"The Hills Are Alive..."
With the sound of Lauryn being excommunicated. Well, not just yet. But, according to a Reuters story by Philip Pullella, pop star Lauryn Hill did "shock" Catholic officials at a Christmas concert in Vatican City when she told them to "repent," and alluded to sexual abuse of children by priests. Hill was a woman on a mission:
"I did not come here to celebrate the birth of Christ with you but to ask you why you are not in mourning for his death inside this place," she said according to a transcript of her statement run by the Rome newspaper La Repubblica.
You go, girl! There was no word as to whether Church officials were more shocked by the existence of sexual abuse, or by Hill's apparent reference of it while on a stage used by The Pope for his weekly general audiences and other events. What's your guess?
Of course and obviously I applaud the words of Ms. Hill. She calls to mind Sinead O'connor and her tearing up the picture of the Roman leader.
But, in my mind, they don't go far enough. According to reports, Ms. Hill wanted them to repent and honor christ the way she saw fit. So what we have here is more a policy dispute. For us nonbelieving folk, wouldn't it be nice if someday some singer broke into a rendition of "Imagine" in front of the red hat crowd? Instead of arguing correct religious policy, simply explain to these septered emperors with no clothes that their spreading and hawking of this superstitious nonsense has turned this planet into a graveyard. Not only a literal one, but a figurative one as well. That their christ is likely no more than a conglomeration of handed down myths(think Mithra) and that these self-appointed, self serving buffoons should all hold hands, sing gleefully down by the oceanside, and then en masse, take a walk into the waves, and keep going until their red hats float.
chris volkay
chris volkay at December 15, 2003 6:54 AM
Well said, Chris.
Lauren Hill won't be pelleted by the same kind of public backlash that Sinead was, because her Vatican act had a lot more substance than the latter's childish hissy fit on SNL. Criticizing Lauren for her diatribe would almost appear to condone the sexual abuse of children by priests. Three cheers for the angry black woman from Newark!
Lena at December 15, 2003 8:50 AM
Make that four cheers!
Amy Alkon at December 15, 2003 9:11 AM
I'll add a fifth, although I do believe in God, it's my belief that he's more impressed by how we deal with one another, than whether or not we happen to wear pointy hats and serve bland wafers and cheap red wine on Sundays.
Patrick at December 15, 2003 10:38 AM
Cheap wine and bland wafers -- I wonder if they ever considered serving blinis and caviar and nice champagne to increase the turnout.
Amy Alkon at December 15, 2003 12:15 PM
After reading the comments that Lauren made and then the ones in which you made has really taken me for a whirl.
I for one do believe in God and yes he does exist. It's my belief and I really don't think that neither I nor any one else that believed in God should be bashed for their beliefs.
The fact of the matter is I think that even thought Lauren had good intentions she could have handled it in a more professional manner. Yes it need to be brought to those priest attention but by making it a public matter it came across as being a part of a show or to gain publicity.
Yes, it is wrong for those priest to have had sex with these young boys but by making this into an argument doesn't set justice for the children and or God. These petty arguments try to discredit other that believes in God for it is so easy for nonbelievers to persuade babes in Christ. I send codas to Lauren for her courage to speak of this matter for most celebrities wouldnít touch this subject. I just hope that it reaches the right ear to help them to repent and to go about life a different way. At least it could help the children and families to gain some since of closure to this matter.
ts161734 at December 19, 2003 11:12 AM