This deferential coverage of the Criminal Conclave is making me sick...

**Mlaw** · 03-12-2013, 10:35 AM

If NAMBLA were electing a new leader would networks be covering the process as if they were choosing the Messiah?

**FlaFlaFlunkie** · 03-12-2013, 10:36 AM

They're treating it like a political election when it's just a bunch of old codgers, nominating whoever they think will protect their secrets the best.

**Chriza** · 03-12-2013, 10:37 AM

It looks like a Daveindiego lookalike contest

**Stew Nod** · 03-12-2013, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by Chriza

It looks like a Daveindiego lookalike contest

hahahhahahaha

**Mlaw** · 03-12-2013, 10:39 AM

They are analyzing the weather because they are worried about being able to see the smoke

**MatthewT** · 03-12-2013, 10:41 AM

NAMBLA's less evil

**fletchman71** · 03-12-2013, 10:41 AM

Ok we get it, you don't like Catholics. Get over it. The anti-religion sentiment in the US is amazing.

**Mlaw** · 03-12-2013, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by fletchman71

Ok we get it, you don't like Catholics. Get over it. The anti-religion sentiment in the US is amazing.

I am a Catholic, I don't like my faith being corrupted,and my parishes being bankrupted because rapists were shielded from criminal prosecution by an organized criminal conspiracy

**fletchman71** · 03-12-2013, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Mlaw

I am a Catholic, I don't like my faith being corrupted,and my parishes being bankrupted because rapists were shielded from criminal prosecution by an organized criminal conspiracy

Don't believe the media shitstorm where they try to portray every priest as a pedophile. This shit happens and it is a shame how the church handled it but you should try going back to church and talking with your parish priest and make your own choice whether to keep going or not. I am no bible thumper and I haven't been to church in a long time but I get upset at all of the anti-Catholic reports happening everywhere.

**Mlaw** · 03-12-2013, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by fletchman71

Don't believe the media shitstorm where they try to portray every priest as a pedophile. This shit happens and it is a shame how the church handled it but you should try going back to church and talking with your parish priest and make your own choice whether to keep going or not. I am no bible thumper and I haven't been to church in a long time but I get upset at all of the anti-Catholic reports happening everywhere.

my journey away from the church began long before the rape scandals, mostly due the subservient role women are forced to take, both those who serve the church and the faithful. The scandals, merely solidified my decision. The media has merely reported and uncovered the facts. Lawyers, very brave ones, uncovered a paper trail that goes all the way up to The Vatican

**MatthewT** · 03-12-2013, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by Mlaw

my journey away from the church began long before the rape scandals, mostly due the subservient role women are forced to take, both those who serve the church and the faithful. The scandals, merely solidified my decision. The media has merely reported and uncovered the facts. Lawyers, very brave ones, uncovered a paper trail that goes all the way up to The Vatican

ironic, as they worship a woman

**JumboWop** · 03-12-2013, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by Mlaw

my journey away from the church began long before the rape scandals, mostly due the subservient role women are forced to take, both those who serve the church and the faithful. The scandals, merely solidified my decision. The media has merely reported and uncovered the facts. Lawyers, very brave ones, uncovered a paper trail that goes all the way up to The Vatican

So lawyers are the heroes of this story?

**Lemmy** · 03-12-2013, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by fletchman71

Don't believe the media shitstorm where they try to portray every priest as a pedophile. This shit happens and it is a shame how the church handled it but you should try going back to church and talking with your parish priest and make your own choice whether to keep going or not. I am no bible thumper and I haven't been to church in a long time but I get upset at all of the anti-Catholic reports happening everywhere.

They don't portray every priest as a pedophile......the church has, however, covered for every priest that is. Blame the church for their shit, corrupt reputation. If you wish to support a criminal enterprise and feel sorry for their bad reputation then you work to change that. I chose to point and laugh instead.

**FlaFlaFlunkie** · 03-12-2013, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by fletchman71

Don't believe the media shitstorm where they try to portray every priest as a pedophile. This shit happens and it is a shame how the church handled it but you should try going back to church and talking with your parish priest and make your own choice whether to keep going or not. I am no bible thumper and I haven't been to church in a long time but I get upset at all of the anti-Catholic reports happening everywhere.

But not all of us left The Church for this reason (at all) or this reason alone.

In my late teens/early 20s, I just simply wasn't able to reconcile The Church's position on women's reproductive rights, women's place in The Church, their outright hostility and bigotry towards gays, their resistance to accept divorce (even in cases where there's violence), etc.

In no way was my faith in Jesus ever in question. It was this group of people who claimed they were "God on Earth" with whom I could no longer accept. Basically, I fired them from my life.

They lost me. And hundreds and thousands of others. And an institution needs a flock in order to survive. And when they can no longer compel people to be their subjects, their existence is subject to review.

If they don't want to take suggestions from their flock, they need to empower more of their lower members as a check on the upper members. Ruling with an iron fist almost always results in revolt and destruction.

But don't get me wrong: I hear what you're saying. There's lots of people within the LGBT community are not as understanding and they have their own war stories as reasons why.

Living through the beginnings of the AIDS epidemic of the '80s is just one reason why so many of my friends absolutely despise The Church and I completely understand why.

**FlaFlaFlunkie** · 03-12-2013, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by fletchman71

Ok we get it, you don't like Catholics. Get over it. The anti-religion sentiment in the US is amazing.

Whether you see it or not, there is a distinction between the faith and the institution of The Church.

IMO, it is corrupt.

**MatthewT** · 03-12-2013, 10:55 AM

pedophilia is the least of their problems

**Chaos** · 03-12-2013, 10:58 AM

I don't care for the church but I dig the ancient ritual of it.

**fletchman71** · 03-12-2013, 11:00 AM

Not letting priests marry is the worst rule the Catholic Church still has and probably contributed quite a lot to the pedo priest problem.

**Mlaw** · 03-12-2013, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by fletchman71

Not letting priests marry is the worst rule the Catholic Church still has and probably contributed quite a lot to the pedo priest problem.

The rule is just one in the many efforts to keep the role of women under control. If priest could marry, who would be the most cherished confidant? A woman---they can't have that. Women must stay in abusive marriages, continue with unwanted or dangerous pregnancies whether the husbands is working, cheating, abusive etc.

They can't hold any positions of authority, and although they are the backbone of the church, women have no say in who leads them. Celibacy is the only one factor

**MatthewT** · 03-12-2013, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Mlaw

The rule is just one in the many efforts to keep the role of women under control. If priest could marry, who would be the most cherished confidant? A woman---they can't have that. Women must stay in abusive marriages, continue with unwanted or dangerous pregnancies whether the husbands is working, cheating, abusive etc.

They can't hold any positions of authority, and although they are the backbone of the church, women have no say in who leads them. Celibacy is the only one factor

nope; it's all about money. a single man is cheaper to support, and will leave any pittance he has back to the church. also, his family estate will go to the church. everything he has, and is, goes to the church.

notice the lack of the word Jesus in these statements.