The Furious Spinner

OK. I've tried to stay silent, but I can't do it. You've heard my views here before about the Catholic Church. Now I've been listening for days about how great the pope was—first as he was dying and now that he is dead. Let us just remember his views about women and gays. I've heard people say he was a great leader and wanted freedom for all people. I see no evidence of that. He wanted the Poles free, but—if I'm remembering correctly—he told South and Central American priests to stay out of politics and stay out of trouble. In his recent autobiography he said that homosexuality was an abomination, or words to that effect. And his views on women were right out of the dark ages: no birth control, no divorce, no abortion, no ordination. Come on! If he had said, for instance, that black or brown people couldn't become priests, no one would think he was a great leader—except all the racists out there. So why was he a great leader "in spite of" his views about women?

I ain't buying what they is selling. I called my oldest sister in disgust about this, and she said, "So, do you think they'll elect a woman pope." Then we laughed uproariously—after which we discussed how disgusting it was that all these old men were going to get together to decide on the new spiritual leader for the Cathols (as Eddie Izzard calls them). Dressed as women, I might add. A bunch of drag queens getting together to elect the biggest and bestest drag queen. As the deathwatch continued one day, I had the passing thought that if the pope suddenly popped up from his deathbed and said something profound, I might have changed my mind about him and the Catholic Church. For instance, he could have said something like, "I've seen God, and She has convinced me I was wrong about women and gays. In order to even things out, only women and homosexual men can now be priests for the next 2,500 years. We're going to throw out the pedophiles. We're going to celebrate life instead of suffering through it. Ding dong I'm dead."

But it didn't happen.

Yes, I know I don't have much flexibility on these kinds of issues. If someone is a racist, homophobe, or misogynist, I can't see the good. I recognize this may be a blind spot I have, but I don't think so. It doesn't mean I want that person dead or I wish them harm—I certainly never wished the pope any harm. I didn't wish him anything. He meant nothing to me. But now that he's dead I ain't gonna sing his praises.

For my Catholics friends who might be grieving, I am sorry for your loss. I was raised Catholic. The pope meant nothing to us. He was some old man in Rome who knew nothing about our lives. 0 comments

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