Lying twits in mitres
I have noted, with some level of outrage, on several recent occasions, conniving Vatican types spouting in the press about how 'secular humanism' and atheism are great eeevils... responsible for such things as fascism and communism (and thus, by extension, the Gulag and the Holocaust), the reason there ain't a chicken in every pot, etcetera etcetera. For a few recent examples, see this and this.
Pretty sure there musta been a memo at Pope Central on this. Probably, methinks, somethin' to do with the fact that Ratzinger's election (oh, wait, sorry, he was 'chosen' by the invisible sky fairy or somethin', technically, in terms of the theology, wasn't he?) is a massive PR headache, what with that Hitler youth thing 'n all. So pinning the Holocaust on someone else—anyone else—that would be a good thing, right about now.
Trouble is, particularly in the case of the Holocaust, it don't so much wash. And, appropriately enough, it's pretty much in Goebbels Big Lie territory, really, in terms of what it doesn't mention. Fact is, the Vatican was, on occasion, not entirely unfriendly with the Nazis in the day. And as to the Vatican's history of wiping out Jews, hey, that's quite the story, in case anyone's forgotten. Or have we forgotten that that's mostly what the Inquisition was about (and if this is news to you, you might try Googling on 'marranos' and 'Inquisition', for a little refresher).
So yeah, that's how it is. The institution that lead the previous largest and most organized campaign of harassment, intimidation, and grisly execution of Jews, and which wasn't above some collusion with National Socialism during their kick at that same can (and don't even get me started on the general phenomenon of anti-Semitism fed elsewhere by Catholic and other Christian sects—and remember, many of the Marranos were effectively forced to conversion by enraged mobs wound up by anti-Semitic sermons—and how much religion probably had to do with setting the context that made the Holocaust possible), is now saying secularism and atheism are to blame for fascism. Pretty damned rich, if you ask me.
(The Gulag, okay, sure, that's arguably a somewhat less flagrant lie. Insofar as, yes, the Chinese and Russian Communists were and are atheists—among other things—and there were those on the secular left of their day briefly pretty enthusiastic about Lenin's revolution, prior to the stuff that started coming out about the salt mines. So it's not total intellectual hogwash to suggest secularism might have had a hand there. But 'long as we're talking about folks effectively supporting corrupt and repressive regimes, do let's take a look at the Vatican's and other Christian sects' long history of working comfortably with such charming institutions as monarchies—read: dictatorships with slightly less messy successions—and lacklustre commitment to anything looking like democracy when it actually takes some balls to get it—liberation theology, anyone? Though I digress.)
I'm not, actually, so much pissed with the Vatican about this. Though only 'cos this is just what I'd expect from them. 'Cos that's what the Vatican is. Just one of the oldest, nastiest, and most viciously amoral corporate structures still ticking. Their PR is deceptive, manipulative bullshit, sure, just like every other such body in the history of the world.
The so-called reporters, on the other hand, who actually let them get away with this crap, they're another matter.
Guys, hey, read up. If you didn't know organizations like that are endlessly, deceptively self-congratulatory, and always ready to demonize anyone holding principles opposed to their own, what the hell is wrong with you? They do not deserve to get those quotes in. Not without someone to gainsay them. Otherwise, you're just doing their dirty work for them.
It's an old principle guys, straight from J-school. If your mamma tells you she loves you, get it checked. And if Vatican types tell ya something—hell, anything—break out those bullshit detectors. And get ready to field-repair the needles, after they bend 'right round the spindles.
Pretty sure there musta been a memo at Pope Central on this. Probably, methinks, somethin' to do with the fact that Ratzinger's election (oh, wait, sorry, he was 'chosen' by the invisible sky fairy or somethin', technically, in terms of the theology, wasn't he?) is a massive PR headache, what with that Hitler youth thing 'n all. So pinning the Holocaust on someone else—anyone else—that would be a good thing, right about now.
Trouble is, particularly in the case of the Holocaust, it don't so much wash. And, appropriately enough, it's pretty much in Goebbels Big Lie territory, really, in terms of what it doesn't mention. Fact is, the Vatican was, on occasion, not entirely unfriendly with the Nazis in the day. And as to the Vatican's history of wiping out Jews, hey, that's quite the story, in case anyone's forgotten. Or have we forgotten that that's mostly what the Inquisition was about (and if this is news to you, you might try Googling on 'marranos' and 'Inquisition', for a little refresher).
So yeah, that's how it is. The institution that lead the previous largest and most organized campaign of harassment, intimidation, and grisly execution of Jews, and which wasn't above some collusion with National Socialism during their kick at that same can (and don't even get me started on the general phenomenon of anti-Semitism fed elsewhere by Catholic and other Christian sects—and remember, many of the Marranos were effectively forced to conversion by enraged mobs wound up by anti-Semitic sermons—and how much religion probably had to do with setting the context that made the Holocaust possible), is now saying secularism and atheism are to blame for fascism. Pretty damned rich, if you ask me.
(The Gulag, okay, sure, that's arguably a somewhat less flagrant lie. Insofar as, yes, the Chinese and Russian Communists were and are atheists—among other things—and there were those on the secular left of their day briefly pretty enthusiastic about Lenin's revolution, prior to the stuff that started coming out about the salt mines. So it's not total intellectual hogwash to suggest secularism might have had a hand there. But 'long as we're talking about folks effectively supporting corrupt and repressive regimes, do let's take a look at the Vatican's and other Christian sects' long history of working comfortably with such charming institutions as monarchies—read: dictatorships with slightly less messy successions—and lacklustre commitment to anything looking like democracy when it actually takes some balls to get it—liberation theology, anyone? Though I digress.)
I'm not, actually, so much pissed with the Vatican about this. Though only 'cos this is just what I'd expect from them. 'Cos that's what the Vatican is. Just one of the oldest, nastiest, and most viciously amoral corporate structures still ticking. Their PR is deceptive, manipulative bullshit, sure, just like every other such body in the history of the world.
The so-called reporters, on the other hand, who actually let them get away with this crap, they're another matter.
Guys, hey, read up. If you didn't know organizations like that are endlessly, deceptively self-congratulatory, and always ready to demonize anyone holding principles opposed to their own, what the hell is wrong with you? They do not deserve to get those quotes in. Not without someone to gainsay them. Otherwise, you're just doing their dirty work for them.
It's an old principle guys, straight from J-school. If your mamma tells you she loves you, get it checked. And if Vatican types tell ya something—hell, anything—break out those bullshit detectors. And get ready to field-repair the needles, after they bend 'right round the spindles.
posted by AJM at 1:40 p.m. (Permanent Link)
