GLAA Forum

Right-wing activist kills self in Notre Dame Cathedral over same-sex marriage

Wow. A shocking reminder that there are some very disturbed people out there.

Fred Phelps Jr. blames tornado deaths on Jason Collins

Seriously. Gay Star News reports.

(Hat tip: Alan Sharpe)

Bachmann on God's judgment

If God is intervening in human affairs, why hasn't he done something about this vulgar nitwit? Keep those prayers coming, folks.

Gumbleton to Pro-Marriage Equality Catholics: ‘Don’t Stop Going to Communion’

New Ways Ministry blogs:

Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, retired auxiliary bishop of Detroit, has told Catholics to ignore Archbishop Allen Vigneron’s recent statement discouraging pro-marriage equality Catholics from receiving communion.

Gumbleton explains:

“If you look at it from a pastoral point of view where you’re trying to reach out to people, trying to draw them in, then the last thing you want to do is impose a penalty or make them feel like they have to impose a penalty upon themselves.

Bravo, Bishop.

Fischer: "Homofascists" Will Force Christians To Wear Patches, Like The Nazis Did To Jews

Thanks to Right Wing Watch for keeping track of this crazy stuff.

Fischer: Ben Carson is the victim of gay activists' "demonic hatred"

According to Bryan Fischer, Ben Carson, who thinks the world is six thousand years old, was totall blown away by the "demonic hatred" that homosexuals have for Judeo Christian traditions. Never mind that many gay people are themselves Jews and Christians.

Cardinal Dolan to gays: "You're entitled to friendship"

More Christian love and understanding from Cardinal Timothy Dolan. I wrote this in 2011 about Dolan's unsuccessful efforts to block marriage equality in New York.

Bishop Jackson: polygamy 'will automatically sweep the land'

The latest howling illogic from Harry "Daddy Bear" Jackson attacking marriage equality. Wouldn't there have to be an organized pro-polygamy movement in order for it to "automatically sweep the land"?

FRC: pray that pro-gay SCOTUS arguments are 'inept, confusing and unconvincing'

The Family Research Council has told its followers to do some praying to ensure that Ted Olson, David Boies and their colleagues arguing before the Supreme Court on March 26 and 27 make a big mess of it:

May God guide us in praying for each member of the Supreme Court: for Samuel Alito, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Anthony Kennedy, Chief JusticeJohn Roberts, Antonin Scalia, Sonia Sotomayor, and Clarence Thomas. May each Justice be governed by the fear of God and fidelity to the moral law and Constitution (2 Sam 23:3; Ps 9:17; 111:10; Pr 1:7; 9:10; Is 5:20).

May the attorneys defending traditional marriage (see ADF Prayer Guide) be given anointing, clarity, effectiveness, conviction and persuasiveness in presenting their arguments. May traditional marriage prevail in the minds of a strong majority of the justices, and may traditional marriage be reaffirmed as the law of the land (Pr 16:1, 11; 25; 18:17; 21:3; Is 9:7; Mt 19:4-6; 2 Cor 5:11).

May those arguing on behalf of same-sex "marriage" present their arguments in an inept, confusing and unconvincing way. May they fail to gain traction in the minds of the Justices. May the right of Californians to amend their state constitution to protect marriage be confirmed by the Court, and may the Defense of Marriage Act be ruled constitutional (Lev 20:all; 1 Sam 2:8-10; 2 Chr 14:11; 20:12-27; Pr 22:28; 24:21; Is 8:18-20; Dan 7:25-27; 2 Cor 2:5).

I hate to quote the late Madalyn Murray O'Hair (who gave a bad name to atheism), but they haven't got a prayer.

Right-wing radio: Christians must "rise up" and "resist" if SCOTUS strikes down DOMA

Another example of the religious bullies' contempt for the American republic, our diverse population, and the rule of law.

(Hat tip: Right Wing Watch)

Obama cheered by Israelis for defense of 2-state solution

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

President Obama wins applause from an Israeli audience as he points out a two-state solution is essential to Israel's future as a Jewish democracy. And he urges Israelis to organize a grassroots peace movement.

And bravo to the President for brokering today's reconciliation between Israel and Turkey, including a Netanyahu apology for the fatal ship raid in 2010.

Bruni to RCC: 'Stop talking so much about sex'

Frank Bruni's latest column in NYT looks at one of the challenges Pope Francis faces:

It’s time for the church to stop talking so much about sex. It’s the perfect time, in fact.

It’s on matters of sexual morality that the church has lost much of its authority. And it’s on matters of sexual morality that it largely wastes its breath. By insisting on mandatory celibacy for a priesthood winnowed and sometimes warped by that, by opposing the use of contraceptives for birth control, by casting judgment on homosexuals and by decrying divorce while running something of an annulment mill, the church’s leaders have enraged and alienated Catholics whose common sense and whose experience of the real world tell them that none of that is wise, kind or necessary.

The church’s leaders have also set themselves up to be dismissed as hypocrites, unable to uphold the very virtues they promulgate.

Gospel group cancels NOM appearance

Nice.

Rosendall, Summersgill testify on Marriage Officiant Amendment Act

D.C. Councilmember Tommy Wells held a hearing of the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety today on Bill 20-0118, the Marriage Officiant Amendment Act. It would add temporary officiants to the list of those permitted to officiate at weddings in the District. Testimony supporting the bill and asking for further amendments was presented by yours truly and Bob Summersgill.

Pope Francis: First from South America, first Jesuit, same right-wing views

After the white smoke went up in Vatican City and the announcement was made that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was the new pope and had taken the name Francis, the lack of objectivity in much of American media was illustrated when an MSNBC anchor gushed to general agreement, "This is a moment of absolute celebration." A journalist friend asked me, "So when do we suppose the media will get over the euphoria over the election of this new pope long enough to actually examine his record?" I replied, "Some won't. I mean, critical inquiry would offend the faithful and provoke the wrath of Bill Donahue of the Catholic League."

More sober reporters dug up the following 2010 statement made by Bergoglio during his outspoken fight against Argentina's push for marriage equality:

Let's not be naive: This is not a simple political fight; it is a destructive proposal to God's plan. This is not a mere legislative proposal (that's just it's form), but a move by the father of lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God ... Let's look to St. Joseph, Mary, and the Child to ask fervently that they defend the Argentine family in this moment ... May they support, defend, and accompany us in this war of God.

No white smoke just yet

Meanwhile, the Catholic Church owns a gay sauna, yards from a certain cardinal's front door. I know, he thought it was a chapel.

About that "War on Christianity"

NOM decries alleged war on military chaplains

The latest attempt by the National Organization for Marriage to turn the truth on its head.

Baltimore church deacon busted for kiddie porn

Sigh.

Perkins decries "dangerous" and "totalitarian" ENDA bill

Back2Stonewall reports:

With their battle against same-sex-marriage failing miserably Tony Perkins and the GOP backed Family Research Council hate group are looking to and moving forward on their next major battle against the LGBT community and our fight for full equality. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

In his most recent right-wing welfare money beg Perkins describes the bill as “dangerous” and “totalitarian” because it limits anti-gay Christians’ ability to discriminate against LGBT’s.

Plan a vacation protest with your friends

The prediction is that this year the cherry blossoms will be in top bloom March 26-30.  So if you plan to invite your friends or family to come to DC this spring you can combine the visit with protests at the Supreme Court as they hear challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act and California Proposition 8.  A series of events have been scheduled for DC by United for Marriage to coincide with the hearings at the Supreme Court.  Besides enjoying the many attractions of our nation's capital friends and family may also enjoy watching as the National Organization for Marriage struggles to hold back marriage equality  for a little while longer.  And of course they can marry in Washington DC.

The red shoes and the pilot's license

The Vatican, pushing back against the popular notion that the Pope Emeritus had his famous red shoes (which he had to give up when he left the Chair of St. Peter) made by Prada, stated that in fact they were made by his personal cobbler. Then they said, with much attitude, "The Pope, in summary, does not wear Prada, but Christ." So Jesus is a fashion designer? Or are they transubstantiating fabric?

It's kind of icky when you think about it, but you're not supposed to think about it. I remember dutifully letting it all wash over me at Mass as a child, when it was still in Latin, and the priest got very dramatic with "Hoc est enim corpus meum" and "Hic est enim calix sanguinis mei" but that may just have been the early stirrings of my inner theater queen. But no, the nun scolded, this really is His body, with only the accidents of unleavened bread, and the wine has been mystically transformed into His blood. But at Villanova, when I told our religious studies professor, Fr. Hamel, that it was essentially a cannibalistic ritual, he took great offense.

Well for goodness sake, Father, what do YOU think all this "take this, all of you, and eat it, for this is my body, this is the cup of my blood" stuff is about? You'd think I were Satan tempting Jesus. Which makes me think of Ratzo's boyfriend Monsignor Georg. I was surprised this morning to learn that His Former Holiness has a pilot's license and can fly the chopper to Castel Gandolfo himself, but he usually lets the big beefy pilot do it for him. What were we talking about?

The Family Research Council loves us

From JoeMyGod:

"At FRC, we hate no one. We actively affirm God's love for everyone. We also affirm what we believe to be sound theological and sociological reasons for upholding sexual morality and preserving marriage as the institution between one man and one woman. Is this hate? Most reasonable people would say no. Evidently the Southern Poverty Law Center disagrees, and under the guise of 'anti-bullying,' the SPLC is willingly fomenting hostility and violence that is jeopardizing the lives of the people with whom they disagree, just to advance their cause.

"It is time the public sees the SPLC for what they really are – bullies intent on intimidating and silencing those who oppose their anti-parent, anti-Christian policies." - Hate group leader Tony Perkins, who routinely calls all gay men potential pedophiles, whose group has called for the imprisonment of gay Americans, and whose group lobbied in support of Uganda's proposed gay death penalty, once again lying that the FRC is only on the SPLC's hate list because of marriage.

If Tony Perkins thinks what the FRC says about gay people is love I feel sorry for his children.  It doesn't feel much like love to me.  Likewise when Christian pastors get on a roll proclaiming that LGBT people will be consigned to the fiery pits of Hell I don't detect much sadness from them.  Joy and elation seems more the feeling.  All Christians don't believe as they do.  Intolerance is a choice they make.

When dealing with these people we should learn to hate the bigotry but love the bigot.

It sucks to be gay and Mormon

A gay Mormon made a video of his year long process of coming out to his friends and family.  He plans on living a celibate life and remaining in the church.  Perhaps the Mormons will pray on this and change their dogma about gay people.  They've done this sort of thing before.

Dr. Michael Brown says anti-gay fight must continue though doomed

David Pakman interviews dead-end religious bully Dr. Michael Brown.

I'm sure I'd have felt that

Trunews host Rick Wiles says that President Obama has "spiritually sodomized" the nation. His guest, my old sparring partner Bishop Harry Jackson (who can be heard thinking, "You can do that?") says he might not put it that way.

"Save Our Scouts" is Texan for "We Hate Gays"

A lovely display of Christian values in Texas.

Hurt me, beat me, make me write bad canon law

Disgraced Cardinal Roger M. Mahony thinks it's God's will that he be humiliated. That's right, Grace, it's all about you.

Fischer says he's not racist because he supports a right-wing black guy for Prez

Right Wing Watch shares this video of AFA's Bryan Fischer with this comment:

Bryan Fischer explains that he is totally not racist because he likes Alan Keyes, Herman Cain, and wants Dr. Ben Carson to run for president.

Right-wing voices like Fischer keep pushing the notion that black, Latino and Asian voters will start voting Republican because the party sends a person of color forward to spout the same extreme views. Can you say denial?

A thought for Ash Wednesday

Today reminds me, more than any other day on the sacred calendar, of the world's worst pickup line: "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust--whaddaya say we get it on while we still have the chance?"

Media fawning over the Pope

(Photograph: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images)

Is it just me, or are you ready to throw up over the fawning treatment Benedict XVI is getting from the mainstream media? I heard an MSNBC reporter on Tuesday say something like, "How do we say goodbye to this leader we admire so much?" The initial NYT story to which I linked yesterday whitewashed the Pontiff's role in covering up decades of child rapes by priests, which btw most news outlets cannot bring themselves to call rapes. Then there are the commentators who portray Ratzinger as a reformer, like the one who described his punishment of Father Maciel of the Legion of Christ (who was a close friend of JPII) as severe. Really? Making Maciel retire to prayer and penitence is a severe punishment? Papist, please. (That's papist, not rapist. But whatever.)

An attack on religious freedom

The National Cathedral announced last month that it's support for same sex marriages, which are legal in the District of Columbia.  This is in line with the Episcopal churches adoption of a liturgy for use in same-gender unions by the General Convention and the national churches allowance for such marriage in places where gay marriage is legal. The National Cathedral has been the site of many presidential memorial services and gets over a million visitors a year.  Most funding comes from private sources but some comes from the Federal government.  For instance, the National Park Services granted $700,000 in May 2011 from the "Save America's Treasures" program to repair earthquake damage.

The Huffington Post reports on efforts by the right-wing activist Ralph Reed's Faith & Freedom Coalition to cut off thier funding due to their religious convictions.  The responce from a Cathedral spokesperson is 

"We certainly stand behind our mission as a spiritual home for the nation. We are rooted in our role first and foremost as an Episcopal curch, and the issue of marriage equality within the Episcopal Church is generally settled."

These types of petitions are a tool of both the right and the left for harvesting email addresses for fundraising appeals.

Lightning over St. Peter's

(Photo by Filippo Monteforte, Agence France-Presse)

Lightning struck the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on Monday, the day Pope Benedict XVI announced that he will step down from the papal chair on February 28. If you want to ascribe this to an angry God, it's your guess as to whether He or She is angry that Benedict is stepping down, or angry that he is waiting two weeks. Or maybe God is tired of Renaissance architecture. Or maybe the Almighty nodded off and hurled a lightning bolt by accident. In any case, it's a pretty picture.

SNAP: 5 Steps Pope Benedict should take in the next 2 weeks

This came today from SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests:

5 Steps Pope Benedict should take in the next 2 weeks

Statement by Joelle Casteix of Newport Beach, SNAP Western Regional Director (949-322-7434, jcasteix@gmail.com)

For immediate release Monday, Februrary 11

By stepping down, Pope Benedict has proven he’s capable of bold action. For the safety of children, in the weeks ahead, we hope he’ll show similar decisiveness and

---discipline at least a handful of current prelates who are concealing or who have concealed child sex crimes,

--insist that every bishop post names of the credibly accused predator priests on his website (as 30 US bishops have done: http://www.bishop-accountability.org/AtAGlance/lists.htm),

--order bishops to actively work with lawmakers to pass stronger child safety measures and reform archaic laws that shield officials who commit and conceal child sex crimes,

--turn over all church abuse and cover up records held by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to local law enforcement and

--halt the canonization of Pope John Paul, so all church employees will see that ignoring or hiding child sex crimes will lead to consequences. The time for promises and policies is over. It is time for decisive action.

(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world’s oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. SNAP was founded in 1988 and has more than 12,000 members. Despite the word “priest” in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)

I couldn't agree more; but why would Emperor Palpatine do any of those things at this late date? He's likelier to re-establish the Magdalene Laundries.

That said, I applaud SNAP for its persistent voice for justice.

Bad Religion

In honor of Benedict XVI, Frank Ocean's live performance of "Bad Religion" from his Grammy-winning album, Channel Orange last summer on Jimmy Fallon.

Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God

Chilling. Your legacy, Holiness?

Goodbye, Pontifex

Pope Benedict XVI, AKA @Pontifex, AKA Emperor Palpatine, AKA Joseph Ratzinger, has announced the first voluntary papal abdication in 596 years, claiming failing health. NYT reports. Dave Weigel reports at Slate.

Could the Catholic Church's decades of facilitating and covering up child rape by priests, in which Ratzinger is personally implicated as the coverer-up-in-chief, have played a role in this? Stay tuned.

("Do you like gladiator movies?" Pope Benedict XVI kisses a child as he arrived for a mass for the local bishops and priests at Sao Paolo Church in Luanda, Angola. Photo courtesy Osservatore Romano / Handout/EPA)

Westboro Mingle: The dating service from hell

For the God-fearing Christian who wants to date someone who hates the same people they hate.

(Hat tip: Joe Jervis)

Harry Jackson's fact-free musings on the Boy Scouts

Bishop Harry "Daddy Bear" Jackson does what he is best at, which is making stuff up.

Sullivan praises documentary on child-rape epidemic in the Catholic Church

Mea Maxima Culpa Promo

Gay Catholic Andrew Sullivan has written another powerful, moving indictment of the Roman Catholic Church's betrayal of children and of justice as he reviews Mea Maxima Culpa, the documentary by Alex Gibney that debuted the other night on HBO. Andrew writes:

It is both an inspiring testament to faith and truth – as well as a devastating indictment of pride, power, and lies. The former come from four boys who attended St John’s School for the Deaf in Milwaukee in the 1970s. The latter comes from the Vatican and everyone in its power structure then and ever since....

Gibney finds Father Lawrence Murphy confessing to raping over 200 boys over a long period of time. He raped them in their dorm rooms; he raped them in the confessional, using the small window as a glory hole and granting absolution based on rape or masturbation. The detail I cannot quite recover from is that he picked out for abuse those deaf boys who had parents who could not use sign language – so that even if the boys had the courage to say what had happened to them, their parents would not understand. It’s things like that that simply chill you, haunt you, force you to confront the pre-meditated, profound assault on human souls that the Catholic Church, from the Pope on down, enabled, perpetuated, and lied about for so long – and still hasn’t been held fully accountable for....