Fight over new Catholic chaplain

The Rev. Patrick Conroy worked for a Jesuit group ordered to pay $166 million over child sexual abuse claims, though he was not personally accused of misconduct.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is reconsidering her support for a Catholic priest nominated as House chaplain after learning that he works for a Jesuit group ordered to pay $166 million for more than 400 claims of child sexual abuse. ...

... Plaintiff’s attorneys involved in the massive lawsuit said Conroy has not been accused of abusing any children or even covering up for other priests. In fact, Conroy blew the whistle on at least one case of abuse at a prior job.

Pastor had sex with teens to cure their homosexuality

Hemant is all over this issue because he goes to a lot of college campuses to speak and college kids are generally the most enthusiastic atheists out there today. So what do you think? Is there a legitimate "need" for "humanist" chaplains on campus like there are religious chaplains for students? (And yes, there's a debate about what title they should use; my vote is for "advocate.") I recently insulted one by mistake at my alma mater; the article in which I read about him suggested he was well paid when in fact he is not. But regardless of whether we're talking about a paid position or something else, should secular and non-believing students have "their own kind" of counselor? How important is it to know the person one turns to for help shares your (lack of) belief? Is it a redundant service, given how most campuses already have psych experts, counselors, peer counselors, mentors, etc available to students in need and crisis?

In my own case, I have a very dim view of the psychiatric arts and sciences.

The NSA is really giving me the widdershins today. Meh. Hopefully, this will work. Starting link. My Comment:

well, f*ck it. this is the atheist blog, after all.

marriage is stupid. or rather, i get annoyed by how much effort people put into the ceremony; the hard work comes after. yes, i’m bitter and divorced and all that and no one should listen to me. but when i go to the gay blogs i read, and it’s all “marriage equality, eleventy111!!!” i get sort of annoyed. throw a party, wear a nice dress. i do that all the time, this occasion is “special,” why, again? sorry, you only impress me at the other end of 40 years of raising 3 kids none of whom end up in prison or dead, surviving a war and a depression, and actually being “faithful.” 99% of marriages fail in that regard.

anyway, my general contempt for marriage aside, i have to agree with Anna. this is your typical american liberal “compromise,” in which that word means “the liberal agrees to shut up and do what the conservative wants, with a smile.”

I haven't even made it through the comments yet, but I just have to pass along this great Sunday blog topic from my girl, Greta Christina. Why won't she call me, oh why oh why? Heh, anyway:

Atheists and unbelievers: What, if anything, would make you believe? Worship?

Well, because it was looted by insiders. Naturally.

Happy Easter to all those who celebrated it yesterday! Here in Noo Yawk, it was 70 degrees and sunny - better weather than we've had in months. We felt the renewal and rebirth of Spring as the forsythia burst into riots of sun-colored blossoms in the Park, and the pitter-patter of little tourists' feet was heard from the Cloisters to the Statue of Liberty.

Powerful Catholic quietly shapes abortion, health care debate

Now, as President Barack Obama begins his last-ditch effort to pass final legislation, Doerflinger and his bosses are sending a clear message: If the Democrats want to succeed, they must include the House provision, or something equally restrictive, on abortion.

Each time a girl opens a book and reads a womanless history,
she learns she is worth less.
– Myra Pollack Sadker

It's Women's History Month! That means we will have even more reason to talk about women: women of the past, present and future.

The woman I'd like to talk about from my past was my mother. I lost her on March 9, 1996, but I can't help remembering her, not just because I loved her so and said farewell to her long before her time, but also because I see her in the mirror every day. (All the cliches are true.)

Yes, it's true. I'm going to watch this shameless display of male supremacism on Sunday, and you know what? I'm going to enjoy it, too!

The Taliban can be admired for their conviction to their faith and their sense of loyalty to one another, the new bishop for the Armed Forces has claimed.

The Rt Rev Stephen Venner called for a more sympathetic approach to the Islamic fundamentalists that recognises their humanity.

The Church of England’s Bishop to the Forces warned that it will be harder to reach a peaceful solution to the war if the Afghan insurgents are portrayed too negatively.

It is necessary to respect Islam and Afghan culture. We should never respect the sort of theocratic extremism that advocates terrorism.

At Raw Story, via Agonist:

The conservative pastor who delivered President Barack Obama's inaugural convocation address won't condemn a proposed Ugandan law that punishes homosexual acts with death....

Says Warren:

"The fundamental dignity of every person, our right to be free, and the freedom to make moral choices are gifts endowed by God, our creator," Warren remarked. However, it is not my personal calling as a pastor in America to comment or interfere in the political process of other nations."

The State of Texas awaits the jury's decision on his sentence, but even the NYT cared enough about the outcome of the Eldorado, Texas, trial to report the verdict. The jury found him guilty in fewer than four hours.

Seen in an AP photo, below, as he was escorted away from the courthouse, Jessop could be sent to a Texas prison for up to 20 years. San Angelo Standard-Times' coverage indicates evidence confirming his paternity of a 4-year-old girl caused fireworks in the courtroom.

And if you want to know why it is my hope that Mr. Jessop meets, up close and in person, the tender mercies of the TDCJ inmates regarding child rapists, read this excerpt regarding what happened to the girl he raped.

The ranch first came to national attention a year and a half ago when the Texas authorities descended on it, seeking a girl who had complained in a telephone call to a San Angelo women’s shelter that she was being sexually abused. The girl was never found, and the Texas Rangers acknowledge that the tip was a hoax.

But in the course of executing search warrants, social workers and the Rangers uncovered evidence that at least a dozen girls had been coerced by church elders to serve as wives to older men. Seven had borne children.

The prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General Eric Nichols, put several Rangers on the stand along with a former member of the church to introduce several church documents seized from a vault on the ranch.

Since the woman said to be the victim, who is now 21, did not testify, Mr. Nichols used the documents, along with her photo album, to prove she lived with Mr. Jessop as one of his wives and was impregnated by him when she was 16.

The state’s case also rested heavily on genetic evidence that showed there was a 99.9 percent chance Mr. Jessop was the father of the child, who is now 4.

In his closing argument, Mr. Nichols attacked the theory that the teenager had consented to be Mr. Jessop’s wife. “Any act of sexual assault is a horrendous crime,” he said, “but an act of sexual assault on a child is of such an extreme nature we don’t even consider whether the victim was able, much less did, consent.”

One of the most damning pieces of evidence presented in court was a written record of Mr. Jeffs’s instructions in August 2005 not to take the girl to a hospital even though she had been struggling in labor for three days at a clinic on the ranch.

“I knew the girl, being 16 years old, if she went to the hospital, they could put Raymond Jessop in jeopardy of prosecution as the government is looking for any reason to come against us there,” Mr. Jeffs was quoted as saying.

Some of the most revealing testimony came from another witness for the prosecution, Rebecca Musser, a former member of the church who had been married to Rulon T. Jeffs, the sect’s founder and the father of Warren Jeffs. She left the church in 2002 after the elder Mr. Jeffs died.

Ms. Musser testified that Mr. Jeffs had controlled every aspect of the women’s lives, including how they dressed and what they ate. He also controlled whom they married and when.

“Age was not a factor,” she said. “It was when the prophet deemed she was worthy.”

If there's a hell, maybe God will see fit to send Warren Jeffs to burn in it forever.
He's the instigator, the 'spiritual leader', the head of this 'church' -- he's the FLDS version of Rush Limbaugh, with his portrait everywhere, including where women in childbirth must see it.

There are 11 more indictments in Schleicher County. May FSM, Ceiling Cat and all the gods protect and bless District Judge Barbara Walther, the prosecutors, the investigators, and the victims whose lives these "religious leaders" destroyed.

There's a post at Whenceforth Progress on a related matter -- the other news out of Texas yesterday that made national headlines. We know that 13 people were slain and 30 wounded when a US Army Major opened fire inside the Soldier Readiness Center at Fort Hood. What we don't know yet is why.

But if, as rumor has it, religion played a part --

Courage comes in many shapes and sizes.

Rebecca Musser, an attractive, poised blond in her early 30s who left the sect, testified Jeffs pressured her to marry again soon after the death of her spiritual husband, who was a church leader and Jeffs’ father.

“Within one month of his father’s death, he started marrying his father’s young wives,” Musser said during a hearing out of earshot of the jury.

Then in her mid-20s, she butted heads with Jeffs because she didn’t want to remarry, she testified in the trial of Raymond Merril Jessop, 38, a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Somehow or another, I've been added to the mailing list of The American Family Association. Can't seem to get off the damned thing, either. So ... I got this "invitation" today for a "webinar". It's all Free!! FREE!!! FREE!!! Supposed to be good training, too.
Here are some of the 24 workshops that you can view:

* How conservatives can win in 2010
* How to deal with vote fraud, the Census, and ACORN
* How to lobby federal legislation & policy
* How to bring youth into the conservative movement
* How to defend traditional marriage and DOMA
* How to understand Islam
* How the media can help us take back America
* How to stop feminist and gay attacks on the military
* How to counter the homosexual movement
* How to stop the entry of illegal aliens and drugs
* How to deal with global warming, cap and trade
* How to stop the killings: pro-life solutions

Y'know, somehow, I'm sure I'm not their target demographic. I don't want conservatives to win in 2010. I think they're a plague on the country.

Vote fraud? Easy fix: elect more and better Democrats. The Census I know from the inside out -- I've worked for three decennial surveys. So any lies they'd want me to swallow would be wasted on moi. ACORN? They helped some friends of mine find affordable housing in '07.

How to lobby? Grab your Congresscritter by the ear, if you can't loom over it like LBJ, and make 'em listen. How to be effective: FUND their OPPONENTS if they don't WORK FOR YOU.

How to bring youth into the conservative movement? For what? Do I want to encourage child abuse?

How to defend traditional marriage and DOMA? Make marriage applicable to loving people, period. Screw DOMA, it's bad law.

How to understand Islam? As what, a bunch of brown-skinned terrorists? No, thanks. It's as much a religion -- and therefore as legit or not -- as your "Christianity," and what I understand about both is people use them as an excuse to bully one another, start wars, steal natural resources, and otherwise misbehave.

How the media can help us take back America? Dude, seriously? With Chuck Norris telling me my US Flag shouldn't fly unless I stain it with tea? Come on, now. That's *help*? Gah.

On the other hand, the media right now lllllllluuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrvvves them some Bill-O, Dobson, Dobbs, Limbaugh & Company. So, you know, take them; love them; go somewhere

No, it's not about abolishing corporate personhood unfortunately. It's about using state laws and state constitutions to define fetuses as persons -- persons with full rights from the moment of conception.

Yep, it's all about stopping women from murdering their babies.

And they don't plan to stop at ridding the country of abortions, they want to outlaw emergency contraception and birth control pills too.

That's the cool thing about conformity. It really brings people together!

The head football coach at Breckinridge County High School took about 20 players on a school bus late last month to his church, where nearly half of them were baptized, school officials say.

The mother of one player said her 16-year-old son was baptized without her knowledge and consent, and she is upset that a public school bus was used to take players to a church service — and that the school district's superintendent was there and did not object.

The Supreme Court ruling that a woman has a right to privacy in medical decisions remains under attack. In addition some of the opponents of women's rights (the right not to be forced to carry a pregnancy to term is a uniquely feminine issue) are also attacking new Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor, the Court itself, and President Obama (PDFs at Link).

Prolifealliance has a
petition online in support of the "Life at Conception Act,"

distributed by Steve King,

a Republican (what else?) representing Iowa's 5th District. Upon his first campaign for the seat, King had this to say:

"This seat will be used to move the political center of gravity in Congress to the right," King told cheering delegates, after narrowly defeating House Speaker Brent Siegrist of Council Bluffs, 272 to 253, on the third ballot. Iowa Sen. John Redwine of Sioux City and Council Bluffs businessman Jeff Ballenger were the first and second to fall in balloting.

Paul Shomshor is the Democratic nominee and welcomed King to the race.

"What the vote (Saturday) demonstrates is that it is clearly a divided party that has chosen a candidate," Shomshor said. "I think that I will represent mainstream Iowa. They may have selected a candidate from the geographic center of the district but I am from the political center."

King, however, is the favorite in the race because the 32-county district has 55,000 more Republicans than Democrats.

King vowed to go after every county and visit every one of the 286 cities in the district.

"Western Iowa is the key to statewide victories," he said. "The future of Iowa is in our hands."

Bill Salier, the Nora Springs farmer who ran against Ganske in the primary, introduced King.

"The culture war continues," Salier said. "It means every single day, every single one of us must pursue the agenda of the Republican Party."

King said he will not compromise his values.

"It's not about compromise if you want to get something done for Republicans," he said. "It's about negotiating from a position of strength."

The online version of the petition is accompanied by snail-mail copies being sent to folks in Kansas like Kos commenter forever blue.

Two Wisconsin parents have been convicted of denying their 11-year-old daughter medical care, leading to her death.

"If I go to the doctor, I am putting the doctor before God," Neumann testified. "I am not believing what he said he would do."

The Neumanns live in a society where almost no one is willing to admit that religious doctrine is fiction, that "holy" men and women have absolutely no idea whether there is a supernatural and, if so, what it is.

In such a place, it's hard to blame the Neumanns for failing to understand the essential facts about life, death, and medicine.

Georgia candidate for governor says sex with mules, watermelon behind him:

Trials in the sexual assault and child abuse cases will start soon. The 15-year-old girl who was the last of the YFZ Ranch children taken in last year's raid today stopped being a ward of the State of Texas.

Cult founder Tony Alamo has been found guilty of interstate transportation of underage girls for sex.

Texarkana - A federal jury has convicted evangelist Tony Alamo on charges he took underage girls across state lines for sex.

The jury issued its judgment Friday in federal court in Texarkana. The jury found the 74-year-old Alamo guilty of all counts he faced.

Alamo faced a 10-count indictment accusing him of taking girls as young as 9 across state lines as early as 1994.

While appeals and efforts to suppress evidence by attorneys for the odious cult calling itself a church, the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints continue in San Angelo, the Canadian authorities have stepped in to stop the cult's leaders in British Columbia.

Cult lawyers make this claim:

Texas Ranger Brooks Long and other officers failed to make a single call to corroborate or verify the caller's information and left out critical information about the caller in his affidavit seeking a search warrant, the brief states.
In that affidavit, Long also stated Dale Evans Barlow was at the ranch, though he had not confirmed the man's whereabouts and knew, as a condition of probation for a previous offense, was not allowed to leave Arizona.

Those lawyers are apparently following a long tradition of favoring prophets' authority and demands over facts in place, while ignoring the very nature of law enforcement response to reports of a crime in progress:

Promotional flier for his upcoming 12-location anti-Sotomayor tour.

This is a few days old, but in case you missed it, Jonathan Schwartz caught CBS News fixing the news because it's more important to show Billy Graham in a good light than inform the public accurately. Take it away Mr. Schwartz (internal links omitted):

Yesterday CBS ran a story about the latest batch of Nixon tapes made public. And they included a section of a February 21, 1973 conversation with Billy Graham that showed Nixon at his psycho best: