Ladies Having Litters For The Lord
As long as we're all mewling about the Pope's death, let's take a moment to read an excerpt from this Reuters story and remember some of his work:
Rosa Maria Domingos Soares, a 52-year-old Brazilian housemaid and passionate Catholic, fondly remembers her grandparents' family.They had 12 children and never used contraception, she said. But that is out of the question nowadays.
"A big family is beautiful, but today one must use some sort of contraception due to the high costs of education and food, as well as violence. I have three children, but now I think I should not have had that many," Soares said.
From Latin America to Asia and Africa, Catholics struggling to care for large families amid grinding poverty and an AIDS pandemic faced a dilemma over Pope John Paul II's opposition to contraception. Some hope that will change under his successor.
...Veronica Schiappacasse, a researcher with Chile's Reproductive Health Institute, said church attacks on sex education in schools and making birth control available to young people have contributed to a jump in teen pregnancies.
As activists await the views of a new pope on contraception, Rosario Ramirez, a 54-year-old woman who sells potato chips in hot sauce outside the Mexico City Cathedral, looks at it simply.
"It's one's own decision. I have nine children because I never used any birth control. God gives them to us, he decides, and we do our part," she said.
Starve ya little fuckers, starve!
Amen.
God gives them to us, He decides, and we do our part
Ahh, the old Will o' God captulation.
Keeps a person from having to take responsibility for his life. And, by extension, the lives of his children.
Starve indeed.
Deirdre B. at April 7, 2005 3:12 AM
Clinton said something along the lines of admiring all the good that the pope did and respecting the consistent and genuine beliefs John Paul had, despite a legacy that he considered something of a mixed bag. My sentiments exactly.
Little ted at April 8, 2005 12:47 AM
Interesting re: Clinton. It's a very diplomatic way to say, "Hey, even though he subjugated women, condemned gay people, and did nothing about the abuses happening to the innocents in his flock, I don't think he *meant* to be a bad guy. He was just toe-ing the company line. Can't fault the guy for that. Gotta do whatcha gotta do."
"W" is born again xtian, and the born agains in general hold the belief that Catholics are going to hell. What a politician. It's the *only* thing he's good at.
Excuse me while I go vomit.
Goddyss at April 8, 2005 9:50 AM
Goddyss:
I don't think that's quite fair. I think Clinton was saying the Pope was a good person who really can't be held responsible for the sick actions of pedophile priests. No, I don't agree with everything the Pope believed either, but I believe he was a sincere and well-meaning person.
Patrick at April 8, 2005 12:10 PM
I respect your opinion, Patrick; however, I tend to be a bit more cynical than that about people in positions of power. Especially religious leaders. Collateral damage from my background, I suppose. Take it with a grain.
Goddyss at April 8, 2005 1:35 PM
I don't often agree with Hitchens but this Pope piece is one of the best and most surprising things he's written in a long time. http://slate.msn.com/id/2116443/
Rojak at April 8, 2005 4:18 PM
I heard Hitchens on Dennis Miller last night talking about the "All pope, All the time" media blitz. Pope. What a breath of fresh air.
By the way, did they bury him next to Schiavo?
Lena-doodle-doo at April 8, 2005 8:34 PM
>"W" is born again xtian, and the born agains in general hold the belief that Catholics are going to hell.
That's not true. There are plenty of born-again Catholics. Robert Novak is one, so is my father.
Little ted at April 9, 2005 11:00 AM
With the population growth in the Third World: 3%/a or doubling in less than 20 years,we will have to send food ad infinitum.1 Billion will be 2 billions and after 100 years the one Billion will be 20 Billions. As the earth is finite,the " divinely inspired" idea of the pope is criminal.If man does not adapt to the entropic laws of the planet, life will be miserable for more and more poor human beings.Do we have the right to decide for a miserable existance for future generations?
H.F.Mataré at September 23, 2005 4:43 AM
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