We sometimes forget that the rest of the “civilized” world doesn't share our freedoms. We haven't seen fishing expeditions of that sort in this country since the days of J. Edgar Hoover. And at least he had the good judgment to keep it secret.

Searching the tombs is truly bizarre, but would probably not have been done had there not been cause. I am really curious about what the authorities thought they would find there ... and what was indeed found, if anything. I am intrigued by the prospect that bishops would take evidence to the grave.

Piffle! Any evidence found in the graves was obviously planted!

It is too early to know if the Belgium Police are right or wrong. Their action was proactive to protect children. The Vatican participation in the world wide cover-up may have justifiable brought this response.

If you review the harm and additional abuse that Maryland’s non police action, police trusting and/or cooperating with the church rather than sex abuse survivors has caused. The following 4 examples are an example of other for this response is mostly from memory but I believe verification is on Bishop Accountability searching the names.

There is progress for the first 2, escaped to foreign countries where it highly likely the abused and at least in Brett case with a conservative estimate of over 1000, and he is believed to be still raping and abusing.

Lawrence F. X. Brett was reported to abuse 24 before arriving and with over 24 Baltimore area reported abuses. Brett fled to the Caribbean in 1993. It is been reported that a good friend of Cardinal Keeler helped Brett escape just before pending arrest. FBI and reporters also confirmed Brett living in the Caribbean with children frequenting his condo. They found records of communications with friends of Keeler and pay receipts for ghost writing payment checks from the Paulist. If Brett abused at 1 a week rate it could be nearly a 1000 children since his fleeing Baltimore. We have been told right before his leaving police department superior as a matter of courtesy informed the Archdiocese on Brett pending arrest.

Joseph Maskell fled from Baltimore in 1994. We are told and it may have been reported in the paper after a police department member informed the Archdiocese that a warrant was out. The detectives went to arrest Maskell but another priest was saying mass. Maskell hid in a Baltimore rectory(s) until his escape to Ireland and later slinked back to Baltimore. He died in 2001. Vital Maskell evidence was gained from information gathered from digging up ground at Holy Cross Cemetery. Some feel that Maskell likely abuse nearly a hundred in the Baltimore area.

At least after 2003 police friendly abusers didn’t escape from the country and abuse is single digit.

Aarron Joseph Cote was reported the Archdiocese of Washington in 2001 to 2002. They didn’t follow the charter until after a Civil Suit was brought in 2005. Cote was transferred to Rhode Island and accusation of abusing 2 brothers 5 and in Massachusetts after is civil trail but before his criminal trail. Montgomery County never interviewed Cote until after the civil suite stating they didn’t bring Cote in for an interview for it was inconvenient for him. I believe he is still a priest living in a Dominican House in New York City,

Fernando Cristancho was accused of abusing a non minor teenage girl before coming to Baltimore from Arlington, Va. In 2006 DSS found sexual abuse of both boys, including oral sex. Mother reported possible 3rd victim. An attorney from Harford County prosecutor’s office told me there were no criminal charges at this time because the court experience would not be good for the young survivors. I agreed with them. If I recall correctly there was fuzzy cooperation from the Arlington Dioceses, Arlington Police, Harford Police or Maryland State Police. In one of the court cases I believe there is reference on non cooperation made. I don’t remember exactly which of the cases, but I do think the Arch of Baltimore cooperated with the police, but didn’t follow the US Bishops Charter on reporting the allegation to his former parish for a year plus. This can be confirm by view one or the other of the court cases.

snapmd@comcast.net

Frank Dingle,
Fernando Chritancho had the gall to donate his sperm, get an egg donor, go to South America, find a doctor for in vitro fertilization, find a surrogate mom and produce a bunch of babies to call his own he could abuse with impunity--this is the most egregious case yet to occur in this enterprise called the Catholic Church--the Catholic Church harbors a number of fertile criminal minds--what they will cook up next, these ordained priests, lovers of the lord and the lord's mother, is anybody''s guess--but you bet what is next to come out of the belly button of this church willbe a doosey.
Ravensfan Anon

It's like I told the Cardinal, "I'd sooner eat a live chicken than be your lawyer!"

R-Anon, I find it hard to believe you have anything worthwhile to add to the conversation when you address Catholics with epithets such as “... drop your pants and commit Onanism with Mother Teresa's picture in your hand,” as you did on June 18, 2010 9:16 PM

Frank, I would be happy to take up some of your points in another venue. But, unfortunately, there is a knave in the nave. Please forgive my crude quotation but it is the only way of warning you of R-Anon's recent tactics.

Unlike Frank who I do believe is moved by passion for the victims to Anon it is simply an opportunity to spout anti-Catholic ravings.

The Catholic church is suffering for allowing satan to run rampant with the drinking, gambling, liberal attitudes towards sexuality not accepted by God, etc. Being prideful enough to say that your mass commitments havent been met if you go to another church doesnt help either. However, there are a lot of good people in the Catholic church and this church doesnt deserve to be attacked by people who are looking for nothing but money or revenge themselves. What did the police expect to find in the tombs, porn movies? If anyone criticizes this church they need answers for the church. I certainly have been critical but I have provided answers as to how I feel about what God wants for this church. I am still praying that someday I will be able to walk into a Catholic church and hear "Down by the Riverside." I really dont feel that it is asking too much. Thanks.

"The Catholic church is suffering for allowing satan to run rampant with ... liberal attitudes towards sexuality not accepted by God"?

Tell me more, Clay? This is news to me!

Also, I hadn't realized your Satan chose the hymns available at Catholic churches. That being said, I was amused to learn some time back that "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" is now included in the Catholic hymnal, so maybe there's hope for "Riverside," Clay.

If you have that many gay priests, someone must have a liberal attitude towards homosexuality. I also saw the gay support group's site that calls itself a Catholic site in a way, even though I dont think it is actually approved by the church. Satan doesnt pick the hymns, but he does keep people satisfied with routines and being not very on fire for God, not that every Catholic is that way. Thanks.

By that standard, Clay, I'd say the Evangelicals have a "liberal attitude toward sexuality," given the seemingly daily news stories of pastors molesting kids.

Once again Clay, why do you want to turn every thread into something about gay people?

Is it because Perry Mason posted???

I was on fire for God so I went down by the riverside to cool off.

Not familiar with the tune --

Is this the one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkKuhAxcH7g

Citing Dignity, ("the gay support group's site that calls itself a Catholic site") as an example of the Catholic church's "liberal attitude towards homosexuality" is akin to describing the Ku Klux Klan as evidence of America's tolerance for diversity, Clay.

Dana,

Careful ... Clay not be ready to receive the "good news" about Raymond Burr.

Oh, I think Dana is well aware of Mr. Clay's limitations. Perhaps I should break it to the plasticine one myself:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF0QpMz-sk8

Pshaw! Constitutional guarantees that we take for granted in this country, and that apparently the Belgians do not have, are nothing compared to eternal verities, as I averred so well in a recent blog post. Behold the words of a true leftist liberal:

"But I see that Catholic anthropology can never neatly coexist with what Sir Isaiah Berlin called “negative liberty,” which is how the Founding Fathers conceived of liberty, as a series of immunities, as “freedom from” coercion or government interference. I find that I disagree with Murray’s contention, “These constitutional clauses have no religious content. They answer none of the eternal human questions with regard to the nature of truth and freedom or the manner in which the spiritual order of man’s life is to be organized or not organized.” These clauses, in fact, prioritize freedom over truth, and a Christian theologian must be wary of admitting even a theoretical distinction between the two."

Am I not a real liberal or what, or maybe a crypto-authoritarian. Who cares at this point? The jig is up.

Dana LaRocca,
You are a crazy Catholic--don't take things out of context--I was indulging in banter with Georgeous when I said what I said about Onanism and Mommy Teresa--my posting on June the 18th was a direct rebuttal to what the man posted--Mother Teresa forbidding Onanism because it is a waste of human lives--you Larocca have a sinister vendetta against those who don't garland Pops Pope with you--again you show all signs of being in the pay of the Vatican. I will put up the June 18th post for all to taste the deliciousness of Georgeous's humor about Mommy Teresa and thanks for reminding me of this post from June the 18th--it was fun to parlay with Georgeous--unlike you LaRocca, the man does not take himself or the illusory meanderings of your church seriously.

From Georgeous
"Tomas,

You may be aware that Mother Theresa received exorcism several times in Calcutta. But, saint that she was, and devotee of Natural Law that she must have been, she said all her anguishes were nothing compared to what was revealed to her late in life. She was informed that certain depraved adolescents living in Detroit had actually formed what is commonly known as a "circle jerk" to commit the sin of Onan using Mother Theresa's picture as visual stimulus. Mother Theresa said that this was a most grievous sin, and especially because it involved the wasting of potential human lives. Proving her great commitment to human life. This is why in Catholic schools they no longer have Mother's picture hanging anywhere near the boys' lavatory. One can't be too careful with the virtue of the young."

Robert Georgeous, Projected American Principles, Inc.

Posted by: Robert Georgeous | June 18, 2010 7:38 PM

My reply to Georgeous
Georgeous you are skewering the religious and roasting lionized and canonized catholics on the spitfire of your satirical forays on these blogs. Keep at it man, anyone who takes you seriously is in for a good bit of cooking until he or she is well done. But Littel is right--you are a fraud--you have not distinguished yourself by calling yourself a conservative just to make a living--you probably work in a call center somewhere and when life gets too boring you start wagging your fingers at the catholic prejudiced to show them how ridiculous they are--your tongue is embedded miles deep in your cheek and nothing you say is real. You are a rascal of the most devious sort and your mockery of those who would keep gays in closets and those who would forbid Onanism is delicious. You should try stand up comedy in your spare time or may be you should stand at the confessional, drop your pants and commit Onanism with Mother Teresa's picture in your hand. I can see you now--a fraudulent conservative Catholic, who decided to be one just to stand out, indulging in a forbidden sin--at the wrong place at the wrong time--the elders of the church would scream, "Off with his head!" Can you blame them? You would be carted off to the guillotine where Madame Defarge (a loving Catholic) will place you beneath the cutting edge--chop! And all will be well with the world!
Ravensfan Anon

Posted by: Anonymous | June 18, 2010 9:16 PM

From me to you LaRocca--You come the closest to the loving Madame Defarge on these blogs. Out of context attacks are your specialty.
Ravensfan Anon

R-anon, Your comment actually sounds worse when you quote the entire paragraph. It was an act of Christian kindness that I quoted only one out of a number of foolish blatherings. If you want to call that “out of context” I must object to that characterization. But in the interest of assuaging your tender feelings I will try to quote you more thoroughly in the future.

That said, it would be unkind to the reader to quote entire paragraphs, so I will refrain from that no matter how thoroughly your own words indict you.

Anon - Dana is right that does sound much worse when taken as a whole. It sounds more like your upset that Dana painted an accurate picture of you. Accusing someone of being on the Vatican's pay? I haven't seen that sort of childish nonsense since your ally Robert disappeared.

Catholic to Catholic--am I surprised that you both are pals--Ravensfan, you and Dana? Keep up the cabal and yes, there are plenty of people in the pay of the Vatican--the Vatican is a high speed publicity machine mostly in business for its own promotion. If it sounds "even worse" when contextualized that is because R Anon was partially its author and when that is the case it couldn't be otherwise for the rabid Catholics. Yes, LaRocca, you are predictable! LaRocca I knew what you were going to say before you said it and Ravensfan your background musician has come through for you as expected. Ravensfan--as I told you before you are a pedestrian whiner- laugh once in a while--Georgeous is Puckish and verbal forays with him are fun.
R Anon

Mr. R Anon,

I am glad you find our interaction fun, because that is better than the opposite. But what I am doing is trying to save your soul. People like Dana think it is enough to be a good person, and believe in the Christian dispensation and sincerely receive the sacraments. Well, it is not. If one does not assist in the Church's evangelization, then one has not heeded the Lord' call to preach to all nations. Principally that means ,in our day, the nations filled with homosexuals. One shows the sincerity of one's belief by fighting anything against Natural Law. That is why being Catholic involves a lot of suffering these days. Dana thinks it is fine just to enjoy her faith and rejoice in the comfort and joy that its message provides. Where is the Cross in that? This Nation is mostly going against Natural Law, therefore it follows logically and theologically that for the committed Catholic your life should be mostly unhappy and filled with holy suffering. RAnon, when you grasp this you will be saved.

Robert Georgeous. Projected American Principles, Inc.

Dana is not on the Vatican payroll Mr. Anon. I had offered a lucrative position with the Inquisition but Dana declined in favor of the freedom allowed by engaging in private guerrilla tactics.

If your rhetoric is as good as it gets we may want to disband our efforts in Baltimore, as there is no credible threat.

Delightful !

Thank you Tomas--and Robert Georgeous--my soul, iron clad, cannot be chained to the idiocy of natural law. Clay has been evangelizing and witnessing to his hearty's content on these blogs--he would love to shake hands with you except that you are a Catholic, no real Christian according to him. What say you to the Protestants, still hung up on the Reformation, not willing to give an inch to the incense sticks and idolatry that pervades the Catholic Church--they are, to this day, of the confirmed belief, thatCatholicism should be washed clean and then disbanded? Heresy? Tomas, is there a chair the inquisitor holds for Clay, in the Inquisition chamber? And by the way Georgeous, are you saying homosexuality is antithetical to natural Law? Why?
R Anon

It is good to see that at long last you not only acknowledge the existence of the soul but also that yours is clad in base metal. Let us pray that reason and prayer will salvage you further. May the Lord separate the gold from the dross before it is too late.

Don't concern yourself with the purification of your neighbor Mr. Anon. I would not want your confession and conversion to be the result of fear. Of course, there is nothing to fear. I offer you a comfortable chair because you are salvageable. You are a mere atheist. There is no comfort for heretics.

But you knew that, didn't you?

Monsignor Torquemada,

Your comments here have a poetic precision, and a theological depth. I echo
those who wish to nominate you as Doctor of the Church. But with great charity and respect I must correct you on one point. Conversion based on
fear, specifically fear of hell, amongst other things, was declared very orthodox. Despite the efforts and so-called virtuous
example of those superficially pious souls involved with Port Royal. In fact my very own Luzon Catechism set out the idea that fear is a very good basis for spirituality and the Church endorsed my view. Since we all know that the Church never changes its mind, this view is still in effect. I know that you will be happy to hear all this, because it fits in so well with the thrust of your work. You may not have been aware of it only because you toil for the Church outside the Kingdom of France. Bless you my son!

+Cardinal Richelieu

Atheists over heretics--wow! Tomas--at last I am one step ahead in this game of salvation and I even get a comfortable chair! So Clay is a heretic! What be the divine punishment for such heretics and where do Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists stand in this game of come forth and be saved? And Georgeous, my nemesis LaRocca, you dare chide her (or his) Catholicism as inadequate? She is as devout as they come, a stout defender of the faith in all its glory, and even I object to this careless taking to task of a committed Catholic--she may not evangelize with the fervor of a Clay but then she doesn't have to--she leads the pack with the ardor of a Joan of Arc and I have been trying to put her to the stake to no avail--she's indestructible! Doff your cap to her, my man, and give credit where credit is due. When she bites she does so with the powerful clamp of her prayer and faith bolstered jaw and ouch the wound won't heal even with debridement!
R Anon

Mr. R-Anon, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists are not heretics or apostates. I would offer them the same comfortable chair that he has offered you. Modern evangelization is similar to flirtation and seduction.

“Heresy is the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.” (Code of Canon Law)

Cardinal Richelieu, of course you are correct about the acceptability of fear as a great motivator. But as you can see by the mere offer of a comfortable chair Mr. Anon has softened his tone. Just listen as he sings the virtues of Dana: “the powerful clamp of her prayer and faith bolstered jaw....”

It sounds like Anon's conversion is near, and not from fear. Unless, of course, it is the mock fear a man has towards his dominatrix!

You see Cardinal, it is flirtation and seduction.

Monsignor Torquemada,

Since we see eye to eye on the important matters, I need to request your help with some current events of great urgency. You may be aware that our side just lost an important attempt at appeal to keep plaintiffs from eventually being able to depose the Holy Father, and through discovery, being able to get into Vatican files. Bob Bennett appeared on that very holy- hour of proclamation called the World Over, hosted by that loyal son of the Church, Raymond Arroyo. The lawyer Bennett opined that what the Church needs is better public relations, and expressed his exasperation that the Church was not pursuing such communicative means. What heresy is this? The Church should explain itself? Many die in the service of the Church, does this require disquisition? What all these priests are guilty of is what was always known as under-the-cassock privilege.

Thus this relates deeply to our previous discussion. What is needed is more fear. Fear is holy, and the beginning of wisdom. This is what I always told my Sovereign. Piety begins in fear.

Still, the world has changed. That the modern Church does not defend itself in the way the lawyer Bennett is suggesting must mean something. Perhaps this lawyer does not grasp that the clerical state has different rules which cannot be explained to those outside of it. Even to those outside of it who are very close to the Church. This might bring about scandal and shock. That is why they do not defend themselves, for there has always been a much deeper, darker layer. Again, we are back to holy fear. If the world of the modern West has no place for this, it is my politic opinion that we should flee such a inhospitable place, as we once left Rome for Avignon. We will be greeted with great love and understanding in various countries in Africa, where many wonderful priests are being produced under Sulpicians like the redoubtable Cale Crowley, S.S. The future of the Church is in a more exotic locale. Since the French governed this area so well in the past, I as a French prelate stand ready to decamp to these more favorable climes.

+Cardinal Richelieu

Cardinal Richelieu,
There you are a shameless purveyor of fear as a means to capture a bigger captive audience for the church. So you'd take the animists of Africa and convert them to the mother church and you hope that in their Third World zeal, beset by the hopelessness of war, dictatorships and famine they will be more amenable to the blandishments of the church--better slaves to capture and control through superstition and intimidation -- to revive the church you want to change venues. The comparison from "Rome to Avignon" is absolutely stupid--an analogy that doesn't fit dear wily cardinal. You are jumping an entire continent in this case with a plan that cares not a hoot for the people of Africa--only for the mother church--the people of Africa be damned--they will be the next victims of the under the cassock depredations of the biggies of the church--you want a safe place to practice the church''s depravities and yes, fear and threat used against the helpless may garner for the church plenty of enrollees. India used to be a destination for the rascals of the catholic church but the Indians are not willing victims any more and they are not easily bought off with fear or money. Therefore Africa has risen in stature. The Middle East has kicked the ass of this church and is not so amenable--evangelizing in the Middle East comes with inherent dangers. And Tomas "seduction and flirtation" is right--but one can flirt without being seduced my man and the base metal iron is not too base--wonderful element iron, goes into steel, iron skillets, far healthier for you than teflon coated ones--I am glad I am iron clad. By the way, I love the idea of sanctimonious Clay as a heretic--what a lovely thought--he doesn't even get a chair but the atheist does! Keep up your humor Tomas--can't wait to see your tongue in cheek reply to Richelieu.
R Anon

Mr. R Anon,

You are clearly no friend of the Church! But let me address your points to further catechesis. Several African countries, especially Uganda, show a warm receptivity to the ethos and morality of the Church that Western Europe no longer does. To say nothing of the United States. We have to take the moral high-ground, which means Uganda, or the Congo, or Zambia. In those places where simple faith and morality can exist, and the arrogant questioning of cafeteria Catholics is quashed. And we have our pick of the best and the brightest for the priesthood. There are many brilliant Africans who can fill the Curia in the future. God bless their vocations!

+Cardinal Richelieu

I agree about the brilliant catholics cardinal--there are brilliant people all over the world-- the West does not have monopoly on brilliance and to be a friend of the church I do not have to necessarily agree with all that you spout--that too is true. Yes, Uganda is some of what you say--but Uganda is also a place with rapid spread of AIDS. I just saw a program on TV about the decimation wrought on children and families due to this scourge in Uganda. Uganda is also the place where albinos are hunted down and killed due to superstition that they are actually witches. It is also the place where the Lord's Christian Army and its leader have been running rampant capturing and raping girls.. It is also the country where the death penalty was considered as punishment for gays suspected of spreading AIDS. Does any of the above sound moral cardinal? For you to say that support for the church, fervor for same and passion for catholic worship are the cardinal signs of morality shows a bias opposite to that I stand accused of by you---you, unlike what you say I am (not a friend of the church) are too much of a blind friend of the church. Africa will not save the church--I do agree though, that many priests of the future will hail from Africa. But human nature being corruptible, these priests too will be susceptible to the same problems Western priests have had. As Africa rises, as the wars cease and Africans seize control of their own destinies, as science and math, medicine and physics march through Africa, people will question the control of the church and will not submit. The catholic church will lose if fear is its best propaganda. It is headed for the rocks cardinal, Africa or no Africa--the catholic church, if it follows your advice about the politics of fear.
R Anon

I wouldn't worry about hayseed lawyers deposing the Holy Father Cardinal Richelieu.

In fact we should encourage it! What force can they possibly bring to bear. Let the lawyers chalk up billable hours attempting the impossible. Your lack of faith perplexes me Armand. I would advise that we answer all of their interrogatories with voluminous answers in Latin. Yes. Let them pay translators also.

We are masters at the art of of courtroom obfuscations. Don't you recall the Synodus Horrenda?

Perhaps Mr. Wintersmix will chime in to give you some words of comfort. Until then you might read this encouraging report:

http://www.stignatiussf.org/a/crisis/crisis17.pdf

Monsignor Torquemada,

I read your words with true admiration:

" I would advise that we answer all of their interrogatories with voluminous answers in Latin. Yes. Let them pay translators also."

You a genius, and a great man of faith. I will see to it that you will be attending the next Papal conclave, clad in red, when the Pope resigns as he must be preparing to do based on his sudden praise of Pope Celestine.

+Cardinal Richelieu

Father Torquemada,

As the new Archbishop of the Caribbean Third World I feel I must interject something into this discussion. The Pope will be seeking asylum in Port-au-Prince, and I can assure you there will be no deposing going on. The Holy Father is learning Haitian Creole as fast as he can. The removal of the entire Curia to the island of Haiti will be a boon for the local economy.

The central issue is a change in expectations for those who have been living in Rome for a while. This is where you came in Father. We have a lot of faithful Catholics on the island, thank the Lord. They are sometimes a little wayward in their beliefs. But surprisingly Voodoo is not our biggest problem. NO, our biggest heresy there is those who deny the Doctrine of the Immaculate Intention for those in the clerical state. For instance I won't even lower myself to address the charge of a certain someone
whose last name rhymes with Pukes and his ridiculous assertion that I put children's lives in danger. The vehicle in question held 12 Americans comfortably, but by Immaculate Intention I knew that that it could hold 30 Haitian children because they are slimmer due to blessed poverty. It is true that I myself drove around in a new sedan which I kept under a specially constructed protective roof I had made. But my Immaculate Intention was that those children and the seminarians be comfortable too. As long as there was sufficient oxygen that was good enough. Anyways, their forebears traveled in much more crowded circumstances across the sea.

There has been a slow evolution in thought in Church, which I have had my finger on the pulse of quite exquisitely. It is the readjustment toward the poor in the world. Blessed Mother Theresa has been our guide in this matter. The Church's mission is not to change anything first that will lift the poor out of their poverty. It is to console the poor and give them God's love IN their poverty. This is why we do not belong in the First World anymore. Others had suggested moving the Curia to Uganda. Though I have many friends there, But Uganda has a lot of uppity Anglicans. And there government is a bit to efficient, I argued for Haiti. What people called corruption in the Church looks small against the government of Haiti. I have been close with several members of that government, so I should know.

But , sir, the very best part I have saved for last. Because of the earthquake there is a moment of opportunity for the Church. We may even be able to reinstate the the Holy Office on the Island. The Haitian people are used to some of the types of ministrations and accoutremonts that the Holy Office employed. There will be no "culture shock" which is a term I learned studying sociology at Fordham.

I dream of the day of the Holy Father's arrival to the new temporary Vatican in Port-au-Prince constructed entirely of salvaged beer cans from the Carribean sea. The holy, happy masses of people arriving in buses teeming with 400 hundred persons per bus. Poverty truly is no impediment to the work of the Church as Mother Theresa taught. O Felix Culpa!

+Archbishop Thomas Womenski
Caribbean Diocese of the the Third World

Pseudo Archbishop Womenki, pseudo Cardinal Richelieu and real Torquemada,
Plot and plan away to glory about the survival of the church and subsequently its rise in a world of superstition, fear distraught people, disaster and corruption. Console yourselves, even as you troll for victims to exert your power over that you can defeat secular law with arcana from Latin and demands for translators. This Pope will finish out his term. Despite the brouhaha to the contrary the secular courts will not take him on--he will arrive on the scene, say a large prayer in Latin for the souls of the unbelievers, look appropriately frail, cast his sacred eyes on the presiding judge and wow! The bad publicity will make the secularists wince in pain and recoil from the whole process. That is how the church has been escaping from paying for its sins from time immemorial! But times are achanging O trolls and serious folks of and from the church.. The old days of devotees coming to pay for their indulgences and genuflecting for their intercessions with the lord are fading. Even the Haitians will cede control to the Catholic Church only for a short time. When the rascals of the church start their under the cassock rumba dances even the Africans and Haitians will not stand for it. Implicit in your praise of Haiti and Uganda as the next bastions of hope for the church there is a racist contempt for the people of these nations--all you guys can see is how the weak and the troubled can be brainwashed and controlled OR PERHAPS you are parodying the Catholic Church's propensity for that kind of behavior. If you are doing the latter--more power to you.. If you are scheming for the rise of the church at the expense of the folks in the Third World--I hope you meet your Waterloo--as you will--where you are plotting to conquer and plunder.
R Anon

Dear Mr. R Anon,

You may not be aware that the chief theologian of the Catholic faith, Thomas Aquinas based his thought more on the philosopher known as the Pseudo-Dionysius than on Aristotle. Thus I am in good company.

This is a clue of how we will deal with the problem of the poor. Philosophy is key. A good philosophy which only few can understand is almost as good as Scripture not available in the vernacular.
God provides, that is what I tell the poor. In more ways than one.

+Archbishop Tom

One philosopher and you are vindicated? Good company does not sanitize a man with rascal thoughts Archbishop! Of course as usual, as with Catholicism and other religions, you fall back on argot, arcana and plain asinine elusiveness. "Scripture not available in the vernacular, a good philosophy only few can understand"--another way of saying we wheeler dealers know how to bamboozle the poor and keep them inured to the lies the church spouts about salvation and the next world--we also sweeten the pot with soup, bread and money here and there. The soup, bread and money are the key Archbishop--salvation is not the enticer..
Don't give your devious missions the gloss of nobility and the sheen of philosophy.. Nothing more than bread and circus man. From ancient Rome back to ancient Rome, the Church has always traveled carrying the coliseum on its back to display its religious acrobatics and the poor are merely there for entrapment by the control freaks called priests--go back and read your first post Archbishop--it is a classic example of devious plotting--organized empire building with the poor as legos--and the white colonizers of Rome at the top, unwilling to relinquish power, hanging on to it for dear life even as their spiritual boat teeters and lists on the brink of capsizing. Desperate measures signal desperate times.
R Anon

De lo que llaman los hombres
virtud, justicia y bondad,
una mitad es envidia,
y la otra, no es caridad.

Cuatro cosas tiene el hombre
que no sirven en la mar:
ancla, gobernalle y remos,
y miedo de naufragar.