Category: Religion

Athenae, Immoral Values, Marriage Equality, Religion2 Comments

You Don’t Get To Talk In Church

Allison Hantschel

Pray the non-gay-hating politicians away: Among those to decry the state’s pending marriage equality legislation, which is currently awaiting a House vote, was Bishop Lance Davis, senior pastor at a church in Dolton. “We want to make sure that we a send a message to our elected officials that as a collective community and a collaborative, we will not allow you to speak in our churches, you will not be invited to our church when you’re running for office because we as a community are incensed,” he is quoted by the radio station as saying. Wow, how awful for them. … Continue reading You Don’t Get To Talk In Church

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Marriage Equality, Religion3 Comments

The New Pope On Same Sex Marriage

While I’m not surprised that Pope Francis is against marriage equality, I didn’t expect him to need a distemper shot on the subject: Shortly after Pope Benedict XVI announced his retirement, the gay rights activist who was the first to legally marry his partner in Latin America sent out a jubilant tweet. Argentina’s Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio “cannot be pope,”wrote Alex Freyre, because “he lost his papabile status the instant I married @josedibellow. Same for any other Argentine priest.” On Wednesday, Freyre was proven wrong. When the cardinals elected Bergoglio pope, they made history in two ways: They chose the first … Continue reading The New Pope On Same Sex Marriage

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Music, Religion4 Comments

White Smoke Gets In My Eyes

Peter Adrastos Athas

My advances have been scorned by the Cult of the Red Beanie in favor of a 76 year old Jesuit from Argentina. It looks like the powers that be have the caretaker pontiff of their dreams. There’s no cure for the curia, after all.Charlie Pierce sees this as an extension of the papacies of John Paul and Eggs Benedict: OK, so he’s the first pope from Latin America, and the first Francis, which ties him with Hilarius and a few dozen others for last place in the papal names rankings. He’s also a member of The Society — A Jesuit … Continue reading White Smoke Gets In My Eyes

Adrastos, Current Affairs, Music, Religion4 Comments

White Smoke Gets In My Eyes

My advances have been scorned by the Cult of the Red Beanie in favor of a 76 year old Jesuit from Argentina. It looks like the powers that be have the caretaker pontiff of their dreams. There’s no cure for the curia, after all.Charlie Pierce sees this as an extension of the papacies of John Paul and Eggs Benedict: OK, so he’s the first pope from Latin America, and the first Francis, which ties him with Hilarius and a few dozen others for last place in the papal names rankings. He’s also a member of The Society — A Jesuit … Continue reading White Smoke Gets In My Eyes

Athenae, Immoral Values, Kids Today, Religion4 Comments

I Have An Active Heterosexual Lifestyle, Right?

Allison Hantschel

For God’s sake, if you mean “fucking,” just say “fucking:” University of Portland is a Catholic institution that allowed students to form an official Gay-Straight Partnership in 2008, but not everyone was happy with the decision. As conservative site LifeNews wrote at the time: Although the Gay Straight Partnership has made pains to state that it will be adhering to Catholic teaching on sexuality, experience has shown pro-family advocates that such alliances typically result in the push to normalize and to affirm as morally acceptable an active homosexual lifestyle amongst university students. That’s exactly what the students campaigning today want: … Continue reading I Have An Active Heterosexual Lifestyle, Right?

Athenae, Faith, Religion2 Comments

You’re In My Prayers

Allison Hantschel

I know it’s becoming the Pope Frank fanblog around here, but this is actually genuis: Krajewski gets his marching orders each morning: A Vatican gendarme goes from the Vatican hotel where Francis lives to Krajewski’s office across the Vatican gardens, bringing a bundle of letters that the pope has received from the faithful asking for help. On the top of each letter, Francis might write “You know what to do” or “Go find them” or “Go talk to them.” And so Don Corrado, as he likes to be called, hits the streets of Rome and beyond. He visits homes for … Continue reading You’re In My Prayers

Athenae, Faith, Religion7 Comments

Pope Francis is Wrong Because Fuck Obama

Allison Hantschel

I haven’t ventured over into the Breitbart Memorial Museum for Fuckwittery in a long time, because a) why and b) no, but last week Pope Frank decided to point out that hoarding money isn’t cool, and that any system that doesn’t serve the needs of everybody needs to be amscrayed, just as his Employer once commanded. Not a radical statement, unless you’re following on the heels of Pope Prada of the Hitler Youth during a time of epic income inequality reinforced by every major mainstream media outlet in the entire world. So most people were quite pleased to hear a … Continue reading Pope Francis is Wrong Because Fuck Obama

Athenae, Immoral Values, Marriage Equality, Religion2 Comments

You Don’t Get To Talk In Church

Pray the non-gay-hating politicians away: Among those to decry the state’s pending marriage equality legislation, which is currentlyawaiting a House vote, was Bishop Lance Davis, senior pastor at a church in Dolton. “We want to make sure that we a send a message to our elected officials that as a collective community and a collaborative, we will not allow you to speak in our churches, you will not be invited to our church when you’re running for office because we as a community are incensed,” he is quoted by the radio station as saying. Wow, how awful for them. They … Continue reading You Don’t Get To Talk In Church

Athenae, Marriage Equality, Religion, Stupid Republican Tricks4 Comments

Excommunicate the Nonbeliever!

Allison Hantschel

Speaking of unpleasant people who want to wine-dine-69 Jesus but haven’t heard a damn word He said: The Rockford Pro-Life Initiative has called on Francis Cardinal George to excommunicate Governor Pat Quinn for his outspoken support of same-sex “marriage.” [snip] Governor Quinn’s support for same-sex “marriage” puts him at odds with the leadership of the Catholic faith he claims to belong to.ThreeIllinoisbishops released letters to be read from the pulpit in parishes statewide over the weekend opposing the legislation. Members of the Rockford Pro-Life Initiative, however, do not think the letters go far enough. “If Cardinal George and all the … Continue reading Excommunicate the Nonbeliever!

Athenae, Immoral Values, Kids Today, Religion4 Comments

I Have An Active Heterosexual Lifestyle, Right?

For God’s sake, if you mean “fucking,” just say “fucking:” University of Portland is a Catholic institution that allowed students to form an official Gay-Straight Partnership in 2008, but not everyone was happy with the decision. As conservative siteLifeNews wrote at the time: Although the Gay Straight Partnership has made pains to state that it will be adhering to Catholic teaching on sexuality, experience has shown pro-family advocates that such alliances typically result in the push to normalize and to affirm as morally acceptable an active homosexual lifestyle amongst university students. That’s exactlywhat the students campaigning today want: A campus … Continue reading I Have An Active Heterosexual Lifestyle, Right?

Athenae, Faith, Law/Justice, Religion6 Comments

Oh Bite My Rosy Red Ass, Mahony

For serious: Mahony, who has been criticized for moving predator priests from posting to posting, told Corriere della Sera that “after 20 years, people are talking about abuse as if we had not done anything. However, since 2002, we have had our program Protecting the Children, in which we illustrate procedures and the guidelines of our zero-tolerance policy that allows no possibility, for example, of anyone found guilty of abuse of minors working for the diocese.” Well, since 2002! That’s like 11 whole years of not protecting molesters, hiding them from cops, and inflicting them on unsuspecting and vulnerable children … Continue reading Oh Bite My Rosy Red Ass, Mahony

Athenae, Faith, Immoral Values, Religion15 Comments

Does He See the RICO Case Coming?

Allison Hantschel

I mean, it’s basically Boardwalk Empire up in there anyway: The abuse scandals dominated his seven years as leader of the world’s Catholics. Before his accession, there had been scandals in the United States and Ireland. But in 2010, evidence of clerical sex abuse was made public in a succession of countries in continental Europe, notably Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Benedict’s native Germany. The pope was himself affected by one of these scandals. It emerged that, while he was archbishop of Munich, a known molester was quietly re-assigned to duties that, in time, allowed him to return to … Continue reading Does He See the RICO Case Coming?

Adrastos, Religion3 Comments

598 Years

Oops, got it wrong the first time. That’s what happens when you take a blogcation: That’s how long it’s been since a pope abidcated and it’s been 968 years since a pope named Benedict quit. My stat-head friends are apt to appreciate the numerical symmetry. Here’s *why* Benny the 9th resigned: Pope Benedict IX, in 1045: At age 33 and about 10 years into his tumultuous term, the Rome-born pope resigned so that he could get married – and to collect some cash from his godfather, also Roman, who paid Benedict IX to step down so that he might replace … Continue reading 598 Years

Athenae, Faith, Immoral Values, Religion15 Comments

Does He See the RICO Case Coming?

I mean, it’s basically Boardwalk Empire up in there anyway: The abuse scandals dominated his seven years as leader of the world’s Catholics. Before his accession, there had been scandals in the United States and Ireland. But in 2010, evidence of clerical sex abuse was made public in a succession of countries in continental Europe, notably Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway and Benedict’s native Germany. The pope was himself affected by one of these scandals. It emerged that, while he was archbishop of Munich, a known molester was quietly re-assigned to duties that, in time, allowed him to return to … Continue reading Does He See the RICO Case Coming?

Athenae, Faith, Religion, So Called Liberal Media8 Comments

If Jesus Says He Loves You, Check It Out: Manti Te’o, Faith, and Journalism

Allison Hantschel

From Deadspin’s continuing coverage of the Manti Te’o sitch, something that actually interests me about it: suitwearer 5 days ago Colin Cowherd (or however the fuck he spells it) this morning said that the fact Te’o is “a man of faith” means it was reasonable for the press to not pursue this story, despite the inconsistencies. What does that mean and why does it make me so annoyed? Drew Magary @suitwearer 5 days ago Because he’s a fucking moron. The idea that having an open faith makes you a more reliable person is stupid. And with Cowherd still employed, it’s … Continue reading If Jesus Says He Loves You, Check It Out: Manti Te’o, Faith, and Journalism

Athenae, Faith, Religion, So Called Liberal Media8 Comments

If Jesus Says He Loves You, Check It Out: Manti Te’o, Faith, and Journalism

From Deadspin’s continuing coverage of the Manti Te’o sitch, something that actually interests me about it: suitwearer 5 days ago Colin Cowherd (or however the fuck he spells it) this morning said that the fact Te’o is “a man of faith” means it was reasonable for the press to not pursue this story, despite the inconsistencies. What does that mean and why does it make me so annoyed? Drew Magary @suitwearer 5 days ago Because he’s a fucking moron. The idea that having an open faith makes you a more reliable person is stupid. And with Cowherd still employed, it’s … Continue reading If Jesus Says He Loves You, Check It Out: Manti Te’o, Faith, and Journalism

Athenae, Religion3 Comments

Keep Annoying the Prigs, Holy Father

Allison Hantschel

Happy Easter, stuck-up assholes: There were certainly none of those trappings on display Thursday at the Casal del Marmo juvenile detention facility in Rome, where the 76-year-old Francis got down on his knees to wash and kiss the feet of 12 inmates, two of them women. The rite re-enacts Jesus’ washing of the feet of his 12 apostles during the Last Supper before his crucifixion, a sign of his love and service to them. The church’s liturgical law holds that only men can participate in the rite, given that Jesus’ apostles were all male. Priests and bishops have routinely petitioned … Continue reading Keep Annoying the Prigs, Holy Father

Athenae, Diary, Faith, Religion, Science3 Comments

Come Inside

Allison Hantschel

I watch this every year, because I’ve always loved this story: This time of year, I’ve written before, is about grace from unlikely beginnings and light in dark times. The older I get, the less interested I am in the war on Christmas, the war over Christmas, the endless back and forth. It’s exhausting, and it isn’t the point. I’ve never understood why science is a threat to belief, why the earth has to be a certain age, why it matters that Jesus was born in summer, how long it really took the wise men to reach him. I’ve never … Continue reading Come Inside

Athenae, Diary, Faith, Religion, Science3 Comments

Come Inside

I watch this every year, because I’ve always loved this story: This time of year, I’ve written before, is about grace from unlikely beginnings and light in dark times. The older I get, the less interested I am in the war on Christmas, the war over Christmas, the endless back and forth. It’s exhausting, and it isn’t the point. I’ve never understood why science is a threat to belief, why the earth has to be a certain age, why it matters that Jesus was born in summer, how long it really took the wise men to reach him. I’ve never … Continue reading Come Inside

Athenae, Faith, Immoral Values, Religion11 Comments

Puny God

Allison Hantschel

I’ve spent approximately six minutes on Facebook in the last 72 hours. Treacly remembrances of things make me crazy, appropriation of other people’s pain to make oneself feel important makes me crazier, and in the history of everything there has never been an intelligent discussion of anything on Facebook. It’s the butthole of the Internet. I like mine because I like memes and pictures of my friends, but Christ almighty, sometimes I want to set two thirds of it on fire. In those six minutes I managed to see this about nine times: Forget arguing the actual point, because there … Continue reading Puny God

Athenae, Faith, Immoral Values, Religion11 Comments

Puny God

I’ve spent approximately six minutes on Facebook in the last 72 hours. Treacly remembrances of things make me crazy, appropriation of other people’s pain to make oneself feel important makes me crazier, and in the history of everything there has never been an intelligent discussion of anything on Facebook. It’s the butthole of the Internet. I like mine because I like memes and pictures of my friends, but Christ almighty, sometimes I want to set two thirds of it on fire. In those six minutes I managed to see this about nine times: Forget arguing the actual point, because there … Continue reading Puny God

Athenae, Faith, Religion, Stupid Republican Tricks10 Comments

Witness for the Persecution

Allison Hantschel

Requiring insurance plans to cover contraception is just like dissolving the Catholic Church in England so Henry VII can marry a harlot: Making the connection to the Fortnight crystal-clear, the archbishop emphasized: “St. Thomas More could be said to represent that conscientious private employer or employee who seeks to avoid doing or facilitating moral evil in course of daily work while striving to live and work in accord with the demands of social justice. He stands for those who go about their daily work in accord with their faith . . . and those who understand how dangerous it is … Continue reading Witness for the Persecution

Adrastos, Diary, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Nature is Scary, Political Crack, Religion6 Comments

Waves of empathy

Peter Adrastos Athas

I don’t usually go in for even a semi-poetic tone but the images of NYC and Atlantic City have got me thinking about our little thing here in NOLA 7 years ago. 7 years? It was really another lifetime but whenever there’s a big disaster-especially in a place I’ve spent time in like Manhattan-my stomach gets knotted and my expression gets grim. There’s always an adrenaline rush before and during a massive system like Sandy. The next day comes the hangover, when the scope and extent of the damage is clear. This is a particularly strange event since it started … Continue reading Waves of empathy

Adrastos, Diary, Hurricane Katrina & Federal Flood, Nature is Scary, Political Crack, Religion6 Comments

Waves of empathy

I don’t usually go in for even a semi-poetic tone but theimages of NYC and Atlantic City have got me thinking about our little thing here in NOLA 7 years ago. 7 years? It was really another lifetime but whenever there’s a big disaster-especially in a place I’ve spent time in like Manhattan-my stomach gets knotted and my expression gets grim. There’s always an adrenaline rush before and during a massive system like Sandy. The next day comes the hangover, when the scope and extent of the damage is clear. This is a particularly strange event since it started as … Continue reading Waves of empathy

Athenae, Faith, Immoral Values, Religion8 Comments

Intrinsic Evil

Illinois bishop Thomas Paprocki, formerly an auxiliary bishop of Chicago and generally somebody I would not have expected to bethis obtuse: There are many positive and beneficial planks in the Democratic Party Platform, but I am pointing out those that explicitly endorse intrinsic evils. My job is not to tell you for whom you should vote. But I do have a duty to speak out on moral issues. I would be abdicating this duty if I remained silent out of fear of sounding “political” and didn’t say anything about the morality of these issues. People of faith object to these … Continue reading Intrinsic Evil

Athenae, Faith, Religion8 Comments

Avoidance

Allison Hantschel

So some members of a Baptist church came to the pastor and said, we heard you’re marrying some black folks in here and we’re not okay with that. All due respect, my children, the pastor replied, that you are freaked out by non-white peoples is not Jesus’s major problem at the moment. Nor is it mine. I am sorry, but you are going to have to suck it up and just … I don’t know, not come to the wedding? Were you even invited? Then what the heck do you care? Go home, watch Storage Wars and smoke marijuana like … Continue reading Avoidance

Athenae, Faith, Religion8 Comments

Avoidance

So some members of a Baptist church came to the pastor and said, we heard you’re marrying some black folks in here and we’re not okay with that. All due respect, my children, the pastor replied, that you are freaked out by non-white peoples is not Jesus’s major problem at the moment. Nor is it mine. I am sorry, but you are going to have to suck it up and just … I don’t know, not come to the wedding? Were you even invited? Then what the heck do you care? Go home, watch Storage Wars and smoke marijuana like … Continue reading Avoidance