Jester's Musings and Missives

To Spite their Faith...

Catholic Charities is building a just and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people. - Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston

Apparently, the Archdiocese of Boston doesn’t really mean “all” people.  Perhaps they should modify their tagline to read “all people who meet our bigoted standards.”

FSM Missionaries Make Their Mark

It’s nice to see that Flying Spaghetti Monster disciples are making an impression (in more ways than one).  These pirate-outfit clad believers work in mysterious ways...

Check it out => BoingBoing

Target Contraception Interventions

Yesterday, I received an email from Planned Parenthood regarding pharmacists refusing to fill emergency contraception and/or birth control prescriptions at several pharmacies (e.g., Target, Osco, Brooks, Eckerds).  In addition to presenting first-hand accounts from women whose prescriptions were rejected, the email said:

Planned Parenthood Federation of America has made three unanswered attempts to contact the following corporations in order to ascertain their policy regarding pharmacists' refusal to fill valid, legal prescriptions for birth control, including emergency contraception:

·                     Target

·                     Safeway

·                     Giant

·                     Duane Reade

·                     Piggly Wiggly

I used Planned Parenthood’s TAKE ACTION function which enabled me to email each of the above-listed companies to request information about their policy. 

Apparently, I’m not the only one who’s upset.  Check out AmericaBlog's post and all the comments on this issue.

Shiver me Timbers! I'm a Believer!

Coming soon to a pirate ship near you - the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster! 

Click on the link to see Bobby Henderson's open letter to the KS Board of Education requesting that Flying Spaghetti Monsterism (FSM) be added to the State's science curriculum.  The site is hysterical, as are all the comments.

Arrrrrgh, Matey!  Enjoy!

Pledging to Support the Separation between Church and State

I received the message below via email.  It was challenging to resist an urge to send a quick response to the sender saying (a) I firmly believe in Church and State and (b) I’m not in the target market they seek. 

Instead of aggressively seeking conflict, I’m here, writing about my strong belief that the Pledge of Allegiance should NOT include the phrase, “Under God.”  I don’t think the sender would appreciate my support of the plaintiff in the case that will soon be argued before the Supreme Court.

Onward Christian Soldiers

I don’t understand the wacky religious leaders who are blaming the victims for Katrina's devastation.  Where’s their common sense?  Why are these people so uncharitable?  Why are they so - dare I say it – UN-Christian??  They’re so angry all the time.  Bitter, nasty, my-way-or-the-highway-to-Hell kind of folks.  It’s baffling.

AmericaBlog has a great entry at - Lead Religious Right Group Promotes Theory that God Wiped out NOLA on Purpose.

UN-intelligent Design

Last weekend, my father said, “Anyone who believes in Intelligent Design should check out the movie, “March of the Penguins”.  There’s nothing intelligent about the design of the Emperor Penguins.” 

Intelligent design is simply an iteration of Creationism.  The theory’s title may have changed, but the message is the same.  Creationists/proponents of intelligent design believe that God created life.  Arguing that Intelligent Design should be taught with (or in place of) evolution is a step back into the dark ages – BEFORE the age of reason. 

More than a Snowflake’s Chance in Hell

I wish Bush and other anti-embryonic stem cell research fanatics would stop listening to a “higher power” and start reading an earth-bound science book or two.  When developing government policies, it’s always best to base them on facts versus faith.   

It might also help if Bush actually read the proposed stem cell research legislation [H.R.596 and S.681].  Then, he might understand that an estimated 400,000 embryos will be destroyed if they aren’t used in stem cell research.  Bush can trot out as many cute kids for as many press conferences as he wants, but the fact remains, the Snowflakes Frozen Embryo Adoption Program can’t accommodate even a small portion of the embryos slated for disposal.  These unwanted embryos will simply be thrown away.  Bush must not understand, or worse, not care, that his veto will NOT save these embryos.  If it’s not overridden, his veto will simply waste a critical research resource. 

The President believes that government shouldn’t fund research that threatens life; all life in any form is sacrosanct. [AFP]  If this is true, why does Bush support capital punishment?  And war?  Does waging a preemptive war respect life?  Obviously, there’s some wiggle room in the President’s personal belief system. 

A Move in the "Right" Direction

It’s about time.  Evangelicals are starting to speak out about how their religious beliefs encompass much more than anti-gay and anti-abortion interests.  They’re tired of being exploited by the Neo-Cons.  They don’t want to be solely defined as a Republican voting block. 

Conservatives use evangelicals to win elections and claim moral superiority over “God-less liberals”.  However, evangelicals recognize that if they’re continually distracted from their primary goal of proselytizing, the benefits of supporting such a narrow political agenda are nullified.  If you can’t attract new members because people believe your organization is, first and foremost, a political party versus a religious organization, your group will stagnate.  Rightfully, they’re concerned.

Light Dawns on Marble Heads

Like many Blue State New Englanders, I felt somewhat isolated after the last national election.  How could my priorities have been so out of sync with the voting majority’s?  Who are all those voters who consider the Bible the governing document of the country versus the Constitution?  When did faith – how publicly religious you are - become a political credential?  These and other questions plague me....

However, I am slowly, but surely regaining confidence in my fellow Americans.  Red and Blue State residents alike are beginning to question the wisdom of the GOP’s actions and intentions.  A USAToday/CNN/Gallup Poll taken over the weekend dramatically illustrates how the Republicans’ overreaching agenda no longer endears them to the American public. 

Bush's overall job approval rating was 46%, down 4 percentage points since early May but higher than the 45% low he held in March. On specific issues, 40% approved of the job Bush is doing on handling Iraq and the economy; 33% approved of him on Social Security.

By a record 57%-40%, respondents say they disagree with Bush on the issues that matter most to them. The proportion who say Bush has "the personality and leadership qualities a president should have" sank to 52%, his lowest ever. USAToday

It was just a matter of time.  I’m REALLY looking forward to the mid-term elections.