| What did he Say? | | | | the rug. Or, when impossible, put the best possible pr |
| OK - Impeach the Pope- not quite what you | | | | "spin" on them. Pope Benedict is the CEO of |
| expected from me right? The guy who's usually | | | | RCInternational. And, unlike, for example, Bill Gates, who |
| writing about all the pleasureable experiences of | | | | can be, and was, hauled up on the carpet for scrutiny |
| French County Life. Truth be told , I was enjoying my | | | | by his Government, no such luck with the former |
| French Country life this afternoon, in the garden. After | | | | Cardinal Ratzinger. (No impeachment option!) You |
| a violent storm, the sun appeared. Birds were singing. | | | | know why? Because he's HOLY! If you say anything |
| A simple, but enjoyable lunch graced my patio table. A | | | | against him - It's blasphemy! It's sacrilige! It's a |
| nice wine a cote. A view to the mountains. Blue skies. | | | | "sin"against the church and it's "Holy" servants! |
| White puffy clouds. Perfect, right? Perfect for me. But | | | | Climbing the Corporate Ladder |
| not for the 200 deaf children molested by Milwaukee's | | | | So, how did Pope Benedict get to be "Holy?" How did |
| "Father" Murphy over a period of 20 years. Not | | | | he acquire that impenetrable armour that other |
| perfect for those children, now adults, who even | | | | corporate executives can only dream about? Well, as |
| protested in front of their church. Not perfect for the | | | | noted, before becoming Pope, he was a Cardinal. |
| Bishops in that Diocese who repeatedly told Cardinal | | | | Before that, an Archbishiop. Before that, a Bishop, and |
| Ratzinger, the Vatican's "main man" at the time, that | | | | before that, back through the mists of time, a |
| "We've got a big problem here, that needs your | | | | Priest.(Think Anthony Quinn in "Shoes of the |
| attention." | | | | Fisherman.") So, you're getting my drift, are you not? |
| Don't Ask - Don't Tell | | | | "Holiness" is the ultimate job description on the Roman |
| But Cardinal Ratziner chose, for whatever reason(s), | | | | Catholic Church "career path." And Pope Benedict has |
| not to reply. Father Murphy's abuse continued. No | | | | made it to the top of the ladder. Where he continues |
| intervention from the Vatican. Finally, Father Murphy | | | | to behave exactly as any other corporate executive |
| dies. And Cardinal Ratzinger, becomes the Pope."God's | | | | would in a time of crisis. No comment. |
| representative on Earth." Spiritual leader" of millions. | | | | Wake up Call |
| And his response? His explanation for doing nothing? | | | | Those who "believe" in the church, "believe" in God, |
| His rationale for, in effect, condoning the the | | | | "believe" in whatever your fairy tale is, need to realize |
| transgressions of Father Murphy. Nada. Zilch. That's | | | | that belief IS a fairey tale! The word "belief" comes |
| what his press secretary is for. His cop-out - "Father | | | | from two Anglo-Saxon words - "to be" and "lief" (wish) |
| Murphy was in ill health, and needed to die in | | | | ie - I "lief these lands to be yours." Therefore, when we |
| dignity."(parphrasing) Dignity? What about the 200 | | | | say I"believe" in (Jesus)(God)(aliens) we are simply |
| abused deaf children? What about their dignity? The | | | | saying I WISH them to be. Only doubtful truths require |
| continuing scars on their lives inflicted by Father | | | | "belief." No one with a full load says "Do you believe in |
| Murphy? What is the "spiritual Leader" going to do to | | | | roses?" We can see, smell, touch(and if we're really |
| help them? To even try, as much as is possible, to | | | | hungry) taste them. So, following on, if you "believe" in |
| "make things right?" | | | | God, the Roman Catholic Church and it's Pope, what |
| The Bottom Line | | | | do you "believe" the Pope should do? Would not |
| You know the answer, dear reader, do you not? It is | | | | honesty, contrition, and CONCRETE ACTION to help |
| - absolutely nothing. Except for more pious religious | | | | alleviate the suffering of "Father" Murphys 200 victims |
| mumbo jumbo, rationalizing the ill health of the | | | | be a start? |
| "disturbed" Father Murphy(Hey, Benedict, you knew | | | | The Beat goes On |
| that 20 years ago!) and profunde expressions of deep | | | | The sun is still shining here now. The sky is still blue. |
| sorrow and regret. But a cheque from the enormous | | | | The clouds remain "rows and flows of angel hair." I |
| coffers of the Vatican bank, for Father Murphy's | | | | return to my work, as we all must. |
| victims? Not a snowball's chance in hell. Because, and | | | | But my lingering thought is for Pope Benedict. Beyond |
| here's where you really need to pay attention, and | | | | what he needs to say, must say, in his "position", I'm |
| leave your (inherited) "beliefs" at the door. Organized | | | | wondering what, (to use my Mother's favorite |
| Religion is a Multi-national. It, like all Multi-Nationals exists | | | | expression) "in his heart of hearts" he's feeling. |
| to increase it's profits/market share, maintain brand | | | | And you. What about you? |
| loyalty, crush competition, and sweep it's abuses under | | | | |