Vatican's move a dishonest distraction

The comments on numerous blogs about Benedict's appeal to the Anglicans has demonstrated once more what religion can do to warp the human brain and negate its God-given capacity for reason, rational analysis, and logical thought. It is always disheartening to see someone mindlessly regurgitating the standard clichés of his particular religion as revealed truth, clueless about how those clichés have imprisoned his brain. Ergo, this from one Catholic true believer: “…we also believe that He founded the Church…then we believe that the Church, which He founded must be ordered in the way that He founded it. And since He ordained only MALES to be His Apostles, only males can be bishops and priests. And also it is logical, why He did so; because a priest is…an, 'Icon of Christ', in his role as celebrant of the Mass, so it would be confusing…for a woman to raise the Host and say, ‘This is my body.’ ”

Wow. Can any sane person living in the 21st Century believe the above without question? What a classic example of someone unable to distinguish between facts, on the one hand, and beliefs and propaganda, on the other. Catholics are free to believe that Jesus founded the Church, but the facts in the Bible do not support that belief. The blanket statement that Jesus ordained only males is an even greater assault on truth. That error of that assertion is shown by any reading of the Bible and backed up by so many rational, objective commentators through the ages as to defy enumeration. One of the latest and best is the book “Papal Sin,” by George Will.

True believers are blind to their endless circular arguments. They are unable to distinguish between reality and basic assumptions, and, therefore, use their basic assumptions to support their conclusions—without remotely realizing that it is their basic assumptions that are being challenged. They remind me of those old Southern segregationists who preached the gospel that truth required fidelity to “segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever”—and then proclaimed that with that basic assumption established, “let’s talk about how blacks and whites can live in peace and harmony with each other.”

One cult raids another in an attempt to expand the cult's reach. This story is as old as humanity. Only the names have changed.

The Roman Catholic church is a throwback to ancient times and the Anglicans who might be tempted to sign on are looking backwards.

Ryan Haber:

I hope you find this equally amusing: You may notice that this week's blog is all but dead.
Nobody really gives a sh*t about some of the more backwards Anglicans "reuniting" with the Romans, not even most Anglicans, let alone most Catholics.

B O R I N G

Yes the blog is about RELIGION. Or, at least, it was.

Farnaz,

You are hilarious. What is your religion? I only ask because this WHOLE website is devoted to religion, faith, and spirituality - which, while distinct, are at least related.

You seem to have very little patience with any of the three.

This religious development has struck at least the editors of the paper of record as being noteworthy. You spend a lot of time saying that you do not care, and writing upon (and hopefully reading) these blogs for someone who is uninterested.

Ryan Haber
Kensington, Maryland

Ms. Smith,

You seem to have missed the point of both the news story, such as it is, and the prompt by Meacham and Quinn.

Instead, you went through a standard litany of why you would never be Catholic.

Great, good for you.

But apparently, there are some Anglicans who aren't so set on the issue, and who don't find all those rules and man-made definitions quite so oppressive. Instead of wondering what makes them tick, or asking yourself if maybe you've missed something, you just wrote your little diatribe.

Again.

And if you'll forgive my incredulity, I must say that I heartily doubt that, upon hearing the news, your first thoughts included, "What would Mary say?"

Really.

Ryan Haber
Kensington, Maryland

What is up with Quinn and Meacham? Does anyone have a clue as to how irrelevant this is to the rest of us?

I mean, really. Who gives a sh*t?

Rob-Roy,

Come to think of it, this is an Anglican-Roman Catholic transaction. However, I noticed (in many blogs) the Non-Anglicans and Non-Catholics are the ones who are skeptical and have a mouthful on the issue than the flocks concerned (none of their business).

They should just mind their own issues and leave the Roman CC alone. I mean, the Catholic Church does not infringe on other denominations' business, why are they (and their cohorts) doing the exact opposite to others. Considering a lot of these denominations regard the Roman CC as PASSE - they seem to be tooooooooooooooo concerned of the Roman CC activities.

Makes me wonder - They are just envious, maybe. Or have nothing better to do. Or they are just CLOSETED Catholic.

Rob-Roy,

Come to think of it, this is an Anglican-Roman Catholic transaction. However, I noticed (in many blogs) the Non-Anglicans and Non-Catholics are the ones who have a lot more skepticism and are mouthful on this issue that the flock concerned.

They should just mind their issues and leave the Roman CC alone. I mean, the Catholic Church does not infringe on other denominations' business, why should do the opposite to others. Didn't a lot of these denominations the Roman CC are PASSE.

Makes me wonder - They are just envious, maybe. Or have nothing better to do.

Here in the States, with the ordination of female priests, traditional Anglo-catholics were told that there would be safeguards for those who did not agree. Those were quickly dropped and now all of the Anglo-catholic dioceses have fled. The same ploy was being played in England. Thus, the Anglo-catholics asked the pope for help and he has responded pastorally.

Ms Smith doesn't agree. She is part of the tiny UCC which is the FASTEST declining denomination. She gives some silly examples, e.g., that the first to "preach" the resurrection were women. She repeats the tired line that it is "hatred" to agree with the 4,000 year Judaeo-Christian ethic that sexual relations should be restricted to necessarily heterosexual marriage.

She is a tee-ball player trying to go out for the majors.

Author said: I am at a loss !!!

That's very laughably troubling TO ME. haha !!

This is what Jesus will say to you: YOU ARE NOT LOST JUST LOOK UP .. I FOUND YOU. And Mama Mary will be smiling in the background.

You are at a LOSS because the effort of finding is not up to you, my sister. It's up to HIM! All you need to do is stay put and LOOK UP! - if you get my drift!

The two Mary's were edited out of the bible. Why would they be put back in now? A change of heart, a sudden conversion to recognize the devi in each woman, or perhaps more marketing clout.

hariaum