Thank you for a compassionate article. My sense of Mel Gibson is that he is not so much a racist but someone who says the most hurtful, obnoxious things that jump to mind when he is enraged. It is like a verbal bar fight–at that moment, anything and everything seems okay to say to the person he is angry with, even things that would cause him a deep sense of shame after he calms down. In an interview many years ago, I heard him say he often felt [dumb as] a “potato” after speaking in anger. His intense verbal aggression when angry is one disturbed aspect of a complicated man, a man also known for loyalty and much kindness, not only to large charitable organizations but quietly offered to people he knew personally who needed a hand up after they fell. I also pray he heals the source of the rage and addictions within himself and finds peace finally.

Thank you so much for your wisdom and compassionate words.
We tend to make people in the public eye into our archetypes as a society. They then carry the burden of being as we wish them to be.
While, if what Mel Gibson said was truly spoken, the words are very hurtful. This kind of verbal outpouring is, to me, both terrible and sad. It is also an opportunity.
Perhaps he has expressed the hidden; the hatred, fear and rage that
lies below the surface of what looks like calm water in our society.
Perhaps, in our mortification over this story, unkind judgments against others can be brought into the light.
It would be the easy road to think that these expressed feelings belong to one man.
We can dismiss a hateful rant as belonging to one man who went out of control or perhaps we can look into our own hearts and examine there the denied judgments that are held against others.
We are all human. We are all complex. We all deal with the shadow part of ourselves. This is our great challenge. It seems to me that when something like this is brought forward the natural tendency is to blame and shame one person. It allows for the rest of us to get off the hook.
It seems so easy to forget that within this man is also a loving and generous spirit. There is genius, creativity and amazing kindness.
I believe that what was expressed, can serve as a mirror to us all. If this story serves the purpose of having a deeper look at the hidden feelings that corrupt our world, then there is a light available in the darkness. I would like to think that there is the seed of change within this story. I surely hope so.
Personally, I wish him healing and I wish him well.

“he’s also apparently an alcoholic whose father is reportedly a right-wing holocaust denier. Either one of those factors could scramble a person’s brain. Taken together, that’s a volatile combination. [...]
In some respects I’d almost compare him to an al-Qaeda terrorist who was fed a diet of hate as child and still believes it as an adult or a physical child abuser (as opposed to emotional one) who himself was abused as a child. None of their actions are to be tolerated and, while some people do manage to break the cycle and transcend negative childhoods, not all do.t”
Hi John.
I agree with the statements above and can confirm them based on my own experiences that the sins of the father greatly impact the son. I was raised in a household like that, altho there was no racism. But I can verify a crisis surrounding dad, particularly a remiss or twisted dad like Gibson’s, can set off typhoons and a horrifying downward emotional spiral. No alcohol needed. I also suspect the worst confusion happens when the father as clear admirable qualities on top of very dark ones.
For more insight on this syndrome, dig up David Milch’s M.I.T. lectures where among other things. he discusses his own father. This man (NYPD Blue, Deadwood) is a true genius whose father was a mixed bag at best and faces a life time of recovery. But Milch also possesses far more self-insight than Gibson. However I think you’ll see similarities.
The cracks in the Gibson wall have been evident since the ’90s. I believe that’s when he began to get some heat from the press about his father’s views, which he refused to denounced. He was also quoted as saying “My father never lied to me.” I think he had problems far back to his childhood. We’ll never know exactly what went down in his household.
I have also been moved by people who I was inclined to be wary of. Hearing the accounts of former Jehovah’s Witness members left me deeply moved. What fine people they were, however misguided. They really believed in something and strived daily to realize it. My heart bled for them. Being in a sick family is a lot like being in a cult. Along with the abuse there are lots of secrets.
I hate to be a cynic in terms of celebrity donations to charity but I believe there’s reason to be. Sure there are the Mia Farrows of the world who work tirelessly to stop the suffering in Darfur with every fiber of their being. But for every Farrow there are also Brangelinas who donate and work for highly styled photo-ops among suffering people, thus raising public image and admiration resulting in more leverage for plum roles. I’ve known religious people who are motivated by guilt for ongoing offenses rather than compassion. Piers Morgan recently brought this syndrome to light and refers to it as the unholy alliance. Each side knows the deal but of course the recipients need to money. There’s also a NY TImes article (2008) on Brangelina. Find the article about how the rights of the people of Namibia were violated while they manipulated the government of a foreign country to control the press. That didn’t make headlines but there are well documented accounts of the events.
Given Gibson’s recent history in Mexico and the backdoor deal he no doubt struck with the Chernobyl’s Children’s Project International — in an ongoing effort to assist his mistress fake her career — I’m less convinced than you are on this point.
I appreciate your thoughtful article John.

I wish Mel well and hope he has a successful journey in the healing process. Actually, my empathy goes mostly to his wife and children. He obviously needs some help and cleansing. Too much money brings power and as JFK said, “Power corrupts and poetry cleanses.” God bless you, Mel, and may you be healed. perhaps all the charity he gives to is to ease guilt.

It strikes me that Mel Gibson has been under under extraordinarily virulent spiritual attack for the tremendous, far-reaching good he has done in producing “The Passion of the Christ” and through his charitable contributions. Historically, individuals who have been specially gifted, blessed and graced by God have had to endure equally powerful temptations and assaults from the Adversary. Mel Gibson’s personal weaknesses are being exploited to a great extent, in a very public way, and he is in need of prayer.

Quote: “Gibson is well-known as a more conservative than the Pope Catholic and his most recent outburst was cited as evidence that religious conservatives are often hypocrites and just plain nasty characters.”
I have to vehemently disagree with the above comment regarding “religious conservatives”. This is not a true characterization of Mel Gibson and others who are actually “fringe right extremists” (as there is a fringe left extremism). Both these types are not true Roman Catholics because they are not in line with the teachings of the Pope and Magisterium of the Church.
There are, within the framework of the Roman Catholic Church, those who prefer to stay with more traditional prayer, music, etc, and then there are those who don’t mind a few innovative changes in music and style, but they are not on the fringes, as is Mel and others like him who say that the Pope is not legitimate; or those who pick and choose what they want to believe, so-called cafeteria Catholics, who clearly go against the teachings of the Church, many of whom are showcased in top governmental positions.
There is a great difference and I hope that you, John, will not continue to characterize the term “religious conservatives”, a large segment of innocent people within the Church who are not doing any harm to anyone, but merely enjoying a way of worship which is legitimate and part of the tradition of Roman Catholicism, as “often hypocrits and nasty characters”. I find this to be most offensive and uncharitable.

Case in point on why nobody should ever get drunk!
People always say, when a man or woman is drunk and does something crazy and stupid, “he or she is such a nice person, but they are just drunk”.
Societies have not been taught that getting drunk is not only very dangerous mentally and physically, but will mortally wound man’s Soul.
Example: the High School students that drinks usually drinks to get drunk and the parents continue to enable them by allowing them to drink. In some cases the parents even encourage them because they are idiots. These days the women act like sex obsessed crazed bimbos, drinking in college and stripping their clothes off in public. They absolutely have no modesty nor self-respect along with a foul mouth; which is a very poor example of what a real woman is born to be. It is bad enough for a man to be so hateful and have a filthy mouth, let alone, a woman degrading herself by mirroring the man that is pushing filth and acting like the devil.
Mel Gibson knew he should not drink because it is like poison to his physical being and would poison his mind. He was very selfish and self-centered on how he treated his family because he wanted to do his own thing with this bimbo. If he had just gotten drunk and mouthed off and tried to get back on track, with his family, that would have been different. However, he got drunk one too many times, which is dangerous to one’s Soul, he completely up-rooted his family and clearly hurt them very much for his own selfishness. There are many cases in America just like Mel’s but because they are not movie stars nothing is written about them. The devil is very clever and can out-smart any man or woman, if need be. So without Jesus; Mel will do nothing heroic or pleasing. Let’s hope that he sees the Truth,the Way, and the Light.

i agree with the last comment. because of the great movie the passion of the christ, mel gibson is under such a great attack from the evil one. we all have fallen, and still fall and are in great need of redemption. The end of his long time marriage, the affair with the girlfriend, the drinking; all these bad choices have caused him and his family much pain. When the writer speaks of hypocricy in the church, it is true we are guilty, but God in his great mercy came to set captives free and the church is the hospital for sick people. Hopefully, we can look to HIM, repent of our hypocritical ways, accept forgiveness and become what He intends for us to become. I too pray for Mel Gibson and his family. What the devil trys to destroy, God in His great mercy can restore, only He can take what seems so hopeless and turn it into some beautiful.

May our good Lord and God have mercy on Mr. Gibson. I pray that both he and his father will be brought into the truth and light of Christ.
What a beautiful and life changing gift he gave us in The Passion Of The Christ. Surely, the Holy Spirit inspired him and he responded in apositive manner. Yes, he is flawed as we all are. Yes, he is a sinner as we all are. Jesus died on the cross for him too and so he is more than deserving of our prayers, compassion,mercy and understanding. I am and will be praying for him in a special way because I truly believe he too loves our Lord, is aware of his own faults and failures and desires to do good rather than evil. God Bless you and yours always Mel.

Oh give me a break!
What total drivel this article is! Mel Gibson is a sinner no worse than anybody on this planet, in fact much better! Does he have problems? of course, who doesn’t! but how people love to throw stones who live in glass houses…Mel has raised 8 kids not one of them in trouble with the law! good and decent people, he loves his family, he has done so much for the poor without alcolade! he was vilified beyond belief for making the Passion of the Christ* shunned by heathen *Hollywood Liberals* does he have a drinking problem? YES many of people do..So let’s crucify him for what he has said out of drunkeness and anger, I just wish I had a *Tape Recorder* so I could hear all those people accussing Mel, to what they say in private or under the influence..Worry about Iran who wants to NUKE Israel off the earth, however it was never about caring for the Jews it is about getting Mel.

All we can do is pray for him. Whether you know the facts… or think I‘m a zooillogical homonid, doesn’t matter. All of U.S. are movin’ toward Heaven or Hell every second of this Finite Existence. Why-O-why don’t you pick Heaven? Most of U.S. don’t know HOW anymore. Ah! Thank you, Lord Jesus! Precisely why He sed, ‘Make a blog, son.’ God blessa youse -Fr. Sarducci, ol SNL

I truly believe that Mel Gibson is under attack from the evil one. When anyone turns towards the Lord, as is evidenced by Mel’s great work in the film, The Passion, the devil seeks to destroy their religious fervour. Mel is a powerful, influential person who can work wonders in the Lord’s vineyard. His public troubles, rants and DUI etc. appears to have started after the Passion…so let’s pray for him and I hope he continues his path towards God.

Some of the greatest saints were also the worst sinners. I am not saying that Mel is a saint, but he is a sinner as we all are. All the good work he has done and does is like a knife in the devil’s soul and satan will always attack those who do good in the name of the Lord. If a person is happy living the “modern life” and is removed from God, Satan has no need to attack you. he has you alrady. I don’t condone any of Mel Gibson’s alleged actions. All I can do is pray for him to be saved from the enslaught the evil one has unleashed on him.

“Gibson is well-known as a more conservative than the Pope Catholic and his most recent outburst was cited as evidence that religious conservatives are often hypocrites and just plain nasty characters.
That’s true enough — and not a point I would really dispute.”
It’s not true enough – any more than I would carelessly say, “Religious liberals are often hypocrites and just plain nasty characters. That’s true enough — and not a point I would really dispute.”
The fact is, we are all hypocrites – but not all share the same spotlight as a Mel Gibson with a merciless press on his hells hell bent on destroying the credibility of the creator of a movie that converted thousands to Christianity. We all have our flaws – and if we had the guts to share our faith as publicly – our flaws would glare even brighter because of the sharing of that faith which is given to us to correct those flaws.
The devil accuses and condemns….not Christians. While Mel’s actions have been obscene, is it the duty of as Christians to pick him apart and shine the spotlight on his frailties? Or should it not be our duty to pray for him and encourage him considering our own shortcomings as imperfect human beings, and that we are not to fall prey to the popular culture in crucifying a brother in Christ?
It’s not prudent to hide the actions of someone capable of hurting others in the Church – but we hate the sin and love the sinner – ….but does this article really and truthfully portray love for Mel Gibson? No matter if the man is liberal, lukewarm, or conservative….by the mere fact that he calls himself Christian, warrants that fellow brothers and sisters in Christ aid him and not climb on the cultural crucifixion bandwagon.
God bless,
Tim

Brenda is right. Mel came under intense attack after he made the Passion movie. The Enemy always brings a withering attack upon those who lead others to Christ in a high profile fashion. I don’t think Mel was spiritually prepared for what he started. He should be prayed for. I’m sure he is responsible for many people turning to Christ.
Dave

Thanks for an enlightening article. I cannot argue with any points that were made. I have always liked Mel Gibson, and have always been impressed with his films. Although I don’t know him personally, it doesn’t take a Psychotrist to figure that Mr. Gibson has more than one demon lurking around him. It’s funny/strange though, ever since “The Passion of the Christ” came out, it’s as if the demon’s have been more enraged. Actually, I hadn’t really heard of anything negative about Mel Gibson until “The Passion” was released. Strange how that works, huh? I’ll repeat what others have written, all we can do is pray for Mel, and hope that he finds whatever it is he’s looking for.

Sorry-Psychiatrist

It seem to me that Mr. Gibson is possed a deamon. He did such a beautifuljob on the Passion of the Christ, which brought about meny confersions. This angers the devil. And Mr. Gibson has let his spirtual guard down and the deamons were free to enter him.
He need our prayers, love and a good Excerist. May God have mercy on
him and us.
In Jesus and Mary
Margaret

When Mel Gibson did the movie Apocalypto he got involve with the Mayan tribe to get the feel of their culture for the movie and some of those people are into witchcraft. I think doing the movie Apocalypto his life took a downward turn and one never knows what evil spirits that he picked up and is haunting him.

Lord I pray a hedge of protection around Mel Gibson and I pray he comes back to the Catholic Church – under our Pope Benedict the 16
I praise you Lord and Thank you for making Mel. I know you are angry with the way people treat Mel- he is like an island by himself. People who are pagan against Mel should not talk. unless you are Catholic you should not judge you have no idea the spritual warfare this man is under. The temptations. Jews myself included need to forgive and realize it is Satan bothering him and he needs deliverance and peace. Pagans go worship your self and see where you go when you die. Heaven and Hell are real places. Leave Mel Alone especially the dumb media- trash talk shows like ET and the insider spiritually grow up will you. You too will be held accountable for your unforgiving relentless badgering of people trying to do God’s will. God Bless you Mel Gibson- I would like to work with you on several movies. I think you are brilliant – I hope you read this. God Loves you Mel and Traditional Catholics who have a prayer life love you too. Peace.

I’ll try and keep this succinct. GOD Bless the folks whose comments included intercessive prayer as forthcoming for Mr. Gibson. I’m just not sure of the calculus relative to volume necessary. Not so much is my guess. Regardless of the words, Mr. Gibson seems to exhibit more frustration and passion as opposed to or rather than anger. Seeing him when he initiates a tirade would help BUT I’ll guess he’s screaming his head off, using vile, insulting language, epithets and he’s red in the face – his body on the other hand, this is a guess remember, is rather quiet. He’s probably NOT stepping into the person, gesticulating wildly with clenched fists or threatening them with physical violence(your mentioning this, as “is said to” is duly noted Mr. Kennedy, I’d like to read a transcript, indifference will prevent that – thankfully) or murder directly. I may be wildly off base, wrong, not having heard the tape. I’m indifferent, can’t care about these trap plays run for sport or personal destruction. Silly distractions. OK, to my point, there is no psychiatry, no psychology. If you’re being driven by your unconscious mind? Apply the brakes, shift to park, turn off ignition, remove key, exit vehicle, lock and close door, toss keys as far as you are able. GET OVER IT! Walk out. The Book of Excuses has it’s roots in 19th century Europe and arrived on America’s shores due to circumstance. We had no colleges, university’s that offered advanced degrees in the social sciences. The Europeans on the other hand had a few generations of wealthy, guilt ridden(colonialism = $$$$ for nothing), thinkers(?), faux philosophers, never had a job, never been in a fist fight types who spent their time talking, drinking, drugging, engaging in sexual activity as if it were pre-Moses and generally being useless with the exception of building on and bricking in, the Book of Excuses. Americans flocked to Europe to get papered up with advanced degrees in the social sciences, returned home with their paper and poison, spread that sh……. uh, wealth around. It was the beginning of the end. Progressives – insidious, relentless, the personification of evil. Remember? Harvard, Princeton, Yale all Divinity Schools. You remember. We’ve been lied to, continue to be lied to and most of us believe it. Lied to? Deceived? Who owns that descriptor? Does Mr. Gibson need prayer? Just like the rest of us I suppose. I’d only suggest you don’t push anybody from your sick list, dying list, family list to accommodate Mr. Gibson’s projection of frustration, passion. As for an Exorcism? I’m available although Mr. Gibson would not make the cut. heh ;~)

In the same way that all life on earth is experiencing ongoing evolution, so it is also with our souls. Have you ever asked ourselves why some people just seem to be of a higher quality than others? Could it be that they have endured more incarnations and thus have more experience on earth? Are they more apt to listen to their intuition to know what constitutes right behaviour among their fellow men?
Each one of us, including Mel Gibson is a work in progess. If we were already perfect we would not need to be here. In place of finger pointing and condemnation, might we consider the phrase, “everything is as it should be” and concern ourselves more with improving our fallible selves…

Everyone knows that Mel Gibson is an alcoholic. That is a disease in itself, stop blaming his Catholicism for his behavior. I’m sure he is sincere about his faith, but alcohol, when its overdone causes people to act irrationally. It is a equal to being a drug addict.

I personally believe that if every Christian prayed for Mel Gibson, he would be a changed man. I intend to start praying for him today

John, You make some good points, however I sense a slight bit of condescension on your part towards the so-called, “hypocrisy” of Religious Conservatives. I have been Catholic my entire 52 years of my life. The first 30 years of my life, I bought into pretty much every kind of liberal agenda that was indoctrinated into me by those in power within the church. For quite awhile, I felt empty inside, and unfulfilled, until I met a friend who had gotten back to her roots in a more conservative branch of the church. She taught me the value of things such as prayer, and how to rediscover the true doctrinal foundations of the Church, things which were all but abandoned by liberal theology. I personally believe that many Catholics leave their church because they have suffered poor formation programs and don’t know the full spectrum of what their church has to offer. So, please don’t insinuate that Conservative Catholics are “…hypocrites and just plain nasty characters.. There are imperfect human beings in all facets of life. We need to continue to try and help Mr. Gibson with our prayers.

This is in no way an excuse, but from my experience working in the psych field, he seems to fit the profile of a Manic Depressive, now called Bi Polar. They’re often very talented, gifted people, and when they’re off the wall, they’re OFF the wall.
In his biography, he often spoke about rushing back to his wife after making a movie as an anchor of his sanity and sobriety. She was the balancing and grounding influence for him. And that was gone when they split up.
And he did grow up in an obsessive dictatorial fanatical version of a Catholic home, which is not to be mistaken as a devout Catholic home. VERY DIFFERENT!! It could very well be that his father was also Bi Polar, with a good dose of paranoia.
He needs prayer big time. But he has it within him to come back to sobriety. And pray for him to hit his bottom, so he can walk the path back as the prodigal son.

Mr. Kennedy wrote:
“…religious conservatives are often hypocrites and just plain nasty characters. That’s true enough — and not a point I would really dispute.”
It’s kind of ironic that Mr. Kennedy takes the time to point out Mr. Gibson’s racist rants… while at the same time making an equally harmful and discriminatory statement of “religious conservatives.”
And what is a religious conservative? Someone who stands by what they believe without wavering? Who does not compromise when the rest of the world’s morality drifts like a log on the ocean? Is this conviction what he means by “legalistic dogma” — beliefs that are based in moral absolutes?
I, then, am a “religious conservative”. I commend Mr. Kennedy’s sense of compassion and approach to Mel Gibson who, he rightly points out, has fallen tragically off the rails. But all the “compassion” and “love” in the world cannot put out the flame of truth. Love and truth are like two lungs, or the left and right side of a brain. Something suffers terribly when one or the other is missing. Unfortunately, it seems Mr. Kennedy’s good heart has mistaken some truths to simply be “legalistic dogma” or downright “nasty.”
But truth is always loving, even when it’s hard. Some religious conservatives are indeed nasty. But many, like John Paul II or Mother Teresa, are beautiful souls that bring light into the darkness. I think it is better to throw labels away and simply recognize that the problem today is not religion, but individual hearts who commit evil while carrying the banner of religion.
Let’s not cut down the whole tree when it’s one or two or branches that need to be pruned.

SAD, Come on, Sad, unless your editors made you write bad things about Mel, then there is a bigger problem. If you as a journalist could wipe your tears, and explain even the need for you to write such libel against your fellow man,churning vile accusations, alleged, or what, witnessed by you? You speak of this as a matter of fact, when the Semantics are in the context of Mel Gibson and his partners break-up. Do you Know Why they are splitting, is it because of her behavior, or the way she dresses when she goes out? Had she cheated on him or does she dance up the guys when she’s out??? Was it his drinking, Is he an alcoholic, diagnosed by Doctor Ted Kennedy, Sounds like The Politician, another Ted Kennedy who legislated to increase immagration from up to a hundred thousand a year, to over a million a year and to include extended family so millions of people could legally come here from countries who swear to kill us any chance they get. What should we believe (and why are we talking about this anyway, when there are very real issues with which we should occupy our thoughts and minds! Your extremely small perspective, and i KNOW what OUR CREATOR thinks about that, you (and i) of such a small mind! i for one have a huge problem with those that he rants about, namely those jewish pornogrichas that parade through the media trying to show the “good” and culturally accepted alternative lifestyles or Degrading The natural role models that are historic and accurate, music that is rotten to the core, our news that does not report it is all up and down our channels, purportedly for the public good, or did that requirement get thrown out with the aborted baby in the bath water, What the hell is wrong with you? have you read any of our presidents past, way past farewell addresses. They are no more vitrolic, they come right to the point, Do you see any incidences of coincidences with any of the corporate business leaders, Please do not take all of those that he has ranted about and paint them with the same brush, as there are good and evil in all races etc. As it is the corporate charter that is wrong, but that it puts too much power in the hands of those that run them to the detriment of all local populations, their is just a greater concentration of jewish owners that have reaped ruin on humanity, whether a village in Africa or a town in America etc, etc. either you are a shill for the devil or you are of —, Funny how Why did Mel do what you say he did, i would venture to GUESS, which is what you are doing here! out of frustration, observation and actual experience that people from Jewish backgrounds who hold increaing high office in this country, are promoting Gay lifestyles all over our TV, Radio, print and the internet. They have Perpetuated the Charging of USURY (which HE hates , by the way)They are behind Debt as an instrument to create wealth.And wars, and more. the government or scepter should remain with the tribe of Judah until the advent of the Messiah; then “to him shall be the obedience of the peoples,” to him they will adhere. That is, the scepter shall then not be confined to the tribe of Judah, but, as the prophets later explain, it shall be extended to all peoples on earth at the time of the Messiah. Read your Bible, I wrote way more into this than i wanted, it is late, I did not mean to offend yourself or any of your readers but it was what i was thinking after i read the article.( which by the way i wish i never read to begin with, but had to comment, also this is the first comment i have ever made, Thank you for the oportunity, Jim

Oh give me a break. He is to be criticized for his divorce and adultery, not for these comments. So he said the “n” word and made a comment about his mistress getting raped by blacks? Big deal. It’s only a natural concern. So he’s honest enough to know that the jews are a cancer? Big deal, it’s only the truth.

Mel Gibson’s predicament is a little more than the result of degenerative alcoholism coupled with perhaps mental pathology. Mr. Gibson has poked the bear with a stick. He fired a salvo in the direction of the darkside, and it was quite a salvo, and failed to maintain his protection and self restraint. Mel Gibson has fallen prey to massive demonic influence, there is no doubt in my mind. As a result of perhaps mere religious sentimentalism, Mr. Gibson is now in serious trouble. As with Mr. Gibson, many of us have a religion that is only skin deep, a reminiscence of the comfort of our childhood instead of a deeply rooted commitment to the Living God. The tragedy of Mel Gibson has yet to be played out. Sad to say, I see a dark ending.
KJ Atkins
St. Benedict’s Guild
Louisville, KY

Whatever the cause of Mel Gibson’s recent meltdowns, psychological illness or just his weak nature, I think it is a shame that the man who gave the world The Passion of the Christ, should fall so low. Instead of criticizing him, though, for his sins, I prefer to pray that the fire of faith that permeated his soul when he produced The Passion of the Christ, will come alive again. For someone who believes as he does, it must be spiritual torture to live with the choices he has made, especially about leaving his wife and fathering a child with another woman.

….evidence that religious conservatives are often hypocrites and just plain nasty characters.
Really? It was here that I stopped reading, as it became clear that you had not one valid point to make.

heh I hope that Jim Kearny gets a new comment notification from this web site. You know, if you’re a regular commenter or you enable new comment notification, like that. I became exasperated going over the blocked scripts list, allowing them one at a time, so, maybe this site doesn’t do that? Regardless. Jim, if a person has a physical malady, illness, effecting their behavior, of course they need treatment from a physician, occupational therapist or perhaps someone adept at providing avoidance training. For example, your example, definitely a physical problem, body chemistry is akimbo. Perhaps you(the greater you)were dropped on your head as an infant, twice. Your synapses are gapped too far apart, too close together. One or more of your senses are impaired, you’re not getting enough input and/or the input is misinterpreted. Fetal alcohol syndrome. Oxygen deprivation. Mom was a crack head. Point taken? I’m sure. On the other hand, IF, you’ve been doing the wrong thing, bad things, since you were a small child, grew to like it because it’s the easy way and now you simply want to say you’re sorry, get a free pass, offering the explanation of how your Mother always had the wrong color lights on the Christmas tree, boo hoo some of them were burned out too. Nope. That’s the kind of stuff comes from the Book of Excuses. With me? Received 5X5? ;~)

heh I hope that Jim Kearny gets a new comment notification from this web site. You know, if you’re a regular commenter or you enable new comment notification, like that. I became exasperated going over the blocked scripts list, allowing them one at a time, so, maybe this site doesn’t do that? Regardless. Jim, if a person has a physical malady, illness, effecting their behavior, of course they need treatment from a physician, occupational therapist or perhaps someone adept at providing avoidance training. For example, your example, definitely a physical problem, body chemistry is akimbo. Perhaps you(the greater you)were dropped on your head as an infant, twice. Your synapses are gapped too far apart, too close together. One or more of your senses are impaired, you’re not getting enough input and/or the input is misinterpreted. Fetal alcohol syndrome. Oxygen deprivation. Mom was a crack head. Point taken? I’m sure. On the other hand, IF, you’ve been doing the wrong thing, bad things, since you were a small child, grew to like it because it’s the easy way and now you simply want to say you’re sorry, get a free pass, offering the explanation of how your Mother always had the wrong color lights on the Christmas tree, boo hoo some of them were burned out too. Nope. That’s the kind of stuff comes from the Book of Excuses. With me? Received 5X5? ;~)

I could no longer stand watching the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church. Jesus espoused qualities such as love, forgiveness, caring for people on the fringe of society and humility. Most high ranking organized religious folk represent the complete opposite: narrow-mindedness, judgment, disdain for anyone who isn’t like them, and a sense of self importance.
When you have the head of the church (the Pope) telling little children not to talk about being raped, or blaming the media for bringing this crime to the forefront, Catholics have completely lost touch with reality.
The institution has gotten so far away from what Jesus taught. It’s more about pomp, circumstance, dogma and control rather than embracing loving ideals.
That, and the fact that women are treated like second class citizens will be the undoing of the Catholic Church. Women are either whores or virgins (nowhere in between), and they will NEVER be allowed to serve as priests. As if men somehow have an exclusive right to God.
I look at the declining attendance at my parents’ church. The demographics are relegated to blue-hairs and foreigners. Unless the Catholic church re-evaluates what Jesus’ original message was, it is surely doomed to implode. I now embrace spirituality and live a good life, doing nice deeds for others and being a normal person. I try not to hurt anyone, and I laugh a lot. I no longer attend Sunday mass. I’ve decided that I don’t need a kiddie rapist to tell me I’m going to burn in hell because I had communion without going to confession first. It’s ridiculous and hypocritical.

@Former Catholic
I think it is YOU that have lost the message of Jesus. If you ever were a Catholic, one thing a properly formed Catholic will know is, “It’s not about me.” And that’s what it’s about for you….YOU. You make it evident that you aren’t a Catholic due to a laundry list of cliche reasons repeated so often these days, that if Jesus hadn’t started the Church Himself, you and others like you, would love to see the whole Church destroyed. But……it was Jesus who founded His Church – and the only one that can make that claim validly and have that claim supported by historical proof is the Roman Catholic Church. It is in the Catholic Church that Christ still dwells fully – wholly on Earth – in the tabernacles all throughout the world.
Jesus, being the Alpha and the Omega, is the fulfillment of the whole Bible – prophesied from the very start – Genesis – and revealed in the Holy Eucharist in Revelation. Our God is a perfect God and the Old Law WAS and still IS perfect but man, due to his fallen nature, could not keep one single covenant with God. Through all the liturgical preparations God’s Chosen were taught down to minute detail in the Old Testament, were only paving the way for how Jesus Himself would perfectly worship His Father in the New Testament. Christ, being a Jew, fulfilled the Old Law on behalf of all of us so that a New Covenant could be put in place….from the grace of Christ fulfilling the Old Law – comes the power in which we are able to practice this New Covenant. Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, was the conduit of that grace. There is one way to receive the full power to live the New Covenant with Christ – and that is to become one with Him in Holy Communion. To know you are truly becoming one with Christ, and receiving him in Holy Communion, there must be present a priest, victim, and sacrifice on the altar…but that’s not where the Communion ends….we must consume the sacrifice. The Old Testament foreshadows this – and predicts that others would try to offer sacrifice but only an ordained priest from one tribe could validly offer sacrifice. The Levites. Clear back in Genesis, the Holy Trinity reveals the offering of bread and wine in the HIGH PRIEST, Melchizedek, and it is THIS form of offering to the Father that Christ comes to institute.
Just as with the Old Testament sacrifices, no sacrifice was complete until the victim was consumed by those seeking atonement. So it is in the New Testament. Christ offering Himself up on the altar of the cross, instructed the Apostles and commissioned them to celebrate the Last Supper so that He – Christ – may be consumed. He is the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The ‘breaking of the bread’ seen in the letters and epistles of the New Testament – St. Paul speaks of. Some will argue the sacrifice of the altar was destroyed. Because no sacrifice on the altar was truly perfect in the Old Testament – only one, the High Priest Christ becoming the victim Himself – can perfect the Sacrifice of the Altar. Christ, predicting the tepidity of his disciples – made clear to them, that unless they eat His Body and drink His Blood, they do not have life within them.
So it is today – feeling and emotion driven folks like yourself – have strayed from the ONLY Church Christ founded. You feed on the Word – but your faith cannot allow you to feed on the Word made flesh. No other Church can offer sacrifice because their ‘priests’ are NOT validly ordained for they do not come from Apostolic Succession. A human being started their churches. Nowhere in the Bible will you find evidence of a human being founding a Church. Apostolic Succession, therefore, is lost within those churches….no matter how good their intentions are, they will never be able to offer the Holy Sacrifice that Christ commissioned His Apostles with – forsaking the Life Christ promises them. They may accidentally stumble upon the Way and the Truth – but there is no more sure way to know the Way, the Truth, and the Life, than through the only Church Christ instituted.
Christ lives – fully – not just spiritually – in the tabernacles of the Holy Catholic Church. Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity – He waits for all God’s children to sit at this Table and dine with Him – offering Himself as their food. It is His desire that there only be One Bread, One Body, and it can be witnessed in His High Priestly Prayer before His death in John 17.

To Luke1_28:
Thank you for validating my point about the cogregation’s intolerance toward anyone who disagrees with the Catholic dogma. So much for not being judgmental. Namaste.