Which cup has the ball now? $50 to the winner...step right up!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100501/ap_on_re_eu/eu_church_abuse

VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI cracked down Saturday on the scandal-plagued Legionaries of Christ, announcing that a papal envoy would take over and reform the conservative order that has been discredited by revelations that its founder sexually abused seminarians and fathered at least one child.

Benedict also ordered a special commission to study the Legionaries constitutions and said a Vatican expert would investigate its lay arm, Regnum Christi.


Well, I don't know about you, but I can rest my head peacefully tonight knowing that they are doing an inside investigation of...um...hold on a minute. "A Vatican expert"? What is he an expert IN? I don't think that being well versed in the ritual and practice of the Catholic church qualifies him to investigate child molestation, especially if he believes in the verses that condone it. A papal envoy? They are sending a religious diplomat? Well, that will be helpful, thanks for that. What the hell do they need a diplomat for? Are they trying to come up with a trade agreement or treaty? Interesting because I would think that they would want a criminal investigator to look into something that could be SO damaging to such an elite and moral organization.

Excuse me, Benedict The Great, what the hell exactly IS a "special commission" in relation to the very organization that has beed tied to the current cover-up scandal? I am curious, who comprises this steadfast and legally responsible "commission"? I hate to show any "disrespect", but you don't know shit about right and wrong. What right do you have to investigate the wrong doings of your organization (that includes the little branches that feed the large tree, asshole) from within that very organization? Who the fuck do you think you are? god?

Oh, you do, don't you. "Heaven forbid" that you allow a non self interested party, oh, say CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS, to do EXACTLY what they are trained to do, and that is to uncover information and evidence that is conclusive and unbiased. You want that information for yourselves, so that you can run it through a filter, created by you, fill in the holes with information trumped up by you, and find an "eligible scapegoat" to pin the entire mess on that will not reflect back on, say...YOU!

In the end, it was only in 2006 — a year into Pope Benedict XVI's papacy — that the Vatican ordered Maciel to lead a "reserved life of penance and prayer," making him a priest in name only.

The Vatican statement was remarkable in its tough denunciation of Maciel's crimes and deception, but it placed the blame almost entirely on him. It made no mention of any complicity on the part of Vatican officials who had held up Maciel as a model for the faithful.


But, maybe I am wrong. *blink*

The Vatican ordered an investigation into the order in 2009 after the Legionaries acknowledged that Maciel had fathered a daughter who is now in her 20s and lives in Spain. But it was only in March of this year that the Legionaries acknowledged that Maciel had also sexually abused seminarians and that two men are claiming to be his sons.

But, I doubt it. You know why?

He died in 2008 at age 87.

In case you missed that slight of hand, folks, the man in question, who was just recently dismissed from the church, died two years ago. He will never stand trial. He will never hear the suffering of his victims. He has no ability to defend himself against his accusers in a court of law. Most importantly, he cannot speak of what his "bosses" did or did not know of his actions. He is dead. One couldn't ask for a better scapegoat and token pacifier of the public than a dead guy, eh?

The Vatican said the system of power, obedience and silence Maciel created had kept "a large part" of the Legionaries in the dark about his double life. That did raise questions about what would become of the current Legionaries leadership since many have questioned how they couldn't have known of his misdeeds.

Pot, meet kettle. Let me get this right, and bear with me for a moment because my head is spinning at an alarming rate. The catholic church, who uses an obsolete and dead language to communicate, who refuses to speak directly to the people without a spokesman and publicist, who refuses to allow non religious investigations of the inner workings of their organization, who has managed to duck and dodge serious allegations of abuse, fraud and crimes against humanity, who has an inner secretive network tighter than organized crime and government combined (giggle), who has hidden and ignored the accusations layed upon this man for fourteen years just tried to claim that they didn't know what he was doing because he was REALLY good at keeping a secret???? This, of course, is largely due to the fact that HE created the system of silence and lies.....uh....not quite.

The late Pope John Paul II had long championed the Legionaries for their orthodoxy and ability to bring in vocations and money. Berry has recently written in the U.S. Catholic publication National Catholic Reporter of how the late pope's secretary and No. 2 allegedly intervened to protect Maciel and accept donations on his behalf.

Oh, how naive I am. Silly me, I was thinking that this Maciel guy was like David Fuckin Copperfield! Now it all makes sense. He was a good recruiter and fundraiser.

Got it.

I guess his fundraising days are over, being as he is dead, and all. No harm no foul, eh boys? You can NOW kick him out, and not lose any cash since he can't raise money from beyond the grave. Oh, the irony of "life after death" fundraising.

Maciel founded the Legion in his native Mexico in 1941 and the order's culture was built around Maciel. His photo adorned every Legion building, his biography and writings were studied, and his birthday was celebrated as a feast day. Until recently, Legion members took a vow not to criticize their superiors, including Maciel.



DAYUM! His birthday was a holiday? But, I thought that he was a REALLY good "secret keeper"? Don't you people get all bent out of shape over worshipping men before your god? Oh, that's only if it is...um...a guy from a different cult, I know.

The Vatican set out an initial course of action: the pope would name a personal delegate to lead the order and a commission of study to review the order's founding constitutions. In addition, the Vatican said the pope would name a special investigator to look into the order's lay arm, Regnum Christi, at the lay members' request.

It wasn't clear what powers the delegate would have, however, and what would become of the current leadership.


It isn't clear what powers they will have? Oh, I think it is pretty clear what their marching orders are. Cover up, destroy evidence, and when all else fails, lie, deny, lie, deny. We know the drill. We (those of us free from indoctrination and fear driven guilt) are painfully aware of what damage their "delegates" can create. For example....

The order now claims a membership of more than 800 priests and 2,500 seminarians in 22 countries, along with 70,000 members in Regnum Christi. It runs schools, charities, Catholic news outlets, seminaries for young boys, and universities in Mexico, Italy, Spain and elsewhere. Its U.S. headquarters are in Orange, Connecticut.

Read that again. This man built a cult following that spans the globe, and did so under the protection and support of the vatican.

To see anything else, is simple willful ignorance. Do you realize the cash flow generated by those numbers above? WHY would they risk alienating this group by removing their revered leader in shame?

Folks, you continue to fall for the oldest trick in the book. (not THAT book, jesus christ, pay attention!)

While you are busy watching one hand, the other hand has the answer. The ball is ALWAYS under whatever cup the magician wants it to be. Do you know how you ACTUALLY win that game of chance, and slight of hand?

Don't play.