US: Catholic archbishop resigns…

…but it has nothing to do with a child rape scandal. Would we lie to you?

Care2 Causes

The Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia is about to get a new leader: the Rev. Charles J. Chaput of Denver will replace Cardinal Justin Rigali, who was engulfed five months ago in a sex abuse scandal, although he claims that his resignation had nothing to do with the allegations that he protected priests who were abusing children.

Earlier this year, a Philadelphia grand jury charged four priests and a parochial schoolteacher with raping boys under their care. The scandal radiated out, as the grand jury charged that as many as 37 priests remained in office despite allegations of abuse. One member of the church hierarchy was charged with hiding the abuse, and a larger cover-up was suspected.

US: Oklahoma governor calls for prayer to end heat wave

Okla. governor calls for prayer to end heat wave

[I]t’s been so hot for so long in Oklahoma, the governor called for a statewide day of prayer in hope of some divine intervention

“I think if we have a lot of people praying, it moves the heart of God,” Gov. Mary Fallin says.

Why not? It worked for Texas!

Didn’t it?

 

Vatican: Rape children? Who, us?

TheJournal

Fr Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, denied that a letter sent by the former Papal Nuncio to Irish bishops encouraged them to cover up abuse allegations. The Cloyne report described the letter, which objected to a framework set out by the bishops for handling abuse cases, as “entirely unhelpful”.

However, Fr Lombardi insisted it was “understandable and legitimate” to raise objections, as the measures risked contravening canonical law. “There is no reason to interpret that letter as being intended to cover up cases of abuse,” he added.

Fr Lombardi added that harsh criticisms of the Vatican following the report were “curious”, claiming they “demonstrate little awareness of what the Holy See has actually done over the years to help effectively address the problem.”

However Maeve Lewis, director of abuse survivors’ group One in Four, hit out at Fr Lombardi’s claims. Saying they “completely lack substance”, she added his words are “part of the now familiar refusal by the Vatican to acknowledge that the culture of loyalty and secrecy which facilitated the sexual abuse of children extended far beyond the Irish Church.

“It is further evidence, if needed, that the Vatican’s claim to prioritise the safety of children is completely lacking in credibility,” she said.

And all that stuff about the loving Sky Daddy is a bit suss, too.

Seriously. When an organisation’s whole existence is based on spreading a fantasy, why should anyone expect them to tell the truth?