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Pope George Ringo II
Pope George Ringo II's Journal
Pope George Ringo II's Journal
November 28, 2019
I wouldn't say that religion on balance is a positive thing, but this does go on the right side of that ledger.
Judge's Ruling Shows Religious Freedom Isn't Just For The Christian Right
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/scott-warren-religious-freedom-act_n_5ddd4c9be4b00149f724ff89In recent years, advocacy around religious liberty has become closely associated with America’s religious right. For conservative Christians, standing up for freedom of religion often means defending bakers who don’t want to make cakes for queer weddings or business owners who don’t want to pay for contraception coverage.
For Scott Warren, a 37-year-old geography teacher from Ajo, Arizona, freedom of religion means making sure migrants crossing a treacherous stretch of desert along the U.S.-Mexico border don’t die of dehydration.
Last week, a federal judge acknowledged in a ruling that Warren has a legal right to put these religious beliefs into practice. Experts say the decision is one of the first times that progressive religious beliefs related to immigration have been protected this way ― highlighting the fact that conservative Christians don’t have a monopoly on the right to religious liberty.
For the past two years, Warren has been fighting federal misdemeanor charges for leaving water, food and other supplies for migrants in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. Activists with No More Deaths, a Unitarian Universalist ministry that Warren volunteers for, say dozens of migrants have died crossing this stretch of desert along the border.
For Scott Warren, a 37-year-old geography teacher from Ajo, Arizona, freedom of religion means making sure migrants crossing a treacherous stretch of desert along the U.S.-Mexico border don’t die of dehydration.
Last week, a federal judge acknowledged in a ruling that Warren has a legal right to put these religious beliefs into practice. Experts say the decision is one of the first times that progressive religious beliefs related to immigration have been protected this way ― highlighting the fact that conservative Christians don’t have a monopoly on the right to religious liberty.
For the past two years, Warren has been fighting federal misdemeanor charges for leaving water, food and other supplies for migrants in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. Activists with No More Deaths, a Unitarian Universalist ministry that Warren volunteers for, say dozens of migrants have died crossing this stretch of desert along the border.
I wouldn't say that religion on balance is a positive thing, but this does go on the right side of that ledger.
January 11, 2019
North Carolina county to pay ACLU $285K for prayer lawsuit
SALISBURY, N.C. (AP) — The years-long fight over a North Carolina county commission's practice of opening meetings with Christian prayers and inviting audience members to join is over, with commissioners agreeing to pay $285,000 in legal fees.
The Salisbury Post reports that Rowan County commissioners on Monday unanimously approved the payment to the American Civil Liberties Union, in conjunction with a December court order.
The ACLU represented three county residents who sued over the prayer practice, which began in 2007.
Commissioners Chair Greg Edds called the ACLU "bullies" for its role in the lawsuit. The North Carolina ACLU said in a statement that it was happy courts ruled in their clients' favor.
https://wlos.com/news/local/north-carolina-county-to-pay-aclu-285k-for-prayer-lawsuit
I love how the "bullies" are the ones actually standing up to bullies.
December 25, 2018
http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2016/12/24/nice-of-you-fuckers-to-show-up-for-once-points-out-priest-at-midnight-mass/
"Nice Of You F****** To Show Up For Once" Points Out Priest At Midnight Mass
A PRIEST, foregoing the unsteady truce between the clergy and Christmas mass goers, which involves pretending that he recognises everyone in attendance, has confirmed that it was ‘nice of you fuckin’ sin-soaked heathens to show up I suppose’.
Spitting on the floor in their general direction, Fr. Willy Macken told parishioners of St. Declan’s church that they are ‘free to take the piss by putting your best Holy heads on’ but that he then reserved the right to ‘call out the fuckers who wouldn’t know a prayer of the fateful if it bit them in the arse’.
“Some of you are clearly just here, dressed up to the nines so that your ex girlfriend or boyfriend can catch sight of you and think ‘oh, fuck I miss them’ but you know what, fuck the lot of yous,” Fr. Macken added, deviating from Pope Francis’s Vatican approved Christmas mass script.
Fr. Macken, keenly aware of the fact that almost everyone in attendance had lost interest in the mass once he mentioned Jesus, religion and general holiness, rushed through his service as he confessed to having ‘about as much interest in this charade as you future Hell dwellers’.
Spitting on the floor in their general direction, Fr. Willy Macken told parishioners of St. Declan’s church that they are ‘free to take the piss by putting your best Holy heads on’ but that he then reserved the right to ‘call out the fuckers who wouldn’t know a prayer of the fateful if it bit them in the arse’.
“Some of you are clearly just here, dressed up to the nines so that your ex girlfriend or boyfriend can catch sight of you and think ‘oh, fuck I miss them’ but you know what, fuck the lot of yous,” Fr. Macken added, deviating from Pope Francis’s Vatican approved Christmas mass script.
Fr. Macken, keenly aware of the fact that almost everyone in attendance had lost interest in the mass once he mentioned Jesus, religion and general holiness, rushed through his service as he confessed to having ‘about as much interest in this charade as you future Hell dwellers’.
http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2016/12/24/nice-of-you-fuckers-to-show-up-for-once-points-out-priest-at-midnight-mass/
November 29, 2018
When you get right down to it, "Atheist" is a stupid word.
We actually have a specific word for people who don't believe in sky wizards, and we really don't need it.
We don't have a specific word for people who don't believe in leprechauns. Or unicorns. Or bigfoot. Or the abominable snowman. Or vampires, werewolves, the Loch Ness Monster, chemtrails, lizard people, ghosts, jackalopes, faeries, elves, goblins, winged serpents, dragons, mermaids, giants, the Jersey Devil, or Trump's integrity. We also get by without specific words for people who don't believe the moon landings were faked. Or that water fluoridation is a government plot. Or that the government is putting mind control chips in us. Or that vaccines cause autism. Or that 9/11 was an inside job. Or any of the things which have just as much basis as mythology.
Actually, we do have a specific word describing people who don't believe in any of these things: "Rational." It works better than "atheist," I think.
November 27, 2018
In one way, I'm glad we had the 2016 Netflix Chappaquiddick movie.
It cleared the decks so we can have a 2020 Watergate move. That's the logical thing to do next, right? I'd pay to see it, even if it was just a re-make of All The President's Men.
We really do need a 2020 Watergate movie. Bigly. People are saying.
November 3, 2018
Just something to think about when pondering religious services for deployed personnel.
An oldie but a goodie on why militaries should or should not allow religious services
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk/3948329.stmThe British Armed Forces has officially recognised its first registered Satanist, a newspaper reports.
...
Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe said she was "utterly shocked" by the Royal Navy's decision.
"Satanism is wrong. Obviously the private beliefs of individuals anywhere, including the armed forces, are their own affair but I hope it doesn't spread."
She added: "The Navy should not permit Satanist practices on board its ships.
...
Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe said she was "utterly shocked" by the Royal Navy's decision.
"Satanism is wrong. Obviously the private beliefs of individuals anywhere, including the armed forces, are their own affair but I hope it doesn't spread."
She added: "The Navy should not permit Satanist practices on board its ships.
Just something to think about when pondering religious services for deployed personnel.
October 13, 2018
https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/13/us/dolan-amanpour-cnntv/index.html
It's a month old, but I wonder if Al Capone and John Gotti ever had trouble getting their mothers to be seen with them in public.
American cardinal says his own mother is 'embarrassed to be Catholic'
You know the scandals in the Catholic Church are bad when a leading American cardinal says his own mother is ashamed to show her faith in public.
That's what Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York told CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Thursday.
"You don't think that did me in?" said Dolan, often one of the more cheery American churchmen.
"When my mom says -- she's in assisted living -- she said: I'm not going out for lunch, I'm kind of embarrassed to be Catholic."
https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/13/us/dolan-amanpour-cnntv/index.html
It's a month old, but I wonder if Al Capone and John Gotti ever had trouble getting their mothers to be seen with them in public.
October 5, 2018
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a23609692/catholic-league-south-park-priest-pedophilia-response/
I'm not saying reality has an anti-religion bias. But religion sure has an anti-reality bias.
The Catholic League Has a Batshit Response to South Park's Episode About Priest Abuse
Wednesday night's episode of South Park took on the systematic cover up of child molestation in the Catholic Church. When Butters develops a friendship with Father Maxi from the local church and goes missing, the Cardinals from Denver assume it's another abusive scandal and travel to South Park to cover it up.
In response, the Catholic League—a religious advocacy group—has released a baffling statement about the episode, calling the South Park creators "cowards." As a statement from the organization's president Bill Donohue reads:
In response, the Catholic League—a religious advocacy group—has released a baffling statement about the episode, calling the South Park creators "cowards." As a statement from the organization's president Bill Donohue reads:
The October 3rd episode of “South Park,” titled “A Boy and a Priest,” portrayed molesting priests as pedophiles. This is factually inaccurate: almost all the molesters—8 in 10—have been homosexuals. Therefore, the cartoon-victim characters should have been depicted as adolescents, not kids. In Hollywood, the creators of “South Park,” Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are seen as courageous. They are really cowards. It takes courage to tell the truth.
This is absolutely absurd. The disgusting and blatant homophobia of the statement aside, Donohue is simply saying, "actually, our priests are rapists, not pedophiles."
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a23609692/catholic-league-south-park-priest-pedophilia-response/
I'm not saying reality has an anti-religion bias. But religion sure has an anti-reality bias.
September 27, 2018
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0927/998395-church-state-payment/
I assume we're all shocked that they're holding out on paying the price for their crimes.
253m Euros still outstanding on Catholic Church abuse compensation promise
The Catholic Church still has to pay the State more than half of the compensation money it promised to give for victims of physical and sexual abuse.
The Joint Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee heard this morning that while €480m had been promised, only €227m had actually been paid out.
Correspondence from the Department of Education showed that a further €253m was outstanding.
The chair of the PAC, Sean Fleming, said the balance should be paid as it was "money due to the State".
The Joint Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee heard this morning that while €480m had been promised, only €227m had actually been paid out.
Correspondence from the Department of Education showed that a further €253m was outstanding.
The chair of the PAC, Sean Fleming, said the balance should be paid as it was "money due to the State".
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0927/998395-church-state-payment/
I assume we're all shocked that they're holding out on paying the price for their crimes.
September 2, 2018
https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/02/us/wuerl-mass-protest/index.html
Well, they've figured out that some of the men can't be trusted. Now, once they figure out the institution can't be trusted, we'll make some real progress.
Protester at church yells 'Shame on You!' as Cardinal Wuerl addresses sex abuse scandal
As the embattled Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, addressed the Catholic Church's clergy sexual abuse scandal on Sunday, one Catholic yelled "Shame on you!" while another turned her back on Wuerl in protest.
Wuerl, who faces accusations that he mishandled clergy sexual misconduct while he was a bishop in Pittsburgh, addressed Washington's Annunciation Catholic Church, where the cardinal was installing a new pastor. In a short speech after the Mass, Wuerl asked the 200 or so people in the congregation to forgive his "errors in judgment" and "inadequacies."
Wuerl also urged the parish to pray for and remain loyal to Pope Francis, as "increasingly it is clear that he is the object of considerable animosity."
As Wuerl mentioned the Pope, Brian Garfield, who was sitting in the middle of the church, stood and yelled "Shame on you!" and quickly walked out.
Wuerl, who faces accusations that he mishandled clergy sexual misconduct while he was a bishop in Pittsburgh, addressed Washington's Annunciation Catholic Church, where the cardinal was installing a new pastor. In a short speech after the Mass, Wuerl asked the 200 or so people in the congregation to forgive his "errors in judgment" and "inadequacies."
Wuerl also urged the parish to pray for and remain loyal to Pope Francis, as "increasingly it is clear that he is the object of considerable animosity."
As Wuerl mentioned the Pope, Brian Garfield, who was sitting in the middle of the church, stood and yelled "Shame on you!" and quickly walked out.
https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/02/us/wuerl-mass-protest/index.html
Well, they've figured out that some of the men can't be trusted. Now, once they figure out the institution can't be trusted, we'll make some real progress.
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