It's time to pray.

Hartford, Connecticut (CNN) -- A bill in Connecticut's legislature that would remove the statute of limitations on child sexual abuse cases has sparked a fervent response from the state's Roman Catholic bishops, who released a letter to parishioners Saturday imploring them to oppose the measure.

Politics from the pulpit? What happened to your fantasy of separation of church and state? I guess since YOU don't abide by "the rules", then neither will we. TIME TO PAY TAXES! So, the men in red dresses speak out again. This is priceless.

The proposed change to the law would put "all Church institutions, including your parish, at risk," says the letter, which was signed by Connecticut's three Roman Catholic bishops.

The letter is posted on the Web site of the Connecticut Catholic Public Affairs Conference, the public policy and advocacy office of Connecticut's Catholic bishops. It asks parishioners to contact their legislators in opposition of the bill.

The "legislation would undermine the mission of the Catholic Church in Connecticut, threatening our parishes, our schools, and our Catholic Charities," the letter says.

The Catholic archdiocese of Hartford also published a pulpit announcement on its Web site, which was to be read during Mass on Sunday, urging parishioners to express opposition to the bill.


What I want to know is, how the fuck a supposedly sentinent human being can sit on a wooden bench, hear their puppet say "oppose legislation that erradicates the statute of limitations" on the worst crime imaginable, and nod their heads in agreement.

Listen you fuckin idiots, if you are not harboring molesters, and the "false accusers" have no evidence of the alleged crimes, you have nothing to worry about. But you know better, don't you...you KNOW that you are harboring molesters, and you care more about your fucking church than you do about your fellow man. Typical arrogant Catholics. Do you jackasses even know that one of the classic traits of a cult and a cult leader is paranoia? Yes, it is true. ALL cults and their leaders show a fear of reprisal for the purity of their beliefs, and pass that fear to their willing sheep. They wipe away their wrong doing by claiming that there is a conspiracy afoot designed to destroy what you hold so dear...your lies.

What really goes through your head when you hear the red dress guy say, "all church institutions are at risk, including your parish..."? Please tell me that you wonder if they know something you don't, like that YOUR priest is a molester. Because any other thought is simply paranoia and conjured fear at the hands of manipulative cult leaders. Will you think twice about their stand on this issue? Do you even ask yourselves why the need for such fear?

To help you, I suggest that you read up on the lifelong effects of sexual abuse. It can take decades for a victim to come to terms with what happened to them. Their lives are forever altered from that moment forward, whether they consciously realize it or not. The least that we, as acommunity, can give them, is time. I am willing to give them a lifetime to find peace...yet you Catholics won't. UN FUCKING BELIEVEABLE!

I have another suggestion, be careful campaigning from the pulpit, because one day, you may find yourselves being hit where it hurts more than just bad PR. We will hit you in the wallet. Let me help you out with this one. Instead of waiting for living, breathing human beings to listen to you....try this one out...

Dear god...

Please use your hand of justice and help the people to see the truth and love within your church. Guide us and give us the strength to find the flaws within our own humanity, and see the sufferings of those who have been hurt by evil that has infiltrated your church. May our courts be fair, and just, and may all those who have brought harm to our children be punished by human laws guided by your hand, and may they face final judgement before you. We give our trust and our faith to you, almighty god.

There. See? He will fix it...now shut the fuck up...and see the power of your "god" in action.

Good luck with that. In the meantime, we will put your priests, bishops...and even your pope behind bars, if THAT is what OUR laws determine.

You better start praying for the right things...1,000 years is sufficient time to figure out what the "right thing" is, don't you think?

fuckin hypocrites.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/04/11/connecticut.abuse.bill/index.html?eref=rss_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+Top+Stories%29

Could you PLEASE keep your god and your politics OUT of my uterus??

LINCOLN, Neb. – Two first-of-their-kind laws in Nebraska put new restrictions on abortion, including one that uses a new legal rationale for a ban on later-term abortions.

That law bars the procedure at and after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on the assertion that fetuses can feel pain at that point. The other requires women be screened before having abortions for mental health issues and other risk factors indicating if they might have problems afterward.

A national abortion rights group already appeared to be girding for a legal challenge, calling the ban at or after 20 weeks "flatly unconstitutional."


Oh, enough of this bullshit. I still don't know, or care what the freakin constitution has to do with my uterus. Jesus Christ, they didn't even know what a uterus was when it was written. You can twist and turn the "rights of the individual" all day long, and you have yet to show me where the constitution mentions anything about governing an internal organ. Get a grip.

Here is my stand on abortion. I am Pro-Life for myself, and ONLY myself. I, however, want to know that if my child were to be born deformed or mentally deficient, that I retain the right to medically and safely terminate my pregnancy.

What the fuck is so complicated about that?

Listen to me, and listen carefully. IF a woman gets pregnant, and had the desire and ability to terminate the pregnancy JUST BECAUSE she was too "lazy" or "irresponsible" to be a mother, why the FUCK would you want her raising a child? You show me where, in the constitution, it states that YOU should have the right to make that determination.

Now, the rights of the father. There aren't any. When he decided to trust her to prevent the pregnancy, and didn't wrap his dick, he terminated his right to an opinion. He had another option, and that is to NOT ejaculate happily inside of her, OR to decline having sex at all if he felt that he did not want to risk creating a child that she may abort.

Next issue, drug addicted mothers. Yeah, good plan assholes. Force THEM to give birth. How many crack babies are YOU willing to raise when they are placed in our already overburdened foster care system? Oh, none? Then shut up.

Do I really have to address rape, incest and twelve year old mothers? If I do, you are not worth talking to.

I do not give a rats ass what fictional diety you believe in, or how far on the right side of the fence you sit. You have NO right to tell a woman what she can and cannot do with what is contained within her own body. Period. You jeopardize ALL of our rights when you force these issues. How much would you like US to invade YOUR body?

You are so fucking desperate now, that you have decided when a fetus can feel pain? Really? What the fuck difference does THAT make? You seem to care very little for the pain of growing up with a crack addicted mother. Morons.

We can split hairs all day long on the issue of what is a "baby", what is a "fetus"..blah blah

How about this...

You give birth to your babies..

and leave the fetus killing up to the rational and not deluded...

K?

Oh, and by the way, do us all a favor. When you give birth to your one armed, three legged drooling pile of skin, keep it the hell out of OUR liberal social programs, would ya?

After all, you guys keep cutting the funding...so leave what is left for the "welfare sucking" liberals that were forced to give birth. I will happily pay for them, AND adopt their children. I doubt that you would.

Thanks.

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

Excuse me, Mr. Lombardi, has celibacy made you...cranky...or just frustratingly arrogant...

Asked about this at a briefing on the pope's trip to Malta this weekend, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi scoffed.

"This is a bizarre idea to say the least. It looks like the intent is to make a public opinion splash. I think they should look for something more serious and concrete before we can respond to it," he said.

"The pope's visit (to Britain) is a visit of state, and so it would be very strange if during a state visit the person who is invited to make a state visit is arrested," he said.


Can you say "POLITICAL LIABILTY"? This asshole wouldn't know "concrete" unless it was in the foundation of another monsterous, gold encrusted investment...you know, a church.

Did this pompous ass just demand "something more serious and concrete"? Really?

Scoff away, you arrogant, out of touch, hypocritical, heartless pile of dog shit! Everytime you speak, I can hear the sounds of silence in your tithing baskets. Keep talking, asshole.

http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6074&Itemid=48

THIS, of course, is my favorite...read...and enjoy...

6. The pope's recent trip to the Holy Land was probably the last place on earth where the Vatican would want to launch a news cycle dedicated to Benedict and the Hitler Youth, but that is precisely what happened. In a May 12 press conference, responding to media commentary on the pope's visit and speech at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, Father Lombardi vehemently denied that the young Joseph Ratzinger had been enrolled in the Nazi Hitler Youth program. "The pope has said he never, never was a member of the Hitler Youth, which was a movement of fanatical volunteers," he said.

Then-Cardinal Ratzinger himself, however, in a 1996 book of interviews, Salt of the Earth, said that he had been drafted into the Hitler Youth, because membership in the movement had been made compulsory by the Nazi regime. Father Lombardi's clumsy attempt to deny something that the pope himself had already conceded long ago reawakened the story, prompting media agencies around the world to rehash the details.



"Father" Lombardi is a living, breathing example of what is wrong with, not just Catholicism, but organized religion as a whole. There is a level of "untouchable arrogance" in this man that just begs to be silenced.

It is ironic, that he is "head of the press office" that heads the "press office" for god. That makes me laugh. God can't talk directly to you. Then there is the Pope. He is human, right? Well, apparently, HE can't talk directly to you either. So, there is this "Press office" that speaks on his behalf. The head of this debacle is "Father" Lombardi. You Catholics sure do have A LOT of "middle men". Maybe this is why you are so fucked up. Listen, when ONE MAN cannot properly carry the message of ONE OTHER MAN correctly and factually....how the FUCK do you people trust all of the other crap that they spew? I mean, really, this isn't a long chain of command, is it? God...Pope...Lombardi. *eye roll*

I wonder if good ol' Ratzinger (Benedict, whatever) cringes when Lombardi speaks like husbands cringe when their wives speak after a few glasses of wine at the company Christmas party. I only ponder that because it seems as though Lombardi is taking quite a few liberties that he is not entitled to. I would think that the leader of such a wonderfully loving and tolerant religion would NEVER condone "scoffing" at the idea of being arrested for assisting in the cover up of countless cases of child molestation. Would he?

Let's talk about this, in all seriousness. This man, Ratzinger, is the closest thing you Catholics have to god, right? Why, then, does he require immunity under the title "head of state"? Isn't he the head of....oh...morality...righteousness....truth...sanctity...and on and on your bullshit goes. What does he have to hide? Why does he NOT open a FULL investigation into ALL claims of sexual abuse within his flock? Why does he hide? He hides behind the walls of a golden palace. He hides in a bulletproof carriage. He hides behind the misguided fumblings of Lombardi. He hides from his loyal followers, for fuck's sake!

If it were not for the suffering of countless abuse victims, I would find this humorous...but I do not.

The Vatican said on Tuesday Pope Benedict was willing to meet more sexual abuse victims but not under media pressure and scoffed at calls for the pope to be arrested when he visits Britain in September.

The pope feels that meetings with victims should take place "in a climate that is intentionally one of reflection, discreet, and not under pressure of the glare of the media, so he can have a real possibility to listen and communicate personally," Lombardi said.

The Vatican has rejected accusations the pope helped to cover up abuse by priests in jobs he held before his election in 2005 and has accused the media of waging a "despicable campaign of defamation" against him.

Is Ratzinger too busy campaigning for anti-abortion legislation or shutting down sex education for our youth that he cannot open the golden palace and hear the pleas and see the tears of his victimized followers? Does he need to repeatedly slap them in the face by speaking through a moron like Lombardi? Does this organization not, at the very least, owe these people the opportunity to speak, and provide the very proof that the asshole, Lombardi, demands?

Apparently not.

Instead, The Vatican just continues to spin and twist their way through lie after lie, and cover-up after cover-up. I see why you people so dutifully follow their lead. *blink*

You might want to think about just praying to your god in your kitchen. There is less room for "miscommunication" when going through "middle men". According to your own beliefs...he will hear you.

*eye roll*

The crisis over abuse of children by priests shows no sign of abating, with new revelations emerging almost daily and the Vatican scrambling to find a response strategy.

Scramble, twist, lie, manuipulate and deny...but know this. Justice will be served...by man...not your delusions.

...in time.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100413/wl_nm/us_pope_abuse_1

"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

Love?

As I grow older, and the grey hair creeps in, I reflect on my life and the meaning of my emotions and their origins. Hallmark has made a killing on one tiny little word. Music has been written and poetry has been born from four simple letters. L O V E.

What the hell does that word mean?

We strive to define that word instead of defining what makes us use that word. We have defined that word right into a tiny little box. We now have a societal standard for what that word reflects. The word itself has taken the power away from what it really is. So now, instead of looking for what that word symbolizes, we look for it's definition.

When you say, "I love you", does it not mean many different things in many different situations and relationships? It does in my world. When I say those words to my children, they have very different meaning than when I say them to the person that I want to lay next to at night. So why do we say them at all?

Why not say the meaning behind those words instead of taking a short cut? For centuries, poets have strived to encompass the emotions felt by two people who are overwhelmed at their flooding hearts. Why are we still impressed by "love" being likened to a flower, a storm, or even death? Why does the simple turn of phrase within a lyric, or the cliche crooning of a sensual voice still define such complex emotions?

Each and every "love" that you will experience in your life will be different. No one ever says, "I love you, for now." But yet, how often do we see that, and experience it in our own lives? To promise another person that you will feel the same fifty years from now, as you do today, is writing a check that your ass can't cash. Ok, so i lost my eloquence somewhere in that last thought, but it is the truth. We hold so tightly to that word, that we alter the definition as time passes on. We, as complex creatures, continue to change over time. Our emotions, and their triggers change as our lives become more and more developed.

Do we really continue to love the same people in the same way throughout the years? No. I have heard people say that "their love has grown even deeper" throughout the years. Has it? Maybe you have simply lowered the standards, or forgotten what that meant all those years ago. I know that all of the Hallmark store frequenters are thinking that I am somehow jaded or misunderstanding what love is. I beg to differ. I am honest, both with myself, and the people in my life that, for now, hold my heart. I also feel that if YOU think that you have the ability to define "love", you are selling short the greatest capacity of the human heart and mind.

I do not seek to define that word. Love exists in many forms, and changes with the wind. So, what does it mean when two people are never separated, not by time, not by distance, or by circumstance? Think about that. I said, circumstance. How easy is it to dismiss "love" when the "planets do not align", and allow "love" to be experienced by conventional means? Does the emotion, or the word take on less meaning? According to Hallmark, it does.

Can a "love" like that remain constant?

I think that it has a better chance of survival than a love that has been defined, contracted, and stamped with an official state seal....you know...a marriage license.

We are complex, why do we need to simplify the greatest abilty that we possess? Can it last forever? I believe that it can, but only if not suffocated by the restraints that our minds put on our hearts.

We need to allow "love" to take it's natural course, whether met with success or failure, if allowed to define itself, it is now, was then, and always will be pure. Stop being so afraid to allow love to be pure. "True love" may NOT be forever, but is an amazing gift if allowed to exist in the moment it chooses.

I DO believe in true love. It exists only when not strangled by our need to control and define it. When one person truly loves another, there is very little that can be said to accurately express or define it. When you have found the definition, you have strangled it's purity.

I choose to love. I love for today...not the promise of tomorrow. If love stays with me, it is because it chose to...not because I forced it to. Yes, I see love as something completely, and utterly out of human control.

Do you know when you love someone? It is when you say, "I love you", and yet you have NO IDEA what that means.

Do yourself a favor...leave it be. Let love be exactly what it is....the moment. Live for that, not for achieving what you think the definition is.

Will it last forever? It will. We destroy it with expectations and demands, both on ourselves and the ones that we say that we love.

So, I will say, "I love you"...and shrug my shoulders, simply because I do not dare try to cage the greatest feeling I have ever known. I use those words simply because i have yet to find ones less threatening.

And you wonder why the word is only four small letters for such a complex feeling....when overwhelmed by love, do you not sigh? Funny...the expression is not even a "word".