Tag Archives: religion

TO: Pope Leo XIV

Posted on May 9, 2025 | Leave a comment

FROM: Donald J Trump

I guess congratulations are in order, even though the cardinals wanted a bleeding-heart liberal, socialist, marxist as pope. At least you’re partly American, less all the time you spent in a third world country as that is really suspect. There are brown people down there, did you even know that?

Since I auditioned for your job (see White House post with me in papal robes) you are probably awed by me even though the cardinals only picked you because they thought two jobs might be a stretch for me. I told them it wouldn’t be, because when I’m not being cruel to women, LGBTQ+, and ethnic minorities or rigging the 2026-28 elections I spend most of my time on the golf course. But you’re probably not secure enough in your masculinity, because of all your empathy and all, to meet me in person. I get that. Well, I don’t really because I’m proud of never having thoughts of shame or inadequacy in my entire life.

I guess you and your brothers didn’t get the message the other day. I hear MAGA sent each of you an expensive bottle of wine and a promise that conservative Catholics in the USA would raise a billion dollars for the church if you voted for my choice for il pepe or whatever you CATHOLIC DO-GOODERS call the top gig. But no, you made the wrong choice… AGAIN.

So here are my terms. Vatican City will have a tariff rate of 1,000 percent unless you promise to undo all DEI activities in ithe Church, stop feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, healing the sick and protecting the environment. All Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and Priests must refuse to celebrate Mass for women, gays and illegal immigrants (which includes green cards).

Everyone in your employ must send Elon Musk a detailed inventory of everything they do each week, including content of all confessions with full name and contact info. Or I WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE AWAY YOUR CHARITABLE STATUS AND SEIZE ALL CHURCH PROPERTY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Again, congratulations and as long as you abide by my rules, in six months we may be able to talk about a potential tariff reduction. IF you only speak ENGLISH from now on, no more Italian, Spanish, Portuguese or especially Latin.

MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!! DJT

Hope on Pope

Posted on April 24, 2025 | 3 comments

I’ve a checkered history with the Roman Catholic Church. Of course Dad signed off his parental rights as a Lutheran before my parents got married as Mom promised to raise us four kids Catholic. The first two she did, white gloves and hats and all, plus weekly CCD. But there was hope. She actually checked out the public and Catholic schools in our small village and thought that public school would provide me a better foundational education, coupled with religious ed after school every Wednesday taught by the nuns at St. Joe’s. Then she had the guts to go on the pill (I found them and asked) and her, and our, road to a Catholic heaven was tarnished forever.

I was destined for H*** anyway. The nuns hammered home that in distinguishing venial from mortal sin, taking an extra cookie from the jar vs. murdering my neighbor, I got that. Then they told me that missing Mass even once was a mortal sin from which one could never recover, no passing Go or collecting $200. Ever. Mom got the flu one week and we missed Mass. Dad the Lutheran spent Sunday mornings awaiting our return by making pancake breakfast so he was no help taking us to Mass. Seven years old and I was doomed.

Still, the Catholic church loomed large. Every Good Friday Mom read aloud the Passion. We went to Easter Mass and celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. After we moved to the big city of Washington, D.C. we attended mass less often, but my soul had a solid grounding in morality and shame due to Mass, catechism and parental teachings. Plus, I found out that Lutherans could actually sing on key and knew all the hymnal verses, not just the first two and the refrain, like us.

I chose a liberal arts school that was run by O.F.M., the Franciscans and still respect the lessons of St. Francis. I was very pleased that in the latest conclave the cardinals chose their first Latin American and Jesuit priest to be Pope. While he did not cement much new doctrine on the faith, I appreciate Pope Francis for identifying with the Common Man (and woman, and gay celebrant), dealing with the church’s shameful past in terms of child sexual abuse, and returning to Jesus’ most basic philosophies of tending to the world’s neediest in terms of food, health and housing.

In an age of glorification of personal wealth, extreme selfishness and cruelty to anyone deemed “other” for any reason, Pope Francis was a breath of fresh air. His death is a great loss felt around the world by the HRC church’s 1.3 billion adherents.

It is my fervent hope that the upcoming conclave will not succumb to the rightward shift our world politics (led by the USA) has taken, bringing us back to Medieval times by ultra-conservative priests and their acolytes, strengthened by “born-again Catholics” like JD Vance.

In college, I attended Mass seldom but, having gone through Vatican II in the sixties, I enjoyed the one Latin Mass in our small college city. I have retained respect for the priests and brothers, especially my Advisor, who spent summers with the Hopi and was best known for his killer Sociology lesson on Barbie. But I soured on the Catholic church mainly because of its attitudes towards women (and lack of meaningful power in the Church), marriage and sexuality.

I’ve actually found a Catholic church and a Mass this weekend in the tiny Trumpian town In which my husband and I are temporarily located, and will attend in honor and memory of the first Internet Pope, Francis as he is laid to rest outside St. Peter’s Basilica. A fitting honor to a pope of the people. And hope for the future of the world’s Catholics and all other living beings.

For the “christian” zealots who show only cruelty to the poor, sick, elderly, homeless and “others” the rule is not “do unto others before they can stick it to you” but “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31. Try to remember that and tell it to the Heritage Foundation, and Leonard Leo please.

As the small town priest will say when he dismisses us on Sunday morning, go in peace to love and serve the Lord. May peace be with you all. Dee

P.S. Sorry to be AWOL for a while. Part of the reason I’m temporarily relocated to TX is to help my m-i-l recover from hip replacement surgery (done and four weeks convalescence to go) and I’m now on my second bout of walking pneumonia which has really taken the get-up-and-go out of me. Much to do! d

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Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged catholic, christianity, do unto others, faith, Pope Francis, religion

Heaven

Posted on December 11, 2015 | 1 comment

Yes, it’s for angels. It’s a Wonderful Life. Clarence rings the bell.

I read that Pope Francis is about to let Jews into Heaven. Permit me some space.

In college I was forced to take two philosophy courses and two religion courses, they were all religion. One philosophy course, the Friar said don’t think, just repeat what I tell you on the weekly multiple choice exam.

Forced into a religion course because the teacher (not a Friar) didn’t have enough students to stay, I took American Evangelical Tradition. I was 18 and didn’t know better. He was called “D for Dalton.” He gave everyone a D.

We learned about speaking in tongues, snake handling and tent revivals and he told us we’d have to do doctoral-level work. I was 18. I wrote my 20-page thesis on the financial practices of Billy Graham. He didn’t like it and gave me a D.

Dad told me if I ever got anything under a C, I would be taken out of school and have to leave home and get work without a degree. I was paying 1/3 of my tuition and wasn’t allowed to work during school. At summer break I packed everything up and went home to tearfully tell him I got a D. He asked what happened, then said “it was only religion. And I said a D average!”

Yes, I was Deans’ List after that and started going to Mass. Even getting rides to a Latin Mass downtown. My priest, mentor, advisor, teacher and friend died last year.

I do not know what will happen to me, or about heaven. I am glad the HRC church decided on a Franciscan, for once, who cares about living beings. As a lapsed Catholic, I wonder what authority he has to allow Jews into heaven. If it’s the Heaven I envision the Jewish people have been there for many thousands of years and do not need Pope Francis to gain entry.

Perhaps if I’d written my thesis on this I might have gotten an A. Or a B, he didn’t give out A’s. Just my thoughts as I watch the sunrise. Dee

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Posted in Editorial

Tagged heaven, religion

Saints and Sinners

Posted on August 4, 2014 | Leave a comment

I’ve been lucky to know a few saints. No, they were not awarded sainthood by the Holy Roman Catholic church but are saints to me.

One who comes to mind is the gentleman I met first day of college orientation who was somewhat bereft of a bed so slept on a blanket outside our dorm room. I found him the next morning. Though our talks and his writings I learned to know more about myself and what I was capable of being.

To my college advisor, with whom I must schedule lunch 1,000 miles away per our phone conversation last week, he gave me great advice and then got me out of a tough situation my senior year. We’ve kept in touch for nearly 40 years. He is a saint and perhaps his miracle is me as I learned that knowledge is power and that to trust is a miracle in itself.

My great aunt O taught me to love food and friends and enjoy being with folks who, partly thanks to my efforts, are covered by policies that prohibit discrimination in housing and employment due to perceived sexual orientation and now allow same sex couples to marry.

To my aunts L and J, for keeping a dictionary in the bathroom and making me learn a word every time I went in there. They also taught me how to cook, and to taste something they made without asking the ingredients. Yes, they introduced me to the splendiferousness of blue cheese.

To St. Francis of Assisi, I know he’s already a saint. He helped me in my volunteerism and advocacy for animals over two decades. I’ve yet to see Assisi but have seen his robe in Siena.

There are certain saints among us every day, including my friend Dan who passed recently. He took care of old people in nursing homes and was gifted.

Is there a saint in us? I’d like to prove that now rather than wait the the HRC to recognize me 500 years hence. Cheers, Dee

What Would Michelangelo Buanarotti Think?

Posted on March 12, 2013 | 2 comments

Cardinals do not know to whom to pray, so go to the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican in order to elect the next pope because a master, Michelangelo, defined it for them. Perhaps it shows all the Christians think that there is birth, death, and many stories in between. Perhaps a deity.

I have never been Catholic. Yes, I was baptised, and had my holy communion. I had questions about the church early on. I didn’t know about other religions yet or about how to question faith or the existence of God.

Today in the background the Sistine Chapel is about to close for conclave and I am in tears, because this is a venerable exercise where every eligible cardinal swears to be true to the new pope. In my sarcasm, I wonder why they deny Cardinals over age 80 to vote but still be in their current posts.

I must give thanks to my favorite fathers of the Roman Catholic Church, who guided me through college, both Franciscans: Fr. John (deceased) and Fr. Cap.

A nun told me at age six that because my mother had the flu and didn’t drive us to church I was doomed to hell (a mortal, not venial sin). Imagine telling that to a little kid. I went to public school, because it was a small village and the public school was better. We still had to walk to church school once a week and go to Mass on Sundays. Now I have to thank neighbor Gil.

Then, through a twist of fate I went to a liberal arts college that turned out to be Franciscan and I started to go to church again, occasionally, and even started to go downtown to the one of the last Latin masses in our town.

The last Cardinals are taking the oath now and one is from my new town, never knew we had a Cardinal here.

I have a prayer: May this unprecedented incident of the Pope’s resignation and his continued existence not influence or undermine this Conclave; May a worthy person take this seat; May the serious flaws in judgment and management, especially of sexual abuse, be remedied in all ways possible; and may the Church finally recognize the role of women as Priests and more reproductive freedom for faithful Catholics.

Yes, I’ve thought a lot about God and religion over many years and find they have little to do with each other. Certain aspects of this election do intrigue me, however, because that’s how I grew up. The priest would not allow my parents to marry (my father was a Lutheran) until he relinquished religious care to my mother.

It’s interesting that the talking heads say this sounds “political” but it cannot be because it’s somewhat “godly” because everything is politics, everywhere. Even you work at a convenience store, it’s all politics. In nominus patri, Dee

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Posted in Editorial

Tagged cardinals, existence of god, pope, religion, Roman Catholic church, Sistine Chapel