A pastor's sermon

There's an interesting article in the NY Daily News today. It's an excerpt from a sermon that a Protestant minister (Dona Schaper, senior minister of Judson Memorial Church) will give on Martin Luther King Day. Although it comes from a Christian viewpoint that I don't share, it's basically a diatribe against dear, sweet Cardinal Dolan -- he who attacks gays at every chance and loves every NYC police officer he meets, even when they go around killing people of color for no reason at all.

Here are two excerpts from the sermon:

There is also no surprise in Cardinal Dolan thinking he has to defend the police. He sees them as his people in a way he can’t see Eric Garner or Michael Brown as his people. The cardinal doesn’t know how to see from the middle and mess of the table.

and...

The Pope may think his cardinals have spiritual Alzheimer’s, as he said in his Christmas message. But Cardinal Dolan has arteriosclerosis, the hardening of the heart’s arteries.

Let's hope Dolan reads this article. He is a terrible spiritual leader who is rarely confronted about his hateful beliefs. In fact, I've only seen gay people confront him to his face. We recognize evil when we see it.

Anyway, not my usual fare. But I thought readers might be interested in reading the full article. There's something there for believers, too. After all, Schaper is a minister.

Piggy Timmy drops another turd: Pope was "high"

Cardinal Timmy Dolan is an ugly man. And he has a blog. In a post called "What the Holy Father Said", he further "clarifies" the pope's kind words toward gays. I guess Timmy didn't say enough nasty shit on TV, so he moved to the internet to let loose. Here's how he begins his post:

Well, since everybody else is talking about it, I guess I should.

Timmy, you haven't shut up about it since it happened. He goes on (and on, and on):

I’m speaking about, of course, the Holy Father’s remarks to the journalists on the plane returning from World Youth Days in Brazil. For one, the Pope was visibly “on a high” from his first international pastoral visit in Rio.

So the poor pope didn't even know what he was saying? Cuz he was too high from all the adulation? Apparently, at least according to Timmy.

Two, mercy is the word that seems to summarize Francis’ talks...Three, mercy was not just the theme of those radiant World Youth Days in Rio, but also of his now renowned hour-and-twenty minute comfortable conversation with the press on the plane.

So that explains it. The pope was just feeling too merciful when he said those kind words about gays. Cuz he was too "high" from his trip. Ah, now we see.

So, his brief remarks on homosexuality were about mercy...No change in Church teaching here . . . or no intended “correction” to a more “dour” approach by his predecessors. 

He's referring here to Benedict's dyspeptic remarks about gays. We all know how hateful closet cases can be, and Benedict was a major closet case. But according to Timmeh, the new pope's kind words do not erase the old pope's hateful words. (Benedict said those with "deep-seated homosexual tendencies" shouldn't be accepted for the priesthood, and it is he who invented the tag "intrinsically disordered" for gay lives.) Sweet, sweet man, that Benedict. Kinda like Timmy Dolan, come to think of it. But no, Timmy assures us the new, kind words mean absolutely nothing. Gay is still very, very bad. Thanks, Timmy!

Then he veers aside for a moment to take a gratuitous stab at women priests, saying women "hardly need a Roman collar to lead and serve in the Church."

Ah, so the church won't ordain them because they "hardly need a Roman collar", eh? Sweet, Timmy. Just like everything you say. And it's very "catholic" of you to take the time to stab women when you're mostly knifing gays.

Then he wonders if the "Holy Father is frustrated" by all the coverage generated by his remarks about gays.

But, as usual, the press predictably brought these weary issues up, and have given them more ink than any of the other noble themes that rang through Copacabana Beach.  It’s not the Church that is obsessed with those topics, but the media!

Yes, Timmy. And that's why you spend 80% of your time fighting gay marriage. Because the media is "obsessed" by these topics. But not you. You're a rootin', tootin', prayin' man made in jeebus' image. How lucky for you. If you'd been born a girl, you probably would have become a waitress -- because it would allow you to flap your mouth at the customers all day long. But jeebus had a plan for you. That's why he gave you a penis. God sure knows what he's doing, huh?

Go away, Timmy. Just go away. All you do in these appearances is flaunt the rotten state of your soul. Then again, your remarks probably push more people away from your evil church, so I guess it doesn't matter. But you sure are sickening.

I have one question for the church

Cardinal Timothy Dolan's handling of the child sex abuse scandal that rocked the Catholic Church will soon be public...

All of the documents relate to the alleged sexual abuse of children by clergy in Milwaukee.

"I think the Catholic Church has learned a very painful lesson on what not to do in terms of dealing with sexual abuse," said Joseph Zwilling, spokesperson for the Archdiocese of New York.

Yes, the church learned a painful lesson -- not the kids but the church. As usual with such remarks, there is no grasp of the tremendous harm done to children by priests. It's all about the church and its mad game of hiding sexual abuse under the rug.

So here's my question, Zwilling:

Why is it that the Roman Catholic church, sole arbiter of Christian virtue and morals, had (and has) no clue that the abused children are the important end of the sexual abuse equation? Why, when the church got wind of the rampant sexual abuse of children by priests, did the church not immediately report the crimes to the police and try to help the children? And why are they still not trying to help the children?

That's the big question and the church has no answer, none at all. And they never will. This church knows nothing about moral behavior. It is a cesspool of evil. You only have to view Zwilling's final quote in the linked story, to understand this:

The sexual abuse of minors, Zwilling said, is a societal problem not just confined to the church.

They still don't understand what they've done. It's amazing and mind-boggling. There isn't a shred of morality in this church.

One more thing

On Dolan's media-studded "friendship for the gays" tour yesterday, he also said this:

Dolan says he would tell gay men and lesbians that God loves them and they're entitled to friendship. But he says marriage is a union between a man and a woman "where children can come about naturally." 

It seems that as he bashed gay marriage, Dolan also felt a need to tell adopted children they're not as good as kids that "come about naturally". And that parents of adopted kids might as well not be married. What is wrong with this fellow?

We still have no answer to the biggest question involving this church: why do they attack gays? They're never able to explain it in a rational way. It boggles the mind. Why is their god so concerned with everyone's genitals? What a strange religion this is.

More on Timmeh

I've now read several versions of what dear, sweet Cardinal Dolan said about gays on Easter Sunday. The man doesn't seem to be mentally or emotionally equipped for his job. That's my take on the situation.

Here's a lovely passage from Think Progress' account of the exchange. After reporting what Timmy said (we can be "friends" but must never ever allow our genitals to touch; thanks, Timmy!) they note the following:

After lobbying against New York’s marriage equality law, Dolan prohibited by decree any Church personnel or property from being utilized for same-sex marriage ceremonies under penalty of “canonical sanctions,” calling the state’s law “irreconcilable with the nature and the definition of marriage as established by Divine law.” He has also compared the “threat” posed to marriage by gays and lesbians to that of polygamy, adultery, forced marriage, communist dictatorships, and incest. [Note: the actual text has many links, for those who wish to document his inhumane statements.]

Let's focus on the section I bolded above. Exactly when and where did Jesus mention "the nature and the definition of marriage as established by Divine Law"? Ahem. I'm waiting. Jesus never said one goddamn thing about this. Timmy Dolan is just damaged goods.

It would be heavenly if the pope countered this nonsense. I wonder what Timmy would say then? He's the original suck-up-to-power guy. It would truly be fun to hear his tortured words, if this ever came to pass.

But we must remember that Argentina's gays hated Bergoglio, who morphed into Popeyguy Francis. So perhaps this is a pipe dream. It's a lovely one, though.

Dolan says nothing

Joe.My.God has the full rundown on a great question asked of dear, sweet, anti-gay Cardinal Dolan. I won't steal Joe's thunder. Anyway, you really have to read it for yourself. Oy.

Timmy seems to suspect that a more moral pope is in charge now. Let's hope that's the case. If the church backs off its anti-gay rhetoric, I might even stop making fun of these boobs.

Nah, it would still be a religion based on a non-existent god. But I might not make it so personal. And by that, I mean I might not hurl boiling oil at them, as they've done toward gay people.

Time will tell.

Timmy Dolan. Ugh.

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, the archbishop of New York, has become an object of fascination in Rome for the fluency of his juggling act: he is simultaneously head of the United States’ most prominent Roman Catholic diocese and president of its national conference of bishops, tapped by the Vatican for numerous prestigious assignments and by network television anchors for their most prized interview spots. 

At first, everyone said Dolan didn't have a chance. How quickly the winds can change (and what is that awful stench in the air?).

But in recent days, his joyful and telegenic orthodoxy is getting new attention in Rome; on Thursday, a prominent Vatican reporter, Sandro Magister, highlighted his qualifications, calling him “the consummate candidate, who represents the impulse in the direction of purification.” 

As I said recently, Dolan's got a good chance and he's trying as hard as he can to snatch that popeship. There's something terribly, awfully hungry inside this man.

Cardinal Dolan has colorfully dismissed speculation that he could be pope, saying that he expects, and is eager, to return to New York. Nonetheless, this papal interregnum has become an important period for him, presenting an opportunity for him to use mass media to reach Catholics in his vast and diverse archdiocese, and to elevate his stature as he faces battles with President Obama over health insurance regulations and with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York over a proposed liberalization of the state’s abortion laws. 

Such a stalwart warrior, that Timmeh. On the wrong side of everything, but always willing to fight. He'd make quite a popey guy. But there are naysayers.

“Italians don’t understand him,” said one Vatican official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the news media. He added, “They don’t like people joking on serious occasions, warming the crowd.” 

I guess they'd prefer another dyspeptic gay pope, like Ratzinger. But Timmy wants that popeship so bad he can taste it.

Cardinal Dolan has some of the attributes of a gifted politician — he remembers names, works crowds, checks in. During a visit to a New York synagogue, he put his right arm on the left shoulder of each person he greeted; some adults he hugged, some babies he held. During a walk through Kennedy International Airport, he greeted each worker, pausing as some kissed his ring, posing for photos with others. 

Workin'. The man is workin'. He wants this thing! A throne! Adoration! Gold and jewels! And anything he wants to eat! Timmy's gotta have that popeship. He's gotta!

Fun times ahead!

Timmy speaks

Drawing by Conor Cunningham.

Cardinal Timmy Dolan's words:

“Look, there’s always been sin, there’s always been scandal, there’s always been some corruption in the members of the church. At a time like this when the church is under such intense scrutiny, those are obviously going to come through. We refer to the church as the mystical body of Christ. There are warts on the mystical body, there are scars, and as St. Augustine says, often the mystical body of Christ limps because the church is in pain. The church is sometimes wounded, and we see that now.”

Never a word for the raped children. Not. One. Syllable. Timmy would be the perfect pope. Hates gays? Check. Never speaks up for women? Check. Doesn't care about kids raped by priests? Double-check. Go, Timmeh!

This is such a dumb move

Cardinal Timothy Dolan says he's now giving the closing prayer at both the Democratic and Republican conventions.

Great. So now Timmy will be able to chide the democrats, live on teevee. He'll tell them they're not being hateful enough to gays and women, etc. This is just what the dems need. What fool approved this? I swear the democratic party is its own worst enemy.

Timmy Dolan and the GOP

Get ready to vomit.

Dolan recently told a radio program that he is "happy" Ryan is on the GOP ticket and called him a "great public servant."

"We go way back, Congressman Paul Ryan and I," Dolan said. "I came to know and admire him immensely. And I would consider him a friend. He and his wife Janna and their three kids have been guests in my house; I've been a guest at their house. They're remarkably upright, refreshing people."

Not so much

Gay Empire State Building

New twit Cardinal in New York:

In remarks delivered during the service, Dolan paid tribute to the city and said his elevation was a reflection of the status of New York.

"This hat is for you, New York," he said, holding up the red headwear worn by cardinals in the Catholic Church, "and I'm proud to call you Your Eminence."

Maybe not so much:

Empire State Building refuses to honor Cardinal Dolan with red-lights tribute.

That pic up top is the Empire State Building right after NY legalized gay marriage -- a rainbow Empire State Building. Wingnut Catholic heads are exploding as we speak. Cue the Catholic League, wingnuts extraordinaire.

(Image: Mashable.)