Rendering Unto Caesar: That Lobby is Soooo Gay!‏

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

When the new Vicar of Caesar Jesus was on his way back to Rome from a visit to Latin America a few weeks back, journalists peppered him with questions about the existence of a "gay lobby" at the Vatican. I immediately thought of Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel. There is quite a bit of gayety at the opulent H.Q. of Jesus, Inc. Of course, that was not what the journalists were inquiring about.

A number of people interpreted the frank pontifical response as a shift in Vatican attitudes toward homosexuality. They heard him speak of not judging people by their sexual orientation. They failed to hear him qualify his gracious restraint with a caveat about seeking Jesus and avoiding Masonry. More astute observers are concerned that the pope is more willing than ever to protect priests who have allowed their lower parts to get out of hand in the presence of youngsters.

I found it ironic that anyone would seek for a Jewish prophet at an opulent Roman palace. Some of our students pointed out that the Roman Jesus has been quite distinct from the genuine article for centuries. Freemasonry might be a better venue to seek out the real thing after all. I objected by pointing to Propaganda Due as an example of how Roman bishoprics and Freemasonry mix poorly. I shudder to think of what might happen if any of the red cap vipers caught up with a guy resembling Jesus.

A little digging around revealed a group, the International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State (ITCCS), opposed to the pope's recent edict criminalizing leaks of abuse cases. They contend that the requirement of secrecy places the Vatican in the league of organized crime. This seemed somewhat absurd. After all the Vatican and organized crime have fit like hand and glove throughout its history. There is nothing new there.

Do you see any value in the campaign by ITCCS to enhance the reputation of the Vatican as an international pariah? Does their program stand a snowball's chance in Hell?

Links: The Guardian on the pope's gay lobby remarks. The NYT on a Vatican ordinance against leaks. The ITCCS Web page.

Comments

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

[jerseycajun.livejournal.com]

No discounting the possibility of both being true.

In fact, it may be probable that it'll end up being both.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

The world ends every day and then starts all over again the next day.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

Could be worse, the end of the world could be on a hump day

[dexeron.livejournal.com]

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

That could be considered a verbal potpourri.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

The studio version!

[dexeron.livejournal.com]

The Orchestral Version!

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

I wonder how the name "Propaganda Due" is usually pronounced throughout the Anglosphere.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

I have never heard it spoken out loud, but I assume the Due is pronounced DOO-ay.

[vehemencet-t.livejournal.com]

I think we usually just refer to it as "P2". Well those few of us who even remember/know about it... Made me glad to see it mentioned here though.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

I thought of P2 after I posted my response. It is a shame that so few people are aware of relatively recent Vatican history. I suspect that if more attention was paid to it by pundits, they would be attacked as anti-Catholic. Dan Brown based his novel Angels and Demons on the Propaganda Due episode, but did not include the organization in his own tale. (I suppose that would make it too historical and less fanciful.)

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

The Vatican is taking a cue from governmental power criminalizing leaking, but yeah, transparency was never anything more than an ideal.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Your thoughtful contributions show a level of creativity and dedication unrivaled by others in this community.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

It's better then nothing, the internet has been an empty well this last week

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Perhaps content providers are switching over to the next generation technology based on cognitive radio.

[flaming-goat.livejournal.com]

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

Kitty in the microwave oven: how cruel.

[rimpala.livejournal.com]

I certainly hope kitty survived, kitty reminds me of my Stormy

[oportet.livejournal.com]

I see value in it if they're allowed to do it - but doesn't the pope have the final word on everything? (I know there was a time when he did, and while I haven't checked in on that in a while, I assume there would have been a big announcement if it was decided that he was fallible)

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

They would probably consider it to be a big mistake to admit any error. The irony is that the opposite is actually the case.

BTW, I read recently that the doctrine of papal infallibility only applies to statements made "ex-cathedra." That means that remarks to reporters on the plane back from South America do not count as infallible.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

...doesn't the pope have the final word on everything? (I know there was a time when he did, and while I haven't checked in on that in a while...

Well, there was that thing called Vatican 2....

[allhatnocattle.livejournal.com]

All political groups have value. I think you mean, "Does the International Tribunal into Crimes of Church and State have merit?", meaning a quality of being particularly good or worthy, so as to deserve praise..

I also think it deserves the kind of attention that we don't have to go digging around researching the subject to know about them. So where is the attention they deserve? Where are the attention drawers; the media, news reporters, memes, facebook shares, etc?

People who like the church (even just a little) won't deride it with negative attention. After all the central tenet of the church is forgiveness. People who hate the church have many options to make fun of it. Most people are just rather blasé about it. I mean there are so many other issues to stress on about.

So does it stand a snowball's chance in Hell? You're asking if people raised to not judge and be forgiving of sin will give a shit? Nope. No way.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

I do not question the merit of the claim by ITCCS. I merely doubt that they will succeed. If I am wrong, I will be among those who cheer their success. I do not expect people who worship the Church to lift a finger to reform it.

What seems ironic to me is that a group of people that supposedly does not judge would go to great lengths to defraud homosexuals of the right to marry. I suppose they expect their peers to not hold them accountable for such viciousness. "Forgive us, we're just sinners."