Turn Back The Clock

Okay, okay, I know I've said that I'm going to reduce my bitching on this blog but I was raised Catholic so I can't help but marvel at the Pope's recent statements. Its been clear for a while that that the Catholic Church's prime effort is to try to turn back the hands of time.

Pope Benedict recently released the Apostolic Exhortation, which, among other things, attempts to exert Church control over Catholic politicians, especially on "moral" issues such as abortion and gay marriage (but perhaps not on war and the death penalty?) -- it reads in part, "Catholic politicians and legislators, conscious of their grave responsibility before society, must feel particularly bound, on the basis of a properly formed conscience, to introduce laws inspired by values grounded in human nature..."

Yes, Benedict isn't even trying to hide it anymore, he's expecting strict obedience from politicians and even the laity on the very issues where a person's conscience is most likely to cause him to disagree with the Vatican -- case in point, a lesbian couple in Wyoming was just informed that they are no longer permitted to receive communion... now here's the kicker -- its not because they're lesbians. No, they've been denied communion because they publicly opposed a bill that would deny Wyoming from recognizing gay marriages. Yes, dare to oppose the Vatican and be punished.

But wait, there's more! Along with the staples of any papal missive, railing against divorce and gay marriage and referring to priestly celibacy as "a priceless treasure," Benedict is championing the return of Latin and Gregorian Chant. Turn back the clock, indeed. Holy 1400s!