The news is that Rev Tom Gordon, a Church Of Ireland Anglican priest, has formally entered into civil partnership with his boyfriend of 20 years, and has also received the full support of his bishop, the Rt Rev Michael Burrows. Now normally when a couple get together it is not public news to anybody except their friends who wish them well, so why is this an exception? I need not explain, you all know, and are all familiar with the anti-gay rhetoric that is very pervasive amongst many shades of belief.
religion
Vatican Responds to Irish Criticism: 25-Pages of “Nope, not our fault”
The Vatican has finally responded to the scathing criticism directed at them by the Irish Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. A few months ago the findings of the Cloyne report revealed on-going abuse and cover-up, so caused considerable anger. In response the Taoiseach (the head of the Irish government) stood up in the Dail (the Irish Parliment) and gave a speech in which he described “the dysfunction, disconnection and elitism” in the Vatican and accused them of interferring by blocking the reporting of abuse to the Irish Authorities.
A 25 page reply from the Vatican has now been issued in which they state:
“… significant reservations that the speech made by Enda Kenny… in particular, the accusation that the Holy See attempted to frustrate an inquiry in a sovereign democratic republic, is unfounded.”
Irish Religion vs Irish Law
This one is of specific interest to me because I was born and educated in Ireland. OK, so here is what has happened so far. Cardinal Sean Brady, Ireland’s most senior Catholic cleric voiced vehement opposition to Irish government’s plans to criminalize priests who do not report sex abuse admitted in the confessional. In other … Read more
Catholic Loon – Another daft “One Truth” claim
Not too long ago I blogged about a truly silly rant within the National Catholic Register by Catholic convert Frank Cronin. Well that was only part 1, and so today we have part 2 to laugh at and mock. Last time it was all about the “Blind Irrational Faith” of Atheism, a title that was highly ironic and laughable when you consider that this was coming from a Catholic apologist. As for actual evidence or a logically reasoned argument – none, it was just a collection of straw men arguments. So is this latest article the same? lets see. It opens with …
In the Church of the One Truth there are no ceremonies, no sacraments, no saints. There are no cathedrals, no worship, no mass. There are no sacred books, sacred music, sacred creeds. There is no morality, no accountability …
Pastor Mike – Atheist = Sex Offender, so lets register them all
I’m always tempted to think that I’ve come across all the variations of idiot, but every now and then somebody attempts to push their boat further out into the unexplored territory of crass-stupidity, and thus proves me quite wrong. Here now is the latest example of this that has just come to light. It comes from a blog run by Pastor Michael Stahl in Florida (Warning, prepare to be offended). He actually wrote this on his blog in Sept last year, but nobody noticed until he recently published a link to it on his Facebook page. Right now, it looks like he has locked folks out of his blog, but here is what he wrote:
Brothers and Sisters , I have been seriously considering forming a ( Christian ) grassroots type of organization to be named “The Christian National Registry of Atheists” or something similar . I mean , think about it . There are already National Registrys for convicted sex offenders , ex-convicts , terrorist cells , hate groups like the KKK , skinheads , radical Islamists , etc..
Catholic Loon: writes about “The Blind, Irrational Faith of Atheism”
There is a (long) article in yesterdays National Catholic Register (click this link), by a chap called Frank Cronin. Now what makes it interesting is that he was once an Atheist, but no longer is, so this is his attempt to explain why there is something beyond.
He is also qualified, he has a degree in theology and converted to Catholicism in 2007
Side observation: A degree in theology? … Regardless of what many might think, that is almost akin to claiming you have a degree in toothology so you are qualified to do dentistry, I’d contend it is not real education.
Shall we start mocking now … oh come on now, you know this is going to be silly … right? Well, lets take a look.