A Queer Belief System...

Vatican bars prelate in gay row

The Vatican has confirmed local newspaper reports that a high-ranking Catholic priest has been suspended.
The man, Tommaso Stenico, who works in the department in charge of clergy around the world, appeared on Italian TV earlier this month admitting that he was gay.
The prelate had been suspended pending further investigation, said Vatican spokesman Father Frederico Lombari.
He says he was interviewed "fraudulently" with a hidden camera and now denies his earlier statement.
In a letter published in an Italian online newspaper, Petrus, Stenico writes: "I said I was homosexual in order to unmask those who really are."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7043056.stm for the full story….

I don't know where to begin, this story works on so many levels for me.

In the first few paragraphs of this article, we get to see the Catholic church doing it's bit towards my dream of a religion free society, by playing the good old homophobia card. Goodbye forever to a few more 'believers' every time they flag that old chestnut up.

We also get another of my favourite god-botherer types showing his true colours, the classic Cherry Picker, whose approach is: "I believe in this stuff enough to make a career out of it, but I'll cherry pick which of the clearly defined sins of my faith I actually want to take any notice of, and conveniently ignore the ones that are unacceptable to me."

Finally, our Cherry Picker chooses to deny everything, meaning he was lying when he gave the interview, or he's lying now, either of which fits in with the standard operating procedures of church representatives since time began.

Some handy clarifications for other Catholic Priests confused by these issues:

1 According to your religion, homosexuality is a sin. No amount of creative 'interpretation' can change it. Accept it, or accept you don't really believe in it.

2 If you don't tell anyone, you will probably get away with it, just as a large proportion of priests throughout history have. Though it may be safer to restrict yourself to underage sexual partners. Your bosses are generally less likely to want to announce that particular habit if you get caught.

3 You may punish yourself your whole life for your inner secret, but don't worry, God won't. To do that, he'd have to exist, and you know deep down that he doesn't really don't you?