Civil Commotion

Bruce Gerencser takes-up The Donald’s claim that he will repeal the Johnson Amendment.

Churches and pastors should be careful about what they wish for. If churches are required to play by the same rules as businesses, I suspect that there would be a lot of church bankruptcies and mergers. Good news, to be sure, for those of us who are tired of churches receiving unconstitutional favoritism and financial support via tax exemptions, tuition payments, reduced postage charges, and other tax benefits that are only available to churches and religious institutions.

My own thoughts are well known, I think.

If there is anything that undermines personal dignity and integrity, it is Christianity and its dogma that mankind is inherently damaged and that we are all “fallen” — even though the human genome project has proven that Adam and Eve never existed and that there was no “Fall” and hence no need for a Messiah.

Michael Hamar

Yep. The Christian narrative is false, and its implications are degrading.

Seriously: Has Christianity contributed anything to ethical thought besides Original Sin, the claim that we’re all, innately, no damn good? If so, I can’t think what it might be. The Golden Rule certainly preceded Jesus, and Confucius dismissed turn-the-other-cheek centuries before Jesus’ birth.

I’m probably tedious on the subject, but Nietzsche’s identification of Christianity’s threat to healthy life seems to me to hit the bullseye.

When the centre of gravity of life is placed, not in life itself, but in “the beyond” — in nothingness — then one has taken away its centre of gravity altogether. The vast lie of personal immortality destroys all reason, all natural instinct — henceforth, everything in the instincts that is beneficial, that fosters life and that safeguards the future is a cause of suspicion. So to live that life no longer has any meaning: this is now the “meaning” of life … Why be public-spirited? Why take any pride in descent and forefathers? Why labour together, trust one another, or concern one’s self about the common welfare, and try to serve it? … Merely so many “temptations”, so many strayings from the “straight path”.

The Antichrist, §43.

People are playing with fire here, and there is no bigger flamethrower than Donald Trump. Forget politics; he is a disgusting human being. His children should be ashamed of him. I only pray that he is not simply defeated, but that he loses all 50 states so that the message goes out across the land — unambiguously, loud and clear: The likes of you should never come this way again.

Thomas Friedman

After all these years of wondering how sick and decadent the Republican Party has become, I still failed to see that it would nominate human sewage like Trump — so I’m reluctant to hazard a prediction. But I hope Friedman’s prayer is answered.

For the first time ever, the Harrisburg Diocese, in Pennsylvania, has confirmed a list of names of priests accused of sexual abuse of children.

The Diocese of Harrisburg has acknowledged by name 15 priests who have been accused of sexually abusing children and who at one time worked in the diocese — including one who served in Dallastown in 1989-90.

[ … ]

A list of 15 priests, compiled by the York Daily Record, was provided to the diocese on June 14. On July 21, after multiple requests by the Daily Record, the diocese responded to each name on the list. It is believed to be the first time the Harrisburg diocese has confirmed a list of accused priests, including details on where and when they served, and how the diocese responded when the allegations were made.

The Catholic Church has a well-established and -documented method for handling priests with unwholesome interests: It moves them.

Before coming to St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Dallastown, Raymond Prybis was assigned to six churches in six dioceses in five states over 22 years. He spent less than two years in Dallastown before being moved to a residence for priests of his religious order in Massachusetts, according to The Official Catholic Directory, which lists assignments for priests around the world.

NOT what is usually meant when one speaks of a “man on the move.”

A religion is a tribe united by a delusion, and nobody should be obliged to subsidize it.

… of self-absorbed careerism and silly-putty character, look no further than George P. Bush, Texas Land Commissioner, who yesterday endorsed The Donald for the presidency.

As anybody with memory better than a puppy will recall, the Commissioner’s mother and father were the targets of Trump’s signature viciousness during the primaries, and that should have foreclosed forever the possibility of an endorsement of Trump.

Here is a simple rule that should help prevent compulsive suck-ups from making these sorts of blunders in the future:

Don’t kiss the ass that shits on your family.

It is not an allright thing to do, and it doesn’t matter who urges it — your boss, your co-workers, your spouse, your friends, some idiot Holy Man. Whatever his failings as a candidate, and however misguided some of his policy prescriptions are, Jeb and Columba Bush don’t deserve this humiliation.