We knew that there might be payback after a goodly number of nuns protested in the wake of Catholic challenges to the contraception provision in Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Those nuns understood the range of harm that would befall millions of women if denied such access, especially when the pill is used so much for control of health problems such as endometriosis.
Now, we learn the Vatican has ordered a crack down on a particular group of nuns, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Evidently, the Vatican praised the nuns for "promoting social justice" but slammed them for protesting Church doctrine "on homosexuals and women's ordination" though one suspect the real reason was their full throated defense of Obama's health plan.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
The Vatican's War on Women; This Time It's Nuns
Brane Space: Vatican Sics Bishop Enforcers on Nuns!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Ouija Board News: Ghost Of Killer Nun Interupts Ouija Board Seance
New blog discovery, thanks to Lesley at The Debris Field. It's called Ouija Board News. Here's an entry about a ouija board session and contact concerning a "killer nun." Ouija Board News: Ghost Of Killer Nun Interupts Ouija Board Seance
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Newport, Oregon: A Haunted Hotel?
Here's one of my Trickster Realm columns for Tim Binnall's site that I wrote a couple of years ago:binnallofamerica.com: Newport, Oregon: A Haunted Hotel?
As I note in the article, I don't think the owners are very open to the possibility the place is haunted. I get the impression they don't have time for such nonsense. But I have felt some very intense and slightly unhappy energy in some spots while visiting. Does the photograph show something of a ghostly nature, or a glitch in the camera? Can't say, but do know this is the spot where things felt very unpleasant.
The Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport, Oregon is a unique place with an interesting history. The hotel is in the Nye Beach area; which until recently was exceedingly funky and charming. Now they've gone upscale and the looming, out of place, over priced condos and stores are a gloomy statement on things to come. The juxtaposition of old, shambled structures with tall cold modern buildings is typical in many beach towns. That aside, I still love the area and spend a lot of time there.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Pa. church conducts mock kidnapping on youth group - ABC27 WHTM
At my Octopus Confessional blog, this item about a church that staged a mock kidnap event. Adults "kidnapped" kids, threw them in a van, covered their heads in hoods...Octopus Confessional: Pa. church conducts mock kidnapping on youth group - ABC27 WHTM
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
From piglipstick: Religionists Bless Road, Athiests Unbless It
Tell me again that militant cartoon atheism isn't a religion. (Link and excerpt on piglipstick): piglipstick: Religionists Bless Road, Atheists Unbless It
Offended that religious people -- who, I admit, all too often offend me as well -- blessed a section of highway. So the local atheists (of which I am not) washed all that mumbo-jumbo away, with their own version of same. I suppose they'll argue that the former is believed to hold spiritual power while the latter was a symbolic gesture, a sort of atheistic street (no pun intended) theater.
I sympathize the atheists, even though they annoy me just as much as anyone else. I am after all, hosting a malcontent within. As they said, of the religious members who blessed the highway to drive us all towards God or some such (of course, "god" being the right god, the true god, the... you know, their God):
But after awhile, the lines blur and original intents become murkier, and it all ends up as being perceived as superstition. Just depends on who is doing the viewing of said system, as to the degree of perceived superstition.
Offended that religious people -- who, I admit, all too often offend me as well -- blessed a section of highway. So the local atheists (of which I am not) washed all that mumbo-jumbo away, with their own version of same. I suppose they'll argue that the former is believed to hold spiritual power while the latter was a symbolic gesture, a sort of atheistic street (no pun intended) theater.
I sympathize the atheists, even though they annoy me just as much as anyone else. I am after all, hosting a malcontent within. As they said, of the religious members who blessed the highway to drive us all towards God or some such (of course, "god" being the right god, the true god, the... you know, their God):
"It sends a very bad signal to everyone in Polk County, and (anyone) who travels through Polk county who doesn't happen to be Christian,” Palmer said, “This event is not about atheist rights; this is about welcoming everybody into Polk county."True enough. Only those who believe in Jesus are welcome. Clear enough message and one that does not welcome.
But after awhile, the lines blur and original intents become murkier, and it all ends up as being perceived as superstition. Just depends on who is doing the viewing of said system, as to the degree of perceived superstition.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Saint's ancient heart stolen from Dublin cathedral - Yahoo! News
"DUBLIN (AP) — Somewhere in Ireland, a burglar has the heart of a saint.
Officials at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin said Sunday they're distraught and perplexed over the theft of the church's most precious relic: the preserved heart of St. Laurence O'Toole, patron saint of Dublin."Saint's ancient heart stolen from Dublin cathedral - Yahoo! News
Officials at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin said Sunday they're distraught and perplexed over the theft of the church's most precious relic: the preserved heart of St. Laurence O'Toole, patron saint of Dublin."Saint's ancient heart stolen from Dublin cathedral - Yahoo! News
Saturday, February 25, 2012
From Mystic Politics: 'Why Can't the Mormon Church Stop Baptizing Anne Frank?'
Link and comments from one of my favorite blogs about the Mormons penchant for baptizing Anne Frank:Mystic Politics: Why Can't the Mormon Church Stop Baptizing Anne Frank?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
"Monsignors' mutiny" revealed by Vatican leaks - Yahoo! News
"Monsignors' mutiny" revealed by Vatican leaks - Yahoo! News
Colin Andrews announced at the McMinnville UFO Festival two years ago that soon we'll be seeing these whistle blower type events unfold...
Among the heap of scandalous topics: Vatican and banks, over all corruption, "cronyism,"
the true "owners" of the Vatican, power plays. In other words, the usual.
Colin Andrews announced at the McMinnville UFO Festival two years ago that soon we'll be seeing these whistle blower type events unfold...
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Call it Conspiracy City. Call it Scandal City. Call it Leak City. These days the holy city has been in the news for anything but holy reasons.
"It is a total mess," said one high-ranking Vatican official who spoke, like all others, on the condition of anonymity.
The Machiavellian maneuvering and machinations that have come to light in the Vatican recently are worthy of a novel about a sinister power struggle at a medieval court.
Senior church officials interviewed this month said almost daily embarrassments that have put the Vatican on the defensive could force Pope Benedict to act to clean up the image of its administration - at a time when the church faces a deeper crisis of authority and relevance in the wider world.
Among the heap of scandalous topics: Vatican and banks, over all corruption, "cronyism,"
the true "owners" of the Vatican, power plays. In other words, the usual.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Humanists seek Army designation | JournalNow.com
Humanists seek Army designation | JournalNow.com:
Soldiers who don't believe in God can go to war with "atheist" stamped on their dog tags, but humanists and others with various secular beliefs are still officially invisible in the Army.
Maj. Ray Bradley is currently to be the first humanist recognized as a "distinctive faith group leader" by the Army. In the meantime, he can't be designated as a humanist on his official records or dog tags, although he can be classified as an atheist.
The distinction may not seem like a large one to those unfamiliar with humanism, but Bradley, based at Fort Bragg, says it's the equivalent of being told that "Christian" is an acceptable designation, but not "Catholic."
"Humanism is a philosophy that guides a person," Bradley said. "It's more than just a stamp of what you're not."
Humanism's core beliefs range from the assertion that knowledge of the world is derived from observation and rational analysis to the conviction that working to help others also promotes individual happiness.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Philip Coppens: The Lies of Fatima
The following from Philip Coppens:The Lies of Fatima;The apparition of the Virgin Mary at Fatima in origin had nothing to do with prophecies or, indeed, the Virgin Mary. But through a series of manipulations, the Church created one of the most elaborate lies, which formed the backdrop of major political events.
The story of the BVM at Fatima contains numerous fascinating elements. One aspect of the story is the following concerning Lucia, who kept the "secrets" and lived the rest of her life in a convent. But this, Coppens suggests (and the facts support) wasn't due entirely to Lucia's devotion as a Catholic.
It's been suggested before, and Coppens discusses this in his article, that the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul ll in 1981 had something to do with the Fatima secrets. So much so that "the bullet was later set in the crown of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima."
But was the secret a true prediction of an assassination attempt, or manipulated revelations by the Vatican -- manipulated to the extent of holding prisoner a woman for just about her entire life? Coppens shows us how the latter seems to be the case.
Note: be sure to read Lon Strickler's piece about Philip's article at his blog Phantom and Monsters!
The story of the BVM at Fatima contains numerous fascinating elements. One aspect of the story is the following concerning Lucia, who kept the "secrets" and lived the rest of her life in a convent. But this, Coppens suggests (and the facts support) wasn't due entirely to Lucia's devotion as a Catholic.
...shortly after the Fatima apparitions, she was forced into a convent (she was not a devout Catholic when the visions happened; her father was actually an atheist), sent to a nunnery where she could not communicate with anyone because language barriers, and was later placed in solitary confinement, to make sure she didn’t speak to anyone; access to Lucia required the consent of the highest Vatican circles and it was rarely granted. What Lucia desired, was therefore totally at the Pope’s discretion.
It's been suggested before, and Coppens discusses this in his article, that the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul ll in 1981 had something to do with the Fatima secrets. So much so that "the bullet was later set in the crown of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima."
But was the secret a true prediction of an assassination attempt, or manipulated revelations by the Vatican -- manipulated to the extent of holding prisoner a woman for just about her entire life? Coppens shows us how the latter seems to be the case.
Note: be sure to read Lon Strickler's piece about Philip's article at his blog Phantom and Monsters!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Mystic Politics: Google Removes Content After Complaints By Hindus, Muslims and Christians
Don't know what the content was, but apparently it didn't offend Jews, Buddhists, Wiccans, etc. Wonder what Google would have done in that case?Mystic Politics: Google Removes Content After Complaints By Hindus, Muslims and Christians
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Philip Coppens: The Atheist Religion
One of my favorite thinkers in the area of aliens and philosophies, Philip Coppens, who writes about the religion of atheism, and why, despite the denial of atheists, theirs is a belief system. I'm not a Christian or subscribe to any particular religion -- don't believe in Jesus, for example -- but to say that I'm an atheist is wrong. Very wrong. I've been active in a Buddhist tradition lately, attending functions, etc. and am always about the solitary witchy thing but I'm not religious and I don't believe in a mono-theistic entity, unless you consider universal consciousness, manifested as everything, including us, as "God." And I'll throw in spirits and angels, why not. I've had direct experiences with those to know their reality. The atheists, like Bill Mahr and Ricky Gervais, who Coppens discusses, have the same kind of tunnel vision as religious nuts. While they often make pertinent points about various religions they can't step beyond the obvious: ridiculous rules and interpretations, harmful, violent and fatal behaviors to see that it isn't all about the stupidity and greed of humans. On the case
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