1/11/12

Say WHAT???

Every so often, I read something that just makes me sit back and say WHAT??? Where in the heck did that come from? And, you guys know that I hold nothing sacred, and am willing to point my critical crooked quilting finger at anybody I don't agree with.

This is real, y'all. It came from Reuters news agency. I went to the source to check and make sure it was real. I've put quotes from the article in italics below.

Pope Benedict said Monday that gay marriage was one of several threats to the traditional family that undermined "the future of humanity itself".

What the hell?

He told diplomats from 180 countries that the education of children needed proper "settings" and that "pride of place goes to the family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman."

Hmmm. He clearly has not visited my proud family lately...and really, shouldn't he be more focused on the "proper setting" being one that prevents harm to children? I mean, clean your own house, dude.

"Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself."

Hmmm. Threaten...the future of humanity itself. Policies which undermine how a minority of people define family threatens the future of humanity itself. That sounds like "Do what I say or you will be destroyed." Didn't God promise not to destroy humanity again and gave us the rainbow as proof? Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe that was just a fun Sunday School lesson. I can't remember.

Okay, but you ain't heard the worst of it yet. This came from Cardinal Dull'un...er, I mean Dolan.

Dolan...sent a letter to the president criticizing his administrations decision not to support a federal ban on gay marriage. In that letter, Dolan...said such a policy could "precipitate a national conflict between church and state of enormous proportions."

Ugh, excuse me, but if church and state are separate, can they be in conflict? And, last time I checked, church and state are supposed to be separate here in the United States. Course, church doesn't seem to have come to grips with that yet. But, we're working on that.

Per Benedict: "The family unit is fundamental for the educational process and for the development both of individuals and states; hence, there is a need for policies which promote the family and aid social cohesion and dialogue."

Well, he did manage to get that part right. But, it cracks me up that he thinks he gets to decide what a "family" is. I've certainly known a lot of families in my life. Some were successful and some were not. Some had marriages, some did not. Some men beat their wives, others did not. I've even heard of some that killed their children...but oddly enough, I never hear about gay parents that kill their children. What I've heard instead is that children of gay parents, because they're extra effort to acquire, are cared for just as well as the most loved children of heterosexuals.

So, overnight, I had some thoughts. I thought I'd share them. Cause I'm like that.

Anybody that doesn't think my family is a real family because there's not a "female parent" in residence doesn't know much about what family really is and I feel sorry for them. They're clearly missing out on the whole family experience.

The pope is clearly wrong and thinking in a backward way. Come on, dude. If you wanna survive, you gotta adapt. Besides, you can't be infallible just because you say you're infallible. You need to act infallible to really get the title, don't you? Or is it like Miss Teen USA?

And, if me marrying Rob would potentially bring about the downfall of humanity...well, is humanity really that close to the precipice of downfall? Somehow I don't think so. I mean, a narrow definition of family isn't going to stop people that don't fit that definition from doing that thing that makes babies and from grouping up and making families. And, as long as people do that, won't there be humanity?

If we are that close to the precipice, then Rob and I should get married ASAP before it all collapses around us.

Bad Pope. Bad Cardinal. You should be ashamed. I doubt you are, but you should be.

And, if I offended anybody, look to yourself before you blame me. You'll likely find some good old Catholic guilt is really to blame. And, yes, it's okay to like me, even though I disagree with the pope. I mean, really, he can't possibly care, can he?

Whew, glad that's off my chest. Now I can think about what's really important. Raising a child. Being a good partner. Being a good person. Not bringing about the apocalypse.

Lane

23 comments:

puu said...

this is a beautiful post. i applaud your stance--and your family.

Impera Magna said...

I think the "church" should, as you say, clean its house of all the pedophile priests before dumping on good loving people who are doing a great job rearing children to be good loving adults.

And I won't even bring up the Karditzy-whomever marriage that lasted less than 2 months...

*rolling eyes*

Coloradolady said...

I just wonder how many adults would have traded their "traditional parents" for two human beings who were wonderful parents - who actually got what being a good parent was - who was about family and not about themselves. Who actually nurtured a child into successful adults instead of presenting to the world an adult who is lacking in every aspect of life?

I am willing to bet, there would be a whole line down and around the corner of the street at "The new parent store" if there was such a thing.

Lane, I want to say so MUCH....but really can not find the appropriate words. Judgmental and ignorant is what comes to mind. I don't believe that the streets of Gold will be filled with these types of people from organized religions someday....I think they are going to be surprised at why they are turned away from the gates.

Your family is a family so many dream of having. Truly.

Ann Marie @ 16 Muddy Feet said...

If two people love and care about one another they should be allowed to get married. The sex of either of those individuals should not come in to play. Look at the man/woman divorce rate.....it is thru the roof!!!

Julia said...

Wonderful post to go with your wonderful family.

Keep fighting the good fight, you three.

Seraphinalina said...

Completely agree. Good post.

Anonymous said...

Well said! I am fed up with this whole anti-gay movement by the right wing! You and Rob are doing great work with your family!

birdmommy said...

Just wanted to say that I agree with you completely.

And we've had gay marriage here in Canada for quite a while now - and our society does not seem to have collapsed.

Andi's English Attic said...

Oh boy, have you got me reaching for my soapbox. Never has the expression 'who will rid me of this turbulent priest' been more apt. Instead of speaking for world peace, he stirs up homophobia.
I have to stop now because I can't fit my rant into 10,000 words or less!

Samantha said...

Lane, this is a beautiful post. Anyone who reads your blog knows that you and Rob adore, love, and perhaps most importantly PARENT your daughter (which of course, includes doing everything because you do love her). There are many "parents" I know that - IMHO - shouldn't be parents. If only I could take the children away and give them to parents like you two. The future of this country would benefit from having more children raised in the manner that you are raising Sydney. I know I'm on a soap box, and I apologize, I just really don't understand this country / the pope's view of gay marriage. Separation of church and state - it doesn't exist, especially in the south. I am a blue dot in a red (RED) state (Alabama) and it's just embarrassing. I apologize for my soapbox - but please know that there are many, many people who do not believe that civilization will crumble if two people that are the same gender are recognized as a married couple. If only we could convince the rest of the world.

Kath said...

As my son would say- "Respect" to you and your family.

Megan said...

Lane - well written. I'm a strongly committed atheist, so what one silly, old, irrelevant man in Rome says doesn't influence my thinking, other than to strengthen my view about the utter irrelevance of his beliefs and his organisation. Australia is edging towards full recognition of gay marriage, and I hope that USA won't be too far behind.

Megan,
Sydney, Australia

mtquilter said...

I think people condone the things they fear or don't understand. I completely agree with you. How could your family bring about the downfall of humanity any more than mine could? Bravo! I think the golden rule is the best way to live your life, no matter who you are.

Piece by Piece said...

Very well written, I completely agree with you.
His house needs al lot of cleaning.
Patricia

Denise in PA said...

Amen, Lane!

Unknown said...

couldn't have said it better.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you totally and you put it very well. The pope and the church are in no position to criticize or even open their mouths. Beyond the pedophilia, the whole purpose of priests and nuns was to take people out of families and keep them from having children or raising them. A practicing celibate should just plain shut up on what he doesn't know, and what the pope doesn't know would fill an encyclopedia.

Anne Simonot said...

Beautifully written and I totally agree with you (& I was raised a Catholic). However, just as an afterthought, from a Canadian's point of view, are church and state truly separate in the U.S.? From up here, it sometimes seems that if a person isn't a "person of faith" (i.e. Christian), that person isn't "fit" to be president, in the eyes of many. Otherwise, why would presidential candidates feel they must flaunt their credentials as a church-goer, if you know what I mean. Just sayin'.

Anonymous said...

You know, if there was a god, then I really doubt he or she is really hung up on the whole male/female thing. I mean, look at earthworms, they're hermaphroditic. Then there are bacteria, they can reproduce without any sex at all; or they can exchange plasmids for their version of sex, and I can't really say that one or the other is male or female.

I have thought for a long time that denying loving people marriage is far more destructive to society. I mean, these are people with families and children and you are going to destabilize their families by *not* recognizing them. Plus, the suicide rate amoung gay youth is very sad; I can't help but think that if they knew they could grow up and get married, and be treated like any other citizen; that a lot more would choose life, rather than killing themselves.

When I was twelvish, I was thinking about this; and I realized that it was just as stupid to say that two people with the same private bits couldn't get married, as it would be to say two fat people (skinny, old, young (adult of course), etc.) couldn't get married. What really mattered was love, not the bodily externals. It is really irrelevant to the spirit or soul, what the body looks like. Why a hetero kid with no friends thought this out as an early teen, I don't know.

In the US state and religion are supposed to be legally separated, you cannot have a legal restriction on the religion of officeholders for instance. However, any particular individual can express their religious affiliation in any non-criminal way that they wish, that includes who they vote for. Given that people are much more trusting of people who belong to the same group as they do, and given that most people in the States are Christian, it only makes sense for any politician to display hir Christian affiliation prominently. By the numbers, it makes more people more likely to vote for them than the opposite.

lw said...

Pope Benedict also believes that pedophilia is not an "absolute evil" and that it wasn't really a problem until the 1970's-- as if the destruction of children's self-worth, dignity and safety could ever be anything but absolute evil.

So I wouldn't put much stock in his thoughts on marriage between loving adults.

Pauline said...

The pope claims his authority is handed down unbroken, from Peter. Yet centuries ago they was a woman who disguised herself as a man and served? (should be ruled) as pope until she became pregnant. I think pope Joanna was then killed. They're all quiet about this, but it certainly breaks the line of their authority, if there ever was one. No man, woman or child should ever force his will on another, that's playing god (with a little g) and that's a false god, of which we are warned about in the Bible. When we decide what's right or wrong for our fellow man and force this opinion on others. That's playing false god. God gave Adam and Eve the complete freedom of choice. Man today should also have this freedom. No one has the right to impose his ideas or will on others. Ignore the ignorants Lane, they are all false gods.

Anonymous said...

Hear hear!

Hope that more people will see the 'somewhat' twisted reasoning behind accepting advice on marital or sexual matters from the pope.

I mean, how did he become the expert?

Good post!

Angie Padilla said...

Well put. And, to expand a little, what would the Pope say about other types of families? Like those headed by a single parent. Or an extended family, actually headed by more than one adult? If you look around you, there are so many other types of families besides the "mom, dad, and two kids" variety. Seems like you're not alone... there apparently are many other families that threaten the traditional family, and thus undermine the future of humanity... :)

But then, what would you expect from a pope who as a cardinal was instrumental in silencing Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff (for a whole year) because of his theses linked to liberation theology? Needless to say, upon the second attempt to silence him, Boff left the priesthood and the Catholic church...