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Meditation 1019
Intolerant Agnosticism

by: The Intolerant Agnostic (JT)

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The Pope chose his Epiphany message to speak out against "intolerant agnosticism," apparently because at least some agnostics have been quite vocal in their support of same-sex marriage and quite vocal in their opposition to Pope Benedict XVI's efforts to stuff his narrow-minded view of morality down everyone's throats instead of limiting himself to dictating solely Catholic morality.

Perhaps Pope Benedict is reacting to some what I've written about him - though I doubt it has been brought to his attention.

But what Benedict said, according the The Guardian was:

"Today's regnant agnosticism has its own dogmas and is extremely intolerant regarding anything that would question it and the criteria it employs."

Regnant? Interesting choice of words. Agnosticism Rules! Pope Benny says so.

Question it and the criteria it employs? Thinking for ourselves; acceptance and use of logic; acceptance and use of the scientific method; rejecting the idea that someone can be infallible; rejecting superstition, prejudice, and blind faith in ancient error-filled texts.

But let's deal with the extremely intolerant. Am I personally extremely intolerant?

I am intolerant of the Pope's homophobia; of his hypocritical love the sinner, hate the sin; of his attempts to foist his own homophobia on the whole world, not just upon Catholics.

I am intolerant of the Pope's position on abortion. He can tell his Catholic followers what to do, but as for the rest of us, it's none of his business. I object strongly when a non-Catholic woman dies solely because she can't get an abortion because she's in a "Catholic country."

I am intolerant of the Pope's past involvement in covering up child abuse by Catholic priests, his footdragging over developing policies and procedures to ensure that child-abusing priests are promptly dealt with to stop them continuing to prey on children, and his dishonest excuses for his clergy such as blame the '60s and blame the '70s.*

I am intolerant of the Pope's thoroughly dishonest excuses for the current rash of his clergy caught up in child pornography scandals.**

I am intolerant of the Pope's proclaimed opposition to moral relativism when he consistently uses it to distance his church from the abuses committed by his clergy.***

I am intolerant of the Pope's opposition to access to birth control for everyone. I accept his right to tell Catholics what to do, but that's not enough for the Pope - he actively promotes laws against birth control for everyone.

I could go on and on but I'll limit myself to one further point. I am intolerant of the abuse of language by the Pope, particularly his use of the word "intolerant." It's called doublespeak. But then I suspect, he sees himself in the role of Big Brother.

Footnotes:

* According to Pope Benedict paedophilia wasn't considered an “absolute evil” as recently as the 1970s. “In the 1970s, paedophilia was theorised as something fully in conformity with man and even with children,” the Pope said. Belfast Telegraph 21 Dec 2012

By who was it theorised? Got any references Benny?

** Pope Benedict XVI also claimed that child pornography was increasingly considered “normal” by society. Belfast Telegraph 21 Dec 2012

Which society considers it increasingly normal, Benny? Other than your own circles? You have your facts wrong.

*** The Pope's own words: “It was maintained — even within the realm of Catholic theology — that there is no such thing as evil in itself or good in itself. There is only a ‘better than' and a ‘worse than'. Nothing is good or bad in itself.” Belfast Telegraph 21 Dec 2012

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