Mother, May I?

I remember being a small child and playing "Mother, may I?" on the school playground. For those of you who have never played that game, (this is specifically directed at you!) it was a game of trickery and manners. One child stood a distance from a line of other children. The "mother" child would give instructions like "take one giant step forward". The other children then had to respond with "Mother, may I?". Permission was then either granted or denied. If the child did not state "Mother, may I?" before carrying out the action, they went back to the starting line. The "mother" child would use inflection and speed of the command to trick the child into NOT saying the proper response.The first child to be able to reach out and touch "mother" was declared the winner, and had the privledge of becoming "mother" in the next round.

I took my ten year old son to work with me this past week, in honor of "take your child to work day", which apparently interferes with the public school system's state fund raising...otherwise known as "standardized testing". However, that is another rant for another day.

My son awakened at 4:45am in excitement for his journey to work with Mom. I am employed in a labor capacity with ALL MEN! This is a ten year old boy's dream job. He was excited to see our equipment and get a ride in the infamous John Deere Gator that he has heard so much about. We stopped at the local gas station for snacks and coffee for Mom. He placed his snacks on the counter and said "good morning!" to the young man that rings up my coffee every morning. The young man smiled and conversed with Adam for several minutes about the excitement of his day. Adam then bound out the front door smiling and thanking the young man for wishing him well in his adventure.

While we drove the 45 minutes it takes for me to arrive at work, I reminded Adam to please use his good manners and to closely follow instructions while in the workplace. I have three sons, ages almost 15, almost 13 and 10. (Some days I wish that I could put a shot of Whiskey in my coffee!) Adam is the one who requires constant reminders about EVERYTHING. I was a little stressed out about taking this particular child to work with me that day. He is my "difficult" child. He is strong willed and high energy at all times. This is a parenting challenge, to say the least.

Our first task of the day is to clean the litter from the sidewalks of several city blocks. Adam happily, and dutifully went about his task without complaint, and even listened when I told him to try NOT to get run over by a bus. Whew, first stressor dealt with. Along his journey, we ran into one of the department managers. I introduced Adam to him, and Adam reached out his hand and said, "Hello, Mr. ___". I was so proud of him. When the man walked away, Adam asked me if he was a boss. I said yes, and asked him how he knew that. He said, "He looked like a boss, and he wears a tie, Mom...geeez *eye roll*". Well played, Adam.

Adam worked well with my co-workers, and remembered to always give them a title when speaking directly to them. Mr. Mike was his favorite. He helped him bend a penny in a vice. Oh, the things that entertain males. Mr. Dave showed him how the Robins will eat the grubs from the newly cut sod, and helped Adam up when he stumbled and fell, landing a large piece of sod directly over his face. Adam got up laughing, and Mr. Dave couldn't help but laugh along. Mr. Alex commiserated endlessly with Adam over the pains of dealing with Mom everyday. Thanks, Alex. Mr. Joe showed Adam how to use the mower, and even let him cut for a while. Adam beamed all day long. I began to wonder if his face would cramp from the permanent smile.

Finally, it is lunchtime. We go to the Cafe located on the seventh floor, and I am anxious for Adam to meet one of the nicest people employed in this hospital, another Mr. Joe. He is the head chef. Adam meets him, shakes his hand and carries a fairly long conversation about his day thus far. Then it is time to order lunch, and Adam does so, remembering to say "please" and "thank you". He gobbled down his personally crafted grilled cheese (just what head culinary chef LOVES to prepare) and we head back to work for the afternoon. We saw, and met several more managers throughout the day, and even a Vice President. Adam carried himself like a proud little man, and never needed further reminding of how to behave.

When I went to the Cafe the following day to order my lunch, the man behind the counter asked to speak with me for a moment. He stated that he was stunned by Adam's behavior and complimented me on how polite and happy he was. I actually hear this quite often in reference to all three of my boys, and have heard it since they were very young. I replied to him with thanks and told him that it saddens me that my son stands out, simply because he was respectful. He proceded to tell me that there were many children in there the previous day, they were children of doctors, administrators and CFOs. He said that they were rude and demanding, just like their parents. He thanked me again for raising a son that knows how to treat people, even the lowly people working behind a counter. I laughed and said, "It isn't that difficult, when you understand what it feels like to be viewed as "lowly".

I was proud of my son that day, and everyday for various things. You see, I spend my day observing people, and their behavior. I see people bump into each other without even so much as an "excuse me". I see them drop doors on the people entering behind them. I see them berate the men and women at the information desk, as if they are not even worthy of basic human respect. I see you refuse to hang up your cell phone, or even take pause when ordering your lunch. I rarely hear the words, "please" or "thank you". I see children damaging other's property or running around screaming while the mother or father chats away on their phone, or simply ignores them. I hear children calling adults by their first names and seemingly not even know the existance of the word, "please" when making a request.

I have taught my sons to ALWAYS hold a door for someone, especially someone struggling with it, even if you don't plan on entering yourself. I have taught them to help people when they see the need for it. I have instructed them repeatedly on the need to show respect and poise when faced with someone deserving of it. They are to ALWAYS show basic human kindness and respect, and if they do not, they will be reprimaded for it, even if god himself is standing there. The incredible thing is, I don't have to remind them. They see the positive reactions and benefits of behaving properly, and they continue with what is CLEARLY working for them. My 15 years old son can enter the local store or mall with his friends, and NOT be followed by the manager or security simply because he has carried himself appropriately and spoken with respect to those people.

I suppose that I am not so much speaking about manners, as I am about respect and kindness. Does one not reflect another? Where did this lost art go? Is it really that difficult to take a moment to tap into your instinctual human empathy and behave the way that you would like to see other behave toward you? Why have we lost this skill? Granted, it is difficult to smile through the rudeness of others, but why do we succumb to the same behavior? I am guilty of that, myself. When met with someone who behaves in a way that is disgusting or distainful, I will open my mouth and give them a little dose of their own medicine. That, in itself, is a delicate art. I am not so delicate. LOL I have been chastised by my own sons for that very behavior. Good for them, even their mother is not exempt from behaving appropriately.

I wonder, as they grow older, will they succumb to the frustration of dealing within a rude and self-serving society? Have I actually harmed their ability to deal in a world where their behavior is all but rendered obsolete? I truly hope not. I write this, in the hope that there are others feeling the same frustration and confusion. I also write it in the hopes that some of you will pull your heads from your asses and start raising your children as human beings instead of wild animals with no self control or language skills!

There is a fast food restaurant near where I work, and the sign on the front counter states this....

"We will be more than happy to assist you when you hang up your phone. Until then, we will take the next customer in line. Thank you, MGMT."

Good for you. It's a start.

Jesus, people. You are being parented by Burger King. Wake up.

"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"

I have listened to the braindead justifications spewed by the dutiful followers of the Catholic church since the onset of this "scandal". In my last post on this matter I made reference to a quote by Adolph Hitler. I want to post it again, being as it is quite fitting to the mindset of the bleating sheep.

All propaganda has to be popular and has to accommodate itself to the comprehension of the least intelligent of those whom it seeks to reach.


I have found that there are three "stock answers" that are given when questioned about their loyalty to an organization so massive and corrupt.

1. "I have been a practicing Catholic for _____ years, gone to church every Sunday, and I have never experienced anything like what they are accusing our priests of. This is just another example of them trying to destroy our faith."

2. "So there are a few 'bad priests'. Show me an organization that doesn't have problems. My priest/pastor is a good man, so it doesn't effect me."

but THIS one is my favorite...

3. "There are molesters everywhere. They are in our school systems, other churches, and our governments. The only reason they are attacking Catholics is because they are looking for a reason to destroy us. Look at that teacher that molested that boy, she was a public school teacher, but no one attacked public education the way they are attacking us. Plenty of other religions have problems with this too, we aren't any different."

Every time I hear one of these, or similar responses, it makes my eyes glaze over and I lose ten IQ points. Having a discussion with a Catholic about the corruption and history of their organization is like talking about gun control with a man who lives in a trailor and sleeps with his assault rifle under his beer stained mattress.

You can boil all three of these responses into very simple, child-like retorts.

1. "I don't care, it didn't happen to me. They are just picking on us because we are better than them."

2. "It's not that big of a deal. Leave us alone."

3. "Everyone else is doing it too! It isn't OUR fault! Stop picking on us!"

So, let's address this staggering blindness and immaturity for a minute. The one thing that I have noticed as a consistent reaction from their supporters is defensiveness. I do not understand this, at all. They feel the need to defend this organization as if it personally represents them. Their brains are that of a collective consciousness, and unable to break away and see the problem as it exists. This is not a complicated concept to grasp. This is about a systematic cover-up of continued abuse at the hands of their leaders. This is NOT about the amount of priests who offend. This is NOT about having one religion pitted against another. This is NOT about how many sex offenders there are in other groups and organizations. This is about betrayal and self preservation of big business at the cost of our children.

One thing that has been overlooked throughout this scandal, is the amount of women and men who have been raped by their priests. This is not something that is happening only to our children, but to anyone perceived as weaker and able to be controlled and manipulated by those who hold power within the ranks of the Catholic church.

Rape, molestation and sexual assault are about power. What grants more power to a person than the ability to control a belief system that dictates their victim's everyday lives? They creep into every crack and crevice within their minds and hearts and this behavior renders the victim as helpless. Therefore, every act committed by the one in power is seen as "guidance and love"...even rape. That, in itself, is an apalling abuse of power. Then you combine that with a system that buries these offenses "for the good of the church", and you have a breeding ground for EVERY SINGLE PERSON affiliated with this organization to be placed directly in harm's way.

Yet, much like the abused cult follower, they cannot and WILL NOT accept and aknowledge simple facts. I can only think that it is part of the indoctrination process to create followers that see "outsiders" as simply attacking them without cause. Their denial runs so deep that they cannot even see the dangers to their own children.

The difference between "those other religions and organizations" and the Vatican, is that they do not hold the financial and political power of the Vatican. They do not have the financial resources or ability to evade the law because of sheer numbers and immunity under the laws. Our public school systems are NOT sovereign states. They are subject to harsh and applicable laws when caught offending. The Catholic church is not. You are aware of molesters in our schools and in other faiths because they have been splattered all over our news media when they are ARRESTED AND IMPRISONED! You are NOT made aware of Catholic priests and nuns for the same reason. The intent of the Vatican is to shroud every accusation in controversy. It is a system of "we are looking into it" conbined with gross denail of the acts. How is this acceptable to people who have placed such trust and support behind them? These same people would be flailing their arms in rage over a similar accusation brought against a non secular member of their community. So much for God-like forgiveness to anyone viewed as an "outsider".

The future Pope Benedict XVI resisted pleas to defrock a California priest with a record of sexually molesting children, citing concerns including "the good of the universal church," according to a 1985 letter bearing his signature.

The letter, signed by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, was typed in Latin and is part of years of correspondence between the Diocese of Oakland and the Vatican about the proposed defrocking of the Rev. Stephen Kiesle.

The Vatican confirmed Friday that it was Ratzinger's signature. "The press office doesn't believe it is necessary to respond to every single document taken out of context regarding particular legal situations," the Rev. Federico Lombardi said.

The diocese recommended removing Kiesle (KEEZ'-lee) from the priesthood in 1981, the year Ratzinger was appointed to head the Vatican office that shared responsibility for disciplining abusive priests.

The case then languished for four years at the Vatican before Ratzinger finally wrote to Oakland Bishop John Cummins. It was two more years before Kiesle was removed; during that time he continued to do volunteer work with children through the church.

In the November 1985 letter, Ratzinger says the arguments for removing Kiesle are of "grave significance" but added that such actions required very careful review and more time.

But the future pope also noted that any decision to defrock Kiesle must take into account the "good of the universal church" and the "detriment that granting the dispensation can provoke within the community of Christ's faithful, particularly considering the young age." Kiesle was 38 at the time.

Kiesle had been sentenced in 1978 to three years' probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of lewd conduct for tying up and molesting two young boys in a San Francisco Bay area church rectory.

Here is where I would like you to pause, and pay attention. Fr. Kiesle received a slap on the wrist for molestation and then was returned to the priesthood for nine more years, with full access to chldren....

As his probation ended in 1981, Kiesle asked to leave the priesthood and the diocese submitted papers to Rome to defrock him.

California church officials wrote to Ratzinger at least three times to check on the status of Kiesle's case and Cummins discussed the case with officials during a Vatican visit, according to correspondence. At one point, a Vatican official wrote to say the file may have been lost and suggested resubmitting materials.

As Kiesle's fate was being weighed in Rome, the priest returned to suburban Pinole to volunteer as a youth minister at St. Joseph Church, where he had served as associate pastor from 1972 to 1975.

Kiesle was ultimately stripped of his priestly powers on Feb. 13, 1987, though the documents do not indicate how or why. They also don't say what role — if any — Ratzinger had in the decision.

Now, here is where I challenge you to defend the acts, or lack thereof, of your sitting Pope...

Kiesle, who married after leaving the priesthood, was arrested and charged in 2002 with 13 counts of child molestation from the 1970s. All but two were thrown out after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional a California law extending the statute of limitations.

He pleaded no contest in 2004 to a felony for molesting a young girl in his Truckee home in 1995 and was sentenced to six years in state prison.

Kiesle, now 63 and a registered sex offender, lives in a Walnut Creek gated community, according to his address listed on the Megan's Law sex registry. An AP reporter was turned away when attempting to reach him for comment.


More than a half-dozen victims reached a settlement in 2005 with the Oakland diocese alleging Kiesle had molested them as young children.

"He admitted molesting many children and bragged that he was the Pied Piper and said he tried to molest every child that sat on his lap," said Lewis VanBlois, an attorney for six Kiesle victims who interviewed the former priest in prison. "When asked how many children he had molested over the years, he said 'tons.'"


And now...the dance of denial from the cult of the holier than thou....

Documents obtained by the AP last week revealed similar instances of Vatican stalling in cases involving two Arizona clergy.

In one case, the future pope took over the abuse case of the Rev. Michael Teta of Tucson, Ariz., then let it languish at the Vatican for years despite repeated pleas from the bishop for the man to be removed from the priesthood.

In the second, the bishop called Msgr. Robert Trupia a "major risk factor" in a letter to Ratzinger. There is no indication in those files that Ratzinger responded.

The Vatican has called the accusations "absolutely groundless" and said the facts were being misrepresented.


I beg to differ, I think that Fr. Kiesle provides the "ground". These are FACTS, people, not rumors or unsubstantiated claims. They are FACTS. How many priests like Fr. Kiesel have to be unearthed before you aknowledge that the organization that you so lovingly support has betrayed you? What will it take for you to step back and realize that in order to keep your faith as the pillar of morality (cough cough) you MUST demand erradication of molesters and rapists within your church?

As long as you continue to view this as an "us against them" dynamic, you are actually placing your church under much worse fire than if you demand that they do the right thing, and bad PR be damned. The Catholic church must make a stand and show that this behavior will not be tolerated, and they may just gain the respect of outsiders like myself. They must send a clear and concise message that their churches are no place for deviants to lurk, prey and find sanctuary. Unfortunately for you, their dutiful minions, they refuse to do so. So, I suppose that you will go down with the ship. What a sad place it must be to live inside your minds. I cannot imagine the ability to rationalize away the betrayal in these circumstances.

There have been countless jokes and parodies made in reference to the "child molesting Catholic priests". It is a sad reflection of our culture, in my opinion.

"I read this in the paper this morning: New York City has a priest shortage. So you see, there is some good news in the world. ... To give you an idea how bad it is, earlier today in Brooklyn an alter boy had to grope himself." —David Letterman

"As you've probably heard, the Pope has asked all the Cardinals to return to Rome. You know how they got them all to come back? They told them that there was going to be a performance by the Vienna Boys Choir." —Jay Leno

"The Supreme Court ruled today that virtual child pornography is legal. Finally, some good news for the church." —Jay Leno

"Kids, if you see an ad that says Cardinals looking for a bat boy, watch out, that has nothing to do with the baseball team." —Jay Leno

A priest and a lawyer are walking down the street and see a small boy eating an ice cream. The priest says, "How'd you like to fuck that?" To which the lawyer replied, "Out of what?"



Do you want the jokes to stop? I know that I do, and I don't share your faith. Here's an idea, instead of supporting and defending them, demand a thorough housecleaning, starting with the golden palace. If your church is what you claim it is, it will survive and be renewed. If not, then there is always Jonestown, Heaven's gate, Waco, Branch Dividians, The Solar Temple, or any other Kool-aid drinking, child molesting cult.

Just imagine if Jim Jones had accumulated the power of The Vatican.

One final quote for you...

“Subtlety may deceive you; integrity never will.” Oliver Goldsmith

I guess Ol' Jimmy Jones just lacked the necessary subtlety....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100409/ap_on_re_us/us_pope_church_abuse

....and again....

"With this spirit today we rally close around you, successor to (St.) Peter, bishop of Rome, the unfailing rock of the holy church," Sodano said. "Holy Father, on your side are the people of God, who do not allow themselves to be influenced by the petty gossip of the moment, by the trials which sometimes buffet the community of believers."

TRANSLATION

Limbaugh asks Miss America contestants: "Ours is a world governed by the aggressive use of force. Do you accept that?"

answer: "Sometimes war is inevitable"

Oh...wow. For once in my life, I agree with a woman who puts Vaseline on her teeth. If you are puzzled by how I see those two statements as a translation for the statement made by the cardinal, you didn't read it closely enough. His statement is one of "it's us against them." Well sir, when you use statements like, "petty gossip", when referencing participation in sexual assault of children, it is a war that you will beckon. What is the use of aggressive force in regard to his statement? It is guilt, used in combination with commanding loyalty. It is classic passive aggressive behavior. This has been a tool on the belt of clergy for as long as they have existed. They command the war, and then wash their hands of it, and "pray" for it to come to an end.

"Especially with you in these days are those 400,000 priests who generously serve the people of God, in parishes, recreation centers, schools, hospitals and many other places, as well as in the missions in the most remote parts of the world," the cardinal said.

TRANSLATION

If you've been victimized by clergy, please know that you are not alone. You can get better. You can reach out to others who've been hurt just like you have. Together, we can heal one another.

We are SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. We are the nation's largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others). We are an independent and confidential organization,


OH SNAP! My Brothas and sistas in GAWD....looks like a war you shall have! 400,000 strong, eh? Not good, boys....not good at all. You clearly do not understand the ripple effect of harm placed upon the youth within our communities. You look confused, allow me to put it in terms you can understand...


But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God."



For those of you wearing the red dresses, this DOES NOT mean to place your dick in their mouth! You seem to be confused. It also mentions something about sodomy somewhere in that great book of yours. Hey, if you like things up your ass, good for you, who am I to judge. BUT that 7 year old child does not want, nor does god require you to put anything up their ass. Was that too harsh for some of you? Does the thought of a grown man in a black dress placing his hands, tongue, penis, or any other appendage in or on a young boy in a white dress bother you? I hope it does. I also hope that is the visual you have in your head each and every time you tithe.

Their power comes from YOU, not god. Their ability to victimize and then lie comes from your simple need to have the answers to "why".

Benedict singled out the "trials and sufferings" of Christians in Iraq and Pakistan, noting that these believers have risked persecution and death for their faith. He urged hope for the people of Haiti and Chile, devastated by earthquakes. He said Easter could "signal the victory of peaceful coexistence and respect" in crime-ravaged areas of Latin American countries plagued by drug trafficking and said he would pray for peace in the Middle East.

TRANSLATION

All great movements are popular movements. They are the volcanic eruptions of human passions and emotions, stirred into activity by the ruthless Goddess of Distress or by the torch of the spoken word cast into the midst of the people.


OR THIS

All propaganda has to be popular and has to accommodate itself to the comprehension of the least intelligent of those whom it seeks to reach.


OR THIS

Any alliance whose purpose is not the intention to wage war is senseless and useless.


Who is the origin of those three quotes? Adolph Hitler.

The pope will "pray for peace in the Middle East". huh. That's kinda ironic, don't ya think? I mean, how stupid do you have to be in order to find solice in the idea of prayer ceasing a war started by a self professed Christian?

Sunday's edition of the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano denounced the accusations against the pope as a "vile defamation operation."

TRANSLATION

"Oh Lord, help me! It is false. I am clear. For my life now lies in your hands...."




That quote? It is from the tombstone of Rebecca Nurse, hanged as a witch in 1692.

"Ye are all against me..."


Martha Corey, hanged 1692



"...I am wronged. It is a shameful thing that
you should mind these folks that are out of
their wits."


Martha Carrier, hanged 1692

So, Pope Ratfucker, what size is your tie? You come from a long line of people corrupted by beliefs in fairy tales. You have descended from those who denied the corruption and political motive of their so called faith. Those just like you have perpetrated inhuman acts against the members of their communities. The victims of this religious zealotry were not heard...they were killed. I think, in light of the current situation, the least you could do, is step down. You are no innocent man being victimized by those who oppose you. You are at the very heart of an organization that has victimized thousands of innocent followers. I do not care for your pleas of innocence anymore than those like you cared for the pleas of the innocent.

Dressed in gold robes and shielded from a cool drizzle by a canopy, Benedict looked weary as he listened to Sodano's speech at the start of Mass in the cobblestone square bedecked with daffodils, tulips and azaleas.

TRANSLATION

The Master Manipulator

Let us look for a moment at how some of this manifests in the cult leader. Cult leaders have an
outstanding ability to charm and win over followers. They beguile and seduce. They enter a room and garner all the attention. They command the utmost respect and obedience. These are "individuals whose narcissism is so extreme and grandiose that they exist in a kind of splendid isolation in which the creation of the grandiose self takes precedence over legal, moral or interpersonal commitments."(l8) Paranoia may be evident in simple or elaborate delusions of persecution. Highly suspicious, they may feel conspired against, spied upon or cheated, or maligned by a person, group, or governmental agency. Any real or suspected unfavorable reaction may be interpreted as a deliberate attack upon them or the group. (Considering the criminal nature of some groups and the antisocial behavior of others, some of these fears may have more of a basis in reality than delusion!)

Harder to evaluate, of course, is whether these leaders' belief in their magical powers, omnipotence, and connection to God (or whatever higher power or belief system they are espousing) is delusional or simply part of the con. Megalomania--the belief that one is able or entitled to rule the world--is equally hard to evaluate without psychological testing of the in- dividual, although numerous cult leaders state quite readily that their goal is to rule the world. In any case, beneath the surface gloss of intelligence, charm, and professed humility seethes an inner world of rage, depression, and fear.

Two writers on the subject used the label "Trust Bandit" to describe the psychopathic personality.(l9) Trust Bandit is indeed an apt descripdon of this thief of our hearts, souls, minds, bodies, and pocketbooks. Since a significant percentage of current and former cult members have been in more than one cultic group or relationship, learning to recognize the per- sonality style of the Trust Bandit can be a useful antidote to further abuse.

The Profile of a Psychopath

In reading the profile, bear in mind the three characteristics that Robert Lifton sees as common to a cultic situation:

1. A charismatic leader who...increasingly becomes the object of worship

2. A series of processes that can be associated with "coercive persuasion" or "thought reform"

3. The tendency toward manipulation from above...with exploitation--economic, sexual, or other--of often genuine seekers who bring idealism from below(20)

Based on the psychopathy checklists of Hervey Cleckley and Robert Hare, we now explore certain traits that are particularly pertinent to cult leaders. The 15 characteristics outlined below list features commonly found in those who become perpetrators of psychological and physical abuse. In the discussion we use the nomenclature "psychopath" and "cult leader" interchangeably. To illustrate these points, a case study of Branch Davidian cult leader David Koresh follows this section.

We are not suggesting that all cult leaders are psychopaths but rather that they may exhibit many of the behavioral characteristics of one. We are also not proposing that you use this checklist to make a diagnosis, which is something only a trained professional can do. We present the checklist as a tool to help you label and demystify traits you may have noticed in your leader.

Characteristics of a Cult Leader

People coming out of a cultic group or relationship often struggle with the question, "Why would anyone (my leader, my lover, my teacher) do this to me?" When the deception and exploitation become clear, the enormous unfairness of the victimization and abuse can be very difficult to accept. Those who have been part of such a nightmare often have difficulty placing the blame where it belongs--on the leader.

A cult cannot be truly explored or understood without understanding its leader. A cult's formation,
proselytizing methods, and means of control "are determined by certain salient personality characteristics of [the] cult leader....Such individuals are authoritarian personalities who attempt to compensate for their deep, intense feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and hostility by forming cultic groups primarily to attract those whom they can psychologically coerce into and keep in a passive-submissive state, and secondarily to use them to increase their income."(l)

In examining the motives and activities of these self-proclaimed leaders, it becomes painfully obvious that cult life is rarely pleasant for the disciple and breeds abuses of all sorts. As a defense against the high level of anxiety that accompanies being so acutely powerless, people in cults often assume a stance of self-blame. This is reinforced by the group's ma- manipulative messages that the followers are never good enough and are to blame for everything that goes wrong.

Demystifying the guru's power is an important part of the psyche- educational process needed to fully recover.(2) It is critical to truly gaining freedom and independence from the leader"s control. The process starts with some basic questions: Who was this person who encouraged you to view him as God, all-knowing, or all-powerful? What did he get out of this masquerade? What was the real purpose of the group (or relationship)?

In cults and abusive relationships, those in a subordinate position usually come to accept the abuse as their fault, believing that they deserve the foul treatment or that it is for their own good. They sometimes persist in believing that they are bad rather than considering that the person upon whom they are so dependent is cruel, untrustworthy, and unreliable. It is simply too frightening for them to do that: it threatens the balance of power and means risking total rejection, loss, and perhaps even death of self or loved ones.
This explains why an abused cult follower may become disenchanted with the relationship or the group yet continue to believe in the teachings, goodness, and power of the leader.

Even after leaving the group or relationship, many former devotees carry a burden of guilt and shame while they continue to regard their former leader as paternal, all-good, and godlike. This is quite common in those who "walk away" from their groups, especially if they never seek the benefits of an exit counseling or therapy to deal with cult-related issues. This same phenomenon is found in battered women and in children who are abused by their parents or other adults they admire.

To heal from a traumatic experience of this type, it is important to understand who and what the
perpetrator is. As long as there are illusions about the leader's motivation, powers, and abilities, those who have been in his grip deprive themselves of an important opportunity for growth: the chance to empower themselves, to become free of the tyranny of dependency on others for their well-being, spiritual growth, and happiness.



The Authoritarian Power Dynamic



The purpose of a cult (whether group or one-on-one) is to serve the emotional, financial, sexual, and power needs of the leader. The single most important word here is power. The dynamic around which cults are formed is similar to that of other power relationships and is essentially ultra- auhoritarian, based on a power imbalance. The cult leader by definition must have an authoritarian personality in order to fulfill his half of the power dynamic. Traditional elements of authoritarian personalities indude the following:

-the tendency to hierarchy

-the drive for power (and wealth)

-hostility, hatred, prejudice

- superficial judgments of people and events

-a one-sided scale of values favoring the one in power

-interpreting kindness as weakness

-the tendency to use people and see others as inferior

-a sadistic-masochistic tendency

-incapability of being ultimately satisfied

-paranoia(3)

In a study of twentieth-century dictators, one researcher wrote: 'Since compliance depends on whether the leader is perceived as being both powerful and knowing, the ever-watchful and all-powerful leader and his invisible but observant and powerful instruments, such as secret police) can be invoked in the same way as an unobservable but omniscient God....Similarly, the pomp and ceremony surrounding such an individual make him more admirable and less like the common herd, increasing both his self-confidence and the confidence of his subjects. The phenomenon is found not only with individual leaders, but with entire movemnts"(4)

We will see, however, that an authoritarian personality is just one aspect of the nature of a cult leader.

Who Becomes a Cult Leader?

Frequently at gatherings of former cult members a lively exchange takes place in which those present compare their respective groups and leaders. As people begin to describe their special, enlightened, and unique "guru"--be he a pastor, therapist, political leader, teacher, lover, or swami--they are quickly surprised to find that their once-revered leaders are really quite similar in temperament and personality. It often seems as if these leaders come tiom a common mold, sometimes jokingly called the "Cookie-cutter Messiah School."

These similarities between cult leaders of all stripes are in fact character disorders commonly identified with the psychopathic personality. They have been studied by psychiatrists, medical doctors, clinical psychologists, and others for more than half a century. In this chapter we review some of this research and conclude with a psychopathological profile of traits commonly found in abusive leaders.

Cultic groups usually originate with a living leader who is believed to be "god" or godlike by a cadre of dedicated believers. Along with a dra- matic and convincing talent for self-expression, these leaders have an intuitive ability to sense their followers' needs and draw them closer with promises of fulfillment.
Gradually, the leader inculcates the group with his own private ideology (or craziness!), then creates
conditions so that his victims cannot or dare not test his claims. How can you prove someone is not the Messiah? That the world won't end tomorrow? That humans are not possessed by aliens from another world or dimension? Through psychological manipulation and control, cult leaders trick their followers into believing in something, then prevent them from testing and disproving that mythology or belief system.



The Role of Charisma



In general, charismatic personalities are known for their inescapable magnetism, their winning style, the self-assurance with which they promote something--a cause, a belief, a product. A charismatic person who offers hope of new beginnings often attracts attention and a following. Over the years we have witnessed this in the likes of Dale Carnegie, Werner Erhard (founder of est, now The Forum), John Hanley (founder of Lifespring), Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Shirley MacLaine, John Bradshaw, Marianne Williamson, Ramtha channeler J.Z. Knight, and a rash of Amway "executives," weight-loss program promoters and body-building gurus.

One dictionary definition of charisma is "a personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty or enthusiasm for a public figure (as a political leader or military commander); a special magnetic charm or appeal."(5) Charisma was studied in depth by the German sociologist Max Weber, who defined it as "an exceptional quality in an individual who, through appearing to possess supernatural, providential, or extraordinary powers, succeeds in gathering disciples around him."(6)

Weber's charismatic leader was "a sorcerer with an innovative aura and a personal magnetic gift, [who] promoted a specific doctrine.... [and was] concerned with himself rather than involved with others....[He] held an exceptional type of power: it set aside the usages of normal political life and assumed instead those of demagoguery, dictatorship, or revo- lution, [which induced] men's whole-hearted devotion to the charismatic individual through a blind and fanatical trust and an unrestrained and un- critical faith."(7)

In the case of cults, of course, we know that this induction of whole hearted devotion does not happen spontaneously but is the result of the cult leader's skillful use of thought-reform techniques. Charisma on its own is not evil and does not necessarily breed a cult leader. Charisma is, however, a powerful and awesome attribute found in many cult leaders who use it in ways that are both self-serving and destructive to others. The combination of charisma and psychopathy is a lethal mixture--perhaps it is the very recipe used at the Cookie-cutter Messiah School!

For the cult leader, having charisma is perhaps most useful during the stage of cult formation. It takes a strong-willed and persuasive leader to convince people of a new belief, then gather the newly converted around him as devoted followers. A misinterpretation of the cult leader's personal charisma may also foster his followers' belief in his special or messianic qualities.

So we see that charisma is indeed a desirable trait for someone who wishes to attract a following.
However, like beauty, charisma is in the eye of the beholder. Mary, for example, may be completely taken with a par- ticular seminar leader, practically swooning at his every word, while her friend Susie doesn't feel the slightest tingle. Cehtainly at the time a person is under the sway of charisma the effect is very real. Yet, in reality, charisma does nothing more than create a certain worshipful reaction to an idealized figure in the mind of the one who is smitten.

In the long run, skills of persuasion (which may or may not be charismadc) are more important to the cult leader than charisma--for the power and hold of cults depend on the particular environment shaped by the thought-reform program and control mechanisms, all of which are usually conceptualized and put in place by the leader. Thus it is the psychopathology of the leader, not his charisma, that causes the systematic manipulative abuse and exploitation found in cults.



The Cult Leader as Psychopath

Cultic groups and relationships are formed primarily to meet specific emotional needs of the leader, many of whom suffer from one or another unotional or character disorder. Few, if any, cult leaders subject them- selves to the psychological tests or prolonged clinical interviews that allow for an accurate diagnosis.
However, researchers and clinicians who have observed these individuals describe them variously as neurotic, psychotic, on a spectrum exhibiting neurotic, sociopathic, and psychotic characteristics, or suffering from a diagnosed personality disorder.(8)

It is not our intent here to make an overarching diagnosis, nor do we intend to imply that ah cult leaders or the leaders of any of the groups mentioned here are psychopaths. In reviewing the data, however, we can surmise that there is significant psychological dysfunctioning in some cult leaders and that their behavior demonstrates features rather consistent with the disorder known as psychopathy.

Dr. Robert Hare, one of the world's foremost experts in the field, estimates that there are at least two million psychopaths in North America. He writes, "Psychopaths are social predators who charm, manipulate, and ruthlessly plow their way through life, leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered expectations, and empty wallets. Completely lacking in conscience and in feelings for others, they selfishly take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret."(9)

Psychopathy falls within the section on personality disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is the standard source book used in making psychiatric evaluations and
diagnoses.(l0) In the draft version of the manual's 4th edition (to be released Spring 1994), this disorder is listed as "personality disorder not otherwise specified/Cleckley-type psychopath," named after psychiatrist Hervey Cleckley who carried out the first major studies of psychopaths. The combination of personality and behavioral traits that allows for this diagnosis must be evident in the person's history, not simply apparent during a particular episode. That is, psychopathy is a long-term personality disorder. The term psychopath is often used interchangeably with sociopath, or sociopathic personality Because it is more commonly recognized, we use the term psychopath here.

Personality disorders, as a diagnosis, relate to certain inflexible and maladaptive behaviors and traits that cause a person to have significantly impaired social or occupational functioning. Signs of this are often first manifested in childhood and adolescence, and are expressed through distorted patterns of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and oneself. In simple terms this means that something is amiss, awry, not quite right in the person, and this creates problems in how he or she relates to the rest of the world. 6

The psychopathic personality is sometimes confused with the "anti- social personality," another disorder; however, the psychopath exhibits more extreme behavior than the antisocial personality. The antisocial per- sonality is identified by a mix of antisocial and criminal behaviors--he is the common criminal. The psychopath, on the other hand, is characterized by a mix of criminal and socially deviant behavior.

Psychopathy is not the same as psychosis either. The latter is characterized by an inability to differentiate what is real from what is imagined: boundaries between self and others are lost, and critical thinking is greatly impaired. While generally not psychotic, cult leaders may experience psychotic episodes, which may lead to the destruction of themselves or the group. An extreme example of this is the mass murder-suicide that occurred in November 1978 in Tonestown, Guyana, at the People's Temple led by Jim Jones. On his orders, over 900 men,women, and children perished as Jones deteriorated into what was probably a paranoid psychosis.

The psychopathic personality has been well described by Hervey ClecMey in his classic work, The Mask of Sanity, first published in 1941 and updated and reissued in 1982. Cleckley is perhaps best known for The Three Faces of Eve, a book and later a popular movie on multiple personal- ity. Cleckley also gave the world a detailed study of the personality and behavior of the psychopath, listing 16 characteristics to be used in evaluating and treating psychopaths.(ll)

Cledde's work greatly influenced 20 years of research carried out by Robert Hare at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. In his work developing reliable and valid procedures for assessing psychopathy, Hare made several revisions in Cleddey's list of traits and finally settled on a 20-item Psychopathy Cheddist.(l2) Later in this chapter we will use an adaptation of both the Cleddey and Hare checklists to examine the profile of a cult ieader.

Neuropsychiatrist Richard M. Restak stated, "At the heart of the di- agnosis of psychopathy was the recognition that a person could appear normal and yet dose observation would reveal the personality to be irra- tional or even violent."(l3) Indeed, initially most psychopaths appear quite normal. They present themselves to us as charming, interesting, even humble. The majority "don't suffer from delusions, hallucinations, or memory impairment, their contact with reality appears solid."(l4) Some, on the other hand, may demonstrate marked paranoia and megalomania. In one clinical study of psychopathic inpatients, the authors wroa: "We found that our psychopaths were similar to normals (in the reference group) with regard to their capacity to experience external event~ as real and with regard to their sense of bodily reality. They generally had good memory, concentration attention, and language function. They had a high barrier against external, aversive stimulation....In some ways they dearly resemble normal people and can thus 'pass' as reasonably normal or sane. Yet we found them to be extremely primitive in other ways, even more primitive than frankly schizophrenic patients. In some ways their thinking was sane and reasonable, but in others it was psychotically inefficient and/or convoluted."(l5)

Another researcher described psychopaths in this way: "These people are impulsive, unable to tolerate frustration and delay, and have problems with trusting. They take a paranoid position or externalize their emotional experience. They have little ability to form a working alliance and a poor capacity for self-observation. Their anger is frightening. Frequently they take flight. Their relations with others are highly problematic. When dose to another person they fear engulfment or fusion or loss of self. At the same time, paradoxically, they desire closeness; frustration of their entitled wishes to be nourished, cared for, and assisted often leads to rage. They are capable of a child's primitive fury enacted with an adult's physical - capabilities, and action is always in the offing.$l6)

Ultimately, "the psychopath must have what he wants, no matter what the cost to those in his way."(l7)

Go back. Read it. Listen. Think for yourselves.

http://www.anandaawareness.com/cult_leaders.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_vatican_easter
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/adolf_hitler.html
http://home.texoma.net/~adwignall/stones.htm

....and the saga continues....

I do not typically revisit a subject once I have spewed my opinion on the matter, but THIS one begs to be followed relentlessly. I am both laughing and disgusted by the fact that I am sitting here on Easter morning reading yet another series of "Bushisms" (thank you President Dipshit for that word!) captured for all posterity. They come at the lips of the flying monkeys that run the Vatican. This one is worthy of more attention...

Pope Benedict XVI faced fresh criticism Saturday after attacks on the Catholic Church over the paedophile priest furore were compared to anti-Semitism, further marring Easter Week celebrations.

Jewish groups and those representing victims of abuse by Catholic priests denounced the remarks by the pope's personal preacher during a Good Friday homily.


But hold on a minute, here is a shocker, THEY DENY IT!

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi later told AFP the comments were from "a letter read by the preacher and not the official position of the Vatican."

So, here is what I am wondering, what color smoke do the sheep see pouring from the Vatican when their self pontificating men in red dresses (insert your mind humming "Lady in Red" by Chris De Burgh) get caught breaking their cardinal rule? (pun intended).

Let's take a look at this one. A letter written by some moron, whose name I don't even care to know, was released supposedly without the approval of the Vatican. That is quite a position for them to take. This, from the organization that has managed to make wiping their own asses secretive and ritualistic. Nice try, boys. If it was allowed to be seen, you agreed with it, and supported it's content. I know that your followers are morons, they have to be to keep swallowing the shit that you shovel, but those of us with REAL free will and common sense are stunned by the unmitigated gall it takes to make a statement like that, and then try to deny it.

I will, yet again, simplify what was stated here. The Vatican has been accused of willfully covering up countless acts of sexual abuse within their ranks. Proof of these accusations and their failure to follow up appropriately has been provided. The responsibility has landed square in the lap of your current "Water Buffalo" leader. Then, instead of being forthcoming with a dose of your OWN repentance, you idiots compare people demanding justice for victims of abuse with THE HOLOCAUST! HOLY SHIT! Not only did you pull the victim card, you threw the whole fuckin deck!

So, Pope Ratfucker has clearly decided to use the Ostrich defense. He has simply shoved his head in the sand, (sand being a metaphor for his rectal cavity) and refused to aknowledge the accusations appropriately. I can only assume that he is hoping that this will all blow over. You see, folks, he can't "do the right thing" here because if he does, and he calls for the resignation and defrocking of the gulity parties, he is signing his own warrant. He is as culpable as his minions.

The pope himself faces allegations that, as archbishop of Munich and later as the Vatican's chief morals enforcer, he helped to protect predator priests.

see?

But hey, the good news is that god will guide them to the right decision through a thorough investigation. *blink* I guess god is partying it up at spring break in Orlando or some shit, because he clearly is not focused here. What happened to wrath and lightning bolts that shoot out of his ass? You mean to tell me that he is relying on a bunch of grown men who haven't had sex, (cough cough) wear red dresses and WAY too much bling to render justice here? Good lord, your god is weak. That sparks a funny thought. You Catholics get your panties all in a bunch over shit like gay parades and alternative lifestyles, all the while your leaders are parading around in drag and perfoming plays in public squares. Wow.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, meanwhile, told the BBC in a radio interview to be aired next week that the Irish Catholic Church had lost "all credibility" over its massive abuse scandal compounded by evidence of cover-ups by high-ranking prelates, the Times of London reported Saturday.

I love that one. They have lost all credibility? Ya think???? What i want to know, is where the FUCK was their "credibility" before this? Come on people, we are talking about a bunch of people who actually think that a human being controlled a massive body of water. They actually believe that some singular creature that no one had ever seen or touched created EVERYTHING. They actually believe that if they ask for something long enough, over and over again, that this creature will grant their request. They actually believe that they have found the one god who rules above all others. *blink* Credibility? WITH WHO? Oh, I know who. They may be losing credibilty with the "just in case" believers. You know who you are. You are pretty sure that everything that your religion spews is a bunch of crap, but you keep dutifully going to church and following their loosly formed rules.....just in case....they are right in the end. I get that. Guess what? It is now time to just let it go! Let me put it this way, you are MUCH more likely to get a ride on a puffy cloud with a hot angel if you DON'T follow a molester. Did that clear it up for you? No? Ok, let's try this way then, you are MORE likely to know what a flame up your ass feels like if you continue to place the word of a flawed human being over the word of your "almighty god".

"Their children shall be dashed
to pieces before their eyes!
There houses spoiled, and their
wives raped...Dash the young men
to pieces...have no pity on the
fruit of the womb, the children
shall not be spared"
-- Isa 13:16-18


...or maybe I am wrong. *blink*

Good choice in a god, idiots. The fun in all of this is that I can find another twenty passages that completely contradict this one...and every one. How do you people fit your entire cranium in your assholes?

Listen, you idiots. You can't pick and choose what rules you follow at whatever time it suits you. You either believe in god, and doing the right thing, or you don't. I simply believe in the latter. If you have nothing to fear, allow and DEMAND that your "leaders of faith" are held accountable for destroying and corrupting your most valued posession....your faith. Oh, it isn't your most valued posession? Is it your children? Your car? What is it? Come on, people...get a fucking grip! If you are following a god that does NOT condemn the acts of these men, well...you may want to look in another book or something. There ARE others, you know. They were written by men too. They are equally flawed and full of contradictions and imagry. Jesus Christ, you can find anything you want in any of them! Try this...believe in your god, if you are so sure that he exists. Believe in your ideas of right and wrong. Just PLEASE stop believing in the superiority of your position! It is your unbending need to be the "right one" that has allowed this organization to grow to a level of corruption and lawlessness that has jeopardized our children. I believe in your shit more than you do! I believe that your child is MY child..and it is my duty to protect them! I am begging you to stop and think about what your blindness is causing.

But in France the daily Liberation on Saturday carried a front page headline asking "It is time to change the pope?".

The paper concluded that while being a top theologian, Benedict XVI has demonstrated "scant political judgement during his five year pontificate and is a poor communicator, who accumulates one gaffe after another."

It doubted that the pope was up to dealing with the current crisis, saying that in the past he had shown "an incomprehension of the world as it is".

"It is down to him to respond to the expectations of his faithful and the secular world. Benedict XVI must come out of his bubble."


"an incomprehension of the world as it is" That is quite a statement. I guess this ranks right up there with the cardinal who, last week, said that he thinks that eliminating celibacy for priests would limit incidents of sexual abuse. *blink* Are there any other books or publications in the Vatican that could help shed some light on the fact that molestation and rape are NOT about sex?? After all, we have only kown that for the last 20 or 30 years. "come out of his bubble" I love that one too. If he comes "out of his bubble", he won't be the fuckin pope! For Christ's sake, his "bubble" is BULLETPROOF!


I'm dux animadverto , EGO don't postulo interpretor EGO operor non postulo interpretor quare Inquam res. Ut interesting res super res praesieo "


TRANSLATION




"I'm the commander -- see, I don't need to explain -- I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being president."


Thank you, President Bush.

Holy shit. Now I am REALLY pissed that you made me say THAT!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100403/wl_afp/vaticanpopeeaster_20100403102704

Earth to Catholics!

Did you know that, statistically, your child is safer left alone on a street corner than in the "safety" of a Catholic church? We, as parents, fear the loss or harm of our child above all else. You worry continually about their safety and well being, to the point of sleepless nights. We teach our children to not talk to, or accept anything from strangers. We teach them to avoid situations that can place them directly in harm's way. We routinely check websites like "Megan's Law" to be informed as to where the dangers lie. Then, you drop them off at your local church and feel that they are safe and loved.

So I have to ask you, how far up your ass does your head have to be to NOT see the inherent dangers here? How many times do we, as a society, have to hear about acts of sexual assault, molestation and rape within the Catholic church before you morons get it? Now pull your bunched panties out of your ass, and settle down. I am NOT attacking your faith, or your choice of being a dutiful Catholic. I am attacking your idiocy as a parent. How is it, that after this many years and incidents of gross negligence on the part of the Catholic church, that you just can not see what is right under your noses? How can you NOT see that the very structure of your religion is a breeding ground for the socially backward and deviants that lurk in the primordial ooze of our society?

Your "church" consists of gaggles of men and women who, for some unknown reason, have devoted their entire lives to "spreading the word of god". Very interresting concept, don't you think? You have faith in your god, so what separates you from the men and women who enter the priesthood and convent? Your faith just isn't as strong as theirs? Did you not "receive the call"? Why not? Are you, somehow, less valuable in your god's eyes? Maybe you did not have the additional pressures from your parents to join the church. Maybe you just didn't take your catechism classes quite as seriously as some of your classmates. Maybe you had a desire to be loved and have a family that consists of real and tangible beings, you know, humans. But maybe, just maybe, you aren't a child molesting deviant who requires protection from the largest and most powerful organization in the world.

Now, I understand that every religion has the need to ritual and practice. Feel free to enjoy the ceremonial drinking of wine and devouring of styrofoam as symbolism for eating your great diety. Feel free to sit, stand, kneel, bow and genuflect before a wooden cross bearing the tortured figure of a man. Feel free to spew your "sins" to a man who hides behind a closed window. Feel free to build obnoxious structures that display your wealth to your competetion, all the while consuming public, tax free land. But can you explain one thing to me, please?

Why do you continue to leave your children in the care of someone who has never raised a child? Why do you continue to leave your child in the care of someone that, for all practical purposes, has ABSOLUTELY NO way of you checking their past, their qualifications, licensing, or clearances to be educating and caring for your child? Holy shit, people, you amaze me! When you look for a daycare facility to care for your child, would you NOT check those things? When your child enters school, do you NOT make sure that the teachers, caregivers and staff employed within that building have the proper documentation and clearances to have access to your child? Do you NOT check the qualifications and backgrounds of their coaches, youth leaders, and mentors? No? Well, there is the problem, I suppose.

If you answered, "OF COURSE!" to any of those questions, then what the hell is wrong with you? Why would you, for one minute, consider leaving your most precious responsibility in the hands of someone that has NOT been able to meet those criteria? I know the answer already. Frankly, it makes me sick. You do this because you truly believe that these people are somehow closer you your god than you are. They are "good people" who are spreading your faith to those who YOU have determined require it. You read, and hear about these incidents of sexual abuse time after time, and yet, somehow, believe that it won't happen to you in YOUR church. Guess what, dipshit, IT CAN! Why would you take that chance? Your priests, nuns, bishops and funny hat wearing clowns are PEOPLE! They are NOT gods. They are NOT better than you. They are people! You are trusting PEOPLE with no searchable background with your child!

You are questioning why I continue to use phrases like "no searchable background" and "no clearances", aren't you? You are pathetic. This organization that you have so trustingly joined has been at the center of covering up and denying the abuse among their ranks for decades. How can one face the laws when the laws don't apply to them? How can they face justice when there are hundreds of people just like them aiding the the cover up of what they have done? Why would they do that? They do it to preserve their "holier than thou" position in the world. They do it to preserve their memberships and cash flow. They do it because they are PEOPLE making money hand over fist off of the control and brainwashing of their followers! They do it because they hold great political and social power that yeilds their ability to infect more and more people with their "word", thus yielding more cash flow.

You are paying membership dues to an organization that covers up aggregious acts commited by their officials. You are paying membership dues to an organization that harbors known molesters and rapists, and they do it in the name of god. If that doesn't bother you, then you are no better than they are.

I would no sooner leave my child in the care of a Catholic priest or nun than I would leave my child in the care of a known child molesting polygamist. Funny, I found these two articles side by side this morning....read....enjoy....and see if you can detect the problem here...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_church_abuse_pope



VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI rebuked Irish bishops Saturday for "grave errors of judgment" in handling clerical sex abuse and ordered an investigation into the Irish church but did not mention any Vatican responsibility.

In a letter to the Irish faithful read across Europe amid a growing, multination abuse scandal, the pope doled out no specific punishments to bishops blamed by victims, and Irish government-ordered investigations, for having covered up abuse of thousands of Irish children from the 1930s to the 1990s.

Ireland's main group of clerical-abuse victims, One in Four, said it was deeply disappointed by the letter because it failed to lay blame with the Vatican for what it called a "deliberate policy of the Catholic Church at the highest levels to protect sex offenders, thereby endangering children."

"If the church cannot acknowledge this fundamental truth, it is still in denial," the group said.

The letter directly addressed only Ireland, but the Vatican said it could be read as applying to other countries. Hundreds of new allegations of abuse have recently come to light across Europe, including in the pope's native Germany, where he served as archbishop in a diocese where several victims have recently come forward. One priest suspected of molesting boys while the future pope was in charge was transferred to a job where he abused more children.

While a cardinal at the Vatican, Joseph Ratzinger penned a letter instructing bishops around the world to report all cases of abuse to his office and keep them secret under threat of excommunication. Irish bishops have said the letter was widely understood to mean they shouldn't report the cases to police.

"You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry," Benedict said, addressing himself to Irish Catholics who suffered "sinful and criminal" abuse at the hands of priests, brothers and nuns and a botched response by their superiors.

"It is understandable that you find it hard to forgive or be reconciled with the church," he said. "In her name, I openly express the shame and remorse that we all feel."

Benedict used his harshest words for the abusers themselves, saying they had betrayed the trust of the faithful, brought shame on the church and now must answer before God and civil authorities.

"Conceal nothing," he exhorted them. "Openly acknowledge your guilt, submit yourselves to the demands of justice, but do not despair of God's mercy."

Benedict faulted their superiors, the Irish bishops, for having failed "sometimes grievously" to apply the church's own law which calls for harsh punishments for child abusers, including defrocking priests.

But he didn't rebuke them specifically for having failed to report cases of abuse to police, saying only that serious mistakes were made and that now they must prevent future abuse and "continue to cooperate with civil authorities."

"I recognize how difficult it was to grasp the extent and complexity of the problem, to obtain reliable information and to make the right decisions in the light of conflicting expert advice," Benedict wrote.

"Nevertheless, it must be admitted that grave errors of judgment were made and failures of leadership occurred. And this has seriously undermined your credibility and effectiveness."

While the letter doled out no punishment for the bishops, the pope did order a Vatican investigation into some dioceses, seminaries and religious orders. Such a move is undertaken only when Rome considers a local church unable to deal with a problem on its own. The Vatican ordered such an "apostolic visitation" into U.S. seminaries after the U.S. clerical sex abuse scandal exploded in 2002.

The results of the Irish investigation could lead to further action.

Victims have been demanding that bishops resign, and three Irish bishops have offered to step down. Benedict hasn't accepted the resignations.

Asked why there were no punitive provisions in the letter, Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi noted that the letter was pastoral, not administrative or disciplinary in nature, and that any further measures concerning resignations would be taken by the competent Vatican offices.

Cardinal Sean Brady, the top cardinal in Ireland who himself is under fire for not reporting a notorious abuser to police, welcomed the letter.

"Let us pray that the Holy Father's pastoral letter will be the beginning of a great season of rebirth and hope in the Irish Church," he said.

Three Irish government-ordered investigations published from 2005 to 2009 have documented how thousands of Irish children suffered rape, molestation and other abuse by priests in their parishes and by nuns and brothers in boarding schools and orphanages. Irish bishops did not report a single case to police until 1996 after victims began to sue the church.

The reports have faulted Rome for sending confusing messages to the Irish church about norms to be followed and, in general, for what it called the absence of a coherent set of canon laws and rules to apply in cases of abuse.

In particular, the so-called Murphy report faulted the 2001 secrecy letter penned by then-Cardinal Ratzinger, who headed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for a quarter-century before becoming pope, making him the most informed Vatican official about the global scale of clerical abuse.

In that role, he denounced the "filth" in the priesthood and initiated what has amounted to a crackdown on predatory priests, demanding a policy of zero tolerance from his bishops. As pope, he has met with American, Australian and Canadian victims of abuse, offering them comfort and apologies.

Nevertheless, reports emerged last week that while he was archbishop of Munich in the 1980s, Ratzinger approved therapy for a priest suspected of molesting boys. The priest was then transferred to a job where he later abused more children. He was convicted in a criminal trial. The archdiocese has said Ratzinger's then vicar general took full responsibility for the transfer.

Lombardi defended Benedict in his handling of the global abuse scandal and said anyone who knows the pontiff's background and history would know he has been a "witness for coherence and correctness" in confronting abuse and a "guide to overcome a past of silence."

Lombardi was peppered with questions about why the German-born pope didn't directly address the German scandal or take the opportunity of the letter to make a more sweeping commentary on the now-global dimensions of the scandal.

Lombardi acknowledged the other cases but said the Irish scandal was unique in its scope. But he said that obviously issues in the letter could be read to apply to other countries and individuals.

"You can't talk about the entire world every time," he said. "It risks becoming banal."

The head of the German bishops' conference, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, said the letter was a message also for Germany.

"The sexual abuse scandal in Ireland is not just an Irish problem, it is the scandal of the church in many places, it is the scandal of the church in Germany," he said.

A prominent German Catholic activist group, We Are Church, said it respected the pope's efforts with the letter.

But it faulted him for failing to address the fact that abuse is a global and structural problem for the church. "It would be good if there would be a mea culpa from him for all victims around the globe," said spokesman Christian Weisner.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100320/ap_on_re_us/us_polygamist_trial;_ylt=AtGbyKiRkEOavUPkrC95On1bbBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTM4NHRyYmltBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMzIwL3VzX3BvbHlnYW1pc3RfdHJpYWwEY2NvZGUDbW9zdHBvcHVsYXIEY3BvcwM0BHBvcwM0BHNlYwN5bl90b3Bfc3RvcmllcwRzbGsDbWVtYmVyb2Z0ZXhh

SAN ANGELO, Texas – The latest member of a polygamist group whose sprawling West Texas ranch was raided in 2008 has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for sexual assault of a child.

Thirty-five-year-old Merril Leroy Jessop was sentenced Friday. Jurors earlier this week also found he violated Texas laws prohibiting bigamy.

Prosecutors say Jessop tried to delete photos and other documents connecting him to an underage bride.

Jessop is the fourth member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be tried since authorities raided and seized documents from the Yearning For Zion Ranch. The weeklong raid temporarily sent 439 children to foster care.

The Texas attorney general's office says eight more group members are awaiting trial.





75 years? Wow, and yet....where are the Catholic priests? Tomorrow is Sunday, go ask yours. Good luck.

American Heroes

Here is Mark McGwire’s chance. For the last four years, he has hidden inside his gated community in Southern California while his reputation and legacy withered among a public that branded him a coward who never followed through on a promise he made under oath before Congress.

One of the lasting images of Mark McGwire is his evasive performance before Congress in 2005.
Now, redemption calls. The St. Louis Cardinals hired McGwire on Monday as their new hitting coach, exposing him to vouching for the very words on which he turned his back. On March 19, 2005, in between informing a roomful of elected officials probing baseball’s steroid problem that “I’m not here to talk about the past,” McGwire found himself engaged in a particularly telling exchange with Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.).
Cummings: “You’re willing to be a national spokesman?”
McGwire: “I’d be a great one.”
Cummings: “So, that means you would do it?”
McGwire: “Be a spokesperson?”
Cummings: “Yes.”
McGwire: “Absolutely.”
If, by absolutely, McGwire meant he’d completely ignore the steroid issue short of a few token donations from his foundation, well, then he’s been a paragon of spokesmandom.

Embrace and own his errors. Speak with candor. Convince a public that he turned his back on four years ago.
Be a hero. The real kind this time.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-mcgwire102509&prov=yhoo&type=lgns


Oh, the moral and ethical dilemmas that the almighty U. S of A face. Are there not more important things in this country than whether or not an overpaid "professional athlete" takes a "performance enhancing drug"? I love that term, "performance enhancing drug". I bet their wives would disagree. When I read things like this, and the pseudo disgust for athletes who don't accomplish their fame "naturally", I shake my head in wonder. I hear all kinds of trumped up outrage over some kind of "betrayal" at the hands of men like Mark McGuire. I was an athlete, a long time ago. The human body has limitations. Athletes push their bodies and minds beyond what is possible. That is how they become the "best", at least until someone else pushes further.

The question that we all need to ask ourselves is, why do they push so hard, and so far? The answers are actually pretty simple. The first is fame. The second is money, and the third is personal achievement. What are they achieving? They have the ability to say, "I am the best", or "my team is the best". They have thousands of people adoring them. They make millions of dollars, and live lavish lifestyles. It was YOUR demand to see the bigger and better athlete, it was YOUR willingness to pay hundreds of dollars for their jersey, it was YOUR need to be a part of a group that can claim "bragging" rights for your city that created these monsters. YOU are the ones who tell your children that they need to destroy their young, developing bodies for fame and fortune. YOU are the ones who feel the need to live vicariously through your children and communities. Yet, you are then the ones who express outrage at the idea that they have taken a drug that enhances their abilities. Why? That answer is also a simple one. Those drugs are harmful, and the people who opt NOT to take them are at an unfair disadvantage. Right? Oh come on now, you don't care about an unfair advantage when you are demanding more and more from your children and athletes, unless it is YOUR child, or team who can't make the cut.

Why do we place so much emphasis on the ability to defeat another at a game? This is what all of this boils down to. You aren't racing to help mankind, or expand your knowledge. You are racing to win a game. Baseball is a game. Football is a game. Hockey is a game. Why are these men held to a standard of being a "hero"? Simply, because they were willing to push what was a natural ability to the breaking point and beyond? Many professional athletes donate time and money to their communities. That's great. Where did that money come from? The community who PAID to see them perform! Do you really think that they TRULY give more of a shit about the community than their tax breaks? You are truly naive if you think that a person whose natural drive to defeat another also has the spirit of a true humanitarian.

So now, Mark Mcguire has all but been shunned from public view. He has been cast out like a leper, and why? Because you are pissed off that you made a professional "game player" a hero to your sons and daughters. You trusted a man that you don't even know to be a role model for your children. HA! The joke is on you, and he has made you look like the fool that you are. I say, good for him! He took your money, your adoration, your trust and your status as "hero" and laughed all the way to the bank. The true American spirit shines through. Did you learn anything from his "betrayal"? Nope. You just trusted someone else, because you are an idiot.

I say, let them take steroids. Let them pump whatever they want into their bodies. Hell, give them to your kids! Why stop at dragging a crying child to the fifth practice that week? Hey, if you want to be the best, you have to be willing to do what it takes, right? If you want to be a hero, you have make sacrifices, people. I mean, heroes do that. Think about our war heroes. We have Vietnam, Gulf War, and who knows what will come from "operation Bush lie". They are suffering chemical effects, yet they aren't living a lavish lifestyle and followed by thousands of adoring fans. I figure that if you are to obtain the status of "hero", you should be as fucked up as the REAL heroes that we ignore everyday!

That sounds kind of extreme, doesn't it? Well, it isn't. It is about perspective and priorities. If you have made a hero out of someone who plays a game for a living, then you are a poor excuse for a parent and human being. Don't pretend to be so damn offended when you get caught up in your own stupidity. I guarantee that 75% of the names on your adored jerseys have taken some form of "enhancement drug" at one time or another. You just don't care because they haven't been caught. You will be happy as long as you have your precious titles and trophies. So, why not revel in your pathetic greed? Let them eat roids all day long! Just think of the extra entertainment value that you will get from a roid raging fight on the field! Now THAT is worth $600 a ticket. If you are going to worship gladiators, then put a damn lion in the ring, only the lion is simply a metaphor for steroids.

PS, Make sure you read the warning label on your child's ADD or ADHD or whatever three letter disorder medication you give them. You want to make sure it won't interfere with the steroids. Come on, people, to be the best, you have to be willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES! YOU are the ones making the demands. Put YOUR child in the arena, and enjoy! Maybe someday, he or she can be a hero too.

Excuse me, George? Could I have a word with you?

NEWARK, Del. — Finding character witnesses when you are 6 years old is not easy. But there was Zachary Christie last week at a school disciplinary committee hearing with his karate instructor and his mother’s fiancé by his side to vouch for him.

Zachary’s offense? Taking a camping utensil that can serve as a knife, fork and spoon to school. He was so excited about recently joining the Cub Scouts that he wanted to use it at lunch. School officials concluded that he had violated their zero-tolerance policy on weapons, and Zachary was suspended and now faces 45 days in the district’s reform school.

“It just seems unfair,” Zachary said, pausing as he practiced writing lower-case letters with his mother, who is home-schooling him while the family tries to overturn his punishment.
Spurred in part by the Columbine and Virginia Tech shootings, many school districts around the country adopted zero-tolerance policies on the possession of weapons on school grounds. More recently, there has been growing debate over whether the policies have gone too far.
But, based on the code of conduct for the Christina School District, where Zachary is a first grader, school officials had no choice. They had to suspend him because, “regardless of possessor’s intent,” knives are banned.
But the question on the minds of residents here is: Why do school officials not have more discretion in such cases?

Still, some school administrators argue that it is difficult to distinguish innocent pranks and mistakes from more serious threats, and that the policies must be strict to protect students.
“There is no parent who wants to get a phone call where they hear that their child no longer has two good seeing eyes because there was a scuffle and someone pulled out a knife,” said George Evans, the president of the Christina district’s school board.

For Delaware, Zachary’s case is especially frustrating because last year state lawmakers tried to make disciplinary rules more flexible by giving local boards authority to, “on a case-by-case basis, modify the terms of the expulsion.”

Um, Excuse me, Mr. Evans. Can I call you George? I think I will. You are missing your calling, sir. You really should be on the parole board at a maximum security prison that houses covicted child rapists and murderers. I really think that you should probably pull your head from your rectal cavity, and look at the facts here. This is a six year old child, you jackass. Do you even know what "zero tolerance" even means? I bet you don't. First of all, this whole drama scene was begun over the Columbine shootings. There is a key word there, do you see it? I bet not, again. The word is "shootings". The last time I checked, a knife can't shoot someone. So, try to follow along here. I assume that the "zero tolerance" for knives is related to the guns that killed the children at Columbine? Am I correct? OK then, herein lies your problem, genius. Where does it stop? A sharpened pencil is a weapon in the hands of an angry child. A putty knife in art class is a weapon in the hands of an angry child. A stapler is a weapon....oh hell, a book is a lethal weapon if swung with enough force. Do you see where I am going with this?

Where is the genius "think tank" that came up with what defines a weapon? This is why it is clearly written that the school should use discretion when administering punishment for "breaking the zero tolerance" law. How does suspending a child, who most likely, has NO IDEA what he has done wrong, solve the problem of violence in the schools? You most likely just aided in creating a child with emotional issues when it comes to his treatment within the school environment. What did YOU take to school when you were just a 6 year old boy, George? A protractor? How about a plastic knife and fork set in your lunchbox? How would YOU have felt if you were humiliated because some jackass decided that it was a "lethal weapon". Would you be the all powerful and all knowing MR. EVANS? I bet the kids have come up with some really good names for YOU over the years. They would probably carve them into their desks, but they can't have knives. OH, but they CAN carve them with a sharp piece of plastic that they pulled from their chair. By the way, they probably picked at their chair out of sheer boredom with your curriculum. I only guess that because you CLEARLY have your head so far up the "politically correct" asses of your administration, that you most likely, don't have much time to focus on mundane things like TEACHING the kids. Just a stab in the dark, George.

Now, don't get all pouty and defensive on me here, George. The truth hurts, I know. Imagine the hurt that you are causing this child, and his family simply because you are a less than virile, neutered man. Grow a set, George, and for once in your pandering life, do what's right. Let the kid back in school. Have your stupid meetings monthly with the students and the teachers about violence and handling their emotions in an appropriate way. But PLEASE don't make an example of a six year old child because you are too stupid and scared to do the right thing. When we set the standard of what is and is not acceptible in our society off of the worst possible scenario, it is doomed to fail. You can NEVER imagine the worst, and you will end up hurting the innocent in your race to defeat the guilty. Have your secretary read that, and interpret it for you. She needs something to do other than roll her eyes at you behind your back. Have a good day, George.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/education/12discipline.html?no_interstitial

Education

holy hell

Do you know how much a college degree costs????? Do you know how many kids and adults default on their student loans???? TOO MANY! Now, we have this social stigma that says "you can't get a good job without a degree". BULLSHIT! You can get a job that pays very well with hard work and having a 4 year jump on those who spent 4 years drinking at a major university.

I have a good friend who obtained her master's degree. Good for her. She now works at a major Pharmaceutical company. Her education costs were in the area of 80,000 dollars by the time she completed her education. Her chosen field, with her current level of education, tops out at earning 60,000 dollars annually, and that is after an average of 15 years of employment.

Do the math. She pays more than my mortgage in student loans. AND she hates her job, and has borrowed money from lil old me...on more than one occasion. You know why? Because she is trying to pay off those loans before she is in a walker.

This is what I think. A university SHOULD NOT be allowed to charge more for an education that can be paid back in 7 years when working in the student's chosen field. When I say that, I mean tuition only. Did you know that these kids are forced to purchase books that cost hundreds of dollars....and they never OPEN them???? Then there are bookstores on campus that you can sell them back. hahahha If the book cost 200 dollars...they will get 30. Then the store (owned by the university) will resell it to another student AGAIN for 200 dollars. BUT there is nothing the student can do...it is required...BY THE DAMN UNIVERSITY!

btw...do you know what a sorority girl with a cell phone, too much makeup ,and her muffin top hanging over her WAY too short shorts is referred to as by the men and boys on campus? "A cum dumpster". Think about that the next time you write the tuition check. THAT btw,,,is information I never wanted to know.

So now I am faced with a profound dilemma. I am pro choice. I hate government interference in my life.

I am screwed. So are you.

Knock off the stupid party wars, and get some damn control back! This is a nation of the people...not bs business and overpriced education...and government control...get some damn control over yourselves and start paying attention.

end rant.

It Takes a Village

Witty catch phrases have become the cornerstone for morality in this country, of late. We sling them around on a nearly daily basis. “It takes a village”, has become the mantra for every underachieving parent in this country. Its connotation alone denotes apathy toward responsibility. In simple terms, the translation of this phrase is heard in the minds of mothers and fathers, is “it is not just my responsibility to raise my own children, but society’s as well. Therefore, if I succeed, it will be my success, and if I fail, it will be their failure.” This mentality is single-handedly unraveling the core of the family unit.

When one takes the time to look deeper than the surface of a catch phrase, the truth is revealed. A very simple test of this theory can be accomplished, as follows. The only thing required to examine this premise, is a middle, to upper middle class, married, suburban mother of a child ten years of age, or older. Sit down with her, and ask her the following question. “How many phone numbers are contained in your child’s cell phone, and what are their names?” Now, the choice of this question is very important. The answer is profoundly symbolic of how mothers have skirted their responsibility in regard to their children.

I will state the most obvious point first. A ten year old child should not have possession of a cell phone. Where would a ten year old child be long enough, and without supervision, that they require a cell phone ‘in case of an emergency’? The second point you will address will be the apparent lack of knowledge of the information contained within the cell phone. For example, who are the people that your child converses with on a regular basis? Well, thanks to the “village”, we have cell phone “family plans” that are less expensive than individual accounts. This can be a tool for monitoring your child, if you have the proper plan to do so, use it effectively, and actually know who the people are who are listed on the bill. So, if you already have to go through all of the nonsense of looking at the bill online, and checking up on your child, don’t you think that it may better serve to actually spend that time conversing with your child yourself? You can also converse with your child’s friends and their parents without the cell phone ever being in the hands of your child.

Now, you may find this to be fairly nit picky, however, the big picture is very important. This is the message that is being sent to the child, “I am too busy to be concerned about your safety, so I am going to hand you a tool that will inevitably become the largest threat to your safety.” Now, here is where the “village”comes in to play. We can now conference call with three different mothers to arrange carpools, play dates, and pick up times. Then, the most important phone call involved, the one to the child. So, this begs the question, who is physically present with the child? I will answer. It is whoever is operating the activity for the children. Now, I ask you, without that cell phone, what are the other options? The answer is simple, making your child your first priority. The age old idea of making sure that you, as a mother, are present at the end of every football practice. The idea that you, as a mother, are aware of what time, location, and activity your child is participating in, because you have seen it with your own eyes. The idea that you, as a mother, care enough to protect them even from themselves, is one that should be passed on through the generations. Somehow, somewhere, we have lost that idea.

So, now you are thinking, what does this have to do with “it takes a village”? Well, it is very simple. That phrase creates a “pack mentality”. We now have packs of den mothers, each shirking their responsibility onto another. We arm our children with these mobile communication devices, because it justifies the “pack mentality”. In very simple terms, it is a false sense of security, and when it fails, there are other members of the pack that will take the blame. I will ask, at this point, “Are you that member?” I want you to take a minute to answer that question for yourself. You see, it is not the responsibility of the village to raise your child. Let me say that again, it is not the responsibility of the village to raise your child.

The responsibility of the village is to each raise their own child, and to provide a safe and secure environment at home before sending them off to meet the villagers. That same concept applies to that tool that you have armed your child with. It is your responsibility to be aware of who your child is speaking with, and how often. It is your responsibility to protect your child from predators that can now access your child via a method of communication that you provided them. It is your responsibility to know who your child is with, at all times.

A village is comprised of individuals. Once we adopt a pack mentality, individual responsibility becomes more and more obsolete. A mechanical device in the hand of a child is not a tool for their safety, it is a tool for your neglect. The excuses for this behavior are vast, and ridiculous. In this world of both parents working, to support a lifestyle beyond the necessity of the child, we revel in our own greed and selfishness. We have become parents of consumer driven drones. We are in a race to see who can collect the most over priced material items. We spoil our children with material possessions to justify the absence of our presence in their lives. Now folks, that is your village. So, I will ask you one more time, do you really want the village raising your child?

Take this time to stop, and think. I want you to think about the times you have made excuses for your own, and your child’s behavior. I want you to think about your responsibility within the village. This is what needs to be understood. The term “It takes a village” means that we, as parents and members of society are the village. It is not an intangible force that you can call on when you fail at being a functional member. So please, take the cell phones away, unplug the video games, cook a meal that doesn’t come out of a can, or a bag, and sit down with your child. Talk to them, find out who they are. The phone can ring, and your emails will still be waiting when you are finished. If you do, you may very well uncover the next village warrior. A warrior full of strength, pride, and determination. You can of course, not heed this warning, and go about the status quo, after all, every village has warriors, leaders, followers, and fools. Which one would you like your child to be?