Why is it that so many in the atheist community cannot bring themselves to get past their anger whenever they engage in discussions? The language of many of their contributions in public debate is laced with invective and dripping with sarcasm and bile. There are exceptions of course, but they tend to fall more into the category of being the 'exception that proves the rule' when compared to the hostility of many of today's atheist posters. Comment offered by the theists in the public square is often depicted as being 'malicious' or 'venomous' and intended to enslave the 'feeble minded and weak' by those who post. Nothing could be further from the truth. Venom is something that is oriented to death. Christians are oriented in a 180 degree different direction. We speak not to the culture of death that grips our world but rather for the culture of life and light which ends with the gift of eternal life. For example, the Catholic Church in its hum...
Hi Tim,
ReplyDeleteIt seems that there is now direct evidence linking the pope to the cover ups of sexual abuse:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8612457.stm
I am afraid that all of the Church's efforts to deflect attention from itself by moaning about the media, blaming the gays, or the victims, will thoroughly discredit the institution in light of this new information.
From a PR perspective the Vatican has utterly mishandled the situation. They should have come out early in the news cycle with all of the dirt as soon as possible. Full transparency - get all of the worst negative news out of the way all at once. Simultaneously, the Vatican should have rent their clothes, covered their faces in ash and cried huge crocodile tears of sorrow. They should have thrown themselves at the feet of the media in abject humility and promised immediate and sweeping reform.
Slowly, as the Church followed through on the promised reform the story would have turned to one of redemption and change. This is a tried (albeit tired) recipe that has worked for scoundrels everywhere.
I doubt that this will be the only direct link of Ratzinger to the scandal. At this point, I am beginning to suspect that His Holiness will be shuffling off this mortal coil sometime soon. The Vatican is a sovereign state, autopsies are not permitted on the pope's body, and quite frankly...there are no other 'respectable' options left. This would not be the first time in Church history when a pope has been nudged towards his heavenly reward.
Like many folks, I do not find this train wreck in slow motion easy to watch. Hang in there my friend. I think the worst is yet to come.
Cheers...Martin