Comments by decius

1351. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #221016 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 9:17 am

Comment #221010 by Cartomancer

Actually, I'm quite surprised religious folk don't bring up the Marquis de Sade more often

They succeeded in committing him to a mental asylum, therefore he is officially considered insane.

I recommend the movie Quills, an excellent piece of work on how De Sade managed to smuggle out literature in spite of his incarceration, and on his demise.
A bit of guess-work here and there, but otherwise accurate.

Edit- Geoffrey Rush in the role of Le Marquis is simply stunning.

1352. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #221003 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 9:05 am

Comment #220989 by Cartomancer

In order to combine incest, adultery, sodomy and sacrilege, he embuggers his married daughter with a Host.

A notorious sodomist, in order to combine that crime with those of incest, murder, rape, sacrilege, and adultery, first inserts a Host in his ass, then has himself embuggered by his own son, rapes his married daughter, and kills his niece.

Le Marquis

1353. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220988 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 8:50 am

Comment #220965 by Cartomancer

Hmmm, I suppose you got that idea from the 120 Days of Sodom, even though your version is heavily watered-down.

1354. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220929 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 7:38 am

Comment #220926 by Ishruul

Fascinating. Thanks.

1355. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220895 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 6:58 am

Thanks, Laurie.

The trick is starting from the bottom - I think - where it makes sense at first glance.

1356. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220885 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 6:48 am

James, after John had had "had", had had "had had". "Had had" had had a better effect on the teacher.

1357. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220874 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 6:33 am

Comment #220871 by mixmastergaz

Christ on bike!

Nah, he would only ride an ass.

1358. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220860 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 6:17 am

Comment #220844 by Ishruul

the priest was present in the room, looking at my grand parent to get on with it in the blessing of the lord.

When and where was this, if I may?

I thought that this practise was abandoned in the early 19th century, and it was in use only among the aristocracy for dynastic obsessions, prior to that. (There is a vivid depiction of a similar scene in the movie Marie Antoniette, for those interested).

I would venture to guess that the priest who attended your grandma's wedding night was a pervert who abused his position.

1359. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220849 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 6:03 am

I warmly encourage those who haven't yet read The Missionary Position to repent, first, and read it, second.
Electronic copies are available for download, if I am not mistaken.

It's very short and one of the best insights into the damage perpetrated by the likes of Theresa of Calcutta. India is one of those non-catholic countries heavily affected by missionary zeal.

1360. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220838 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 5:43 am

Comment #220837 by thewhitepearl

"Missionaries" and "charities" my fucking ass.

Ditto. :)

1361. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220833 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 5:36 am

The phrase "catholic countries" isn't really helpful in this context, except in a very broad sense.
Situation, mentality and level of obedience to the pope on matters of sexuality can't be meaningfully compared between places like Peru and Italy, for instance.

Catholic doctrine of contraception does the most damage in third world countries which aren't even catholic, but have a high presence of missionaries and "charities".

1362. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220825 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 5:18 am

Comment #220819 by Brian English

No, sorry. Italy is in serious economic decline and the population has been sinking into poverty at an alarming rate for the past two decades. The middle class is utterly disappearing, and the pro-capite public debt is the highest in the western world, second only to that of the US. Unemployment and precarious employment are on the constant rise.

You are probably confusing level of industrialisation ( declining too) with wealth.

1363. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220814 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 5:04 am

Comment #220802 by Brian English

Condoms are readily available in most catholic countries and the majority of people doesn't give a toss about what the pope says about sex.

Italy's natality rate is the lowest in Europe, followed by Spain's.
The real problems caused by the church are other.

1364. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220779 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 3:57 am

Why was Adrian B moved to the troll section? This is absurd, Morreale gets a free pass and Adrian has done jackshit wrong.

1365. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220770 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 3:18 am

Comment #220768 by Brian English

In all its flavours (antiquity, tradition, common practice) - three instances of it in a line. Amazing.

1366. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220767 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 3:00 am

Thanks Laurie for correcting the wrong date I gave.

It appears that the Encyclical Humanae Vitae - which is where the ban is contained - wasn't officially issued ex cathedra. However, the prevailing interpretation has elevated it to a de facto ex-cathedra status.

If you can stomach the duplicitous language hereby displayed in all its baroqueness, this sums up the situation.

What might be called the conventional wisdom of theologians over the last two decades is that the decision against contraception handed down in Paul VI's 1968 Encyclical Humanae Vitae belongs to the "authentic" ordinary Magisterium of the Catholic Church. That is, it is presented as "non-infallible" teaching, in which the Magisterium does not give us any absolute guarantee that the teaching is immutably true and therefore forever irreformable. This seems to be the view most commonly taught in seminaries and theological faculties, here in Rome as much as anywhere else.

A decade after the Encyclical appeared, the American theologians John Ford and Germain Grisez published a lengthy article arguing that this view is inadequate, and at best a half-truth ("Contraception and the Infallibility of the Ordinary Magisterium," Theological Studies, Vol. 39, No. 2, June 1978, pp. 258-312). Ford and Grisez reminded Catholics that according to the teaching of Vatican II (cf. Lumen Gentium: 25) there are three modes in which infallible doctrinal teaching can be presented by the Magisterium: by the Pope alone, by the Pope and Bishops assembled together in an Ecumenical Council, or by the College of Bishops (including the Pope as its head) even when they are dispersed throughout the world. According to Ford and Grisez, the Church's teaching against contraception is a classic example of this third mode of infallibility transmitting the doctrine of Christ. That is, while they do not claim that Humanae Vitae is in itself an ex cathedra, infallible definition, Ford and Grisez maintain that the teaching which it contains is infallible and irreformable, by virtue of having been taught constantly and definitively, over a period of many centuries, by a consensus of Popes and Bishops around the world - a consensus which was virtually unanimous until the early 1960s. Any single instance of affirming this doctrine might not in itself be authoritative enough to give us an absolute assurance of its truth; but the cumulative or combined weight of so many affirmations over an extensive period of time does give us that kind of assurance. An analogy might be drawn with a single strand of wire, which might be snapped without great difficulty in isolation, in comparison with several hundred such strands bound together into a thick cable. Their combined strength is now powerful enough to resist the strongest pressures. This sort of collective exercise of the Church's infallibility is commonly referred to as her universal ordinary Magisterium. Those who dissent from Humanae Vitae, or who at least have doubts about its permanently binding validity, have tended to ignore Ford's and Grisez' carefully argued and well-documented article. (Fr. Francis Sullivan, S.J., however, has criticised their thesis in Magisterium: Teaching Authority in the Catholic Church, Dublin, Gill & Macmillan, 1983, pp. 143ff. The present writer has replied to Sullivan in Living Tradition, No. 2, December 1985, pp. 3-6. Grisez himself has done so at much greater length in The Thomist, Vol. 49, No. 2, April 1985, pp. 248-287 - "Infallibility and Specific Norms: a Review Discussion").

In his recent work, Fr. Lio goes a step further than Ford and Grisez. He argues that Humanae Vitae does not need the supportive corroborative testimony of other papal and episcopal statements in order to assure Catholics that its doctrinal position regarding contraception is immutable and irreformable. In what may well be the most formidable challenge to dissent that has so far appeared since the Encyclical was promulgated nearly twenty years ago, Fr. Lio has amassed argument after argument, and document after document, to maintain that Humanae Vitae, art. 14, contains an ex cathedra definition of the intrinsic immorality of contraception: that is, an exercise of papal infallibility as solemnly defined by Vatican Council I, in the Constitution Pastor Aeternus.

1367. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220759 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 2:19 am

The dogma of infallibility is a relatively recent addition to catholic doctrine. Before 1880 popes could overturn any decision of their predecessors by issuing an aptly named papal bull.
It should be noted that papal infallibility doesn't apply to all papal tripe. It is especially invoked to seal some theological pronouncements.

I don't think the ban on contraception was issued ex cathedra . I'll check it out and report back.

1368. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220751 by decius on July 29, 2008 at 1:59 am

Comment #220749 by Steve Zara

Genuflect before clicking.

1369. A third of Muslim students back killings

Comment #220533 by decius on July 28, 2008 at 2:39 pm

TWP

PM pour vous.

1370. A third of Muslim students back killings

Comment #220525 by decius on July 28, 2008 at 2:32 pm

Is that all? Dang, I just ordered a pizza.

1371. Richard Dawkins on Al Jazeera English

Comment #220109 by decius on July 28, 2008 at 5:16 am

Comment #220106 by plael

Surely, please provide a testable or observable mechanism.

You can't? Then let's examine the plausibility: zero.

1372. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #220104 by decius on July 28, 2008 at 5:03 am

Comment #220102 by epeeist

Quite honestly they are simply ignorant

No shit

1373. Richard Dawkins on Al Jazeera English

Comment #220099 by decius on July 28, 2008 at 4:55 am

Comment #220097 by fides_et_obtusitas

The logic doesn't stand up

Unless you show why it doesn't stand up, you commit a bare assertion fallacy.

Regardless of how little physics I know

What about learning some physics, instead of using your ignorance as an argument?

1374. Richard Dawkins on Al Jazeera English

Comment #220095 by decius on July 28, 2008 at 4:49 am

Comment #220091 by irate_atheist

Simple answer. "It's magic!!!!"

Now it's clear, thanks.

1375. Richard Dawkins on Al Jazeera English

Comment #220087 by decius on July 28, 2008 at 4:39 am

Comment #220085 by fides_et_inscientia

Let's concede for the sake of argument that there is such thing as an entity outside spacetime. How will it then be able to affect space and time?

1376. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #220036 by decius on July 28, 2008 at 1:58 am

Comment #220033 by epeeist

Somewhat disingenuous of you to only quote the bits that support your case don't you think?

The thread is aptly called "Lying for Jesus", he is just proving the point for us.

1377. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #220030 by decius on July 28, 2008 at 1:29 am

Comment #219933 by txpiper

The facile assertion that christians contributed to science is akin to say that astrologers did, too, and using this as an argument in favour of astrology.

Newton and Da Vinci were keen astrologers, yet none of their discoveries can be ascribed to their superstitions.

However, most emphatically, Da Vinci WAS NOT a christian.

From his contemporary biographer Giorgio Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, 1550 or 1568 (I am not sure which edition).

E tanti furono i suoi capricci, che filosofando de le cose naturali, attese a intendere la proprieta`
delle erbe, continuando et osservando il moto del cielo, il corso de la luna e gli andamenti del
sole. Per il che fece ne l'animo un concetto si` eretico, che e' non si accostava a qualsivoglia
religione, stimando per avventura assai piu`lo esser filosofo che cristiano.

He held multiple interests (whims), and he philosophised about the natural order. He set himself to understand the properties of the herbs, at the same time observing the motion of the sky - the lunar and solar cycles. Thereby forming in his mind a conception so heretical as not to approach any religion whatsoever, he valued being a philosopher much more than being a christian.

It is however true that communion was forced upon him in his death-bed, as christians love to impose by force their ignorant creed on others , and you are perpetuating this despicable tradition.

1378. Islam subway ads cause stir in New York

Comment #219831 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 3:34 pm

Comment #219817 by Scot Rafkin

Oops, sorry. :)

Oystein, PM for you.

1379. Islam subway ads cause stir in New York

Comment #219812 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 2:59 pm

Comment #219799 by Scot Rafkin

Summer solstice really is the best time to visit.
I agree with you, fascinating culture and great people.
Highly exotic for me, too. I've been living here for about a decade but I have yet to get used to the extremes of winter.

I am surprised that you didn't mention the beauty of the local women, though. :)

1380. Islam subway ads cause stir in New York

Comment #219797 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 2:36 pm

Comment #219796 by Oystein Elgaroy

Excellent! PM for you in 2 mins.

1381. Islam subway ads cause stir in New York

Comment #219789 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 2:28 pm

Comment #219781 by Oystein Elgaroy

He is into hares, but when I told him of your kind offer he looked pleased.

Likewise, if you happen to come to Helsinki, he will be glad to host for you an orgy of harey sin in the park nearby.

1382. Islam subway ads cause stir in New York

Comment #219774 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 2:09 pm

Comment #219763 by Oystein Elgaroy

Definitely, he was also born in Scandinavia.

Edit- He did de-convert much earlier than you, though. We acquired him 11 years ago from a family of believers who had indoctrinated him, and he change his mind pretty soon. I had left the documents around and he chewed on them while we were away.

1383. Sydney brothels say Pope's visit will give business a leg-up

Comment #219767 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Comment #219765 by beanson

The midget was retarded, remember?

1384. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #219670 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 11:08 am

Comment #219661 by epeeist

I don't dispute your reasons, and your comments have been highly entertaining and educational.

However, I think Morreale has now outlived his welcome.

1385. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #219666 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 11:04 am

Comment #219663 by thewhitepearl

Yes, on the forum side to an admin who appeared to be on-line.
I hope that he can manage also this part of the site.

1386. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #219659 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 10:57 am

Comment #219650 by thewhitepearl

It should be settled, let's see what happens.

1387. Write to UCF

Comment #219495 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 3:17 am

Comment #219494 by Laurie Fraser

How could I possibly turn down so much kindness, to hell with Jamaica. :)

1388. Write to UCF

Comment #219490 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 3:12 am

Comment #219484 by Brian English

I was thinking of Oxford. I understand that it's premature to ask about Oz, where, regrettably, I doubt that I'll be able to attend. Unless teleportation becomes available, I have already planned a trip to Jamaica that will drain all my resources.

1389. Write to UCF

Comment #219482 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 3:01 am

When is the event, precisely? And how many hours, days, or weeks are the ensuing bacchanalia supposed to last?
Knowing that would simplify the booking of planes and hotels for those of us who live abroad.

1390. Write to UCF

Comment #219471 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 2:39 am

Robertson asks if they accept cheques at the booking office.

1391. Write to UCF

Comment #219454 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 2:16 am

Comment #219448 by AllanW

and anyone else here who can make it to Oxford in October

I am trying to organise a minibus. Robertson Richard Morgan and Joe Morreale have already joined the party.

1392. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #219433 by decius on July 27, 2008 at 1:20 am

Comment #219413 by epeeist

Lucretius (de Rerum Natura) centuries earlier described the water cycle much more competently without any "goddidit".

Pythagoras engineered a steam catapult.

Here is another example of Greek steam engine.

http://thuledingles.com/?p=50

1393. Sydney brothels say Pope's visit will give business a leg-up

Comment #219322 by decius on July 26, 2008 at 4:48 pm

Comment #219301 by Dr Doctor

Can we resume being rude about el Papa yet?

Well, I think the article is over-optimistic. I am sure that with all that clergy around, the brothels will face stiff competition. At least over the younger clientele.

1394. Write to UCF

Comment #219317 by decius on July 26, 2008 at 4:33 pm

Comment #219307 by Cartomancer

I agree. Donohue strikes me as a politically motivated outragebot perennially pitched at end scale for maximum performance. He probably doesn't even believe what he says.
More ridicule hurled at him and his nonsensical metaphysics could precipitate an apoplexy, in the best case scenario, or help to expose the vacuity of his pretensions, at worst.

1395. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #219309 by decius on July 26, 2008 at 4:13 pm

Comment #219306 by Mark Smith

Not worth reading, you must be a liberal.

Edit- Actually, it should spell "librul", for added contemptuous value.

1396. Sydney brothels say Pope's visit will give business a leg-up

Comment #219273 by decius on July 26, 2008 at 2:57 pm

Comment #219270 by ThoughtsonCommonToad

If you agreed earlier that it should be left to personal choice whether to undergo such an emotional impact (in your words of "incredible effect"), how does it follow that people have no right to complain when they are exposed to it against their will, on whatever basis?

Just to clarify how deeply I appreciate the power of such visual inputs, I witnessed a mortar bombardment on civilians that caused dozens of casualties and several fatalities - mostly women. It scarred me for life.

1397. Sydney brothels say Pope's visit will give business a leg-up

Comment #219263 by decius on July 26, 2008 at 2:32 pm

Comment #219248 by ThoughtsonCommonToad

Sorry, but you are confusing categories. One could watch dozens of such images and leave the session as ignorant of the conflict and of the large-scale suffering as before, and even less inclined to do anything about it.
Knowledge has little to do with watching pictures.

1398. A Holocaust Denier Hits Manhattan (And Hearts Hitchens)

Comment #219244 by decius on July 26, 2008 at 2:11 pm

Comment #219233 by 8teist

I am now tempted to read the Goebbels biography to assess Hitch's fairness of judgement.

The statement about the "little war" casts an enormous shadow of doubt on Irving's ability to deal with the subject Nazi Germany as a whole.
How can such an enormity be reconciled with a clear grasp of the way Goebbels operated the propaganda machine during Unternehmen Barbarossa?

1399. Sydney brothels say Pope's visit will give business a leg-up

Comment #219222 by decius on July 26, 2008 at 1:45 pm

Comment #219220 by ThoughtsonCommonToad

No I wouldn't object. I would object on other grounds than that it hurt my feelings.

Fair enough, but other reasons were put forward, and you picked on the weakest one.

1400. Sydney brothels say Pope's visit will give business a leg-up

Comment #219212 by decius on July 26, 2008 at 1:28 pm

Comment #219210 by ThoughtsonCommonToad

Then you won't object if we posted some unannounced snuff porn of women being raped and then strangled. That's reality, too.