Gawker: Church

Vampire Woman Worships Undead God

Hamilton Nolan — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:16:50 EDT

Anne Rice, the author of all those books about Vampires (including the one that they turned into that Tom Cruise/ Brad Pitt movie with the twin themes of latent homosexuality and glorification of the dark side), has opened up to the world about her bizarre and stunning deity worship [WP]. The famed creator of monstrosities publicly proclaims her allegiance today to a strange "God Man" who supposedly performed impossible miracles in days long past. Now, the Dracula-loving storyteller has "consecrated" herself to this mythical "Jesus"—who can die and revive himself at will—and nothing will change her mind about his magical powers. The bloodsucking aficionado will not abandon her hallucinatory reasoning for anyone!

On the afternoon in 1998 when faith returned, I experienced a sense of the limitless power and majesty of God that left me convinced that He knew all the answers to the theological and sociological questions that had tormented me for years. I saw, in one enduring moment, that the God who could make the Double Helix and the snow flake, the God who could make the Black holes in space, and the lilies of the field, could do absolutely anything and must know everything —- even why good people suffer, why genocide and war plague our planet, and why Christians have lost, in America and in other lands, so much credibility as people who know how to love.

Probably because of the vampires in their midst.

Don't ever succumb to the fear that evil is winning in this world, no matter how bad things may appear. Don't ever succumb to the fear that He does not witness our struggles, that He is not with every single soul.

What about THIS SOUL?

When Did the 'Times' Get Tabloidy?

Pareene — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:37:06 EDT

Back in more civilized times, the New York Times never once mentioned the name Jennifer Fitzgerald. That name, Times vet R.W. Apple famously explained in Spy, was "known everywhere, and it is not used." Fitzgerald was the woman who supposedly had a lengthy affair with former President George H. W. Bush. The Times never even looked into the story. "All you've got is sordid gossipy bits," explained another reporter. The first reports of Bill Clinton's alleged extramartial affair didn't name the "Arkansas employee" who made the allegations herself. (Not until the tabloid The Star used her name was it safe to also do so.) Before the Post broke the story of Judith Nathan, the Times coverage of the end of then-mayor Rudy Giulaini's marriage to Donna Hanover was obnoxiously winking. Elisabeth Bumiller only named the mayor's good friend after Rudy and the Post beat them to it. Basically, how insane is it that the Times broke the story of Ashley Alexandra Dupre, the hooker who took down Eliot Spitzer? And how insane was the story that broke it, what with its links to her MySpace profile and bizarre criticism of her "rhythm and blues" music? Arthur Suzlberger truly is "the prophet of the high church of journalism."

New York Times Agitates for Canonization of John McCain

Joshua Stein — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:55:35 EST

On Friday the kooky New York Times editorial board endorsed Senator John McCain mostly because he isn't ex-Mayor and protofascist Rudy Giuliani. All weekend they had the above video on their homepage in which Sen. McCain talks about his bright new economic plan in the gravelly down-to-earth tones of a man who can lead. And just in case you didn't read their endorsement, they set up a halo behind his head. A halo this big and this blatant hasn't been seen since the early Italian Renaissance. Subtle, New York Times, real subtle. But could it be possible that this is the Times' tacit way to bring up the age issue? McCain is already a septuagenarian and remember, you can't be a saint until you die. Subtle, New York Times, real subtle!

Papists Disapprove Of Thrice-Married Parishioner's Stand On Social Issues

abalk2 — Fri, 11 May 2007 11:19:54 EDT

Everything you need to know about the Catholic Church can be found in this one simple sentence from the Daily News:

The priest of the Manhattan church where Rudy Giuliani had his second wedding says he would deny the presidential contender Holy Communion because of his public support for abortion.

Sure, marry as many ~~cousins~~ people as you want, what do we care? But express support for a woman's right to choose? No Jesus cookie for you! —balk

I'd deny Communion to Rudy, says priest [NYDN]

He Shouldn't Be Too Hard To Spot With That Big Red Hat

abalk2 — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 12:44:25 EDT

The Sun takes a look at Edward Cardinal Egan and his role as head of the Archdiocese of New York; specifically, how his public profile is much lower than that of his predecessors, John Cardinal O'Connor and Terence Cardinal Cooke. (Unrelated: It seems to us if you want your kid to attain a decent rank in the Catholic church, it's a good idea to give him the middle name "Cardinal.") Since being elevated from his previous position as bishop of Bridgeport the cardinal, while ruthlessly efficient in fixing diocesan finances, has rarely been seen offering pronouncements or making headlines in general. The article suggests that this is a reflection of the diminishing power of urban Catholic leaders in general as their flock disperses out to the suburbs. Perhaps Cardinal Egan's low profile is an acknowledgment of that fact.

Or, you know, maybe he's just dodging the subpoenas.

Cardinal's Low Profile Attracts Attention [NYS]

'Village Voice': Lawsuit Says New York's Cardinal Is Gay

Jesse — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 15:30:23 EST

You know what's fun? Conspiracy theories involving the Catholic Church. You know what's even more fun? Conspiracy theories involving the Catholic Church and secret homosexuality. You know what's even more fun than that? When the conspiracy theories involving the Catholic Church and secret homosexuality start showing up in official, public court documents. All this means that this week's Village Voice will be lots of fun, as it includes Kristen Lombardi's report on a New Jersey priest who's suing 10 Catholic institutions and individuals, including New York's Cardinal Edward Egan, over, to quote Lombardi, "a pattern of 'retaliation and harassment' that began after Hoatson alleged a cover-up of clergy abuse in New York and started helping victims."

But that's not the fun part. This is:

Halfway through the 44-page complaint, the priest-turned-advocate drops a bomb on the cardinal: He alleges that Egan is "actively homosexual," and that he has "personal knowledge of this." His suit names two other top Catholic clerics in the region as actively gay Albany bishop Howard Hubbard and Newark archbishop John Myers.

It's often been said that all Manhattan men are at least a little bit gay. If true, this would certainly prove it.

Fun!

Outing Cardinal Egan [VV]