t you at least be honest?
Ah sorry…posted by Kathleen. Same difference. Your posts and comments are resembling Dave’s more and more. Something about birds of a feather come to mind…
Ah sorry…posted by Kathleen. Same difference
too funny
Phreedm doesn’t care what he says as long as it’s trolling the blog, reading comprehension be damned!
phreedm
Does it not bother you that catholic clergy keep getting caught breaking church laws/teachings as well as the civil laws of host nations.Correct me if i’m wrong but sodomy,prostitution are prohibited in christian religion.We are not talking about one or two isolated incidents here.Decent people have to think about what they give their money to support and it is high time for decent catholics to say no more.Do atheists,orthodox and protestant christian,jews mess up yes but not on this scale this is almost nonstop.Catholic clergy try to deny their normal sexual drive and endup in scandal.
Admit it Charlie, Kathleen is just Dave posing as a female-type lady — DOH!
I guess somebody wanted to exercise his Phreedm of Stoopit!
Daveleen is the hottest manwoman ever.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to spew diet Pepsi all over my computer. That was funny (and disturbing).
Kathleen
Sadly, the people that need to understand this sort of hypocrisy the most and acknowledge it are the same kinds of people that shout “death panel!” at teabagger protests. They are sheeple, through and through, and it’d truly be a miracle for them to wake up and open their eyes. We’ll see the same kind of crap, a whole ton of silence, some coverups, and some tiny little dissenting voice from some church or other Christian group every other church and group hates because they dare lean center or even left.
Phreedumbfuck said this:
Who do you think you’re kidding Dave…of course you do. You express your intolerance daily with each thread. Anyone doing a simple search of your posts would find that your opening statement is not true…
Tell us…why can’t you at least be honest?”
Well, Dave has always struck me as a freethinker, and while I do not approve of his associates (KA) he has the monumental patience to put up with mental worms like you, Phreedumbfuck. I couldn’t do it, so in my mind he’s a hero. He might even have kept me out of prison, because if I ever met you I might put a piece of hot lead through your empty skull. But strictly as an act of kindness to your children.
Was that kinda extreme, huh? Bad Neo!!!!!!! Someone needs to hit me with a newspaper.
NeoWolfe
I think it’s a little more severe than that. I suggest therapy. Otherwise, we’ll be reading about you in the newspapers soon.
I’m game, KA. I can use someone intelligent to talk to. I miss that since you interjected yourself in my life. But, I hope you realize you are footing the bill?
NeoWolfe
If your life consists of commenting on 2 blogs, I’d suggest better hobbies.
Apparently this scandal came to light while investigating unrelated corruption charges. There’s 1 1/2 years of audio evidence. Let’s see if De Nile is not just a river in Egypt.
its f in embarrassing to be Irish and Italian…stupid religion has hijack these cultures with all of its absurdity….
here’s more absurdity from the poop….he’s warning us of evil spell casters…
LUANDA, Angola — Tens of thousands of Angola’s Catholics lined the streets of the capital Saturday for a blessing from Pope Benedict XVI, who urged the country’s faithful to reach out and convert people who believe in witchcraft.
actually its a good strategy…anyone that believes in witchcraft has the credentials to believe the bullshit the bible has….
Hey! I resemble that remark. As an Irish atheist married to an Italian agnostic, I could not agree with you more.
Italy is a beautiful country.From the anzio to the alps take your love and tour the country.DAD was wounded in combat north of florence and today it is lovely and hard to imagine the hard fighting that took place in italy.
Karl Rove says Bush didn’t lie us into war.Can you believe this guy what brass.More scientists,engineers calling into question 9/11 account. Given that the 9/11 commission members have also complained about stonewalling and deceit by gov’t officials.Can there now be any doubt that former officials like past defense minister of germany are telling the truth when they say inside job.
Corporations run the gov’t that is fascism now think about what is going on in USA you are serfs and nothing more.
Empty Conjecture Alert:
I think that this is a sign of what is coming in the catholic church. It’s relied on two kinds of people for its priesthood: those who can’t deal with human sexuality (I’m including repressed gays in this group) and those who actually believe 100% of the stuff. The second group has ceased coming in such numbers because the church has lost sway and its much less respectable. The first group has filled the gap, but is falling because homosexuality is not as reviled nowdays. This leaves only the crazies who has severe issues with human sexuality. As the older priests (who come from the second group and gays from the first) die out, the crazies will rise in rank.
Now, the church cannot modernize enough, because to do so would force them to open the priesthood to the currently married. The saner individuals won’t support it, because it would be too painful to realize your ultimate sacrifice, intimacy and relationship, are viewed as nothing more than outdated gestures. The crazies won’t support this, because the appeal of the church was that it allowed them to avoid sexuality.
As the crazies rise in rank, we’re going to see more extreme reactionary behavior. The church’s recent antics about gays getting married in D.C. support this. It wasn’t that it would protect anything, its just that it would force them to deal with atypical relationships that have a more obvious (though not nessicary important) element of sexuality to them. The crazies in the ranks act up, because it forces them to confront the fact humans are sexual animals. Therefore, the church’s current views on sex will harden and they will become increasingly despised.
Do any AA leaders retain membership in a religious group? Are any dual citizens,do any belong to a advocacy group for another nation?
I can’t speak for the others, but for me, it’s no, no, and no.
(unless you count Texas as a foreign nation, LOL)
Kathleen
And kathy i suspect it is the same for others.As uncomfortable as it maybe AA needs to think about these things and how it responds because there is growing distrust even paranoia in USA.People have forgotten that we did have witch hunts during cold war era.Or the large scale civil right violations of German Americans during ww1 or suspected reds in 1920s.Right now a body of national security law is in place that can really put a hurt on you if your group gets tagged as a threat.
There is even a US citizen held by feds in new york without charge for the last 3 years in isolation.
Atheists are a minority and this past year i have see more letters to the editor by religious that are just plain crazy,stupid. You would think we had a atheist million man army occupying the USA.
I was just in El Paso a few weeks ago. Not my first time to Texas, but the closest I have ever been to the Mexican border. Anyhow, I got to thinkin’ and those Hispanics I met were all so friendly and hospitible, that I thought it would be right neighborly of us if we just gave Texas back to them and called things even. LOL!!!
Dave is way more patient than I am. If this was my blog and bulletin board, which is isn’t, I’d be blocking a lot of folks.
I have yet to see a comment from any of the religionists that doesn’t rehash the same crap I can read out there on the internet. I think it would be nice if there was a board I could go to where non-theists could talk with other non-theists without having to endure the same old broken-record, repetitive nonsense from religionists who are each certain they’ve come up with the winning argument to convert us heathens.
And before folks start chastising me about “censorship”, American Atheists is a private organization and is under no obligation to provide anyone with a free speech zone. If moderators of religious boards chose to censor atheists from posting on their boards, that’s also fine by me, as long as those boards are being run and funded by private organizations.
But, like I said, this board is Dave’s project, and if he says certain folks can stay and post, then I’ll respect that.
Kathleen
Ramen, sister!
Actually, there are other sites where the religious nuts aren’t allowed to take over – for example, PZ Myers and his minions are pretty good about tamping down the trolls on Pharyngula. Phreedumb and jcc wouldn’t last half a day there, but they surely have had protected status on the NoGodBlog for year, after year, after mind-numbing year.
The brother of the pope says he was not aware of any abuse in the choir he ran but former choir boys are claiming abuse happened.
KA babbled,
“If your life consists of commenting on 2 blogs, I’d suggest better hobbies.”
Actually KA, I have some other hobbies, like online racing games, slow cooker recipes, and making fun of freethinker wannabes.
Now that you have perfected the astrophysical formula of the universe, which vaulted you into the of well deserved office of “Messiah”, I officially forgive you for being a prick and treating me like a moron.
NeoWolfe
Then I didn’t intrude into your ‘life’, as you put it. & again, you’re not the arbiter of all things under the umbrella of ‘free thought’.
Talk about babbling. Again, never said that.
Really, your snark needs serious polish.
Tch. You’re such a child.
KA,
I dont know how to help you. All I have ever put forward is the idea that if you don’t understand everthing that a scientist will leave his mind open to possibilities. That idea is obviously beyond your grasp, and if I get caustic with you, it’s because you are a prick and tracked me across the internet to harrass me.
If that entertains you, it seems you are one who needs a new hobby.
NeoWolfe
I wasn’t asking for your help.
Among them, the possibility that they’re wrong? Is it even possible that you can be wrong?
Now you’re officially making more shit up.
When was that? Oh, you mean all your sad little efforts @ being witty? I’ll live.
Is it possible that you’re completely wrong about me? Or are you that self-involved you can’t admit when you’re wrong?
ROFLMAO! Oh, what a prima donna you are.
All I want, is you to apologize for all the bullshit you accused me of. That’s 4 different bits of nonsense.
Obviously you’re not adult enough to do so, so I wasted my time.