Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Peace Filled New Year!

Yes, that is me, aka emenence, in Santa hat and gold cardinal Rode look alike garb, next to Barry playing the accordion. I joined some of the neighbors to go caroling last Sunday. Here we are on the front porch of one of our neighbors bringing the tidings of the Season.

Pope and Bishops Grasping for Political Power As Credibility Wanes

Stephen Fry

UPDATED WITH NEW YOUTUBE LINK 12/26/2009

With the pope and some American Roman Catholic bishops getting more and more political, I wonder if this movement into the political arena is a way to compensate for a loss of power and authority because of the huge exodus of Catholics from the church.

With people leaving the Catholic Church the bishops still seem to need to satisfy their power urges. The pope and many American bishops are now overstepping into the political realm.

Some of these American bishops are involved in trying to criminalize abortion or taking away or taking back legal marriage for gays. Some use the Eucharist as a weapon. It seems they are grasping for the power and control they are losing because within the church their teaching is without credibility and folks are leaving.

The following is a video of Stephen Fry in a debate on whether the Catholic Church is a force for good in the world. It aired on November 7, 2009 on the BBC World News. He rather eloquently presents the case why these bishops should get back to being shepherds and not politicians.

UPDATED 12/26/2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL5WVecNdhk


Fry says that because of all the politicization by the pope and bishops even the Galilean carpenter would not be welcome in today’s Catholic Church.

Stephen Fry’s remarks begin at about 1:30 in the video clip.

A Response To The Manhattan Declaration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usF2HOn8R_Q

From Davey Wavey in Rhode Island

I'd offer this as one response to all those serious minded hierarchs who signed the Manhattan Declaration.