The Frightening Attitudes Of The Catholic Church

I know that progress comes slowly to the Catholic Church, but what is going on in Brazil right now is just absolutely horrific. How you can excommunicate a mother trying to protect the health of her daughter and the doctors that performed an abortion for a nine year old girl is ridiculous, especially when the rapist, the girl's stepfather is let off the hook by the church. When it comes to questions of sin, the Vatican's endorsement of their Brazilian leadership is completely out of whack. Thankfully there are more rational people down there that are trying to deal with the outrageous behavior of the church.

From Yahoo News:

"God's law is above any human law. So when a human law ... is contrary to God's law, this human law has no value," Cardoso had said.

He also said the accused stepfather would not be expelled from the church. Although the man allegedly committed "a heinous crime ... the abortion - the elimination of an innocent life - was more serious".

Battista Re agreed, saying: "Excommunication for those who carried out the abortion is just" as a pregnancy termination always meant ending an innocent life.

The case has sparked fierce debate in Brazil, where abortion is illegal except in cases of rape or if the woman's health is in danger.

On Friday, President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva hit out at Sobrinho's decision, saying: "As a Christian and a Catholic, I deeply regret that a bishop of the Catholic church has such a conservative attitude."

"The doctors did what had to be done: save the life of a girl of nine years old," he said, adding that "in this case, the medical profession was more right than the church."

One of the doctors involved in the abortion, Rivaldo Albuquerque, told Globo television that he would keep going to mass, regardless of the archbishop's order.

"The people want a church full of forgiveness, love and mercy," he said.

I am glad to see that da Silva and at least one of the excommunicated doctors are not taking this sitting down. Cardoso's statement up above, that God's law is above any human law is seriously misplaced. Obviously the Archbishop has no clue as to what "God's law" is, or else he would have at least an ounce of compassion for the young girl. God's law would in no way endanger the life of an innocent nine year old and neither would any law made by rational men, a group that these clergymen clearly do not belong in.

Coloring Out Sexual Abuse In The Church

For quite a few years now, it seems that every few months or so another archdiocese of the church is implicated in a case of sexual abuse by some priest or another. The latest one was in Iowa, where the local archdiocese settled with over 150 victims for $37 million dollars. With all of these cases costing the church (and subsequently church-goers donations) into the billions of dollars, what are they to do?

Well, perhaps coloring books might solve the problem:

NEW YORK -- A new coloring book being distributed by the Archdiocese of New York uses a cartoon guardian angel to warn kids against predators in what is apparently the first such effort by a Roman Catholic diocese in the United States.

But the head of an advocacy group for victims of abuse by priests said the book should say explicitly that trusted adults -- including priests -- may be the abusers.

In the coloring book, the perky guardian angel tells children not to keep secrets from their parents, not to meet anyone from an Internet chat room and to allow only "certain people" like a doctor or parent to see "where your bathing suit would be."

Oh wait, this addresses the problems of trusting strangers. Of course, the largest problem when it comes to sexual abuse is that most of the time the victim knows their assailant. Unfortunately the book barely addresses this, except in one small part of the book.

The closest the coloring book comes to directly addressing the church abuse scandal is a picture of a second angel -- not the guardian angel -- grinning at a priest and an altar boy through a wide open door. "For safety's sake, a child and an adult shouldn't be alone in a closed room together," the text reads. "

If a child and an adult happen to be alone, someone should know where they are and the door should be open or have a big window in it."

Don't be surprised to see continuing charges against these priests. As long as the church does not appropriately address the problem, it will continue.

The Holy Driving Test

In an odd development, the Vatican has decided to get itself involved in proper driving ettiquette. If you haven't taken the test, you shouldn't be too worried, some of the church's doctrine is already legislated by governments. Examples would be driving while intoxicated and reckless driving. But there are plenty of things that you won't find in a secular book of driving laws.

From The Huffington Post:

The unusual document from the Vatican's office for migrants and itinerant people also warned that automobiles can be "an occasion of sin" _ particularly when used to make a dangerous passing maneuver or when used by prostitutes and their clients.

And it suggested prayer might come in handy _ performing the sign of the cross before starting off and saying the rosary along the way. The rosary was particularly well-suited to recitation by all in the car, it said, since its "rhythm and gentle repetition does not distract the driver's attention."

Cardinal Renato Martino, who heads the office, told a news conference the Vatican felt it necessary to address the pastoral needs of motorists because driving has become such a big part of contemporary life.

Well I guess that prostitute thing is already covered in most countries, but saying the rosary is completely separated from the DMV. As for making signs, I'll stick with the finger over the cross for now. Even though I gladly sold my car last year to move to NYC, I do miss the bumper sticker I had that read "Religious People Frighten Me, Spiritual People Enlighten Me."

Amnesty International Living In Sin?

The Vatican announced that they would no longer allow their flock to donate to Amnesty International yesterday as well as cease their own donations. What terrible thing could the organization committed to helping oppressed and imprisoned dissidents around the world have done? According to the church A.I.'s decision to support women's free choice, especially in the case of rape or incest.

From the BBC:

Amnesty says it does not take any position on whether abortion is right or wrong.

But it defended its new position in support of abortion for women when their health is in danger or human rights are violated, especially in cases of rape or incest.

"We are saying broadly that to criminalise women's management of their sexual reproductive right is the wrong answer," Amnesty's deputy Secretary General Kate Gilmore told Reuters news agency.

"The Catholic Church, through a misrepresented account of our position on selective aspects of abortion, is placing in peril work on human rights," Ms Gilmore said.

How ridiculous are these turn of events. Amnesty International did not commit any grave sins against the church. If anything they do miraculous work in helping to free political prisoners and others who are undeservedly behind bars. The only sin I see here is the church hindering an amazing outfit over a small detail in something that has nothing to do with the work that Amnesty has been doing for over thirty years.

Rudy To Be Excommunicated?

In case you didn't know, Rudy Giuliani is a practicing Catholic who just happens to be running for President. Scary, isn't it? The former "Mussolini of Manhattan" ruled New York with a strong hand and even nastier temper when confronted with the press. But what will he do when the Pope threatens to excommunicated him? Pope Benedict XVI has threatened to excommunicate any politician in favor of abortion and withhold communion. Yet the former mayor has another problem, he's living in sin.

From WCBS-TV:

But even without the abortion issue, Giuliani can't take communion anyway. It seems he never got a church annulment of his second marriage to Donna Hanover. Church sources said that means he's living in sin with third wife, Judith.

Will that affect the race?

"It may affect, it may not," political guru Henk Sheinkopf said. "For those Catholics who listen to the pope they won't vote for him."

A spokesman for the New York Archdiocese refused to comment on Giuliani's status in the church, saying that would involve a private communication between Cardinal Edward Egan and the former mayor in Manhattan.

Of course this is a private matter. Who cares if he is "living in sin," what matters for deciding on the next leader of the free world is if he or she can govern our nation effectively. Idealistically speaking that is. Some Catholics will vote whatever way the Pope tells them and others will not. That is just plain common sense.

However, it is just another piece of 'questionable ethics' to add to his already considerable ethics problem. Being a Republican in New York City tends to be a tough sell in middle America. Not being from middle America, I wonder just how much flak he can get over not getting the church to annul the marriage....and why the hell he let that one slip in the first place.

South Park Decimates Bill Donahue

Another classic South Park episode: