Although it is always a possibility to become Pope and CEO of one of the world’s largest churches once one enters the Catholic priesthood, I can only imagine the enormity of the tasks that await Pope Francis I, who at the age of 76 and with only one lung is already at a considerable disadvantage compared to some of the younger and fitter Cardinals. I thought it might be interesting on the day of his inauguration to take a look at his “To Do” list.
As everyone will know by now Pope Benedict XVI resigned from office yesterday. This move in itself was unprecedented and broke a 600 year long taboo. I had always understood that to be “called” to the highest office in the Roman Catholic Church was a job for life and that one could not just throw in the towel when one had enough. So, in some ways, I applaud the man for his sense of realism and for recognising that he was no longer equipped for the job. I know there are many Catholics out there who are having a hard time understanding his decision – it is like some of the fabric of their lives has been destroyed forever.
Continue reading → From the Outside Looking In: The Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI
When Cathy crossed the threshold of her local Catholic Hospital with her latest child squirming from her birth canal, she could feel her heart beating in her fingertips and she was terrified and filled with shame.
She’d had enough children and she wanted to start enjoying sex without having to worry about the nefarious curse of her husband’s sperm and her incredibly fertile eggs over the following nine months.
Cathy knew it had to be done and she didn’t feel bad about coming to a hospital she tithed to as a good and faithful Catholic for the last decade or so; it was her turn for help now and she came to take her share home with her.
Continue reading → Cathy and Her Catholic Hospital Sterilization: Ten Sentence Story #150
When I was growing up, my father told me that there were three things that one should not discuss in mixed company: religion, politics, and sex. Perhaps Anne Rice’s parents did not tell her such a thing, because she is back in the media’s attention talking about how she feels about religion.
On July 16, 2007, we wrote about the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles having to pay $1.3 million dollars to each child molested by priests in the largest diocese in the USA. 508 victims were paid for their religious suffering. If that wasn’t galling enough, we now learn about the disgraced Rev. Lawrence C. Murphy, who molested children over a 33 year career in the Church. His specialty, as reported by the New York Times, was taking advantage of Deaf boys.
Today, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the largest in America, announced it will pay $660 million USD — $1.3 million USD per child abuse claim — to settle lawsuits filed by 508 victims.
For four years the lawsuit has dragged along the court system and, interesting enough, just two days before Cardinal Rogery Mahony — seen below — would have been required to testify under oath in court trial, the settlement was announced.
Continue reading → A Million a Molestation: The Catholic Church in Ecstasy
Is it possible to see Angels on earth? I believe it is — no matter what your faith or systems of beliefs hold — and I’ll tell you why. After John Cardinal O’Connor died of brain cancer in New York City in 2000, Janna and I found ourselves outside Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. We saw a snaking line of mourners outside the beautiful and towering French Gothic church at Madison and 50th-51st.
Continue reading → Seeing Angels in Saint Patricks Cathedral
You must be logged in to post a comment.