http://www.renegadecatholic.com/blog Surviving the Fall of the Roman Church Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:35:28 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This summer, sixteen years ago, the clergy abuse crisis began for me, as well as for a lot of people. On June 2, 1992, ABC News PrimeTime broadcast the very first piece about serial child molester James Porter. I remember watching it, hugging myself and crying. I couldn't believe that ... http://www.renegadecatholic.com/blog/2008/06/27/fitzpatrick/ "Venit, vidit, vicit," is how I think it would be in my lousy Latin. "He came, he saw, he conquered." That would be Pope Benedict all right. I have to say his performance during his US trip was masterful. Though lacking the charisma of his predecessor, he made up for it ... http://www.renegadecatholic.com/blog/2008/04/22/aftermath/ With Pope Benedict's arrival in the US just days away, interest is growing in his role in the clergy sex abuse scandals. A British documentary revives the charges that he led the cover-up. That is but the tip of the proverbial iceberg, I'm afraid. Recent historical research for a book I'm ... http://www.renegadecatholic.com/blog/2008/04/10/ratzi-blame/ VATICAN CITY — In a surprise move, Pope Benedict XVI today announced that he had taken immediate steps to end the long-standing conflict between Heaven and Hell. During a news conference hurriedly called for the occasion, the Holy Father made the historic proclamation surrounded by his cardinals. It took place ... http://www.renegadecatholic.com/blog/2008/04/01/pope-hell/ An Israeli scholar says that Moses either saw a "cosmic event" or was high on a psychedelic, probably acacia, which he claims is similar to ayahuasca. Says he himself tried the latter, didn't say if he saw God, though. So is that a rational explanation? What were the rest of the ... http://www.renegadecatholic.com/blog/2008/03/04/moses-dope/ In the middle of April, Pope Benedict XVI will be coming to the United States for a visit. He will hold huge public masses, meet political and religious leaders, and even address the UN. Doubtless the sheeple will be filled with joy. But what about the rest of us? For those not ... http://www.renegadecatholic.com/blog/2008/03/01/boycott/ An era is ending in Western Christianity. For better or for worse, a way of life that began in the deserts of Egypt over seventeen hundred years ago is coming to an end. At least, in its Roman Catholic form. It will mean the end of a legacy that extends from ... http://www.renegadecatholic.com/blog/2008/02/05/cloisters/ I’ve rarely watched Fox’s “Bones” mystery series for more than a few minutes. But zipping through last night, I noticed it seemed to involve clergy abuse, so I stayed. And I was utterly appalled by the way it turned out. The main plot woven in among all the silly on-going themes ... http://www.renegadecatholic.com/blog/2008/01/12/bones/ Sometimes, papal absurdity is just too much to resist. Papal Letter Blames Atheism for World's Worst Styles (PARODY) Pope Benedict XVI strongly criticized modern-day atheism in a major document released today, saying it had led to some of the "worst fashion choices" ever known to mankind. But in his second encyclical, Benedict also ... http://www.renegadecatholic.com/blog/2007/12/01/papalchic/ Once upon a time, in a land blessed with peace and prosperity, there were certain good sheepleherds. These boys and girls were bothered by things they had heard. Bad men who pretended to be good were hurting other children in temples everywhere and no one could stop them. Their leaders ... http://www.renegadecatholic.com/blog/2007/11/28/childrens-crusade/