“Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson was suspended by A&E today for bigoted remarks he made in a GQ profile about gays and lesbians: “It seems like, to me, a vagina — as a man — would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.” … “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers — they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.” Yep, homosexuality is the same as bestiality and prostitution and adultery and intoxication and greed. Of course, the right-wingers are screaming that the reaction from A&E (and everyone else) is some violation of free speech: Read more
It’s a safe bet that Cardinal Raymond Burke never could’ve guessed his seat on an important Vatican committee was in jeopardy given his track record of criticizing celebrities, withholding communion from politicians, ousting feminist nuns, and being generally outspoken on conservative causes (including the persecution faced by American Christians). But that was before Pope Francis took on the papal tiara. Read more
It’s safe to say that Minneapolis St. Paul Archbishop John Nienstedt (below) won’t look back on 2013 with a great deal of satisfaction. Even as an investigation into child sexual abuse appeared to taint his archdiocese, he thought it necessary to point the finger at gays and atheists (among others): Sodomy, abortion, contraception, pornography, the redefinition of marriage, and the denial of objective truth are just some of the forces threatening the stability of our civilization. The source of these machinations is none other than the Father of Lies. … and got roundly taken to task for it. Read more
“An absolute disgrace,” thundered new Geelong (Australia) mayor Darryn Lyons about the Christmas tree that had been purchased by his very own town. Proclaiming it “the worst Christmas tree in the world,” it didn’t help Lyons’ mood that the purchase price reportedly was $27,000 U.S. dollars. “I think I’d rather donate it to the English cricket team,” he said. “They can cut a few bats out of it and see how they go in the Melbourne test match.” Read more
I know you’re all Times Square-d out by now, but Bill Donohue’s Catholic League just got a billboard there. The message calls American Atheists (I assume) “Scrooges” and encourages viewers to “celebrate the prince of peace”: To which I say… meh. It’s not a very powerful or effective message. People won’t bother to look twice. Read more
I sympathize with Reverend Steve Goodbody’s plight. It has to be hard to offer a world view and a way of life that fewer and fewer people want. From the Telegraph: A vicar has criticised people who only attend Church over the festive season telling them: “God is for life — not just for Christmas”. Read more
Things that are okay to criticize: Nativity scenes on government property. Things that are okay to criticize only if you’re a complete asshole: Nativity scenes on your neighbor’s lawn. That’s what an anonymous letter-writer did to Kristen Hunter’s family in Newton, Massachusetts: The “neighbors” who sent the letter wanted to point out that the entire neighborhood is not Christian and may not want to look at their decor, especially given that it is “cheap, tacky and kitschy.” The note stated that the “neighbors” have held their tongue in the past, but felt it was important to make their concerns known this year. Because “not everybody in the neighborhood is Christian” they believe that people do not want to “see such a flagrant display” of Christian beliefs. The letter also stated that the decorations were tacky, calling them a “terrible eye-sore on the neighborhood.” “All religious matters aside, your decorations themselves are beyond tasteless,” the letter said. … The “neighbors” conclude the letter by telling the family that they are free to worship and celebrate however they’d like and they are even “free to have bad taste” but they ask the family to do those things in the privacy of their own home. Read more
The War on Christmas is over!* We win!** The Public Religion Research Institute says in a newly-released survey that more Americans than ever before prefer the term “Happy Holidays” to “Merry Christmas”: (What’s that you say? The question is biased to make people say “Happy Holidays” so they don’t seem disrespectful? Good job, my AP Stats students…) Nearly half (49%) of Americans agree stores and businesses should greet their customers with “happy holidays” or “season’s greetings” instead of “merry Christmas” out of respect for people of different faiths. However, a substantial minority (43%) disagree. Support for saying “happy holidays” or “season’s greetings” is up slightly since December 2010, when 44% preferred that businesses use less religious greetings. Read more
Who knew the most controversial atheist billboard of the season was the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s “Keep Saturn in Saturnalia” one in Pitman, New Jersey? Over the weekend, one family tried to attach their own banner (of a Nativity Scene) on or underneath the billboard — and it was caught on tape. But last night, it got even worse: Read more
The Freethought Equality Fund, formed back in September, announced yesterday that they would be backing a slate of candidates in next year’s elections, all of whom voice their support for church/state separation and the atheist community at large. “It’s long past due for our elected officials to stand up and advocate for humanistic values, and we will strongly support candidates that do,” says Freethought Equality Fund Coordinator Bishop McNeill. The six candidates are all Democrats (no surprise there) and running for both statewide and national offices: Read more
