Hypocrisy: February 2004 Archives

United States: The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cleveland has stated that 117 priests and one deacon have been accused of the sexual abuse of children in his diocese over the last 53 years.

[Bishop Anthony] Pilla disclosed that since 1989, he transferred about three diocesan priests to new pastoral assignments after he learned they faced abuse allegations, a practice he has discontinued. Over the past half-century, 2,515 priests served the Cleveland diocese, making the abuse accusation rate 4.6 percent.

His statement came in the light of a national survey which revealed that more than 10,000 American children had been abused by Roman Catholic priests in the last 50 years.

The National Review Board's 145-page report said the grievously sinful acts of priests and shameful inaction during the decades of abuse had left the church deeply wounded.

And as a consequence, its ability to speak clearly and credibly on moral issues has been seriously impaired, stated the Board that interviewed more than 85 people including several Vatican officials.

Not that this will stop them, of course.

Just 14 per cent of the accused priests were reported to police by their bishops and 95 per cent of the 4392 errant clerics were never charged with a crime.

SEXUAL ABUSE CRISIS - Cleveland Plain Dealer, 28th February 2004; Priests abused 10,000 children - news.com.au, 29th February 2004 (and check out the unfortunate nominative determinism of the journalist)

Romania: Six nuns have done a bunk from the convent they ran, leaving behind unpaid bills totalling the equivalent of £10,000.

Most of the debt is to the local electricity company, as well as a construction firm that did some work on the convent and a supplier of religious symbols. They could face fraud charges if caught.

The priest said that the parish church did not have the money to cover the nuns' debts and asked police to help him find them so they could take responsibility for their own debts.

Nuns on the run - Ananova, 19th February 2004.

Edinburgh City Council will let the Beltane Fire Festival go ahead this year, as long as the organisers put it on a commercial footing. The Evening News does not say if the organisers of the Diwali celebrations, which also involve thousands of people and bonfires, in October will also be expected to charge worshippers. Beltane festival fired up for city comeback - Edinburgh Evening News, 18th February 2004.

United States: A mini bimbo, lumbered with the unfortunate moniker of Brandy, who will no doubt grow up to be a clone of her close-minded loony fundie parents, got herself suspended for swearing.

A second-grade girl from Pittsburgh was suspended this week from her public elementary school for saying the word hell to a boy in her class.

But 7-year-old Brandy McKenith says she was only warning the boy about the eternal comeuppance he could face for saying: I swear to God.

I said, 'You're going to go to hell for swearing to God', Brandy was quoted as saying.

Girl Suspended from School for Saying 'Hell' - Reuters, 4th February 2004.

Poland: Nothing says black metal stage show like dozens of sheep heads on stakes, a literal blood bath and a naked, crucified woman.

United States: Nick took a trip over to visit the Focus on the Family compound and re-education facility and brought back some of their dodgy propaganda that is pushing their product to children.

Focus on the Family Recruits Children - morons.org, 30th January 2004.

Spain: Bishops in Spain have once again commented on topics that they have little knowledge or experience with, such as family matters. The men in the dresses have been quick to point the finger of blame for women's deaths and beatings being dramatically higher in Spain. Seems that domestic violence is the bitter fruit of the sexual revolution. The locals are well and truly pissed.

Italy: A Mother Superior, who is a close friend of Pope John Paul II, is being investigated by police after allegations that she mistreated novice nuns under her care. Tekla Familglietti, head of the 650-year-old Daughters of St Brigid order, is said to be a strong character:

Locals have described the mother superior as robust and authoritarian one added: There is always a lot of tension up there between the trainees and mother Famiglietti.

She is known as the General and is one of the most powerful women in the Roman Catholic Church. She knows cardinals, politicians and even Pope John Paul II himself.

Mother Superior accused of mistreating novice nuns - Ananova, 6th February 2004.

Belgium: Cardinal Gustaaf Joos, best buddy of the Pope, was interviewed by Belgian soft-porn P-Magazine. He's not a fan of the gay community, I'd love to know what the distinction between gay and pervert is. And isn't signing things in your own blood one of those Satanist things?

I am prepared to sign here in my blood that of all those who say they are lesbian or gay, at most five to 10 per cent are effectively lesbian or gay. All the rest are sexual perverts, said Cardinal Gustaaf Joos on Wednesday. I demand you write this down. If they come to protest on my doorstep, I don't care. I'm just speaking out on what thousands of people are thinking but never get a chance to say... Real homosexuals don't wander in the streets in colourful suits. Those are people who have a serious problem and have to live with that. And if they err, they will be forgiven.

United States: You are a police officer. You have arrested a couple of 14-year-old boys who allegedly desecrated a Catholic church. Is this because:

1. They were immature, drunken neds, or
2. They know Wiccans

The correct answer is the second one, of course.

[The 14-year-old] told police he believes in witchcraft and associates with Wiccans, followers of an ancient European religion who worship nature and believe in magic...

...In a possible connection to the religion, the teens appeared to have been barefoot, a trait commonly associated with Wicca, during their spree. They left footprints in the residue from the fire extinguisher.

Drunken sacrilege: 2 teens charged with defiling Immaculate Conception in Stoughton - The Patriot Ledger, 5th February 2004.