As the far-right pushes "groomer" lies about LGBTQ people and Democrats, it's instructive to look back in time to underscore who the actual "groomers" are and where hypocrisy truly lies.
The Canadians had the right idea way back in 1992, expose the church's connection to the horrible abuse of the boys of St. Vincent. A harrowing foretelling of the worldwide Catholic abuse scandal. Your covering of the Spellman subsequent cover up was superlative lo these years later. The gop rush to destruction nowadays smacks of doomed to repeat history because nothing has sunk in from the losses fueled by trumpanzee. Draconian laws adopted in Tyrannical Texas and fascist florida may have their fear inducing effect but the electoral bloodbath awaiting in 2024 will reset things to where the people want them...
I remember Cardinal Spellman since I attended Catholic School in the 50s and 60s. When the scandals hit the presses, it was just another reason I was happy I left that church in my early 20s. Their treatment of women as 2nd class citizens and baby machines drove me out. Then the closeted priests in denial, condemning people like themselves, as they led a charmed, respected life. How many young men committed suicide or were cursed with a life of trauma and low self-esteem. Is it any wonder I and many others run from organized religion????
Although not a Catholic (raised Presbyterian) I lived in Boston during the reign of terror of Cardinal Law
and his enabling of Geoghan to abuse all over the Diocese, featured in the film 'Spotlight'. I remember the anger all over the City when Ratzinger pulled Law back to the Vatican where he could not be extradited for aiding and abetting. Thank God, the power has waned somewhat over the years.
I was raised Roman Catholic, but luckily my single mom gave me, and my siblings, the option to stop attending Catechism classes on Saturday mornings, and mass/services on Sunday mornings, after each of us successively got confirmed at 13-years-old. I, and my brother and sister, all chose to stop being practicing Catholics because all 3 of us got tired of the guilt trips and the threat of eternal damnation for committing so-called moral sins. To me the Roman Catholic doctrine and dogma causes sometimes irreparable harm to some of its followers.
Mike, a topic like this seems to spark passionate comments, interesting comments, much like some years ago when you’d invite folk to discuss relational troubles with rabid Rumpers at the family table. ‘Tis good to get such off the chest now and then.
Michaelangelo: Thank you for writing/sharing this. I have a friend in Massachusetts who was abused by Father Porter. Further, based on what Pope John-Paul II allowed, (presided over by the future Benedict), his being made a saint is a sham. Neither he nor Pope Pius XII should be saints.
Having just read Playing God: American Catholic Bishops and The Far Right by Mary Jo McConahay, it just further reinforces my distaste and contempt for any religion. The Catholic religion is a shame. Merely a money making corporation spreading lies and false hope. If I had my way there would be no religion. It makes weak minds weaker. And also to run for public office you can have no religious affiliation.
The press and the public dwell on gay paedophiles abusing boys, but there is a much greater, though hidden, history of heterosexual paedophile priests abusing girls. Many of these girls got pregnant. Some were forced to work in Catholic run laundries until their children were born. The babies were then adopted out to 'nice Catholic couples' and the girls would go back to their lives and tell stories of visiting family in another state.
Perhaps the finest teacher I had was a Jesuit scholar of Attic Greek Religion. A sweet gay man. He saved my gay soul. He was celibate but a genuine man of character. This was the sixties when it was still possible to make a better world for everyone. I was passionate about art and politics. I am so grateful he was able to persuade me to take my past with me into these adventures. My Jesuit was a good groomer.
And my friend told wonderful stories about the astonishing 'Shirley Temple' Spellman and the Catholic hierarchy's evergreen gay underground of the 20's - 50s.
Michael, I read your stuff about the church back in the day and I appreciated it then. It just took me a while to say: Thank You!
Excellent commentary Michelangelo. When I was 12 or 13 years old-1958/59- I, like many good Catholic boys, attended the ritual of having our sins forgiven; each Saturday, by attending what was euphemistically labeled "CONFESSION." We would sit on hard wooden benches-while being watched over by the BLACKE ROBE WEARING PRAETORIAN GUARDS know as "BROTHERS." WE had to be controlled while awaiting our turn to enter the confessional booth as the "ONE"- who would determine our fate- sat behind his curtain. Ah! "CONFESSION" where we would tell the man behind the curtain all that we did wrong so that we could be forgiven and enter heaven with cleansed/antiseptic souls. When I entered the darkened small cavern, I knelt as the "one" on the other side slid open his black screened window shade between us. This is when the confession would begin as the ritual/obligatory prayer would be uttered and I would bare my soul to this unseen confessor. As I recited my sins- always leaving out something to frightening to tell- the invisible man asked if I had anymore to add. You see; the amount of sins you told the longer and harder your penance you would be. I thought a moment and blurted out that I had been masturbating. "HEAVAN BE BLESSED" the next thing I knew; the door to my confessional booth was thrown open and this snarling, black robbed, rosary clutching, rapscallion reached in grabbed my ear and yanked me out of my cavern. As he was pulling me by the ear, he continuously called me; "A Murderer, for I had Spilled the Lord's seed." I was dammed to Hell for eternity. By this time the rest of the penitents had begun to shiver in fear. I will never ever forget that incident; although I did try years later to rectify my hatred of the church. My final thought on the subject is; I despise and hate all religions.
The Canadians had the right idea way back in 1992, expose the church's connection to the horrible abuse of the boys of St. Vincent. A harrowing foretelling of the worldwide Catholic abuse scandal. Your covering of the Spellman subsequent cover up was superlative lo these years later. The gop rush to destruction nowadays smacks of doomed to repeat history because nothing has sunk in from the losses fueled by trumpanzee. Draconian laws adopted in Tyrannical Texas and fascist florida may have their fear inducing effect but the electoral bloodbath awaiting in 2024 will reset things to where the people want them...
I remember Cardinal Spellman since I attended Catholic School in the 50s and 60s. When the scandals hit the presses, it was just another reason I was happy I left that church in my early 20s. Their treatment of women as 2nd class citizens and baby machines drove me out. Then the closeted priests in denial, condemning people like themselves, as they led a charmed, respected life. How many young men committed suicide or were cursed with a life of trauma and low self-esteem. Is it any wonder I and many others run from organized religion????
Although not a Catholic (raised Presbyterian) I lived in Boston during the reign of terror of Cardinal Law
and his enabling of Geoghan to abuse all over the Diocese, featured in the film 'Spotlight'. I remember the anger all over the City when Ratzinger pulled Law back to the Vatican where he could not be extradited for aiding and abetting. Thank God, the power has waned somewhat over the years.
I was raised Roman Catholic, but luckily my single mom gave me, and my siblings, the option to stop attending Catechism classes on Saturday mornings, and mass/services on Sunday mornings, after each of us successively got confirmed at 13-years-old. I, and my brother and sister, all chose to stop being practicing Catholics because all 3 of us got tired of the guilt trips and the threat of eternal damnation for committing so-called moral sins. To me the Roman Catholic doctrine and dogma causes sometimes irreparable harm to some of its followers.
Mike, a topic like this seems to spark passionate comments, interesting comments, much like some years ago when you’d invite folk to discuss relational troubles with rabid Rumpers at the family table. ‘Tis good to get such off the chest now and then.
Michaelangelo: Thank you for writing/sharing this. I have a friend in Massachusetts who was abused by Father Porter. Further, based on what Pope John-Paul II allowed, (presided over by the future Benedict), his being made a saint is a sham. Neither he nor Pope Pius XII should be saints.
Having just read Playing God: American Catholic Bishops and The Far Right by Mary Jo McConahay, it just further reinforces my distaste and contempt for any religion. The Catholic religion is a shame. Merely a money making corporation spreading lies and false hope. If I had my way there would be no religion. It makes weak minds weaker. And also to run for public office you can have no religious affiliation.
The press and the public dwell on gay paedophiles abusing boys, but there is a much greater, though hidden, history of heterosexual paedophile priests abusing girls. Many of these girls got pregnant. Some were forced to work in Catholic run laundries until their children were born. The babies were then adopted out to 'nice Catholic couples' and the girls would go back to their lives and tell stories of visiting family in another state.
Perhaps the finest teacher I had was a Jesuit scholar of Attic Greek Religion. A sweet gay man. He saved my gay soul. He was celibate but a genuine man of character. This was the sixties when it was still possible to make a better world for everyone. I was passionate about art and politics. I am so grateful he was able to persuade me to take my past with me into these adventures. My Jesuit was a good groomer.
And my friend told wonderful stories about the astonishing 'Shirley Temple' Spellman and the Catholic hierarchy's evergreen gay underground of the 20's - 50s.
Michael, I read your stuff about the church back in the day and I appreciated it then. It just took me a while to say: Thank You!
Excellent commentary Michelangelo. When I was 12 or 13 years old-1958/59- I, like many good Catholic boys, attended the ritual of having our sins forgiven; each Saturday, by attending what was euphemistically labeled "CONFESSION." We would sit on hard wooden benches-while being watched over by the BLACKE ROBE WEARING PRAETORIAN GUARDS know as "BROTHERS." WE had to be controlled while awaiting our turn to enter the confessional booth as the "ONE"- who would determine our fate- sat behind his curtain. Ah! "CONFESSION" where we would tell the man behind the curtain all that we did wrong so that we could be forgiven and enter heaven with cleansed/antiseptic souls. When I entered the darkened small cavern, I knelt as the "one" on the other side slid open his black screened window shade between us. This is when the confession would begin as the ritual/obligatory prayer would be uttered and I would bare my soul to this unseen confessor. As I recited my sins- always leaving out something to frightening to tell- the invisible man asked if I had anymore to add. You see; the amount of sins you told the longer and harder your penance you would be. I thought a moment and blurted out that I had been masturbating. "HEAVAN BE BLESSED" the next thing I knew; the door to my confessional booth was thrown open and this snarling, black robbed, rosary clutching, rapscallion reached in grabbed my ear and yanked me out of my cavern. As he was pulling me by the ear, he continuously called me; "A Murderer, for I had Spilled the Lord's seed." I was dammed to Hell for eternity. By this time the rest of the penitents had begun to shiver in fear. I will never ever forget that incident; although I did try years later to rectify my hatred of the church. My final thought on the subject is; I despise and hate all religions.