Lyan's
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10/31/2019 The Catholic Church is Cancelled
Here is why.
(Children are why. This Church is a threat to their safety.) 1 John 4:8 (ESV): God Is Love. Table of Contents –Pedophilia and sexual abuse –The Church's remedy efforts –LGBTQ+ –Questioning the Bible –Abuse –Solutions for pedophiles Right now, around 4% of Catholic priests globally are pedophiles. A 2004 report commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops found 10,000+ general sexual abuse accusations against 4,000 male clergy, from 1950 to 2002. So far, about 100 credible accusations of sexual abuse have surfaced towards nuns, in the United States only. Pedophilia is the sustained, focused, and intense pattern of sexual arousal, manifested by sexual thoughts, fantasies, urges, or behaviors, involving pre-pubertal children. The DSM-5 uses the age of 13 as the cut-off for pre-pubescence. This arousal is usually highly distressing for the pedophile. To qualify for pedophilic disorder, one must be at least 16 years old, and be at least five years than the minor(s) in focus. Ephebophilia is similar, but involves adolescents, which is usually ages 15 to 19. In my own opinion, all people under the age of 16 are basically babies. Innocent by nature. Here are the ten countries with the most Catholic individuals, in 2019, with their age of consent next to them: Brazil, 14; Mexico, varies at 12-18; Philippines, 12; United States, 16-18; Italy, mostly 14; France, 14; Colombia, 14; Poland, 18 and 15 in certain relationships; Spain, 16; Democratic Republic of the Congo, 18 Sexual assault is when a person intentionally touches somebody sexually without that person's consent, coerces them against their will or physically forces them to engage in a sexual act, or does a sexual act with someone below the legal age of consent. If a legal age of consent is 16, for example, that region has decided that any sexual act with somebody under 16 is statutory rape. Even if there is mutual pleasure and agreement. And in these cases, the person of age is a molester. Every pedophile who acts upon their urges is a sexual assailant, sexual abuser, molester. Each of those applies. Just sticking to the label “pedophile” for these folks softens their reputation. It masks their true and real danger. The word has also been sensationalized (artwork like “Lolita”) and memeified (“pedo," even if not used to encourage pedophilia) for way too long now. The American Psychological Association states, “[Pedophilia] never can be considered normal or socially acceptable behavior." The Reformation (without the wars) was entirely justified. The idea of indulgences in my opinion feels like rape–in spiritual, emotional, and economic ways. And now we have to deal with actual rape from this organization. ✢ Many have already heard about the efforts by the Church to directly remedy this problem, but it is not enough. Pope Francis directed a four-day sexual abuse summit in Vatican City in early 2019. There have been positive efforts towards reporting clergymen to higher officials and then defrocking them. Now, major sexual abuse laws apply to nuns as well. But we are still seeing painful, major lies about this from the Church. Lying in general is always something weird, disturbing, and suspicious. Furthermore, only in 2001 did the Catholic Church stop enforcing the 1962~ Crimen sollicitationis. This was a decree that laid out guidelines for dealing with the sexual abuse of children by priests, or priests trying to solicit sex during confessions. For most of its existence, its Section 11 (requiring that all testimony given in such cases remain "sealed") was distorted, causing the excommincation of anybody who spoke up, especially victims, their parents, families, and friends. Its force still lingers, lending an environment of fear for victims, especially of adult age. Some support abolishing the priesthood. This is a naive and narrow-minded stance, in my opinion. Patriarchy, mirroring God-as-the-father, is law to the Catholic Church. What would the Church then stand on? Nuns? Nuns and monks passing out the Eucharist? What, and then no more popes, bishops, and cardinals? But then there would be no more ritualistic performances! And I do not know if this has been said before, but this patriarchy is what makes the Catholic Church what it is. This might remind you of certain other religious groups, Christian ones included. I personally do not care at all about what Abrahamic holy books say about gender. It is almost all utter nonsense. 50% of the world has and always will be female. We are all equal in our experience, pain, and power. ✢ This discussion gets even more disgusting when one remembers the Catholic Church’s position on LGBTQ people. This is the part about blame-shifting, scapegoating, and cowering like a weird, sad, poor loser in the face of evil. Theodore E. McCarrick was a cardinal and archbishop, who resigned from these positions because of several sexual abuse allegations, of course with some pedophilia. Most of the accusations are homosexual in nature. It was the first time a cardinal was defrocked because of a sexual abuse situation. I would highly recommend everyone read about his situation, because it is a microcosm of the topics in this essay. From The New York Times (my italics isn't working, by the way) in February 2019, bolding my own: “The accusations that Mr. McCarrick, as an archbishop, had abused his seminary students and young priests—and not only children—caused...some Catholic bishops and conservative church media outlets [to lay] the blame for the sexual abuse on homosexuality inside the church.” What they mean by "homosexuality in the Church" here is gay priests. They are trying to link mentally ill clergymen with other, separate gay priests. Who have not racked up abuse allegations. They thought that that would make sense because most of the victims here were male. That is using those victims' stories for hateful manipulation, division, and evil. It's disgusting. Let us now take a look at this video, sent to a group chat with several of my Catholic friends. There were several entirely misinformed ideas here. People see transgender people everyday and do not notice that they are transgender. And according to this study, there is no link between trans-inclusive bathroom policies and bathroom safety. And there are several studies and several stories showing that sexuality has a natural human basis. Reigning down history. It is absolutely not decided upon. Why are so many lovers in Iran, the Chechen Republic, so many regions in Africa dying? What are people in these countries disappearing and dying for all the time? Love. God is Love. Back to the video. The 2019 Equality Act she is ranting about addressed the below discrimination (1), and modified its protections to the also below (2). It has passed through the House of Representatives, but not yet the Senate. 1) Sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition of an individual, as well as because of sex-based stereotypes. 2)
The idea that we should instead allow this discrimination is violent. It is saying, “I can threaten your ability to go to work, to buy medicine, to get gas, etc. because you as a woman came in holding hands with a woman.” Those opposing this move do not see LGBTQ individuals as human beings. Because they are denying them basic human rights and freedom. Not a fresh concept to human culture–my basis being a word called “slavery.” I mean just...come on. Which atheist LGBTQ person would want to become a Christian in general after seeing that video? Immediately pointing to “the gays” or the “LGBT agenda” when discussing the Catholic Church's real, quantified evils is a deflection and a distraction. This pedophilia strikes in hetero-, homo-, and bisexual ways. Given the facts shared above, even Christianity’s theological positions on homosexuality are totally irrelevant from the ills and evils in the Catholic Church. But I will still discuss some theology, below, for the sake of striking several birds with one stone in this essay. And, for certain readers: Yes, I’ve used the term “LGBTQ” as an umbrella term here, covering intersex, gender fluid, nonbinary, pansexual, and, it depends on who you talk to but, asexual people. 1 John 2:9 (KJB): He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. ✢ We need to remember that the Bible, and every other holy text on Earth, has been transcribed and distributed by human beings. Their ideas have been warped by the human brain–at their inception and throughout the (typically) centuries in which they persist. There are several questionable ideas in the Bible, but I will here share the most extreme ones, the violent ones, as my defense. Because the name of God should no longer be used next to violence or even violent language. That to me is using His name in vain. By the way, I do not believe that any "holy" wars in all of history have ever been justified. There is nothing more precious than life.
With those shared, I hope my readers have an easier time discerning the best possible meanings from their favorite Holy texts. Churches and other such institutions have always been flexible. But not alive. Jesus, the Saints, the prophets, the rabbis, God or Allah, Holy energy, Mary/Mariam are alive. Not the Bible, the Catholic Church, Protestantism, a mosque, Israel, weapons, pens and paper. We created those things. And, not to hypocritically encourage violent language, they can be destroyed. 2019 forward is the time for people to think for themselves in liberty. Use their inherent critical thinking skills. And discern. As a well-versed reader, of literature and people, that part in John 8:44 where Jesus indirectly calls Jewish people “devils” just does not sound like Jesus Christ to me. That is not the Jesus that introduced himself to my life when I was alone and lost once I began college. That is not the Jesus who comforts me, and comes to my rescue even when I completely forget about him. In my eyes, if Jesus or Father God ever laugh at people, it is in a light-hearted and “Hahaha, look at those classic sinners,” type of way–not a “Keep up violence, and torture, and murder. Keep it up, guys! Yay!” way. The people who wrote the Bible inevitably let their humanity shine. It is in human nature to be violent and kill. Of course, there already is major discussion about violence in holy texts; I will just link this Wikipedia page for interested readers: The Bible and violence. The more we continue to think that practices like the death penalty are ever justified, the more God laughs at us. The whole point of Christianity is proving God wrong! Original. Sin. Once agani, yes, violence is in human nature. Tons of other animals have violence as an integrated part of their survival. The only difference between us and them, no matter how subtle, is that we have free will (unless a perosn is disabled in the appropriate ways). Bark bark. Let us just create new worship places, new and modified religions, new chapters and spirituals, new Gospels and verses, new connections, new spirituality. There are so many interesting small religions out there, many based upon familiar ideas. Most of my paternal family members are Mandaean, where they revere Saint John the Baptist, and emphasize purity and baptism. There is a prophet through-and-through who goes by Hazel, and here is his Twitter. Simply his Tweets once positively transformed my entire outlook on life. I still lean on his intuition and guidance. "Your intuition is the voice of God." ✢✢✢ Back to the topic. The cowardice, the pathetic money settlements, the blame-shifting, the hypocrisy, the lies are why I state that the Catholic Church is cancelled. I would cancel it like people have justly or unjustly “cancelled” so many celebrities for their actions, words, or ideas. The nature of cancellation is giving isolation, neglect, and total starvation of loving feel to an individual. Let us start doing that with institutions, systems, behaviors, among other non-human things. Anything which needs to be purged before millennials and younger can direct efforts to save our planet. Because the planet is dying; the world is literally ending. Not people. Even though the Catholic Church will stand after this is shared, here is a reason to be confidently skeptical of any religious or fanatic group today: Many Christians keep enforcing pushback, in the media and to children, about overwhelming scientific evidence that the Earth is dying. The planet’s total temperature is increasing at a terrifying and shameful rate. God frowns when he thinks about climate change, and he mutters "Of course." Which is more important? Their Bible from the 15th century or their children and grandchildren? We all really need to start seriously, calmly talking about capitalism. But these distractions, absurd scapegoats, and painstaking moral debates are getting in the way. The Catholic Church is cancelled because the damage is too deep. The damage is too far deep. The pedophiles are not hurting that much. The victims are hurting, but there are increasingly helpful mental health resources available today, and there are the settlements. Really, The Church is hurting from this. The Church is bleeding. Jesus does cry for every victim of child abuse. He cries. He is crying. That’s what he is doing when He walks around the world these days. Whenever he goes from house to house, after comforting people. The Catholic Church is done for me because the damage is too far deep. There have not been enough efforts for extreme recovery, both for these victims and the perpetrators. And not enough public remorse. Instead of major, consistent public remorse–maybe some proof of enablers repenting too–we have seen $2.6 billion in settlement money from the organization (which is only in U.S., and from 1950 to 2009). In my view, no amount of money of money–even tens of millions–can heal an abuse victim’s trauma. The false guilt. The false or real paranoia. The PTSD. The night terrors. The lingering feeling that stays with you for typically years to come–statistically. The mistrust of oneself, others, reality, and existence itself. Only real, pure love, therapy, community, exercise, medication, meditation, prayer amongst others can do this healing. Many victims of sexual abuse deep down wish that their abuser(s) would pay with their own lives. And here we are believing that huge settlements really mean anything. The Catholic Church should be buying lifetime houses and school supplies for these victims, and give them a lifetime of free plane tickets to wherever they want to go. That is generosity, which is the spirit of Christ and the Church. The fact that this abuse is mostly directed towards minors, not adults, is what makes the situation as disgusting and repugnant as it is. Laura Benshoff wrote in a 2019 article for WHYY: “Whether perpetrated by a priest or a nun, story after story of abuse has shown a similar pattern, with faith leaders using their stature to gain trust in the community while exploiting vulnerable minors behind closed doors.” 2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV): And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. LGBTQ people are allowed to stay in the closet–to protect their safety–but pedophilic Church leaders of any sexual orientation are not allowed to stay in the closet. I would rather burn Notre-Dame again than let one more sweaty, ugly priest try to have sex with a baby. Romans 12:21 (NIV): Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. ✢✢✢ For any tormented souls: There are helpful resources for anyone who may exhibit pedophilic and/or abusive thoughts, words, or actions. Sure, confess your sins to a priest or in prayer, but please recognize that you are exhibiting mentally abnormal and ill behaviors–even if only in thought. There are therapists and physicians trained to help you, and they almost always must subscribe to some system of nondisclosure (such as through HIPAA in the U.S.). If you are not sane or mentally well enough for this, please keep yourself away from any child or adolescent in every way possible. Know that there is hope, and your recovery is possible. Do not be paranoid, or alarmed by outside opinions. You just really need to seek help. God saves. God loves. God shows mercy. God as the Holy Trinity, the Abrahamic God, or simply a spiritual energy is omnipresent, omnibenevolent, and omnipotent. “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (VOICE). But abuse God, inside your heart or through a religious organization, and you will understand punishment either in this life or the next one. God's army is strong, now and forever. Sources used or not hyper-linked:
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10/30/2019 A creative non-fiction piece. March 16, 2015I stopped expecting the imaginary out of people a while ago, after many a disappointing realizations stacked up in my head. Like the time when we were seated in Mr. ...’s room, 45 students and teachers all cramped into one of the smaller classrooms for an important meeting. I saw a new girl sitting at a desk at 11 o’clock; it was impossible to focus on the real time (if time was real in the moment) as I tried to uncreepily catch good glimpses of her. Her outfit was decent, normal leggings and boots and some green coat, but her face took care of the decency. Besides the perfect symmetry of it, her sighing eyes looked the room up and down, dragging you in with each move. You’d think she was some rude, all-knowing European transfer student with secrets to not tell and fleshly perfume to spray all over. I’d come to find out, though, that she was one of the least intelligent persons I’ve ever known with a truly boring, stale personality that made me cringe at every interaction and observation. But hey, whatever, I never cared. She’s her and I’m me, but the only one ever at fault was I, and I for making the mistake of having expectations that eventually got in the way of a potential kinship (it was probably unlikely with her anyway).
Press this link to the short story analyzed below, which I completed for a college English course. It is phenomenal.
Although grim, The Quiet is a hopeful tale about enduring topics in domestic life. The author powerfully illuminates the possibility and potential of human connections. In addition, it offers an interesting spin on the artistic obsession that women are the primary victims of abuse. Its title is all but suggestive of its complex, masked themes. Displayed through figurative language of time, Susan Boyce seemed to be guided by impossible expectations. Although there was a small glimmer of hope, her case was perfectly dark and lonely. Time vastly stretched on in her life and framed her life’s horizon. “A year was an eternity; she didn’t think she could last a year…” (p. 3) This time spent was marked by immediate goals, which were marked by finding familiarity in domesticity. Not only was waiting a factor, but she would require emotional relatability to open up her heart. For the most part, the person nearby she knew best besides her husband was Henry. A certain part of her had been paying much attention to him. He had a presence in her life, whether she deeply acknowledged it or not. How else would she have hated him so much? She described to the reader extensive details about his body and mannerisms, all from her point of view. With the story written in the third-person omniscient point of view, the characters’ mental focus switched off where necessary. If the space and time of the story could be analogized into a chaotic abyss with just one hole of truth near the middle, Henry Fowler would occupy that spot. He made her feel an emptiness; we later see that he could have related to that feeling. Perhaps it was so strong in him that other people felt it, too. The dark mess of her life, composed of her neighborhood, marital problems, and self-consciousness, contained in it the familiarity that she so desperately seeked. The true, physical meeting catalyzed Susan’s ability find color in the hole’s area. In this way, the author revealed truths about the impact of human connection. Similar to the way tattoos do, Henry’s markings told a story–finally secured by his words: ‘My wife,’ said Henry Fowler, the words finally coming to his rescue, ‘was bigger than me.’ (p. 8) They were the words of the story. This was “the moment,” a concept explored in modernist literature; thus commencing the characters’ bond. Page 9 marked the process of coming out of her assumptions and entering the arena of realization. It was her turn to stare: “Susan Boyce said nothing, only looked.” (p. 8) While their actions switched positions, they still contradicted each other. Henry cared too much about his act and Susan did not care enough, or was too disillusioned. This was revealed in the way Henry responded to Susan’s scream at his naked torso, as well as her reluctance to tell someone about her crime. So, their connection was a perfect match–they could prove relief and answers for one another. She…closed her eyes like someone who hadn’t known till now how tired they were… (p. 11) This is a feminist tale. One of the strongest definitions of “feminism” is that it is the belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes. A core belief holds that men can be victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, etc., as easily as women can. The Quiet showed that men and women can be united in common struggle, especially in such personal and sensitive areas as those in the story. Rather than coexist in animosity, the neighbors united, hopefully headed down a path of recovery. Early on, readers do not see why Henry dedicatedly watched Susan. The conclusion reveals that he may have been noticing signs of domestic abuse in the family. And, perhaps he grew concerned as friend, not psychopath or fanatical admirer. Yet, there are two caveats which must be mentioned. The first is that it was wrong of Henry to startle Susan the way he did; perhaps he could have asked her first if he could show her his scars. The second is that the two individuals were indeed criminals, and one of the worst kinds: murderers. Theirs was not a city of perfect angels. Although, they most likely acted in self defense both times, seeming to have moved forward in a clearheaded way. The title of the story refers to the silent and fearful way victims of domestic violence behave. Their lives can seem like an abyss of dark energy and secrets, similar to the twisted, winding country road that these main characters lived on. What does one do when they feel they’ve tried all options to find the light? Susan Boyce learned that the people near her can show her the most spectacular things, even if they seem far away in lifestyle. The first line was, “She didn’t hear him arrive.” “Hear” might be switched with “foresee.” The most critical truth the author unveiled was that it is not right to judge others based on assumptions. |