Posts filed under ‘Religion’
Letter Carriers Refuse to Deliver Mail Based on “Moral Convictions”
Think about this:
In response to the Obama Administrations’ rules that insurance companies cover birth control of female employees who work with religiously affiliated organizations, Republicans are pushing legislation that would allow any employer to deny health services to employees on “moral convictions.” Among the Republicans pushing the legislation is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
On Sunday, during an appearance on Face The Nation, McConnell claimed that requiring employers to cover crucial health services for women is a violation of freedom of religion and admitted to Bob Scheiffer that he supports Roy Blunt’s legislation that would allow any employer in the nation to deny health services to employees if such services conflict with their “moral convictions.”
Are you serious Mitch? Fine. The thing is, you’re proposing going down a two-way street buddy.
Let’s say the Postal Service decides, ahem, based on “moral convictions” of course, it won’t deliver flyers from Republican candidates. Or let’s say a left-leaning telephone company decides it won’t — based on “moral convictions” — route campaign calls from a Koch-brother-funded organization to its customers. Or lets say a liberal-leaning bank won’t — based on “moral convictions” — cash checks deposited by people who belong to the Republican party.
Do we really want to go down that road? Really? REALLY?
Imagine having the wisdom to think things through and to bust out of your hermetically sealed Fox-encased brain and to think about the reality of what you’re proposing.
Geezus.
Remember When Catholic Bishops Were Thought of as Pedophiles?
This would be my Tweet of the Day, and I mean it in all seriousness: Notice how the media treated Catholic Bishops like saints this week?
From the You-Can’t-Make-This-Shit-Up File
I come across so much mind-blowingly crazy stuff like this every day, my whole blog could be dedicated to it. I tend to shake my head and move on at most of it but sometimes I have to stop and scream. And I’m screaming now:
Alabama Republican Senator: Low teacher Pay Mandated by God
A Republican State Senator from Alabama claimed this week that keeping teacher salaries low is actually an order from the Christian deity figure, imparted in ancient texts written by Jewish tribesmen thousands of years ago.
Speaking at a prayer breakfast recently, Alabama state Senator Shadrack McGill praised giving pay raises to politicians, saying that it helps to prevent bribery. Then he shifted gears and went in the opposite direction with regards to teachers, arguing against a bill that would increase their salaries.
“Teachers need to make the money that they need to make,” he said, according to Alabama newspaper The Times-Journal. “There needs to be a balance there. If you double what you’re paying education, you know what’s going to happen? I’ve heard the comment many times, ‘Well, the quality of education’s going to go up.’ That’s never proven to happen, guys.
“It’s a Biblical principle. If you double a teacher’s pay scale, you’ll attract people who aren’t called to teach. To go and raise someone’s child for eight hours a day, or many people’s children for eight hours a day, requires a calling. It better be a calling in your life. I know I wouldn’t want to do it, OK?”
He continued: “And these teachers that are called to teach, regardless of the pay scale, they would teach. It’s just in them to do. It’s the ability that God give ‘em. And there are also some teachers, it wouldn’t matter how much you would pay them, they would still perform to the same capacity. “If you don’t keep that in balance, you’re going to attract people who are not called, who don’t need to be teaching our children. So, everything has a balance.”
Huzzah!
10, 15, 40 years ago, this wouldn’t have made the news. It would have been thought of as, literally, crazy; the rant of a religious nut.
Support Christian Porn!
Hey kids, who knew there was a website dedicated to supporting “Christian porn:”
Welcome to the home of the Christian Porn movement. Our mission is to clean up that which is currently known as “pornographic” videos, movies, or films. All filmed sexual acts in the Christian Porn genre are genuine intentions to create life, performed by heterosexual married Christian couples. As acts of procreation they are not immoral, illicit, or dirty, but expressions of love between husband and wife, who are in love with each other exclusively. None of the acts are unnatural or adulterous. We feel the viewing of an expression of love shared by a married man and woman is one of the most beautiful and natural gifts bestowed to us by God. Praise God, brothers and sisters.
Sign up to receive “free Christian porn clips and trailers!”
Oh, and go to Cafepress for your very own T-shirt:
The Susan G. Komen Foundation Joins Republican Effort to Destroy Planned Parenthood
The nation’s leading breast-cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is halting its partnerships with Planned Parenthood affiliates — creating a bitter rift, linked to the abortion debate, between two iconic organizations that have assisted millions of women.
The change will mean a cutoff of hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants, mainly for breast exams.
Planned Parenthood says the move results from Komen bowing to pressure from anti-abortion activists. Komen says the key reason is that Planned Parenthood is under investigation in Congress — a probe launched by a conservative Republican who was urged to act by anti-abortion groups.
So, conservative congressional Republicans launch a “probe” of Planned Parenthood and then they turn to the Komen Foundation and pressure it to withhold donations to Planned Parenthood because they’ve launched a “probe?” How deceitfully, viciously clever.
Are the Komen people that stupid? Don’t they get that Republicans want to destroy Planned Parenthood altogether because they want to impose their American Taliban-like beliefs on all of us; that they don’t want women to have the freedom to chose?
Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, has depicted Stearns’ probe as politically motivated and said she was dismayed that it had contributed to Komen’s decision to halt the grants to PPFA affiliates.
“It’s hard to understand how an organization with whom we share a mission of saving women’s lives could have bowed to this kind of bullying.”
Exactly.
And I say this to the Republicans conducting that “probe:” It takes two to get pregnant:
Ann Romney Disrespects Her Dead Father
When you’re a Romney, apparently, it doesn’t matter what other people feel, believe or want. What matters is what you want and that you get it:
Gawker’s substantial Mormon readership has come through for us: Two readers have sent us confirmation that Edward Davies, Mitt Romney’s militantly atheist father-in-law, was indeed posthumously converted to Mormonism by his family, despite the fact that when he was alive he regarded all religions as “hogwash.”
[...]
As we mentioned yesterday, Ann Romney’s Welsh-born father (who Mitt mentioned in last night’s debate to shore up his pro-immigrant bona fides) was an engineer, inventor, and resolute atheist who disdained all organized religion and raised his children accordingly. Davies, his son Roderick told the Boston Globe in 2007, regarded the faithful as “weak in the knees.”
[...]
Until he died. According to this entry in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ genealogical database, Davies was baptized as a Mormon at a “special family meeting” 14 months after his death; “All ordinances except sealing to spouse performed in Salt Lake Temple on 19 Nov 1993 in special family meeting,” the entry says
[...]
A little under a year after the posthumous baptism, according to this entry at Ancestry.com, a Utah-based genealogical registry linked to the Mormon church, Edward Davies was “sealed” to his spouse for eternity in a ceremony that appears to have been performed in Atlanta, Ga.
[I]t’s an exceedingly odd way for the Romney family to honor the memory of a man who was committed, for his entire life, to the notion that organized religion is a fraud.
“Exceedingly odd?” That’s way too kind. Exceedingly, unimaginably disrespectful is how I’d define it.
Indiana Votes to Abolish the Separation of Church and State
I went to grade school in Bloomington, Indiana. Back then, there was a thing called the separation of church and state.
Facts were taught in schools (not “theories”) and religion was taught in churches. If the Republicans in Indiana get their way, the two will merge:
Indiana’s Senate Bill 89, which if enacted would allow local school districts to “require the teaching of various theories concerning the origin of life, including creation science,” was passed by the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development on January 25, 2012.
Good luck Indiana. Pretty soon you won’t be able to complain about the madrassas in the Middle East that combine the teaching of reading and writing and that of religion. That’s where you’re going.
Westboro Baptist Church to Protest at Joe Paterno’s Funeral
Here we go again:
Joe Paterno will be honored in services over the next three days in State College, Pa., and there will not be an absence of controversy.
A public viewing for Paterno, the legendary former Penn State coach who died Sunday at 85, will be held from 1-11 p.m. Tuesday at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the Penn State campus. Another viewing will be held from 8 a.m. until noon Wednesday, with a private funeral scheduled for 2 p.m. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Jordan Center, the basketball arena next to Beaver Stadium.
Officials of the Westboro Baptist Church intend to protest, according to the daughter of the church’s pastor, and bring their anti-homosexuality message to State College. The church has targeted services for Michael Jackson and Steve Jobs, as well as military funerals.
Margie Phelps tweeted that “WBC will picket his funeral,” adding, “He’s in hell. Don’t partake of your neighbor’s sin!”
I hope something like this happens in response:
People in Weston, Missouri banded together on Saturday. They wanted to protect loved ones who were saying goodbye to a fallen soldier and stood up to members of the Westboro Baptist Church who planned to protest at Sgt. First Class C.J. Sadell’s funeral.
Sadell died October 24 from injuries he suffered in a surprise attack in Afghanistan.
On Saturday, there was quite a turnout of people who wanted to keep the protesters away from the funeral.“I’d say probably half the people in Weston are here,” said Eric Moser, Marine Corp veteran.
Weston has less than 2,000 residents, and hundreds of people showed up to support the family of First Sgt. Sadell.
“If you think about it, they’ve all gone to serve just so we could be able to do this,” said Rebecca Rooney who organized the supporters. “He didn’t die in vain.”
Rebecca Rooney is a Weston resident who wanted to stand up against Fred Phelps and his followers.
“We got everybody here early so we could take up all the parking spots,” Rooney said. “We did that so Mr. Phelps wouldn’t have a contingency that was really close.”
Supporters came armed with patriotic music and American flags. The protesters didn’t stick around long once they saw the supporters.
The Westboro people have a right to protest but other people have a right not to hear it.
Follow Up on the Jewish Newspaper Editor Who Called for Obama’s Assassination
Remember my January 21 post about the Jewish newspaper editor who called for Obama’s assassination? Here it is in case you need a refresher.
Well, here’s the latest:
The owner and publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times has resigned under pressure after writing a column suggesting that Israel might consider assassinating President Barack Obama, a Jewish news agency reported Monday.
Andrew Adler wrote the Jan. 13 column suggesting that the assassination would be among Israel’s options in dealing with a hostile Iran equipped with nuclear weapons.
According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, a global news agency, Adler is “relinquishing all day-to-day activities effective immediately” and is seeking a buyer.
Look for Adler to sign on as a Fox News “contributor” any day now.
Jewish Newspaper Editor Suggests Israel Should Assassinate President Obama
Andrew Adler doesn’t seem to realize that his anger has driven him to be as insanely vicious as he perceives Hezbollah, Hamas and Iran to be:
Andrew Adler, the owner and publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times, a weekly newspaper serving Atlanta’s Jewish community, devoted his January 13, 2012 column to the thorny problem of the U.S. and Israel’s diverging views on the threat posed by Iran. Basically Israel has three options, he wrote: Strike Hezbollah and Hamas, strike Iran, or “order a hit” on Barack Obama. Either way, problem solved!
Three, give the go-ahead for U.S.-based Mossad agents to take out a president deemed unfriendly to Israel in order for the current vice president to take his place, and forcefully dictate that the United States’ policy includes its helping the Jewish state obliterate its enemies.
Yes, you read “three” correctly. Order a hit on a president in order to preserve Israel’s existence. Think about it. If I have thought of this Tom Clancy-type scenario, don’t you think that this almost unfathomable idea has been discussed in Israel’s most inner circles?
Another way of putting “three” in perspective goes something like this: How far would you go to save a nation comprised of seven million lives…Jews, Christians and Arabs alike?
You have got to believe, like I do, that all options are on the table.
[...]
UPDATE: Adler has told JTA that he “regrets” the column and plans to publish an apology. Oh, and the Secret Service says it will “make all appropriate, investigative follow-up in regard to this matter,” according to ABC News.
See a larger version of the image above here.
About Those “Family Values”
I know it’s early but this would be our Tweet of the Day:
Seems to me one of two things are going on here. Either values don’t matter anymore or the pro-Gingrich crowd thinks Gingrich’s adultery (which he admitted to for God’s sake) was concocted by the “liberal media.” You know, that well honed victimhood.
Pedophiles Investigating Pedophiles
You know, sometimes you just want to take your head off, put it in a box and set it on a shelf in a dark and quiet closet:
Catholic Church’s Pedophile Investigator Jailed for Kiddie Porn
A Catholic Church child safety co-ordinator who was in charge of investigating sexual abuse allegations was jailed for 12 months today for internet peadophile offences.
Christopher Jarvis, 49, a married father-of-four, investigated historic claims of child abuse, interviewing the victims when they were adults.
Those Muslim Extremists What To Kill Us!
Imagine a high ranking Muslim cleric saying this:
“On occasion scientists working on the nuclear program in
Iranthe United States turn up dead. I think that’s a wonderful thing, candidly.”“I think we should send a very clear message that if you are a scientist from
Russia, North Korea, or from Iranthe United States, and you are going to work on a nuclear program to develop a bombfor Iran, you are not safe.”
In fact, that’s a quote from Rick Santorum.
Pat Robertson Reads Notes From His Conversation With God
God contacted Pat Robertson the other day and talked to him about (1) who the next president will be and, (2) the state of the nation in 2012. Robertson took notes (I guess he had pen and paper handy at the time of the call) so he could tell us what God said about the state of the nation (see below) but the part about who the next president will be is a super doper secret so he couldn’t talk about that. (Send in your $25.00 check and maybe he’ll tell you, and you alone!)
Does Tim Tebow Expect God to Do ALL the Work?
I live in the Denver area and I can tell you that the local sports shows aren’t at all happy with the Denver Broncos tonight. This is the kind of thing I’m hearing (as in a lot of irritation):
Whatever swagger the Denver Broncos had following their six-game win streak has flown out the window. The offensively offense-less Broncos lost 3-7 to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17, dropping their third straight game to finish the 2011 season 8-8.
Tim Tebow‘s fourth quarter magic has been noticeably missing of late. … His fumble in the second quarter within striking distance of the Chiefs’ end zone was an even larger game-killer. Tebow finished 6 for 22 for 60 yards and an interception.
6 for 22? In one game? Really?
Is the guy even trying?
Does he expect God to do all the work?
Pope Warns Against “Superficial Glitter”
Pope Benedict XVI has used the traditional Christmas Eve Mass at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome to criticise the increasing commercialisation of the festival.
In his homily, he asked that people “see through the superficial glitter” of the season, and concentrate instead on the joy of the christmas message.
And he did it dressed like this:
Filed under: Jokes That Write Themselves.
Bethlehem is the New Berlin
Thinking of Baby Jesus tonight? Picturing him cuddled up to Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem, surrounded by the Three Wise Men and wide open spaces with cattle and sheep lazily eating grass outside?
This is Bethlehem today:
—
Google Bethlehem and you get the usual fluff. Google Walls of Bethlehem and you get the pics above, and more.
I wonder what the Prince of Peace is thinking tonight.
Ronald Reagan’s War on Christmas
What with Fox leading the charge, claiming that Obama hates Christians — evidenced by this year’s White House Christmas card — I can’t wait until they move on to dissing Dear Leader Ronald Reagan for his:
Ronald Reagan Christmas Card -- 1983
Where’s the Christmas tree?!
Ronald Reagan Christmas Card -- 1984
What? No wreath?
And here’s a Christmas card from the Georg W. Bush era:
George W. Bush Christmas Card -- 2002
Again, where’s the tree?!!!!!
George W. Bush Christmas Card -- 2004
Is that puny thing a Christmas tree? Looks like a cranberry topiary to me, so — hello — where’s the Christmas tree?
By blasting Obama for this year’s card, and now showing Christmas cards down through the ages, they insinuate that all previous White House cards depicted Christmas trees and maybe even crosses, baby Jesus and the Three Wise Men. But none of modern day cards do. But the folks at Fox hope you don’t know that.
Oh, and take a look at Fox’s Christmas cards. The standards they apply to President Obama apparently don’t apply to them, even though, again, they’re the ones leading the charge on this.
Fox’s, Ahem, “Christmas” Card Isn’t Very Christmassy
Oh my God. Fox News is such a hypocritical sack of s**t.
Check out Fox News’ and Fox Business Network’s Christmas holiday cards:
Here’s Fox News’:
Look at the little fox riding the sleigh that’s leading the ABC and CBS sleighs, and notice CNN and MSNBC peaking over the ridge on the left.
And here’s the Fox Business Network’s card:
Foxes roasting a peacock. How cute, and a metaphor for the Fox Business Network “roasting” CNBC, which it’s nowhere near doing, as in here’s the latest on their “anemic ratings” (even after four years on the air).
But the point of this post, and what drives me insane, is that just yesterday — yesterday! — Fox posted an article criticizing the White House “holiday” card because it depicts Bo the dog, “holiday greenery” and poinsettias instead of a Christmas tree! See it here.
Now you show me a damn Christmas tree in either of these cards. And what’s so awful about showing Bo lying in front of a fireplace compared to showing cartoonish foxes roasting a peacock and manning little sleighs?
Geezus. My hair is on fire.
Fox News: The President Obama Hates Christmas, and So Do We
Insofar as President Obama is the president of all of us, and all of us aren’t Christians, it seems perfectly appropriate to me that the official White House “holiday card” (Fox’s words, not mine) would look like this:
I guess, per Fox — which is ranting again/still about the alleged war on Christmas (see below) — the card should depict, oh, I don’t know, a cross? A manger? Or, at the very least, it should say MERRY CHRISTMAS inside, which it doesn’t. (Still, gosh golly gee, is there any freaking doubt which holiday the card is meant to celebrate for God’s sake?)
Anyway, check out the article about the card. Note how many time the author uses the word holiday instead of Christmas (my emphasis):
The official White House holiday card makes no mention of the word ‘Christmas’ and instead focused on Bo the First Dog based on the wishes of the First Family.“From our family to yours, may your holidays shine with the light of the season,” read the inside of the card, featuring the presidential seal.The front of the card features Bo the First Dog lounging by a fireplace. Holiday greenery is draped over the fireplace mantle. Holiday presents are placed on a table underneath a poinsettia – instead of a Christmas tree.
God Abandons God’s Quarterback
In light of what happened a few minutes ago, I’m waiting to hear from the folks who claim Tim Tebow is “God’s Quarterback:”
I guess God was busy tonight, hey?
Maybe she was in Egypt.
Tim Tebow, God’s Quarterback, Cuts “Happy Holidays” Commercial
This is a
Tim Tebow, God’s quarterback has cut a commercial wishing people Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas! Has Tebow joined the libuuurals and the commies and the Muslims and the atheists (to name but a few) in trying to prevent children from celebrating Christmas?
(Via.)
Hurry, someone call Bill O’Reilly!
Lowe’s: UnAmerican, Hateful Bigots
You probably heard that Lowe’s,
sided with the “Florida Family Association” (what a deceitful name), and pulled its ads from the TLC show “All-American Muslim” the other day.
Unfortunately for the artificially patriotic, flag waving Lowe’s, this would be the First Amendment of the United States Constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Note to Lowe’s: It ain’t easy being a democracy. Sometimes you have to actually read the Constitution and digest and comprehend what it means. Then you have to fight to uphold it.
The “Florida Family Association” doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the Constitution. All it cares about is its private, hateful agenda.
Lowe’s: Are you a hater or do you love what the United States of America has stood for since its inception?
Tim Tebow — God’s Quarterback
Check out this headline running today on FoxNation:
I don’t know. When I look around at the state of the world, I kinda think God has more important things to do than manipulate the actions of a guy playing a game.
Obama is Causing the Problems in the Middle East?
Here is our quote of the day from Rick Perry at tonight’s ABC News/Iowa Republican debate: President Obama is “causing the problems in the Middle East.”
Photo: Examiner.com
Ah, I don’t think so Ricky. The “problems in the Middle East” have been going on for two thousand years.
Michigan Teacher Takes the Word “Gay” Out of Deck the Halls
Talk about a war on Christmas! A teacher at Cherry Knoll Elementary School in Michigan replaced the word “gay” in the Christmas carol “Deck the Halls” because her students were “snickering at the lyrics.” She changed the lyrics to “don me now our bright apparel.” When the principal found out, he immediately reversed the teacher’s decision.
More in this video:
(Video via.)
The American Taliban at work.
Rick Perry’s Idea of Being “Strong”
Take a look at this Rick Perry ad titled, “Strong:”
I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a Christian. But you don’t have to be in the pew every Sunday to know that there’s something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can’t openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school. As president, I’ll end Obama’s war on religion and I’ll fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage.
Faith made America strong. It can make her strong again.
I’m Rick Perry and I approved this message.
Wow! Now that’s strength.
What about jobs Rickie? Anything to say about health care? The price of food?
Back in the day when things were going pretty well around here, candidates could get away with the God, guns and gays platform. I’m hoping we’ve moved on to more important issues this time around and hateful ads like this will fall flat and be seen as irrelevant to what matters most to people.
Oh, and give me one — ONE — example of this war on religion Obama’s allegedly waging.
