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New York, 10:32 AM
Thu Nov 26
64 posts in the last 24 hours
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07/21/09
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07/21/09
(1) birth control is a good and necessary thing - continued overpopulation is just not an option;
(2) abortion, just like war, the death penalty and euthanasia, may actually be the most compassionate choice in certain situations and the church should get out of the business of "judging" everyone else's perceived sins;
(3) gays were made gay by GOD and deserve the right to marry in our church and
(4) women have an important and irreplacable role in the church and should be allowed to be deacons, ministers and priests, or else are faith will just grow smaller and more obsolete as society advances;
and (5) excommunication needs to be excommunicated - no priest, cardinal, bishop or pope has the authority to declare which sins are forgiveable and which are not, nor to declare when an individual is shunned from God's grace.
07/21/09
07/21/09
This coming from a born-Protestant, now-agonist/Pagan who grew up going to Catholic schools.
07/21/09
07/24/09
07/21/09
At 9 years old, an abortion is not a choice. It is not a question of convenience or rational, informed decision. She required an abortion as a medical necessity in order to save her own life, in exactly the same way that people require appendectomies or transplant surgeries. This just isn't in the same neighbourhood as a doctrinal position on the theological rights of adult, or even near-adult women to have abortions.
I cannot possibly see why the church would consider this case worth publicising in any way. It reflects terribly on their capacity to understand the basic needs of their flock, and to provide compassion and guidance through horrifyingly awful events. Poorly played, dudes. Try again.
07/21/09
07/22/09
07/21/09
07/21/09
And I think that if life were respected regardless of birth status, there would be plenty more programs in place to assist women having children they couldn't support. It's like the anti-choice folks think you're alright if you're pre-born, but once you're preschool, get the fuck outta here.
07/21/09
07/21/09
07/21/09
07/21/09
By attempting to be neutral and hands off about the outcome, they're actually ensuring the preventable death of the girl and the likely death of the fetus regardless. And sort of trying to circumvent free will in the process.
To my mind and ethical compass, this isn't compassionate or equal. It's shirking responsibility and the reality that human beings -can- make a decision. There isn't any reason to leave it up to god, except by choosing to interpret a particular idea in a very specific way.
The set of circumstances leading to a raped 9 year old getting pregnant, to me, trumps the other. But that's me and I'm not Catholic. I don't think they're evil, just misguided.
07/21/09
07/21/09
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07/21/09
I have no problem with those who choose to believe in religion(s). I try to be tolerant as much as i can and control my exasperation at how certain groups of people think. But when situations like this arise with this girl (and these aren't one in a million scenarios, they happen all over in countries where patriarchal religions govern societal behavior) I don't restrain my ire, and I believe it is completely warranted. Just because Catholics 'Believe' this is a level playing field (as you said) with the fetus and the girl does not make this true. There comes a point where human life and suffering trumps tolerance for other cultural/religious behaviors (ie, see FGM and Womens rights in certain Muslim countries) and we have to hold our fellow humans to a higher standard of intelligence, compassion and HUMANITY despite any beliefs. I wont shrug at anti choicers (espec in these kind of scenarios) and say, "oh well that's their belief and I have to respect that and not get angry". Because people are suffering from their beliefs and that's when my tolerance leaves the room and the need for anger comes in.
07/21/09
07/22/09
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07/21/09
07/21/09
Fuck off and die.
Respectfully yours,
Ms. Skittles
07/21/09
I'll keep chillin with the Archbishop of Canterbury.
07/21/09
07/21/09
Thanks for the explanation. I still don't agree with it, I think its well, quite ridiculous. Not that I think Catholics are ridiculous, because I do not. But this line of thinking...just seems so detrimental.
07/21/09
What is the penalty levied for the crime against human life of raping your 9-year-old stepdaughter?
What is the penalty levied for the crime against human life of someone who forces a child carry the pregnancy of an incestual rape to term even though it will kill her?
What is the penalty levied for the crime against human life of a complete lack of compassion and not seeing the forest for the trees, in the wide-angle lens view of humanity?
07/21/09
FOR. SHAME.
07/21/09
Way to go Catholicism.
07/21/09
07/21/09
Well, thank goodness. I would hate for the Vatican to take real-life situations or humans (especially women) into account. Whew!
07/21/09
But then you realize that there are REAL HUMAN BEINGS here at stake/affected, and that life is not actually black and white like that. And then I want to throw rocks.
07/21/09