First, a reality check. We are in the twenty-first century, aren’t we? This isn’t some kind of dream, is it? An alternative universe?
Just checking. Because, you see, there’s this chap in Italy – well, some “state” called the Vatican or Holy See or something where strange people live, but it’s in Rome, which is in Italy – called the Pope (otherwise known as Joseph Ratzinger, formerly of the Hitler Youth) who has ordered his bishops to set up flying squads.
Yes, at the mention of the S-word – Satanism – in they’ll go like the Sweeney or the Old Bill, grab the nearest chap with horns and cloven hooves and say, “Gotcha, you criminal scumbag! You’re nicked!”
Honestly, you just wouldn’t believe it possible that virtually on the eve of 2008 grown men could get up to such puerile, childish games. But, given their barmy beliefs, it’s hardly surprising. Anyway, it’s there in black and white in the Mail (among a number of outlets):
The Pope has ordered his bishops to set up exorcism squads to tackle the rise of Satanism.
Vatican chiefs are concerned at what they see as an increased interest in the occult.
They have introduced courses for priests to combat what they call the most extreme form of “Godlessness”.
Each bishop is to be told to have in his diocese a number of priests trained to fight demonic possession.
This barmy “initiative” has been launched by Father Gabriele Amorth, the Vatican’s “exorcistinchief” (yes, the Mail’s online story does give that as one word), who is quoted as saying, “Thanks be to God, we have a Pope who has decided to fight the Devil head-on. Too many bishops are not taking this seriously and are not delegating their priests in the fight against the Devil. You have to hunt high and low for a properly trained exorcist.”
Could it be that they’re not taking it seriously because even some Catholic bishops don’t believe in this hogwash?
And to think the UK’s former prime minister, Tony Blair, has just entered this insane organisation. Did he believe in all this while he was in charge at Number Ten? It’s a frightening thought. Let’s be thankful that he got out before he could allow this hokum to inform his judgement.
According to the Mail, “The Vatican is particularly concerned that young people are being exposed to the influence of Satanic sects through rock music and the Internet.”
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
December 29th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
“The Vatican is particularly concerned that young people are being exposed to the influence of Satanic sects through rock music and the Internet”
I am concerned that young people are being exposed to the influence of Catholic dogma through church, parental legacy, school and otherwise. Who needs Satan when you have these guys?
December 29th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
about the photo & comment: there is people here in Italy that considers pontiff’s grin and eyes as smiling, full of love and benevolence… are they blind? no, just catholics!
December 30th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Oh crap….. Does this mean I am one of Satan’s biggest fans…..Been on the Internet since round about when it started and listening to rock music for 20 odd years. I’d better watch out.
(sings) – Here come the men in black….
P.S. I think Satan is a load of rubbish too.
December 30th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Satan in rock music?
No, apparently this is 1951… can’t say i had noticed
January 2nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm
“otherwise known as Joseph Ratzinger, formerly of the Hitler Youth”
From Wikipedia….
“Following his fourteenth birthday in 1941, Ratzinger was enrolled in the Hitler Youth — membership being legally required after December 1939 — but was an unenthusiastic member and refused to attend meetings. His father was a bitter enemy of Nazism, believing it conflicted with the Catholic faith. In 1941, one of Ratzinger’s cousins, a 14-year-old boy with Down syndrome, was killed by the Nazi regime in its campaign of eugenics.”
If the point you are trying to make is valid, then surely you can do it with argument alone? Why do you have to make implications such as these? I was surprised to see that he was “a member of the Hitler Youth”, that’s why I looked up the Wiki. The problem is that now I don’t know what to trust in the rest of the article.
Using these methods is just shooting yourself in the foot.
Shame really. I’d like to trust the content of the article. It’s like when you point out inaccuracies/contradictions in the Bible, then how can you trust the rest?
January 6th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
The thing is Alex, the Catholic church were huge supporters of Nazism because it attacked a religion Catholics disagreed with. The records which would prove otherwise will not be released by the Catholic Church, and I would imagine there are quite a few million people worldwide who would bw happy to gloss over this.
If you knew the way Wikpedia works, you might appreciate that a massive wealthy organisation has more than a little say in what is printed.