Today I  have had a terrible shock!! Talking to some wonderful Australian survivors on SKYPE the conversation got around (somewhat inevitably) to catholicism! 

Very diplomatically, and sweetly they tentatively asked me about my existing connection with the catholic church, it seems that over there they thought I was still a catholic!!!!!! 

Horror of horrors! I had no idea that this would bother me so much, but bother me it has, it feels like the worst thing anyone could see me as!!! 

The whole misunderstanding comes from my rather flippant remark that say I am A “Recovered Catholic”! I have always seen it more like having recovered from the disease and indoctrination as well as the abuse of the church.

Rather like I am a recovered alcoholic and addict! 

But it seems that it is misleading and people had thought I meant I was still in the grips of the narcissistic regime which is the catholic church! SHIT!!!!

I can’t let even a hint of that be doubted, a fate worse than death for me!

So let me be very very clear!! I am a dyed in the wool ATHEIST, maybe with a hint of a Buddhist slant in there somewhere, but not even a tiny morsel of catholicism! 

I think it is an abusive, destructive, disgusting narcissistic organisation, and I am happy to be well and truly rid of it! Hence the change of title!

Now the very thought of it has made me need  lie down!

Hell in a handcart

I  have been waiting for some kind os inspiration before I talk about the popes resignation, and the latest cardinals scandal etc.etc. etc. 

I didn’t get any! I think my cynicism must get very much in the way of it!

But I  did have one  thought. Inspired by the “amnesty” offered by the outgoing pope to people in Spain who had ever had an abortion. 

This  was this spectacle at “World Youth Day” in 20011 where hundreds of wooden confessional booths were set up in order to hear confessions of the people attending.It would appear also that if they even attended  the day, they would receive a “plenary indulgence” something that would shorten the time “sinners:“ would have to spend in purgatory to atone for their sins! (Priests used to sell these indulgences! but in their newly acquired sense of ” benevolence” they seem to be giving them away!).

In the past, any woman who admitted to having an abortion would be automatically excommunicated, and only very specialised priests were allowed to “lift “ that ban on the women.(hopefully not the ones who got them  pregnant in the first place)

But once again, in the new wave of “kindness” the Pope had decided that if they attended this special mass in Spain, they would be absolved from those sins, and would not be excommunicated! (nothing at all to do with the huge drop in their numbers, or the distaste that people are feeling for their man made narcissistic law of course) It was  a sort of ”special offer” perhaps they they did a “buy one get one free” for people who had more than one abortion,with  a special rate for pensioners or students who are unwaged? It was only on offer for that one day, like all good sales, so if you missed the bus, or got caught in the traffic, - excommunication for you!

But you have to hand it to them for sales drives, this has to take a prize..

 And so I though perhaps we might look at doing a similar pantomime .I am quite sure we would be much better at it too.

We will tell the catholic church that if they “throw out” their pedophiles, and encourage them all to gather in one place ( if we could attempt to find a place big enough, perhaps the Siberian tundra would fit most of them?)   Then we might, (just might) cut them  some slack.

We could have a special rate for people who only raped one child? (or maybe a buy one get one free offer here?) 

Maybe a different rate for abuse that didn’t quite end in rape because the priest couldn’‘t manage it? 

What would we offer for having ONLY had to perform oral sex on a priest while still at school?

If there were several priest lining up to pass that child around like a piece of meat, what price their “indulgence”

How about threatening to kill the child’s family if they spoke about their abuses? 

Should we offer a special “dispensation” for those priests, bishops and cardinals (and popes) who, in their vast wisdom decided to lie and cover up crimes against children for the “greater good” (THEIR greater good)

Where would we fit in the priests who always with an eye to the main chance, abused deaf and speech impaired children, or disabled ones? do they get special treatment too?

And what about the hypocrites? the ones who preach hell fire and damnation, setting themselves up as some sort of moral benchmark for others while they indulge secretly in their own gratification? perhaps cardinal O’Brien should tell us what HE thinks we should do with people like that?

How about destroying a child’s future, their potential, their peace of mind for ever? - green stamps?

Maybe there should be a top indulgence prize for causing children permanent brain damage impairing their immune and metabolic systems, and shortening their life span? Maybe double  points or a trip in a popemobile?

Maybe we should give some sort of credit note to popes who desert a sinking ship in the nick of time before they are made to face their cover up  crimes,  or cardinals who “step down” after they get found out

On reflection I have decided that there is only one thing for them, If I believed in Hell (apart from the hell they put people like me through) Then we will need to take delivery of an awful lot of handcarts.

Beware the "disrespectful " crisps!

You know how, with Facebook and blogs and messages and stuff, one thing very definitely leads to another? 
Reading this latest absolute nonsense from the catholic church, who have gone ape-shit about crisps in "Pret a Manger" being called " Virgin Mary " crisps (you know, in the same shocking way that a Bloody Mary without the vodka is called a Virgin Mary!)  I came across a site I didn't know existed "Protect the Pope.co.uk"! 
Of course I was curious, and tapped into it, wondering how on  Earth anyone would want to protect this criminal,or how he could possibly be defended. 

 And horror of horrors! it really is just that! a site completely devoted to answering catholic critics, "defending the faith" and filled with nonsensical vitriol and half truths, and many  half baked accusations of course. 
I couldn't wade through all of the garbage in it, it was clear exactly what it was, and it's contents whipped me straight back to my own indoctrinated childhood when catholics  then also  considered themselves a "persecuted minority" 
Of course  they do - it is a personna that they thoroughly enjoy, and perpetuate. It seems to  give them some sort of perceived  credibility, but worse, it allows them to divert attention  from their many many misdemeanours! 
 The thing that made me laugh,( as well as cry) , was the "blessing" wished on all who had "defended the faith"  by complaining about the "virgin mary crisps!" They said that catholics had put up with this sort of persecution long enough! 
"We have been passive for too long in the face of mockery of our faith and discrimination against us catholics"

PLEASE!!

Apart from seeing the  ridiculousness of the whole bloody issue, I cannot help seeing AGAIN an organisation that simply, constantly, and laughably misses the point!
A bit like when twenty thousand people marched in London to protest against the pope's visit, while being supported by many more thousands who couldn't physically be there, the catholic church totally missed the point (or chose to!) that thousands of people are absolutely sick and tired of them, and sulkily complained like a child in the kindergarten playground that "these awful people used very bad language"!
Surely not a a reference to the wonderful  creative, and completely pertinent posters that screamed :
"Fuck off  back to the 14th century" and 
"So you are offended- So fucking what"!
Instead of getting those very clear messages that an awful lot of people hate their religion and it's narcissism, they choose to be self righteously indignant  by our use of language, and the name of some bloody crisps! It seems to me a clear indication of their mentality.
But I do have to agree with one thing, and it is very very rare that I would agree with anything this dreadful organisation has to say, and that is  "They have been passive for too long" damned right they have!

Passive and hiding by their perceived persecution as their priests and bishops rape and sodomise innocent children.
Passive in the face of vatican's lies and cover ups, despite the irrefutable evidence of complicity leading right back to their "holy" father.
Passive as poor countries , with indoctrinated people driven by fear are bled dry by the demand of "supporting their pastors"
Passive as Dutch boys in catholic institutions were castrated to "curb their homosexuality" after being raped by their priests.
Passive as disabled children's bodies were systematically defiled by priests in the catholic institutions where they were supposed to be being cared for.
Passive as thousand upon thousand of clergy abuse survivors began at last to be able to come forward and talk about the tyrannical church that has seen them as little more than an irritant, and collateral damage.
Passive as many of those victims committed suicide because the burden of their shame was too great.
Passive as their church even attempted to discredit many of those survivors dismissing them as liars or mentally deranged.
Passive even in the face of huge statistics and damning evidence showing the enormity of their crimes.
Passive rather like the sheep at the end of my lane?  or those German people who didn't "notice" the holocaust? 
Damn right they have been passive too long, time they grew some balls (no apologies for  the language) and re- joined the decent human race -  outside their cult.
I have always stopped a little short when asked what  I hate about the catholic church?
I have pussy footed around and said things like "well not the people of course, just the hierarchy"
But I am beginning to wonder why, anyone on this planet would fail to see that if they lie with wolves and vipers they will be judged as being the same as them.
Another site I inadvertently get mails from is the "catholic answers forum" where they arrange (expensive)   Caribbean cruises for people to go and be taught by priests and the like  how to "defend their faith" presumably to watch out for "Circumcision sausages" "Bethlehem blinis" "Papal Pizzas"
Best thing they could learn is to Wake the F... up!