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Rigo Nunez, recently hired as Roosevelt's boys basketball coach, was involved in an incident while playing in a recreational league game at a Beaverton fitness center in April 2011 that led to his arrest on assault charges.
Nunez, 39, was charged with fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor, after making contact with an opposing player, who fell to the floor and was knocked unconscious. The charges were dropped this month after the parties reached a civil compromise.
Several witnesses told police that the 6-foot-7 Nunez -- who played at the University of Massachusetts -- rushed toward Geoff Rice, 35, and struck him in the head with an elbow or fist in the closing minutes of a game. Police reported that Rice had facial swelling, a laceration inside his lip and a loosened tooth.
Portland Public Schools security services performed a criminal background check on Nunez and cleared him July 12. The Oregon Department of Education did its own background check and cleared Nunez on Tuesday.
John Payne, an investigator for security services, said his office looked into the charge against Nunez before clearing him. It will be the first high school head coaching job for Nunez, who is the admissions director for the National College of Natural Medicine.
"In this case, a single event resulting in a dismissal (of charges), would not rise to that level of not passing our background check," Payne said. "If he had a history of those kind of interactions, with a history of dismissals, we would really look at that with a jaundiced eye."
Roosevelt athletic director Glenn Elliott said school administrators were not aware of the charges until Thursday. He said it is common for security services not to discuss the details of their background checks with the schools.
"When they call us, they say, 'He's good to go,' and they don't share anything with us," Elliott said. "Rigo didn't think he needed to specifically say anything to us because he told them in his interview with human resources."
Several witnesses reported that Nunez struck an intentional blow, but Nunez said that he accidentally collided with Rice while making a cut.
"I didn't punch this guy. I didn't elbow this guy," Nunez said. "I was doing a cut to get open. He turned at the same time I was turning, and I didn't even have a chance to open my palms, so we collided. He ran right into my hand. I was lifting my hand.
"It was just a freaky accident. What happened was something that you would do every single time on a basketball court."
Nunez said he left the fitness center to avoid an altercation.
"I was told to leave the place by the manager," he said. "I was not confrontational as far as trying to fight."
Rice told police in the weeks after the incident that he suffered a concussion, severe headaches and short-term memory loss. He also said he underwent dental surgery for a loosened tooth and nasal surgery for a septum so severely broken that it was blocking his right nostril.
Nunez said Rice sued him for $240,000. To reach the civil compromise, Nunez said, his medical insurance paid $35,000 for Rice's injuries. Nunez said he incurred $20,000 in legal fees.
Nunez was hired to replace Robert Key, whose contract was not renewed after eight seasons.
-- Jerry Ulmer


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sweet and savoury morocco
One of the great travel treats in Morocco is the food. The cuisine is delicious; from steaming couscous concoctions favoured in the High Atlas mountains, to tanzhiyya, the slow-cooked speciality of Marrakech. There are still some local delicacies that dish up a challenge for foreign palates, but Tori Salman was ready for a real taste of Morocco…
"Pastilla sounded like a wonderful local food, so I decided that I must give it a try. It was only when I found out that this famous Fes dish is traditionally made using pigeon that my resolve wavered.
I know they are regular fare in many parts of the world, but I can't say that I was pleased at the thought of eating pigeon. To me they are merely rats with wings, and there doesn't seem to be much meat on a pigeon. But reassuring news came from my Intrepid leader, when he explained that these days chicken is often used to make pastilla.
Our group found a lovely little cafe, where we stopped to enjoy a break and watch the passers by. It was there that I finally got brave – it was time to order my pastilla. With a some doubt and trepidation, I sipped at my mint tea whilst waiting for the food to arrive. The tea was good, but I was still a bit anxious. Finally the pastilla arrived, looking just like a little pastry parcel. I bit into the pastry, which was somewhat like a filo, and was rewarded with a combination of sweet and sour taste sensations all at once.
The meat, in this case chicken, was cooked with spices and layered with ground almonds, cinnamon and sugar. The filling was wrapped inside a pastry case and the cooked pastry was dusted with icing sugar.
I wasn't sure if I liked it, it was certainly not a combination of flavours that I would have ever considered matching. I took a few more bites, after all, the cafe owner was proudly watching and I didn't want to seem rude. In all honesty, I don't know if I would ever eat it again, but it certainly was an essential Moroccan experience!"
To find out more about travelling with Intrepid and for your chance to WIN a trip in every edition, subscribe to Intrepid Express, our free e-newsletter. Plus you can become a fan of our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter!
* photo by Betty Prange – Intrepid Photography Competition

subset: commoncrawl


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The Greater New Orleans Association of Fundraising Professionals
Chapter will present its 2013 Fundraising Conference on June 13-14 at Holy Cross
School. The AFP Greater New Orleans Fundraising
Conference offers timely topics, notable networking, and excellent
exhibitors for attendees representing local, regional and national
organizations from across the Gulf South.
The event is open to all fundraisers, event planners, volunteer coordinators, Executive Directors and non-profit Board of Directors members. Registration information can be found at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e6lxbrbt121ce5d3&llr=avaho9aab.
Mark Romig, CEO of New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, will provide the opening address. Example topics for the 15 individual sessions include: Inform, Entertain and Activate- Social Media for Non Profits, Terrible T's of Special Events, Interviewing and Hiring Great Development Staff as well as Board Development: Create a Culture of Engagement, Philanthropy and Empowerment for your Board. Past Presidents of the AFP Greater New Orleans Chapter will lead a panel discussion describing the characteristics of a great fundraiser, while sharing personal experiences from the field.For more information about the Association of Fundraising Professionals or this conference email AFP Greater New Orleans Chapter email@example.com or call 504.348.3500.
Carolyn Park-Hermadel Homeowners Association
The Carolyn Park-Hermadel Homeowners Association will meet May 29 at 7 p.m. at the Slidell City Council Chambers. Beautification, crime prevention efforts, and city ordinances relative to automobile and recreational vehicle location on residential properties will be among the issues discussed. For information, call Bob Womack at 985.641.4454.St. Tammany EAST elder abuse workshop
St. Tammany Elder Abuse Support Team - also known as EAST - was developed to assist elder abuse victims and investigators by providing resources from a variety of professions, disciplines and organizations in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. The group is coordinating an Elder Care Workshop on May 29 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Beau Chene Country Club in Mandeville.
Breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m.; and the presentations, 9 a.m. Speakers will include Ronald W. Morrison Jr., Wealth Planning Law Group; Lisa Vassallo, Ameracare; Ralph Oneal, SALT; Gwen Aucoin, Lacombe Nursing Home; and Long-term Care Specialists Joe Celano and Mark Joseph of INTRX Health Care.
To learn more about these STEAST, contact the St. Tammany SALT Council at 985.809.5450 or email email@example.com.
Register for the workshop by contacting Jamie Wimberly at 504.212.4426 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Free community education: 'Step by Step: A Journey with Alzheimer's'
The Alzheimer's Association is sponsoring a free event open to the public. "Step by Step: A Journey with Alzheimer's" will be held May 29 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Slidell Memorial Founders Building, 1150 Robert Blvd., Slidell. Harold S. Bartholomew Jr. with Bartholomew Law Offices will be speaking on "legal and financial issues" as it relates to caring for someone with dementia. Light refreshments will be served. Adult Daycare services are available at no cost at Lakeshore Adult Daycare, 829 Asbury Drive, Mandeville. To arrange for those services, contact Michelle Roberts at 504.884.2579. Pre-registration for the seminar is recommended but not necessary. Those who would like to register or be notified of future events should call 1.800.272.3900.
Personal safety and awareness training
First Baptist Church of Pearl River is inviting the community to attend a personal safety and awareness training session, being presented by Pearl River Fire Department Sgt. Bob White on May 30, 7 to 8:30 p.m., in the old Sanctuary at the church, 64541 Louisiana 3081, Pearl River. A free spaghetti dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. This women's event is sponsored by ManUp.
Summer Breeze Gala
The Night Time is the Right Time Summer Breeze Gala, benefiting NAMI St. Tammany, will be held June 1 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Mandeville home of Phil and Terri Ezell. Tickets are $75 per person for the event, which will feature food, beverages, music by Glen David Andrews Band, the "Treme Prine," with special guest Amanda Shaw. An auction benefiting featured Frame of Mind artist Sandria McLemore also will be held. For tickets, contact Erica Folse at 985.626.6538 or visit www.namisttammany.org.
Oklahoma tornado victim relief
The New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Saints' wives are teaming up with The David Wesley Foundation, Feed the Children, RPM Productions, and the Miss Universe Organization to collect donations for Oklahoma tornado victims.
Suggested items include: New/gently used stuffed animals, non-perishable foods, water, baby items, new/gently used clothing, personal hygiene items, and monetary donations. These items may be delivered to: Stone Creek Club and Spa, 1201 Ochsner Blvd., Covington; Cheer Force New Orleans, 3922 Barron Street, Metairie; and, 14050 Tiger Bend Road, Baton Rouge. Monetary donations also may be made via https://www.facebook.com/NolaPayingItForward?fref=ts.
Donations will be accepted through June 1.Literary Soiree to be held June 2
The Northshore Literary Society (NLS) has issued a call for submissions for a special Covington Bicentennial tribute. The NLS is inviting writers to submit works for oral readings to be presented at "A Literary Soiree . . . Celebrating Covington's Bicentennial, " June 2 from 4 to 6 p.m. at St. John's Coffee House in Covington.
Writings will be selected by a panel of jurors seeking a range of works about Covington.
Submission requirements are as follows: Maximum length is 250 words; the topic must be about Covington; to assure objectivity, prepare a separate cover page that includes the title of the piece, and the writer's name, address, telephone number, email address (if available); on the piece itself, title only (include no personal information or identifying marks on the text page(s); and postmark by May 15. Submit entries by e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com, with Covington Bicentennial Submission in the subject line; or by standard post to Northshore Literary Society, P.O. Box 4700, Highway 22, No. 567, Mandeville, LA 70471.
Confederate Memorial Day
The tradition of Confederate Memorial Day will be observed June 3 at 6:30 a.m. in front of the Slidell Museum, 2020 First St. The public is welcome.
Camp Camellia registration
Get ready for fun at Camp Camellia 2013, June 3-7, at John Slidell Park. Girl Scout day camp means adventure, exploration, and fond memories for girls. Camp Camellia will offer a lot of fun and exciting activities. The camp is open to all girls entering kindergarten through sixth grade. For questions regarding registration, please contact the camp registrar, Amy Cramer, 985.718.5143.Slidell Christian Singles
Slidell Christian Singles will have a dance June 8 from 8 p.m. to midnight at the St. Luke Family Life Center, 910 Cross Gates Blvd., Slidell. Music is by Jake & the Nifty 50's. The cost to attend this dressy casual event in a smoke-free environment is $15 per person. Setups, snacks and door prizes are fesatured. For details, call 985.649.4219 or 985.285.8174.
Visiting Pet Program volunteer orientation
The Visiting Pet Program, New Orleans oldest and largest animal assisted therapy program, will offer their volunteer orientation on June 15 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Harahan Senior Center, 100 Elodie, Harahan. This is a people-only orientation, no pets please. Pre-registration is required and includes a $10 fee to attend. To register for the orientation, email email@example.com.
Jambalaya cook-off and silent auction
A jambalaya cook-off and silent auction will be held June 8 from noon to 9 p.m. at the Madisonville Ballpark to benefit Jeremy Cox, Grace Jarrell, and Dana May, all families coping with cancer. The cost is $25 per person, with children 10 and younger admitted free. a donation account also has been set up at Capitol One Bank and Resource Bank, under "Green for Gracie." Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the gate. Call Nicole Cox at 985.502.6278 for details.


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Tag: austerity
Mattea Kramer & Jo Comerford: How America Became a Third World CountryMay 2013
Ten years from now, looking back on the sequestration.
Robert Reich: Public Debt and Economic GrowthApril 2013
Government should fuel growth by spending more—at least in the short run.
Robert Reich: Why Obama Must Meet the Republican Lies DirectlyFebruary 2013
The sequester won't hurt most Americans directly. Trickle-down and austerity economics, in the long run, will.
Mikey Angelo Rumore: Culture and Disquiet in LisbonDecember 2012
Anti-austerity protests in Portugal highlight a complex culture, at once nativist and transnational.
Robert Reich: Organizing McDonalds and Walmart, and Why Austerity Economics Hurts Low-Wage Workers the MostDecember 2012
Low-income workers will face even harder times if deficit hawks have their way.
Robert Reich: How January's Fiscal Cliff Turns Into a Gentle Hill by FebruaryOctober 2012
The so-called fiscal cliff might not turn out as dramatic as we imagine.
Mattea Kramer: Tough Talk for AmericaOctober 2012
A guide to the presidential debates you won't be hearing.
Claire Potter: After Britain's Gold RushAugust 2012
London won its Olympic bid based on a promise to reinvigorate the nation's interest in sport—now, after the Games, Parliament has to deliver the funds
Robert Reich: The Tinder-Box SocietyMay 2012
Austerity economics is wreaking havoc on world economies, despite gains on Wall Street.
Robert Reich: How Europe's Double Dip Could Become America'sApril 2012
The danger here for the United States is clear, but there's also a clear lesson.


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JACKSON, MI – Lawyers have started selecting jurors for the trial of a man accused of driving recklessly and helping to cause a crash that killed his friend, Dylan Briningstool, and his friend's girlfriend, Icy James.
John Rick, 19, is charged with two counts of reckless driving causing death, a felony with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a large fine.
He and Briningstool, 20, were driving vehicles side-by-side March 25 on Mount Hope Road, a two-lane road with a 55-mph speed limit, at speeds exceeding 95 mph, according to testimony given at an August preliminary examination in District Court.
The vehicles collided as Briningstool, traveling north in the southbound lane, attempted to return to the northbound lane, a surviving passenger testified at the hearing.
Briningstool and James, 18, his passenger, died when the Chevrolet Aveo Briningstool drove went off the road and hit a tree with such force it sheared the vehicle in half.
Chief Assistant Prosecutor Mark Blumer said the two were racing and Rick shared fault in the crash.
Rick's lawyer, Michael Falahee, said Rick was not the "proximate cause" of the collision. It was Briningstool, not Rick, who was in the wrong lane in a no-passing zone, he noted at the preliminary examination.
The lawyers and Rick are appearing before Circuit Judge Susan Beebe.
Supporters of Rick, James and Briningstool are gathered in the courtroom.


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Dr. James V. Hardt serves as the President and founder of Biocybernaut Institute, Inc. He holds a B.S. in Physics from Carnegie Institute of Technology, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Psychology from Carnegie-Mellon University and he has done post-doctoral training in Psychophysiology at University of California at San Francisco. Dr. Hardt has earned a national reputation as a preeminent research scientist for his over 30 years of work in biofeedback. He regularly presents at numerous, prestigious national and international meetings and has published in leading scholarly journals such as Science, Psychophysiology, and Journal of Experimental Psychology.
Past Shows:
UFOs, Space Planes, & Snakes
Investigative reporter Linda Moulton Howe discussed the Pentagon's first robotic space plane, the serious decline of snake populations, and a UFO incident at Whiteman Air Force Base. First half-hour guest, Dr. James Hardt of the Biocybernaut Institute commented on new research into brain scans. ... More »Host: George Noory
The Power of Alpha Waves
Psychologist Dr. Jim Hardt joined the program to discuss his work mapping the brain and how it correlates with advanced spiritual states and moods. He also shared methods to increase the highly desirable alpha brain waves. Hardt stressed the significance of alpha brain waves which fuel creativity and can be increased through positive emotions like appreciation and forgiveness. Calling alpha waves... More »Host: Ian Punnett
Brain Waves & Biofeedback
Dr. Jim Hardt returned for a discussion of the biofeedback technology practiced at his Biocybernaut Institute. Certain types of brain waves, which a participant can be trained to increase, are associated with spiritual states, he explained. ... More »Host: George Noory
Biofeedback & Alpha Waves
Dr. Jim Hardt of the Biocybernaut Institute discussed their biofeedback technology which he said can lead to altered states of consciousness and increased functioning. "A biocybernaut is to inner space as to what an astronaut is to outer space," he explained. ... More »Host: Art Bell


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New Catholic Rule: Pro-Gay Politicians Don't Get Holy Communion or Funeral Rites
What separation of church and state? Show us a religious entity that hasn't involved itself in politics, and we'll show you a check with six zeroes. But we're not just talking about folks like New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan inserting himself into the gay marriage debate. We're talking about Archbishop Raymond Burke, who just called for the banishment of gay-supporting politicians. Or at least denying them communion and funeral rites.
It was a direct shot at Sen. Ted Kennedy, the LGBT advocate whose funeral was attended by Boston's Cardinal Sean O'Malley and fellow bigshot Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. This, despite many conservative Catholics indignation over Kennedy's civil rights support. (And that comes despite this correspondence between Kennedy and the Pope.)
Addressing InsideCatholic.com's 14th Annual Partnership Dinner, Burke argued "neither Holy Communion nor funeral rites should be administered to politicians who support abortion or same-sex marriage. To deny these is not a judgment of the soul, but a recognition of the scandal and its effects. … It is not possible to be a practicing Catholic and to conduct oneself in this manner."
Burke, the former archbishop of St. Louis who now carries the grand title Prefect of the Vatican's Apostolic Signatura, came out swinging not just against Kennedy (though he didn't name him), but also his colleagues McCarrick and O'Malley, who was urged not to preside over Kennedy's funeral.
But there's another side to this argument: What politician, or human being, would want to take communion from a church who considers civil rights work to be sinful? Who would want to have his funeral presided over by a church who deems your friends and loved ones less than? Actually, plenty of folks, and Kennedy — a good Irish Catholic boy — obviously was among them. It doesn't make much sense to us, but we understand the power of faith.
It's just a shame Archbishop Burke wields so much of it.
While Burke has a following among some extremely wealthy, ultraright Catholics (like those who threw the testimonial dinner for him), he is considered an out of the mainstream nut job by most of his fellow bishops.
He was such a disaster as archbishop of St. Louis, he was moved out of that ministry to be given a bureaucratic desk job in Rome (as was done for the disgraced Cardinal Law).Sep 23, 2009 at 10:12 am · @Reply ·
"… It is not possible to be a practicing Catholic and to conduct oneself in this manner."
Apparently, it IS possible to be a practicing Catholic and a fucking bigoted cunthole.
But of course it is possible to be a practicing Catholic and a priest no less and molest girls and boys. Yet they still received communion.
It is always funny when the diddle-little-kids church comes out to speak on morality.
These Jebus people seem totally incapable of practicing what Christ actually preached.
"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. …"
In other words, "Judge not lest ye be judged."
It is unbelievable to me that Kennedy or anyone could think we are UNDER GOD and that he was being judged by a supreme being. He was a Democratic Senator, not a Theocratic Senator. Frankly I was shocked at the insanity of the ritual carried out by the pointed hat monsters around Kennedy's coffin. They were supposedly sending Kennedy's soul up to heaven from the coffin though smoke from the incense pot. The world leaders at the funeral accepted it, like it was reality and god was up there watching. Insane.
Evidently you can be a pedophile priest and still keep your job, get communion, funeral rights, and be shuffled around to different locations and still ply your trade on young children!
@Craig Swinson: i was JUST about the say the same thing! So messed up!
OUCH. As a Roman Catholic myself, one of the greatest things that a Roman Catholic can be denied of in the Church is holy communion or funeral rites—and of course, the dreaded excommunication of a church member.
As far as I know, only suicide cases are to be denied of funeral rites in the Roman Catholic Church. It sucks that the archbishop wants to extend that punishment on Catholic politicians that support Gay marriage.
The message is simple—-you cannot be a Roman Catholic and support LGBT rights.
IT IS a judgment on the soul to be denied of funeral rites in the Roman Catholic church. That is tantamount to the denial of a Roman Catholic baptism.
The only case I am aware of in which Roman Catholic funeral rite to be denied of is if a person committed suicide or cremated bodies… that warrants a prohibition of Catholic Funeral rite. But obviously, since the Archbishop now holds a position in the Holy See, he has the power to make such adjustments. These things will scare off many Roman Catholics, including myself who do not want to be denied of the Church's funeral rites, but also do not want to compromise who I am as a gay person.
Is it just me, or does the guy standing behind the Archbishop in the pic look gay?
Secret trick, perhaps?
@schlukitz: Yup, he's totally gay. My gaydar is infallible, even more so than Pope Rat.
It is always tempting to point out duplicity, hypocrisy etc. and I understand the frustration and annoyance. The Church should have come out far earlier and far stronger against child molesting priests. But at the same time it is not like they had an official policy endorsing and recommending the practice! Nor does it mean they incorrect in all areas.
If anyone or any group had to be perfect before speaking NO ONE would ever say anything! Ultimately the person responsible is the person who committed the crime.
That said, it seems like if the Church has a problem with a particular person, just boot them out. There must be canon law to address such things.
This fucker looks like Nute Gunray from Star Wars: http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/NuteGunray.jpg
There IS a canon law in the Roman Catholic Cathechism that "boots" members out from the church. Such agenda is already being initiated in the upcoming Vatican III, where the Roman Catholic church wants to restore its traditional Christian supremacist teachings and excommunicate those who choose to compromise on its doctrinal teachings. There are many Roman Catholics who are displeased at the modernism that has infiltrated through the Church, and they want to revert the teachings back to Pre-Vatican II.
It's just sad because in this day and age, you cannot truly be a full Roman Catholic and uphold who you are as a a gay person—less be condemned by the Church.
Things like this are why I have been moving over to the Episcopal Church. TEC has been working hard to make room at their altars for all kinds of people. This past Summer, TEC's convention in Anaheim, CA made the resolutions to accept the discernment of gay and lesbian Priests to be considered for the role of Bishop along with Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. In addition, they gave permission for individual churches where same sex marriage is legal to put together rites for the celebration of same sex marriage ceremonies. TEC Convention also took action to promote acceptance and tolerance for transgendered individuals.
I not only was a Catholic (I still consider myself one in many ways), but I worked in many Catholic Parish's as a music director. During those years, I saw more corruption among Catholic clergy as well as dysfunctional relationships between Priests and lay people, Bishops and their people.
So far The Episcopal Church has proven to be a much healthier system, and more importantly it is open to diversity, despite much opposition in some parts of the country and the world.
@Lloyd Baltazar: I certainly admired Senator Kennedy and all that he did for LGBT rights, health care and discrimination, however, he neglects to mention LGBT issues to "His Holiness". This statement in his letter weakens his entire fight for social justice and dismissing his political career as "human failings". Submissive nonsense to a god who isn't there.
"I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic, Your Holiness, and though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith. I continue to pray for God's blessings on you and on our church and would be most thankful for your prayers for me."
So I guess the same goes to the the Priest and Bishops that were found guilty of child molestation of little boys get the same treatment….right?
@Charles Merrill: You are forgetting that Sen. Kennedy is a Roman Catholic. He was baptised, raised, married, and sought a Roman Catholic Funeral as his death wish.
Do you really expect him to pass up his chance at a Roman Catholic funeral rite for the sake for LGBT rights? NO, I don't think so. He is not that crazy to have the Church damn his immortal soul for the sake of a few faggots. Especially when he is battling Brain Cancer.
YOU HAVE NO CLUE how ESSENTIAL a funeral rite is to a Roman Catholic. Just because Sen. Kennedy supported LGBT rights, that does NOT mean he was willing to sacrifice judgment on his soul for not receiving holy communion, extreme unction and a Roman Catholic funeral rite.
Extreme unction?
Sound pretty unctious to me. ;o)
Extreme unction is the death blessing you get the moment before you die, and in order to qualify for it, you have to pledge your allegiance to the Church and renounce all sins you have committed against the Church which in turn gains you a Roman Catholic funeral rite.
I cannot see a reason why Senator Kennedy would want to pass up that chance when he was dying from Brain Cancer. Especially not for a few faggets.
Yes, I am gay myself.
Lloyd Baltazar said: "I cannot see a reason why Senator Kennedy would want to pass up that chance when he was dying from Brain Cancer. Especially not for a few faggets.
Yes, I am gay myself"
You are a self-loathing, hypocritical collaborator.
@Jason: Sorry, I don't sugar coat my words for you sweetie. I was just telling it like it is. If you don't like the bitter truth, then I suggest you don't join the Roman Catholic church. At least now you know how the Catholic system works.
Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Please contact me for details of where you can send the cheque to. lol
Sides it technically falls under the hate the sin love the sinner crap. Its not grounds for excommunication or denial of last rites. Even if they refused based on non-reconciliation of the faith grounds. (your a sinner and they know it, and you havent repneted) all they have t do beforehand is attend confession, than presto, their eligible again
As a recovering RC Catholic, I am very well aware of the meaning of extreme unction. Then you said…
Especially not for a few faggets. (Your misspelling, not mine)
That is the second time around that you have used the pejorative term "faggots" to describe gays, including yourself.
I was being facetious when I first used the term unctious, but now I am being serious in saying that I do, indeed, find your continued usage of that word to be exceedingly unctious.
Whether you get forgiven for your sins or not the moment before you die is of no concern to me whatsoever.
How you treat and refer to your gay brothers and sisters, while you are still on this planet is, however, of great concern to me.
The Eucharist is an important sacrament for Catholics because they believe Christ is truly present in the wafers and wine they eat and drink. The Catholic Church is willing to expel people from the religious experience they believe is essential to their salvation in order to leverage support for the political goals they desire. It leads a person to wonder if the Church's aim is to save souls, or exact power.
At least now you know how the Catholic system works.
Yep. And it ain't pretty!!!
@Lloyd Baltazar:
This raises the question, "What did Senator Kennedy really stand for on his death bed ?
Was it the fundamental teaching of the Catholic Church or Civil Rights for Gays, Lesbians, Bi-sexuals and Transgendered people ? Separation of church and state are not two different sides of the same coin.
It leads a person to wonder if the Church's aim is to save souls, or exact power.
Given the position and actions of the church, there doesn't seem to be much need to wonder. ;o)
It's pretty obvious that the church is all about power.
The more, the merrier!
The Catholic church is guilty of far more than having a few bad apples. They harbored sex offenders…men who broke civil law as well as the law of their Christian God. They might not have had a written policy endorsing sex abuse, but it went on for decades. That's an institutional problem. The Catholic Clergy clearly felt their religious mission was above the mental health and security of innocent people. They deserve every word of criticism they receive.
@Lloyd Baltazar: "The message is simple—-you cannot be a Roman Catholic and support LGBT rights."
Thank-you for making it simple Lloyd. Catholics teach that "homosexuality is wrong, sinful and deviant." Catholics are Christian – a "Christian religion."
Religion teaches that homosexuals are wrong. Until we stop that we can never be equal. +70% of Americans believe we are "morally wrong." Religion did that.
Instead of apologizing for Catholics (or any other religious denomination) how about we fight back? We are Not Wrong.
@Charles Merrill: The separation of Church and state has nothing to do with Senator Ted Kennedy's wish to be granted a Roman Catholic funeral rite. That was a personal matter directed under a dying man's personal wish—and his extent of willingness to do whatever he can to achieve that goal.
You want to know if he renounced LGBT on his death bed? Both Cardinal Sean O'Malley and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick attended the funeral, didn't they? And Sen. Kennedy was granted a Roman Catholic funeral rite in the end. SO What do YOU think he said on his death bed? Did you not read Sen. Kennedy's letter to Pope Benedict XVI?
The soul is an invention of religion, superstition, and the supernatural to keep the faithful afraid of death, and submissive to their laws. There is no hereafter, so live now and don't let others make you feel guilty because religious dogma says you will burn in hell for being LGBT.
So there.
@Charles Merrill: SAYS YOU. Sorry, but neither you or the LGBT community can confirm/deny that as a true fact for me. Thank you for your philosophical opinion.
But I would rather prefer to find out for myself through my own ways. Now stop being fairy-hurt because Sen. Kennedy chose allegiance to the Church on his deathbed rather than the homosexuals he fought for while was living on this planet.
The minions of the Bishop of Rome should refrain from inhumane pronouncements upon humanity.
Most (at least 82%) of the people on the planet are *not* Roman Catholics [ http: // wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_total_number_and_the_percentage_of_Catholics_in_the_world].
What's more; even among that major minority, lots were added to the roster when they were too young to have chosen otherwise.
@Charles Merrill: It's very difficult for anyone who has been infected with religion. It usually happens at a very young age, before they can "reason," and the impact of the "penalty of Hell" is ever-present.
That's why it seems foolish to attempt to persuade politicians (like HRC has unsuccessfully done for 28 years, wasting nearly $200 million) because if they do something contrary to Christian Doctrine they would be guaranteeing a trip to Hell. That's pretty powerful stuff.
This is why "lobbying" politicians hasn't worked and won't work until we change beliefs. Religion (primarily Christian in the US) must stop creating the belief that homosexuals are wrong by ending that teaching. Until that happens, we cannot be equal. It's not about "accepting" or "tolerating" us, either – there is nothing wrong with us.
We need to direct our LGBTQ resources towards ending that harmful belief. We must have the courage to put equality before religion.
The path to LGBTQ Equality must include ending those beliefs. Religion must change, or suffer the consequences. If we can boycott orange juice and stop the religious hatred of Anita Bryant and friends in the late 70s, we can boycott the true source of our problems – religion.
LGBTQ people and "progressive" Christians should lead this fight. What do you say Lutherans? How about you Bishop Vicki Gene? How about MCC and UCC taking a stand? Declare: "Homosexuals are not wrong, sinful or deviant." Hurry up, our equality is waiting.
Let's get started.
@Jaroslaw: "If anyone or any group had to be perfect before speaking NO ONE would ever say anything! "
Which is exactly what the Catholic Church with its "infallible" pope pretends to be.
@Lloyd Baltazar: Your use of the word "philosophical" is questionable.
@Lloyd Baltazar: In the end, he did choose allegiance to the Pope and that is troubling. It proves the Pope is in control of many minds in this country, including yours. I am one year younger than Senator Kennedy, but I had a liberal arts education and taught to think outside the conventional box of religion. Kennedy studied business and followed his mothers faith as well as rising in power due to the Catholic vote in Massachusettes. He never was exposed to free abstract thought and existentialism. His religion of a "daddy in the sky" brought him solace and acted like a valium, but he could have gotten that from hugging a real person and not feeling guilty about life.
FUCK YOU. Don't bring my personal life into this discussion. I have two formal degrees and I grew up in a private boarding school in Switzerland with my two loving straight parents. That was uncalled for, Faggot.
If you have an issue with the holy Pontiff, go take up your complaints to Vatican. Don't blame me because you don't know the difference between a Roman Catholic funeral rite and a recanting politician named Sen. Kennedy.
Reluctant Commenter – yes, I'm aware it went on for decades. In no way did I excuse this. I've made this point before – our society didn't condemn child abuse as a mental illness either in the past. Child support for women was an afterthought for most lawmakers until recently. Understanding changes over time – just like we no longer have the "comical drunk." There is nothing funny about drunken driving that kills people.
My only point is while the Church understandably should be at a higher level, (I think it is on most things) the bottom line is even a major mistake does not completely invalidate it just the same as if you made a mistake, does not mean everything you say in the future is invalid or untruthful.
RUDY – the Pope's of all the centuries have made less than one dozen infallible statements. This is not at all what I'm talking about and it shows you don't know what you're talking about See above.
LLOYD – I also concur, stop using the word faggets/faggots.
"Last Rights" is fitting, because in the end, Senator Kennedy put Religion before Equality.
@Brian: Even though the liberal Christians say they don't believe the Bible or Qur'an passages that are illegal in today's civil law, they don't make moves to change a word. As you say, indoctrinated from childhood.
People like Jon Stewart, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Bill Maher are doing their part. Not all of us have the media access.
@ Miss Baltazar:
Wow, TWO degrees? And a boarding school in Switzerland that allowed you to bring your parents with you? My word. That kind of pedigree certainly should shut down any kind of criticism of your deeply disturbing statements.
Switzerland? Really? WOW. That must bring ALL the boys to the yard.
Beware of blindsiding, fellas.
Balthazar has rolled out the big cannons on post no. 41.
He means business. ;o)
oh snap.
some of us need not have our existence validated by a lecherous palpatine looking drag queen in a VERY tall hat in order to feel ok with ourselves.
@Lloyd Baltazar: Your personal life?
If anyone clicks on your name they see you are for marriage equality. Oh, I forget, Catholic's believe in virgins, angels and miracles to solve problems. The Catholic church is totally against SSM and worked to pass Prop 8 in California.
I frankly don't really care two flips about the opinion of anyone who chooses to dress like that.
All of you mackerel snappin' papists are gonna get it in the end (pun intended) when it is revealed that the cult you belong to is none other than the Whore of Babylon herself and her days are numbered.
@Jaroslaw: "you don't know what you're talking about…"
How sad to resort to insult because you cannot back up your own statements.
Most educated people rely on facts and science to make conclusions; the Vatican relies on Authority which it claims comes from God.
This is why Holy Mother Church speaks so much nonsense until 500 years after the fact, in order to not look completely ridiculous, she's gets down on her knees to apologize to Galileo.
Regarind, Theordore McCarrick…..Richard Sipe, the former Benedictine monk and sociologist knows more about the dimensions and details of the Catholic clerical sex abuse crisis than almost anybody.
He alledges that while acting as adjunct professor at a Pontifical Seminary, St. Mary's Baltimore (1972-1984) a number of seminarians came to him with concerns about the behavior of Theodore E. McCarrick then bishop of Metuchen New Jersey. It was widely known for several decades that Bishop/Archbishop now Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick took seminarians and young priests to a shore home in New Jersey, sites in New York, and other places and slept with some of them. He established a coterie of young seminarians and priests that he encouraged to call him "Uncle Ted." Sipe had some of McCarrick's correspondence where he referred to these men as being "cousins" with each other.
Catholic journalist Matt C. Abbott already featured the statements of two priests (2005) and one ex-priest (2006) about McCarrick. All three were "in the know" and aware of the Cardinal McCarrick's activities in the same mode as he had heard at the seminary. None of these reporters, as far as Abbott knew, had sexual contact with the cardinal in the infamous sleepovers, but one had first hand reports from a seminarian/priest who did share a bed and received cards and letters from McCarrick. The modus operendi is similar to the documents and letters Abbott received from a priest who describes in detail McCarrick's sexual advances and personal activity. At least one prominent journalist at the Boston Globe was aware of McCarrick from his investigation of another priest, but until now legal documentation had not been available. And even at this point the complete story cannot be published because priest reporters are afraid of reprisals.
Abbott goes on to say that he knew the names of at least four priests who have had sexual encounters with Cardinal McCarrick. He had documents and letters that record the first hand testimony and eye witness accounts of McCarrick, then archbishop of Newark, New Jersey actually having sex with a priest, and at other times subjecting a priest to unwanted sexual advances.
How convenient that the roman cult swept this one under the carpet. I wouldn't mind betting there are skeletons in Dolan's closet too.
It sickens me to see this kind of abuse of power wielded by the Catholic church, using shame, humiliation, and degradation to control people and to shun others. What more has to happen for this toxic, controlling religious system to collapse?
That is my most ladylike response. I will practice self-restraint with regard to my not-so-ladylike response!
I should thank God every day that I am not a Catholic.
No, actually you don't have to believe in religion to have a concept of having a "soul." Reading enough Plato and Aristotle can do that too.
Catholics believe homosexuals are wrong, sinful and deviant. That's what they were taught. We have to end this "inheritance" of beliefs. These religious "beliefs" prevent our equality.
Rudy: Where did I insult you? You made an incorrect statement in your post 38 or at the very least strongly implied that the Church "claims" everything it says is infallible via the Pope which it does not.
It is a fact that of all the Popes who ever lived made less than a dozen infallible statements. If the facts insult you, then you are insulted. Sorry.
@Jaroslaw: Allegedly infallible.
the catholic church gives church funerals to priests that are child molesters that commit suicide. if i comitted suicide, no catholic funeral.
bye bye tax deference…it's just that simple…
I was born and raised Catholic. I received all the sacraments – baptism, first communion, confirmation – and stayed Catholic until I could no longer live under their teachings that I was an unredeemable sinner because I was Gay and could never change.
Today, I am a Liberal, Gay, and an activist (little a) and I still believe in God and Christ and try to live according to Christ's teachings as well as I am able. Christ is about love and good works. Helping the sick and the poor and being a voice for those who have no voice. There need not be an "either, or" with God.
But, I will never join any organized religion.
@Jaroslaw: Neither the number of times used nor the restrictions on the use of infallibility claims has any bearing on my statement whatsoever.
The Catholic Church does not wander into error because it is too scientific or rational, but because it's truth claims are based on power: "I am right because I say I'm right."
I still wanna kn ow how they did that Jonah in the belly of a whale for three days and three nights trick? ;o)
Apparently, New Age folks get into this soul stuff too.
They refer to it as the "higher self" and Shirley McLaine made reference to this higher self, many times over, in the five books she wrote.
One of her books, "Out On A Limb", as you probably know, was made into a film in which she claims to have left her body and several other rather unnatural "experiences" that have no verification by anyone. Fascinating reading, but hard to take seriously. You either have "faith", or you don't.
All we have is her word. Kinda like the church, you know. LOL
@BearBudMN: "So far The Episcopal Church has proven to be a much healthier system, and more importantly it is open to diversity, despite much opposition in some parts of the country and the world."
Acceptance and tolerance are not enough. Episcopalians must end the Christian belief that homosexuals are wrong, sinful and deviant. That belief is what prevents our equality. Vicki Gene got a raise and LGBT people got nothing. When will Episcopalians reject the lies about homosexuals?
Until we end the belief that we're wrong, we'll never have equality. 70% of Americans believe homosexuals are "morally wrong." They got that belief from religion.
@schlukitz: Taking me down memory lane again.
I remember Shirley and her followers recalling past lives under hypnosis. They were kings, pharoahs, shamans – I don't think anyone ever had a past life as a janitor.
Lloyd, cremation is permitted in the RC cult provided the cremains are interred in a catholic cemetery in order to have the full funeral rites. That has been in effect for quite some time. I know because I attended one eight years ago, there was a full requiem mass followed by interment.
Brian, it seems that all cults can reject the lies about us be rejecting the Leviticus reference while deliberately ignoring the other nonsense they conveniently reject. The following link will explain…www.fallwell.com
Ooops, I meant…"by rejecting" in my last post.
#58 Rudy – this is your statement;
Which is exactly what the Catholic Church with its "infallible" pope pretends to be.
They pretend to be perfect? I don't think so – I've heard Priests, Bishops & Archbishops apologize. So what do you mean then? But for your statement in post 35, you are clearly referencing infallibility.
Nor do I disagree with you that they are "right" because they have power. But…
AGAIN – to everyone, Rudy, Vernon – I am not defending every action the Catholic church takes – if the Pope claims to make infallible statements occasionally, and that is their policy/dogma, then it is. That is a historical fact in the same way it is a fact Mormons believe in the Angel Moroni and the golden tablets. It does not make it necessary for YOU to believe it, but I tire of the bashing for no discernable purpose. If a priest molested a child, he should go to jail. That does not make all priests bad. If the Church erred, it erred. It does not make everything they say or do bad. Which is all I've been saying.
@Chitown Kev: And before Plato's Greece to ancient Egypt. The concept of the soul going to a better place is a desire for immortality.
You noticed that too, eh? LOL
@Jaroslaw: Okay then, since I'm the leader of my religion, I issue the following proclamation:
The RCC is one of the biggest forces of evil in this world, and must be opposed at all times.
Since I'm in charge here, that statement is infallible. I could get used to that. I'm gonna start making a list of more infallible statements. This could be fun.
Why should it be wrong for gays to strike back at an institution that has made us wrong (and miserable) for it's entire existence?
Why shouldn't their discrimination, hatred and bigotry and sexual abuses be exposed for all to see? What the church is doing with respect to denying LGBT people their rights with our tax money, is an example of bullying on a grand, world-wide scale,and they need to stop it!
When the entire hierarchy of the church works overtime and spends huge quantities of money to deny us our civil-rights and prevent me and some 36,000 bi-national couples from uniting with our families (seven years in my case), why should I and my brothers and sisters be expected to feel all warm and fuzzy about any of these people, much less, show them any respect or consideration? What respect and consideration are they showing to us, I ask?
They can apologize all they want, but it still does not put right all the harm they have done to LGBT in the past and continue to do up to the present day…and without apology, I might add. They continue to be adamant in their condemnation of LGBT people.
The plain fact is, a few "do gooders" doesn't put right all the harm so many of the "do badders" are doing. I, for one, am still smarting from Prop. 8 in CA and I refuse to go quietly into that dark night.
I think that gay people have certainly earned the right to "bash" back. If we are not going to tolerate bullying in our schools, I see absolutely no reason why we should tolerate bullying from the church or any other institution including our government.
They threw the first punch. The ball is in their court if they truly want our respect and for the fighting to end, all they have to do, is cease and desist. That shouldn't be such a hard thing to do, should it?
Respect is not a gift. It must be earned and so far, the church has done little to earn my respect.
@schlukitz: Hancockian co-sign. Bravo.
The really horrific part of it is that they have both tax exempt status and civil rights protections. We don't.
#74 Schlukitz – by all means disagree with the Catholic Church about their position on Gays. I do. Where did I say not to?
But it is counterproductive, untrue and bashing to say the church pretends to be perfect; it cannot say another thing ever because of child molesting priests etc. If people held anything else to this standard, they would have to move out of the USA. [i.e. Do you realize we are the only country that claims to be so moral and for the most part "Christian" and yet we are the only country that used nuclear weapons to annihilate civilians? (Nagasaki/Hiroshima)]
Thanks, Vernon. That's a film I must check-out.
Thanks to you too, Kev. I know. Doesn't that just frost your balls?
Where did I say not to?
I was referring specifically to the comment you made toward the end of your post no. 70.
It does not make everything they say or do bad.
Given the horrible history of the church, I would have to take grave issue with that. The church's history speaks as mute evidence and I don't need to make a case against it. They've done a good job of that on their own without our help and they have made many people suffer, not just LGBT people.
Please understand that I am not attacking you personally. I am attacking the church who has for my entire life, attacked me. That makes it very personal for me and as a gay person, I find it hard to understand why any LGBT person would want to defend an institution that is so dedicated to the wounding, defiling, discrediting, the destruction of our community and all of the unhappiness that they have created for us.
I don't mean to be making a Godwinian statement by saying this, but it is a little like asking me to respect Mussolini and Hitler, in spite of all the good things some the Nazis may have done during their tenure.
I think we can all agree that the planet is much better off without them and, quite frankly, I feel much the same about religion.
I am not trying to make you out to be a bad person and I am sorry if I offend by my comments. It is not my intent to do so, but that's what comes up for me.
P.S. I was just nine years old when this inhumane act occurred and the horror of it has never left me in all the years since.
And to think that Truman was considering dropping even more atomic bombs on Japan, had Hirohito not surrendered when he did.
So much for the "morality" of a "Christian Nation"!
Dear Schlukitz – thank you for your gentle response, I'm not offended, I just don't know what else I can say to make my point. Goverments, groups, mobs, relgions of all strips and individuals have all inflicted incredible inhumanity on inhabitants of this planet. I don't excuse any of it nor am I unaware of it. It just seems like when people get going here, one would have the impression the Catholic church is the only villain.
But the idea that the world will automatically be a better place without religion is an unprovable concept too isn't it? I do know women who travel the world and they say things are much better overall for citizens of Christian countries. When I think about all the Catholic schools, orphanages, hospitals, colleges, people like Mother Theresa it is difficult for me to say the Church is all or mostly bad.
If someone disagrees with the doctrine of infallibility that's fine but what purpose is served to make a joke out of it like Vernon does in #72? Further, that has nothing to do with what Rudy said (and someone else I think) either. What's the point? Just to jump on some high schoolish mentality of lets just say mean things (even if true) because we can?
@Jaroslaw: I wasn't making a joke of anything, you heretic. I was stating the truth of my sincere beliefs. Just because you don't think I'm infallible doesn't mean I'm not. Geez, how about a little tolerance around here. It's not my fault I was appointed by God to run my own religion. I'm just doing God's will.
Joke isn't the right word. Sorry your Holiness. I hope you noticed I capitalized the "H"
@Jaroslaw: @Jaroslaw: You're playing a shell game.
You fight off criticism of the church by citing the good works of lay people , nuns, priests, etc.
The Catholic Church is a feudal organization.
Those good people you speak about do not ever, ever get to run it. Were this true, you can be quite sure the pope would not be talking about birth control or leading the flock to vote to deny gay rights. Every poll in the US shows Catholic voters to be little different on issues than any other religion. Most European Catholics are so disgusted with their Church, they barely if ever attend mass.
To this day, the Popes continue condemning "modernity" and the "secular state" – talk that was inspired by Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and company.
The Church absolutely hated the American Revolution. Feudalsim was and is their preferred form of government whereby only kings have rights and the Pope crowns the king making him ruler of all the world. It was because of the spread of democracy that popes of that time decided to consolidate power in the Vatican, take away independence from bishops and the laity, and have themselves declared infallible (Vatican Council I, 1869).
Right now priests, theologians, nuns, deacons, and even lay people who assist at mass who support equality for gays and women are in danger of losing their position in the church or even being excommunicated. The Church may have apologized for excommunicating Galileo, but when it comes to silencing dissent it is unrepentant.
If you were raised Catholic you would know that whenever any child asks how there could have been an Inquistion or about any of the numerous horrific atrocities committed or instigated by the Church in its 2000 year violent history, the standard answer is, "The Church is good – these events are due to human failings."
I don't believe that for a moment. Right now, most Catholics are BETTER than their Church – and especially its leadership.
"It is false and absurd and rather mad that we must secure and guarantee to each one liberty of conscience; this is one of the most contagious of errors…To this is attached liberty of the press, the most dangerous liberty, an excrebale liberty, which can never inspire sufficient horror."
– Pope Gregory XVI, 1832
@schlukitz: totally looks like a cock gobbler.
@Jaroslaw: Damn right. Show me the proper respect for my position as the ultimate authority on truth and morality on the planet.
Thanks to everyone on this thread who let me know that they too thought the young man standing behind the Archbishop is gay.
While my tachometer and speedometer may not be quite as reliable as they once were, it is reassuring to know that my gaydar is still functioning perfectly. ;o)
Rudy #83 It is not a shell game to examine an organization in its entirety and understand that nothing is all good or all bad. This is 99% of what I've been saying throughout this post. I'm not deflecting criticism by citing good works – it is being realistic. Nowhere have I defended bad behavior by anyone.
You must have missed my earlier point where I said to Schuklitz that if it were even possible to free the world from religion, one cannot automatically assume things were be better. They might be worse – it is an unprovable concept because it has never happened in the history of the world and almost certainly never will.
The tradition of Papal infallibility goes back much further than 1870 and Vatican I – it was simply formally defined – to imply as you do it was dreamed up then is simply false and misleading. Same with the Assumption of Mary; it was always believed, it was just formally acknowledged in 1950.
I do not correct you to defend the Church, but if you're going to criticize you have to be accurate otherwise what is the point?
As to what Pope Gregory said in 1832 – liberty of conscience is not allowed now in the USA, if that means doing whatever you want. Murder is still illegal, you can't marry until your 18. No one can do whatever they want. To fully discuss this, I'd have to see the entire context of the statement and what it was in response to. Same with the newspaper statement – I remember learning about yellow journalism in school. Perhaps that is what he was referring to. Also, remember the movie Citizen Kane? Newspapers can be a powerful force for negative things.
As to the rest of your post, you're absolutely right – the Church is Feudal, the people that are good usually don't run it. etc. etc. etc. So tell us something we don't know – that human (even if God inspired) institutions are not perfect.
For Christ's sake, I never said anything like that. I am not going to waste any more time on "infallibility" though – there are entire books on the subject which while not "dreamed up" by Vatican I was made into a controversy by it because a council of bishops made it official dogma.
But back to your statement in #69 where all this started "If a priest molested a child, he should go to jail. That does not make all priests bad. If the Church erred, it erred. It does not make everything they say or do bad. Which is all I've been saying."
The child molesting was not the scandal – the cover up was.
It was Ratzinger (now the Pope Benedict) blaming the victims and the media that was the scandal. It was Cardinal Law telling victims the Seal of Confession demanded their silence that was the scandal. It was the Church behaving like Exxon in an oil spill that the scandal.
To call such behavior "an error" is absurd. The Church did what it has historically ALWAYS done – put it's wealth, power and prestige before justice, truth and morality.
PS Pope Gregory was absolutely not concerned with "yellow journalism." He was lamenting that the Church could no longer determine what people were permitted to read or write.
Rudy- dicussing infallibility is only a waste of time because you want to make sweeping statements and not explain what you mean. I have asked you at least twice and you won't say.
It is YOU who is making this a "waste of time".
Who disputed the cover up was a scandal? Stop splitting hairs. We are not writing a treatise here – It should be clear how I feel since I've acknowledged error & sin whatever you want to call it and talked about the good things too. The only question that I can see is whether or not individual members decide to stay in or not. If that isn't your point, what is?
You want to microanalyze every word I say, but then you go on and make HUGE blanket statements like "The Church did what it has historically ALWAYS done…"
So now you know everything the Church has ever done eh?
One more thing – I went to your wikipedia link – bottom of post 89. It mentions Church censorship of books and individuals but it also stated that people who were once on the list later became saints. The article also mentioned (I'm paraphrasing) something about every book or person who mentioned things contrary to Catholic teaching was not banned/censored – there was a specific element of heresy – in other words even in the dark ages there were alternate schools of thought.
This however, is so ethereal and in the realm of theory and divorced from reality because the vast majority of human beings were much more under the control of the various kings/governments and simply trying to get enough food to stay alive and 99% of people couldn't read anyway as to make this (censorship) irrelevant. Further there was no mass communication like we have now (TV, Radio/telephone/internt) so the influence of a particular person or thought was by definition extremely limited.
@Happy Indeed:
I'm not sure I understand your point.
While the 16th century was the beginning of the end for feudalism and the Holy Roman Empire, separating the influence of church from state is not easy. Bishops, who held much more power than they do today, were recruited from the ruling classes. Popes crowned kings who in turn enforced papal whims in exchange for legitimacy.
For instance, before his falling out with the Vatican, Henry VIII was titled "Defender of the Faith" by Pope Leo X in 1521 for denouncing Martin Luther. Henry's Lord Chancellor of England, Thomas More, rounded up Protestants, tortured them, and burned them alive for simply saying they did not believe in "transubstantiation."
Some Cardinals had small armies. Some religious orders acted as beaurocracies for kings; some were actually militant.
Again, the American Revolution and separation of Church and state was a great idea, but for the popes, it was a huge loss of their temporal power and they hated it.
My point is you're making all encompassing statements about scandals and church power, while true, are only part of the story. One cannot apply the morals and values of today to centuries past. Surely you know that civil rights legislation was not past here in the U.S. until 1964, almost 100 years after the civil war. I say that to convey the idea no church, no group can be completely at odds with the society they live in or they cease to exist.
While it is sad that popes & kings had "incestuous" relationships, if not the Catholic Church, some other group would have taken its place. I guess rather than all this bashing, I'd rather see energy used to effect real systemic change. This does not mean, of course, to ignore the lapses by Cardinal Law in your previous example, but realize life is what it is, the past cannot be changed and accept anything with humans will have failings. Are you advocating abolishing all religion or just the Catholic church? As was said earlier, one cannot possibly make the assumption that life without religion would be better since it has never happened; nor is it reasonably likely to ever happen; indeed things might worse.
At the bottom of post 89 you cite Wikipedia, I assumed you were buttressing your idea that the Church is all evil when the article had many places where the Church changed its mind about books/person who were previously censored. And while no one would argue the Catholic Church is a liberal place for new ideas, again, the Wiki article indicated there was quite a bit more diversity than most people realize. And much more say, than you were ever find in the Moral Majority, 700 club and other like churches.
So to get back to post 92 – I'm well aware that separation of Church and State was an unpopular concept, but it doesn't mean that that opinion was solely or even primarily due to the evilness and power envy of Popes and Cardinals. Societies' collective consciousnesses/values change over time. I'm sure the majority of Popes did what they thought were right. For example, not too long ago, women were thought to be completely inferior to men, feeble mentally, physically and every other way. Girls were forced to be wives and mothers and had almost no rights whatsoever in most societies. Parents obviously bought into these ideas because most didn't know any better. In the late 20th and now the 21st century someone would be thought a neanderthal indeed for demanding his daughter be married at 14; and go to jail for not sending her to school! Which was not only acceptable in prior eras but expected.
Also,I would like to say quickly that I think we often just exchange one set of problems for another.
In prior times, women were vilified for adultery and other sexual sins (while somehow the men who participated were often but not always excused) – unwed persons had terrible stigmas based on religion mores and institutional churches influence over the laws (I'm thinking here of colonial times in particular)
Now we have the welfare state where you literally can't ask someone WHY they would have three or five kids with three or five different fathers knowing the men never had a job. For the sake of the children, government benefits are dished out with few expectations. People don't know their neighbors and Capitalism is king.
So, I guess we can conclude from these comments that their are "good" Catholics and "bad" Catholics. Ahhhhh, how am I supposed to identify the good ones?
A little more than 60% of all Catholics believe homosexuals are wrong, sinful and deviant (Bad Catholics). The 40% that put equality before religion need to wear a button or sign or something (Good catholics).
you can't win on this website sometimes. I thought others just said the laity is AHEAD of the Church and now Brian says they are behind the general population.
Well Brian – I guess you take each Catholic person individually (like you do everyone else in life).
@Happy Indeed:
1. Historians should not apply the morals and values of today to centuries past, but this conversation is ABOUT morality. Still, just to make certain I'm not doing that, let's look at this in reverse: what in the Gospels could have led the Church to imagine that Jesus would condone the torture and execution of heretics?
2. Doesn't the fact that the U.S. went from slavery to electing a black president in 200 years and the Vatican has failed to ordain a woman in 2000 say something about the capacity for moral growth in each system?
3. Is it possible for the Church "to effect real systemic change" without making a clear repentance for past misdeeds?
4. It is impossible to "abolish all religion" except under a tyrannical political system, so there is no point thinking about it.
5. I do not say "the Church is all evil;" I say preserving power, prestige and wealth is its first concern and the basis for making its worst choices. Quakers, for instance, do not have that burden of great wealth, so as a Church, their decision-making is less compromised. (Remember that camel passing through the eye of a needle verse?)
6. Luther's replacement of papal authority with Bible-thumping is no improvement and led to the wretched fundamentalist faiths you mention. That said, the Reformation forced people of different faiths to learn to live peacefully together in the same nation which is the foundation for secular democracy.
7. Yes, there was always some latitude even in the Middle Ages, but question the wrong dogma and you could end up toast. Literally.
8. Of course we "exchange one set of problems for another." Isn't it nice that we can discuss them on Queerty and not have to worry some friars will show up in the middle of the night and haul us off to the Inquisition?
Lloyd Baltazar wrote, "Do you really expect him to pass up his chance at a Roman Catholic funeral rite for the sake for LGBT rights? NO, I don't think so. He is not that crazy to have the Church damn his immortal soul for the sake of a few faggots. Especially when he is battling Brain Cancer."
At the risk of allowing reality to rear its ugly head, Senator
Kennedy did in fact receive the traditional funeral rights, and was no doubt astute enough while alive to know that the rantings of one archbishop do not constitute church policy anymore than the rantings of one U.S. senator constitutes U.S. policy. After all, we have had nutty senators – john Ashcroft, who was such an embarrassment that he lost an election to a dead guy, is a prime example.
Rudy – I typed detailed answers to your points and my page was interrupted so I lost it all. Unfortunately my new answers will be much shorter since I don't want to type them all again.
You seem to have moderated your position quite a bit from where we started…..but I'm happy to be having a rational discussion – so often on here people are out to lunch.
1. I didn't say we couldn't learn from the past, I said we cannot judge the past with today's standards; if I didn't that is what I meant. Jesus made some pretty strong statements about right and wrong and the consequences (millstone/children for only one example) and right or wrong, the disciples thought he gave them temporal authority.
2. Ordaining a woman is not a moral growth issue. While I may be in favor of it personally, I can't see the parallels between that and electing a Black president. Also to go back 2000 years in your comparison – the US started in a place of relative enlightenment and is unique in the world which you must know. That is like giving one child a pencil and another a computer and wondering why the results are different. I also don't think men and women are 100% interchangeable but that discussion is for another day.
3. Repentance is good for an individual, but does it really mean anything for an organization? Think of all the recent government apologies – people who didn't do the deed are apologzing to people (mostly) long dead. What is the point? I would however be in favor of enlightened mission statements and directives which hold people accountable.
4. We agree of course, but looking back at the postings, you must realize why I made the statement.
5. I know you didn't "say" the Church is all evil, but one could definite get the impression from your postings – not trying to put words in your mouth or over exaggerate anything you've said, but that is the only way I could express what I was trying to say. I'm well aware that acquiring money and power brings with it the new problem of trying to keep it. That is a given, just as human history progresses, societies get more complicated and not less. However, to compare with the Quakers, while they're wonderful people, they have little influence. I need to write so much more to explain what I mean here, so I hope you get the drift. Hopefully this example will do it; I went to Catholic college and the Sisters were very savvy financially. A friend who was also a Franscican priest lamented this and while I agreed to a point I also asked him "but aren't all of your schools closed because you couldn't pay the bills?"
6. I'll take your word for it since it makes sense, but I never studied this assertion.
7. Yes, I'm aware of the stake burnings, we agree again.
8. Who said I'm not coming for you? Ha ha!
Rudy wrote, "Luther's replacement of papal authority with Bible-thumping is no improvement and led to the wretched fundamentalist faiths you mention."
In fact, John Calvin was active during the same time period
and his ideas exerted a major influence on the Puritans, and
we all know what happened when those dudes arrived on our
shores. They were so into the evils of sin, that they were
unwanted everywhere they went in Europe.
1. Are you saying that Christ would be pleased that a church claiming his authority would torture and execute people over interpretations of scripture? Isn't that behaving exactly like the High Priests at the crucifixion?
2. Bigotry is certainly a moral issue. Catholic bishops have denounced racism as a sin since the 70s, but the Celibate Boys Club is not going to address sexism and homophobia anytime soon as they are among the worst perpetrators.
As to American democracy being advantaged by the Enlightenment, yes, of course. Again, the Popes made a terrible error clinging to monarchy and condemning Liberalism and human rights – and they lost their empire anyway.
3. As you've had a Catholic education, you know the difference between an apology and repentance.
Let me use for this the example the Southern Baptist Convention which broke ties with northern Baptists in 1845 to embrace a Biblical literalism for the purpose of supporting slavery. At an annual meeting in the 1990s, the SBC finally repented its historic racism, but at the same meeting it repeated all the usual lies about gay people and announced its commitment to fight against gay rights. Now if you've been dishonest, bigoted and have oppressed one minority for 150 years, simply changing the target for your bigotry is not repentance. You have to examine why you went wrong and "if your eye offends you, pluck it out."
The Vatican, too, has made many apologies. Do you think that it no longer executes its critics and dissenters is a result of genuine repentance or because secular democracy denies it such power?
5. I think if the Chuch had stayed the course charted by John XXIII, these things would all have been addressed. Unfortunately, the heirarchy made a huge turn to the right. Underestimating the gay and women's movement, they became irrelevant to Europe. Purging Liberation theologists opened up Latin America to evangelicals. And failing to address the abuse scandal honestly has hurt them here. Now the battle is for Africa. Church history suggests to me that every time there is a challenge, they dig in their heels – and it never works
1. At first blush, no, Jesus probably would not want his Church torturing people etc. I'm not a historian though, and it is interesting that almost every human society misunderstands or misuses authority to some degree so I guess it seems God does want this. Otherwise how to explain that there are no totally benevolent societies? 60 minutes did a story on one in the Far East so laid back it was beyond belief – even stray dogs didn't fear people and seemed to be fed – but the power hungry Chinese are sure to conquer it. So I guess I've answered my own question as to why there are none.
2. Bigotry according to who? I already mentioned the status of women – barely human at various times in history in the vast majority of the world and very occasionally heads of state. Here in our lovely Christian world, women got the right to vote only in the late 19th & early 20th centuries. The majority of people felt perfectly comfortable with the status quo prior. Obviously because of how they were raised. But does that make them automatically a bigot because they don't think like you? Has our overall society improved with children being raised by day care centers? Or has women working given men permission to fly the coop? Or even if both parents are in the home, they work to have a standard of living far higher than their grandparents but my guess is the children would rather have their parents at home than a new gadget every week. Seems like an exchange of one problem for another.
3. Yes, I know the difference between repentance and apology. Not sure I see the need for either, already said that. Does the Vatican not execute critics because secular democracies don't allow it? Hmmmm. You're assuming they executed all or most of them prior? Probably a bit of both …repentance and not allowed. I'm not willing to concede to you though, that the Church is all bad and concern for power and money drive 99% of its actions which is what you keep coming back to.
Church, government, business – structure is destiny.
Evangelical Christianity has all the inherent corruption you'd expect from a sect where preachers who could amass personal wealth and television empires.
Anglicanism, with a monarchical figurehead, resembles Catholicism before the papal power grab. With it's power resting in itr bishops, it has far more diversity h to the point of near schism.
Churches that value individuality, truth and spirituality, like Quakers, Unitarians, Old Catholics, etc. remain small because they do not participate in the corrupting business end of religion but they they tens to their members and don't have long lists of crimes to atone for.
Roman Catholicism remains the official church of a vanquished empire. Its proscribed and unequal roles by gender of nun and priest are going unfilled. It has the Anglican Church as a model for successfully married clergy (and hypocritically admits married Anglican priests) but clings to celibacy which, along with the absence of women in the hierarchy, is the cause of the child abuse scandal. Add to this the centralized power that fires its most important theologians, and you are left with a Pope who tells AIDS-infected Africans that the use of condoms is sinful and faulty, derides legal same-sex marriages as "artificial" and gay love as "disordered," and tries to bring it's nazi wing back into the fold only to be embarrassed when they won't stop denying the Holocaust.
"I cannot accept your canon that we are to judge Pope and King unlike other men with a favourable presumption that they did no wrong. If there is any presumption, it is the other way, against the holders of power, increasing as the power increases. Historic responsibility has to make up for the want of legal responsibility. POWER TENDS TO CORRUPT, AND ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority: still more when you superadd the tendency or certainty of corruption by full authority. There is no worse heresy than the fact that the office sanctifies the holder of it."
– Lord Acton in response to Vatican I's declaration of Papal Infallibility, 1887
Correct then; correct now.
I thought you weren't going to talk about infallibility anymore and your tome implies the Church can do no wrong (or presents itself as such via the Infallibility doctrine) – which I've said how many times (Yes it can) and said doctrine has nothing to do with that AND I've already referred you to information that the tradition goes much further back than the official pronouncement in the 1880's. But here you go quoting it again.
It is not hypocritical in the slightest to admit married Anglican priests – after all, the Church allows them to see the "error" of their ways* and they must vow not to remarry. Where is the hypocrisy?
I totally agree with your second sentence above about TV preachers and/or other Evangelical/Pentecostal sects – they are so corrupt they make the Catholic Church look positively pure by comparison.
Paragraph – yes the unequal roles of Nun & Priest go unfilled – the quest for self fulfillment and selfish NESS in our society are probably at an all time high in the history of the world. No mystery here. This is not to say some bristle at faults in the Church but as I will continue to hammer away your posts are only talk about the Catholicism's negative side. My guess is at least 80% of the reasons people don't pursue vocations is for selfish reasons. As you yourself point out, most Protestant clerics live a life of luxury in comparison- and it is not just TV preachers. There is church here in Mich that bought an old seminary and the entire EXTENDED family is on the payroll driving Lincolns, Jags and Mercedes. Another church justified a several million dollar home saying a minister is at least as important as a football player. What one has to do with the other is beyond me.
As to the absence of women in the hierarchy and celibacy – where is your data to "prove" this is the cause of the child abuse scandal? You'd make a better argument to say "sexual activity" is a venial sin that can be forgiven but bringing a child into the world fatherless and/or abortion are much more serious sins and THAT probably contributes to the theological problems with why many priests "feel" child sex is the lesser sin. Or it could be a simple as a problem in the selection process. But it is no less a sin in my view that NO Protestant minister (or so few they are statistically invisible) can "give up sex" and/or marriage for the kingdom. Surely some could if they "truly" have the calling, no?
Several years ago, a VERY good looking MARRIED protestant minister was robbing banks here in Mich to pay for HOOKERS. Similarly a married Episcopal priest had sex with underage boys. I subscribed to the newspaper for three full years without missing an issue. When it was Catholic, it ALWAYS made the front page and the other denominations were buried in the back of the paper with much smaller articles and photos. So my point is objective data is impossible to find.
I noticed also that you didn't address my "bigot" comment in the previous post. I'm sure you know that wasn't directed at you personally but was yet another example of trying to apply 21st century values to 18th century situations, but I think my example makes a point nonetheless.
Here is another example of something so foreign, I can hardly believe it is true but I've read it in several vastly different sources – but it illustrates how very differently people think across the decasdes – mindset/values etc. In the very early 1900s the military was trying to ferret out homosexuality – they actually had guys go undercover, have their dicks sucked. blatantly come on to perceived Gay soldiers, have all kinds of sex, even live with them in "Gay" off base homosexual apartment buildings (there were places known to a few, where guys could cross dress, have sex with each other, dance, party etc.) And the government would have these "planted" guys testify against the "real" homos and discharge and/or prosecute them. This couldn't possibly have been secret, the books I read detailed large scale "projects" across many states – can you imagine anything like this happening today?
My point is simply reading the history from centuries past may not tell us the whole story even if it is factually true. I again will say it is impossible for a completely corrupt Church as you keep implying to produce such figures as St. Thomas More, St. Augustine, Pope John Paul II, Mother Theresa. Countless people I know personally have benefited greatly from Catholic schools, orphanages, hospitals and nursing homes.
How do we throw out the dirty water without the Baby in it?


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New Ulm Applebee's updates interior
April 28, 2014
A ribbon cutting-ceremony was held Thursday, April 24 at Applebee's in New Ulm. The restaurant recently completed interior redesign that includes a New Ulm-themed photo collage over a corner boo....
I don't think Applebee's ever had a breakfast menu. Not too many restaurants are open for breakfast, even in Mankato.
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I was in New Ulm last Saturday morning and I found myself craving some breakfast. I thought, "I know, I'll go to Applebee's." It was maybe 9:30 am. The place wasn't even open! On a weekend! That's a joke.
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Buy the paper if you want the names.
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Journal could use a h e l l of a lot more of you.
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Are the names of the people in the picture printed in the paper? Online we don't get the names. Same as the Runnings story. If you take the time for the photo why not tell us who the people are. Just sayin.
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What Do I Substitute for Mirin?
Mirin is a Japanese sweet rice wine that lends mild acidity to a dish. It's a handy ingredient to have in your pantry because many Asian and fusion recipes call for it. But if you don't have it in your cupboard, no worries: Simple subs and hacks can easily mimic mirin's sweet-tangy flavor. Dry sherry, sweet marsala wine, dry white wine, and rice vinegar will do the trick, for instance, if you mix in about 1/2 teaspoon sugar per tablespoon.
If you're ready to try mirin (or one of its sweet substitutes), check out these recipes:
- Bitter Green Salad with Spiced Mirin Dressing
- Mirin-Braised Bok Choy with Shiitake Mushrooms
- Buttery Mirin Mushrooms


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Treating Traumatized Families Workshop
Saturday, November 3, 2012
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
This workshop is designed to provide professionals with the tools necessary to understand the process by which the traumatized systems and children are assessed, diagnosed, and treated. Students will determine and build upon traumatized children, families and other systems' strengths and deficits that can be addressed by traumatology interventions, learn about ways of thinking about the trauma induction and reduction process affecting families, children, and systems, and how resiliency and stress reductions are determined in part by the history and social resources of the traumatized system. Students will also learn how to classify the presenting symptoms of the traumatized system and determine the best intervention approach from an array of approaches and learn the pitfalls to burnout and secondary trauma (compassion fatigue).
- Location:
- Classroom Building - Room 228
- Cost:
- $75 - $90
- Audience:
- Everyone
- See Link Below.


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Clinton's iconic welcome sign will stay where it is
When it comes to welcome signs, there's apparently always room for one more.
Bowing to a late surge of public pressure, county officials will leave Clinton's venerable "Welcome to Whidbey Island" sign where it is instead of moving it up the highway to Campbell Road.
And they'll put a new sign marking the island's scenic route near the old one, on the same steep bank, on the same side of the street.
"This is a good win for our community," Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson said Tuesday, announcing the decision.
Officials said the new sign will probably be installed sometime next month.
"I'm delighted they're leaving the art sign where it is," Rufus Rose of Clinton said Tuesday. Rose was instrumental in getting the original sign placed, and was vocal in opposition to its relocation.
Price Johnson said a public meeting scheduled for Thursday is still on, and she urged community members to attend.
"It's important people still go to the meeting," Rose agreed. "Otherwise, they may think we don't care anymore."
Bill Oakes, county public works director, said Tuesday the new sign will probably be located next to the carved sign, but the exact location is yet to be determined.
Some suggested the new sign be placed below the original sign, but Oakes said there was some concern about putting it too close to the roadway.
He said a conference call with state Department of Transportation officials on Monday determined that the new sign could be placed in another part of the highway right-of-way without violating permits already obtained for the project.
"It was great the DOT could be flexible," Oakes said. "I think this is a good compromise."
It all started with a federal grant received in 2006 to create a Whidbey Island Scenic Way. Anchoring the project were to be three steel "monument" signs erected at the island's points of entry: Clinton, Keystone and Deception Pass.
Through a series of public meetings, state and county officials determined that the best location for the Clinton monument would be the exact spot where the 18-year-old carved welcome sign sits across from the entrance to the Clinton Ferry Terminal.
In 2008, it was determined that the cedar sign should be moved to a spot along Highway 525 at Campbell Road.
Bids were submitted, contracts signed and a schedule prepared for the new signs.
But a number of South End residents were apparently taken by surprise. Last month, an uproar ensued over the proposed relocation of the carved sign, and more than 1,500 signatures were gathered on a petition protesting its removal.
Some of the artists who worked on the sign back in 1991 declared it had become too fragile to be moved, and that the new location would subject it to damage from weather, traffic and vandalism.
A community group, Save Our Sign Coalition, was hastily formed late last month, and it pressed for keeping the carved sign where it is, threatening court action if necessary.
"We're thrilled," Ed Jenkins, who spearheaded the coalition, said Tuesday. "It was a great victory."
Jenkins praised the efforts of Price Johnson.
"She was involved every step of the way and was willing to listen," he said. "She did what we asked her to do. What more can you ask of a public official?"
The ornate 10-foot-by-20-foot sign features a log cedar oval with carved eagles, porpoises, otters and other creatures, and a ferry.
The new steel sign features a map of Whidbey Island and the proclamation "Whidbey Scenic Isle Way," with a line underneath reading "Welcome to Clinton."
Oakes said steel has been located for the new signs, and they probably will be delivered in November. Price Johnson said installation of the three new signs will begin at Deception Pass and continue to Keystone, and then to Clinton.
Price Johnson said the public meeting scheduled this week at Clinton will still be held in order to get out as much information about the project as possible.
"There's still a good reason to hold the meeting," said Price Johnson, who will attend. "Folks have been wanting better communication."
The meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at Clinton Community Hall, 6411 Central Ave.
Meanwhile, Oakes said of the concrete slab donated by the Port of South Whidbey to anchor the relocated carved sign: "It's probably just going to stay there."
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text:
By RON CHIMELIS
When the nation's No. 2 shot-blocker says he could barely walk two days ago, that sounds like a problem.
Tony Gaffney says not to worry.
"By game time, I'll be fine. I've been getting better every day," the University of Massachusetts men's basketball forward said as he looked toward Wednesday night's game at Saint Louis.
Gaffney has a sore lower back, which is hardly the best way to enter a game against one of the more bruising teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Typical for this high-energy player, the injury occurred as a result of an aggressive defensive effort.
"I tried to take a charge at the 3-point line Saturday (against Dayton). It didn't work out," he said.
UMass (6-8, 1-0) will play its first road game of the conference season. Saint Louis (9-6, 0-1) is especially tough at home, where the Billikens are 8-1.
"Their two guards are studs, and they play like brutes down in the paint," Gaffney said. "But I'll be ready."
Gaffney is second nationally in blocked shots per game with 4.9. Only Jarvis Varnando of Mississippi State (5.4) is higher.
A 6-foot-8 senior, Gaffney is also grabbing 11.5 rebounds per game, which ranks eighth.
"I'm getting to expect seven blocks and 12 rebounds a game every night from him," UMass coach Derek Kellogg said.
Such lofty expectations are so much a compliment to Gaffney's game as to practically be unfair, Kellogg said.
At practice, the UMass coach has been trying to pace Gaffney, who routinely plays and practices so hard that he never paces himself.
Despite the injury, Gaffney scored 17 points with seven rebounds and seven blocked shots in 31 minutes Saturday.
He said he could barely walk in the 24 hours after the game.
"The next day, I was about 40 percent, then 70 percent," said Gaffney, who looked reasonably healthy at practice Tuesday.
UMass center Luke Bonner said his teammate will be ready, but still needs help.
"I know Tony and how he competes, and I am not concerned about him," Bonner said.
"Definitely, though, (6-9 forward) Tyrell Lynch and myself will have to be there to help out."
Saint Louis guards Kevin Lisch and Tommie Liddell share the Billikens' scoring lead, each with 13.5 points per game.
The Saint Louis inside game has both size and muscle. Willie Reed (6-9), Brett Thompson (6-10, 260 pounds), Barry Eberhardt (6-6, 250) and Brian Conklin (6-6, 220) all have a presence.
Saint Louis is outrebounding its opponents by three per game. The Billikens are scoring only 59 points a game, but allowing only 56.
For UMass, Bonner is averaging a modest 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, but he helps clog the middle. He's taken 10 defensive charges this year, more than half of the entire team's total of 16.
He is not worried about re-injuring his left knee, which sidelined him for seven games in November.
"I'm a pretty reckless individual, actually," he said. "Individually, I'm not playing as well as I'd like, and I have to be more consistent, but I feel lucky just to be back on the court."


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Tickets are on sale for the 24th annual Governor's West Bank Luncheon, scheduled for April 14 at the Alario Center in Westwego.
Gov. Bobby Jindal is keynote speaker for the meeting that addresses West Bank specific issues. The event is sponsored by the Harvey Canal Industrial Association, Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, Algiers Economic Development Foundation and Plaquemines Association of Business and Industry.
Tickets are $40 or $320 for a reserved table for eight. Doors will open at 11 a.m. and the luncheon begins at 11:30.
Proceeds benefit Cafe Hope, a non-profit project that works with at-risk youth through a restaurant on the Hope Haven campus in Marrero.
For more information, contact state Rep. Ricky Templet's office at 504.361.6013.


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We have been following news out of Delaware County of the shooting of three state troopers today and Tuesday. Two of the troopers were injured, one killed.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer issued the following statement:
Today, the New York State Police and the State of New York suffered a tremendous loss. One of our best has fallen and another has been seriously wounded in the line of duty.
The shootings are believed to have resulted from a confrontation with a fugitive who shot another trooper on Tuesday.
While everything possible is being done to address the needs of the families, and to deal with the situation in the field in Delaware County, I ask all New Yorkers to keep the State Police in their thoughts and prayers during this harrowing time.
For more, see the Breaking News post from earlier today.


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I just got a new e-flex and was wondering how to take off the bottom rubber skirt of the mask?
I tried forceabbly taking off the bottom but no luck
How to take bottoms off E-flex?
Started by Lovely_angel_, Jan 16 2013 09:29 PM
2 replies to this topic
Posted 16 January 2013 - 09:29 PM
Posted 19 January 2013 - 07:22 PM
anybody out there?
Posted 19 January 2013 - 07:52 PM
All you do is grab any side of the bottoms I usually start from the left and make sure you are grabbing the plastic part of nose and just pull. Once it pops out you then go to the nose and opposite side.
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