AmericanPapist Comments
trying to look like a tourist the Holy Father's disguise just seemed not to work.
Trying to reenact the Assumption but it's just not the same with the ropes.
"What Really Happened at Mary's Assumption?", a demonstration put on by former priest John Dominic Crossan and the Jesus Seminar yesterday, failed to sway any believers.
"No, folks, I'm not real. Just go away. You're only imagining I'm not a statue."
After years of standing guard over the site of the new Chapel named in her honor, Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity is finally lifted to her rightful place of honor atop the front entrance. (Ok, so it's not funny, but it's TRUE! Hooray for the beautiful new chapel at my alma mater, Thomas Aquinas College!!)
She's movin' on up
(Movin' on up)
To the roofside
To a deluxe emplacement
In the sky.
She's movin' on up
(Movin' on up)
To the roofside --
As long as that sling's
Securely tied!
Our Blessed Mother always wanted to try bungy jumping. It was sooooo exciting, all the color left her face.
David Blaine's got nothing on Mary.
Mary, Constructionatrix
(Lighten up, Frannn-cis.)
It's the final dress rehearsal for the opening of the new live Christmas show "Nativity in Ice"
Everyone has heard of Passion Plays and Christmas Pageants, but here is a rare glimpse of the lesser-known Assumption Reenactment.
At least I know how to operate a Caps Lock.
How could you people profane the Mother of God this way? I find no humor in this at all and am highly offended. Imagine how this must be offending Our Lord.
This blog is going the way of Gerald's Closed Cafeteria. What kind of "Catholics" are being catered to here? I see this sort of irreverent nonsense on Protestant websites all the time. Were you people raised by Catholic parents or heathens? Have you no respect at all for the Mother of God?
At least there is one person here to come to Our Lady's rescue. That person I will thank. Wouldn't want to be any of the rest of you.
Shame on you people.
No one's making fun of Mary. We joke because we love Catholic culture and tradition. The whole point of the caption calls is to try to make a humorous caption. If you can't laugh about a statue of Mary being hoisted up by a crane, what can you laugh about?
Sure seems like Spectachio is Rustler45 and prolly a slew of other folks, female and male. It seems he suffers from multiple alias syndrome among other maladies, not the least of which are heavy fingers on the CAPS.
Recently a priest here in Portland floated the idea that possibly we are not seeing our prayers answered partly because we joke about holy things. In other words, we are failing to maintain the kind of holy reverence that holy persons and things demand.
I know that this is very much a problem in religious houses and rectories. Laugh at ourselves, fine; be joyous and light-hearted fine; but "a joke in the mouth of a layman is a blasphemy in the mouth of a religious" as one saint put it. The same sort of idea obtains here. We aren't religious, but we are baptized. I would imagine that many who post here are ardent Catholics.
What are we joking about? A nun holding a sign with the letter E is one thing, but jokes about Our Lady...? Obviously a line needs to be drawn somewhere, or are there jokes about the Trinity or Our Lord that would be appropriate for us and pleasing to God as well?
I did think of an amusing (to me) phrase or two, but then thought, no, this is Our Lady.
Let me put it differently. Once in the Army I was detailed along with three other men to clean the base chapel. When we arrived, the sacred vessels had inexplicably been left on the altar. Immediately two of the men took up these vessels, and pretending to be drunk, staggered about the altar making jokes. I was horrified, of course, but could not think what to say. Like a shipwrecked man looking for a plank, I searched the scriptures in the open bible that was on a little stand right beside me. The first verse my eyes encountered was, "Woe to the man who does not rebuke those who mishandle the sacred vessels." It was enough to call the men over and point out the verse. They both said, "Whoa!" and gingerly replaced the vessels on the altar.
Words are sacred vessels for which we will one day have to give an account.
Mary is a sacred vessel who once contained Our Lord.
I really think that it is simply a statue of Mary- that is rather large- and clearly the statue needs to be moved from point A to point B and to do so requires a crane.
A picture was taken.
It is an interesting picture.
People can put captions. The most obvious being about the Assumption. No one is making fun of the Assumption.
Should we just never move big statues of Mary with cranes? Never take a picture of it? Never think to put a caption to the picture? Or never think to put a funny caption with it?
I really think it's okay. Not even comparable to pretending to be drunk from the Sacred Blood. (As is relayed in the above post).
If you're offended by a few jokes on a subject related to religion, you probably don't want to read the life of St. Philip Neri. I mean, the guy made people wear silly costumes as part of his spiritual direction of them! And yet, nobody suggests that he wasn't reverent enough, or mystical enough, or wasn't driven into ecstasies every five minutes while celebrating Mass. The guy levitated, for goodness' sake.
You probably also don't want to hear the rather candid way that St. Teresa of Avila talked to Our Lord. Or attend an Irish wake. And let's not even get into the Holy Spirit's tendency to listen to what you say, and then make the funniest twists in your life to wake you up.
Mary is very holy. She's also our mother, a member of our family. We can joke about her statue being lifted in a sling.
[My ranting resulted in a delete/ban. ~ AmP.]
FESTO I AM NOT RUSTLER45
Ah, so you just both share the same affinity for CAPS, identical phraseology, penchant for warping names, the same extremist ideology, and curmudgeonly personality.
Maureen,
I don't recall saying I was offended by anything. I was just pointing out the rationale for considering the possibility that God might be offended by our joking about holy things.
Regarding St. Philip Neri, there is a big difference between a holy man making jokes, and a holy man making jokes about holy things.
St. Philip played many practical jokes on many people, but where is his vast repetoire of jokes about holy things? He is a relatively modern figure. Surely someone noted them down. Is there even ONE such joke? If so, I am all ears.
Of course, the statue is not Our Lady, and Catholic apologetics is at pains to tell our fundamentalist friends that we are not praying to the statue. We are praying to Our Lady. We kneel in front of the statue as a representation of Our Lady. It's the closest thing we 've got. The old Italian lady at Church places her hand on her feet as she prays. We know the statue is not her, but we reverence even her representation.
I am not sure that "Hail Mary, full of grace, Please find me a parking place," is a sin. But it might be.
My "humorous" comment was going to based on it, but I got cold feet. Frankly, I think that is a very healthy dose of "fear of the Lord" that ought to be the basis of greater wisdom here.
There is simply nothing comparable to that couplet or anything like it in the mouth or the writings of any saint.
If we really want to see the divine interventions necessary to turn this civilization around, perhaps we ought to consider whether we have been trivializing the holy and offending Our Lord.
Obviously, it's not the only offense, or the greatest, but why place obstacles in the way of ourselves or the Church, obstacles to our prayers, obstacles to victory?
Worst apparition hoax EVER.
(Disclaimer: The above remark made by Angelie,[defined as the first party] is not intended to be a slam in any way on apparitions, hoaxes, or cast aspersions on Marian apparitions, statues, or the French.)
I loved the disclaimer, Angelie, lol
[Rectatio by another name, same result. ~AmP.]
Spectatio was insulting people by saying that no one is able to be funny here. Further, Spectatio was typing in all caps. When someone types in all caps it represents yelling at the top of your lungs. Why yell at the top of your lungs to people who believe that they are NOT disrespecting the Blessed Mother.
I'm sure that if Spectatio was respectful of others (such as Amelia and yourself) that the ban would not have happened.
I, however, cannot speak for AmP and their reasons for the ban. I don't necessarily agree that it should have happened so swiftly. However, AmP does have a point and a RIGHT to ban someone from their own blog. AmP could ban me for whatever reason they want to, it's certainly not MY blog...
I just had comments on my blog by Spectatio calling me a homosexual and yelling profanities at me. Good choice to ban Spectatio, AmP. :)
O great, Catholics bashing Catholics... . Hand the devil yet another reason to grin in satisfaction.
I would consider myself a Cathoholic and dogmatically rubric minded. There have been some rough days of late, and were it not for a laugh generated by the light-hearted captions on this site, I might have sunk even lower. Regrettably, there are people who revel in besmirching holy things, especially things holy to Catholics. Usually it is easy to spot such malice because that kind of bad behavior is the work of a low intelligence and therefore the humour is obvious, tawdry. Honestly, I do not see that kind of ill intent at work herein this blog. Furthermore, there is prudent editing exercised by the blogmaster.
If we take ourselves too, too seriously, a much more dangerous tendency is likely to develop toward statues and such. It is called idolatry. I love the sacramental richness of the Church, and my devotion to our Blessed Mother and Her Son our Lord Jesus Christ has not waned one iota since I have begun visiting this site and reading the captions. A little humour can keep one from drifting into paganism ( - and becoming one of those dour idolaters).
Sure, let's not intentionally offend, let's also be considerate, and most of all let's not lose the ability to see the difference between sheep with a sense a humour and wolves that infiltrate the Body intent on ridiculing our beliefs.
I think that Warren displayed a fairly good argument on the matter. It is good to remain respectful but also to make fun of ourselves. Making funny jokes regarding a statue being moved by a crane does not qualify as disrespecting our Blessed Mother. Maybe it is offensive to some; I suggest they need to lighten up a bit.
White Sheep, if you are not Spectatio I hope that AmP realizes that and stops deleting your posts.
OK, if this St. Thomas Aquinas College, then that is most likely an O.P. we're looking at the back of, right? But maybe an O.Praem., instead? Distinguishable from the back?
Some people are so desperate to flail about into the internet to be noticed that they will change not only aliases but the computers from which they send posts.
The moniker of white sheep may be different but the jibes still ring the same:
"typical of protestants"
"your protestant behavior"
"people who also call themselves Catholic"
In other news today, a large statue of Mary was being hoisted by a crane...;-)
[Uncharitable/angry comments get deleted. No warnings. ~AmP.]
i haven't heard anyone hear saying that prayer to Mary is a sin, or rejecting papal infallibility, or urging people to recite the Sinners Prayer, or posting lists of grievances on church doors, so why would anyone be called a protestant??
Saint Lawrence is said to have been martyred on a gridiron. During his torture Lawrence cried out "This side’s done, turn me over and have a bite." ["Assum est, inquit, versa et manduca."]
Now THAT is the Catholic sense of humor. :)
*here, not hear
And p.s. for anyone who wants to get into a comment battle with me - it takes me alot less time to delete your comments then it does for you to write them. So don't waste your time. 'k thx.
:)
trespinos,
In response to your questions: Definitely an O Praem. Fr. Charles, I would guess. And yes they are distinguishable from the back. The O Praems can be spotted by their impossibly small hood, which while being a beautiful part of the habit, is not quite as useful as the dominican version. ;) Also, just a note, Thomas Aquinas College is not a Dominican run school (as the name, I admit does suggest) but is a completely lay run institution. Currently they have a Jesuit, a Dominican, and a Norbertine as chaplains I believe. Check them out on the web: http://thomasaquinas.edu
i am offended.please PLEASE ban me!
Descent of the Blessed Mother upon the construction workers.
This week, Jamie and Adam try to recreate the Assumption on Mythbusters.
I think the mode of conduct we are witnessing here and disrespectful comments being directed at Our Lady is due to the indult allowing for communion to be taken in the hand. Lack of reverence leads to disrespect. Shame on AmP for letting this go on so long. I think I'll follow Joan's lead and call for my own banning. This is disgusting.
John, Spectatio went onto my own blog to call me a homo, sissy, a mistake, and used numerous cuss words. Spectatio's opinion holds no merit.
I have reverence of the Virgin Mary and am against taking the Eucharist in the hand. I am an Eastern Rite Catholic so that I could have more reverence whereas the Latin Rite has slowly removed reverence.
Making silly comments about a statue is NOT disrespect to the Virgin Mary. Report us to Pope Benedict XVI if you must...
this thread really brought out the trolls, didn't it?
look, everyone has different comfort levels. if people are so enraged by things I say or comments other people post, try sending me an email first before going ballistic in the comment threads. people who try to be self-anointed comment cops won't be tolerated.
okay, moving on.
I like the worst apparition ever comment by angelie, nice disclaimer too.
"i am offended.please PLEASE ban me!"
No, it is I who will BAN you!
"John, Spectatio went onto my own blog to call me a homo, sissy, a mistake, and used numerous cuss words. Spectatio's opinion holds no merit."
Well, maybe you should consider the offensiveness of your own posts. I have read them and can certainly understand why someone would do such a thing.
"...if people are so enraged by things I say or comments other people post, try sending me an email first before going ballistic in the comment threads."
Well Thomas, Spectatio posted this, "HOW DISGUSTING, TO EXPOSE THE BLESSED MOTHER TO THE RIDICULE AND THE CARELESS HUMOR OF SIMPLETONS............THE POSTER OF THIS PHOTO NEEDS TO REMOVE IT."
Personally, his post was appropriate, especially considering the extreme tastlessnes of the photo caption. There is no way you can describe his post as ballistic. I expected that after seeing it, I would see that people would have the good sense to avoid saying anything.
You did nothing about it. You should have had the good taste to remove it as he suggested. You still haven't done that.
You started by deleting his post. So what do you expect when you use such poor judgment. People are going to get irate and start blasting. They don't care whether you get an email or not. Maybe you should get over being so sensitive about critical posts that go against you. It's a matter of maturity Thomas, accept correction.
[Voice over a PA] "'A great sign appeared in the sky, a wo...' I SAID 'a great SIGN APPEARED IN THE...' Ok folks, I know this is only a dress rehearsal, but are union breaks for stage hands really that regimented?"
Um... John, my comments justify someone calling me a homosexual, a sissy, a mistake to have ever been born, a s***-head, etc. etc. etc.?
That's like saying that it's okay to kill someone if they disagree with you.
Lighten up, bro. No one is forcing you to read this blog...
I guess I'd like to point out the obvious here... We are commenting on a photo of a STATUE. As we are not idol worshippers, comments about a picture of a statue does in no way reflect on devotion to the Blessed Mother.
There are so many other things, as Catholics, to be indignant about... This is not one of them.
Pax Vobiscum.
John, I have no issue with people voicing (misguided) objections to what they see on these pages. I do have a problem with ad hominem attacks, in fact I have zero tolerance of it. As for the "tastelessness" of the photo caption concept, I'm well within the bounds of appropriateness. This is an issue of sensibilities, and you really undermine the validity of yours when you simultaneously show no restraint in lambasting my readers.
That said, it is a courtesy of me to respond in the first place. This is my website and I delete comments as I please, no questions asked. You will notice, if you spend some time here, I'm actually very consistent in how I enforce this policy. If you don't like it, feel free to leave, or be charitable/rational in how you disagree. Everything else gets tossed in the wastebasket, unread.
"I have no issue with people voicing (misguided) objections to what they see on these pages.'
That's just great Thomas. So everyone who expresses an objection is misguided. No wonder you have problems with this blog. It's your arrogant misguided infallibility that's the real problem.
"As for the "tastelessness" of the photo caption concept, I'm well within the bounds of appropriateness."
Thomas, I didn't criticize the concept of photo captions at all even though they are sophomoric, inane, and insipid. Let me ask you this Thomas, do you really think Jesus would laugh at anything on that thread? Honestly, tell us just which one of those "funny" quips Jesus Christ would burst out laughing at. Can you imagine His saying such things? You can call this one appropriate all you want. Your saying it doesn't make it so. Notice there have been a number of negative comments on it throughout the thread. Don't you listen?
Ad hominem attacks? Really Thomas, did you have to grab for that weak straw while knowing it isn't true. You're just full of red herrings aren't you? Or did that comment where I told you to ban yourself hurt your feelings? Is that what you call an ad hominem attack? Whoa you need to lighten up.
Next look at this one.
"This is an issue of sensibilities, and you really undermine the validity of yours when you simultaneously show no restraint in lambasting my readers."
WOW Thomas, you just undermined YOUR crediblility. Can you show us some more of your melodrama?
"This is my website and I delete comments as I please, no questions asked."
Mama mama he's lookin' at me.
"You will notice, if you spend some time here, I'm actually very consistent in how I enforce this policy."
Oh yeah, I have noticed your consistency. There is no doubt about that. (I also notice you avoided the use of the word "fair" for good reason.) You give your rude little lackeys free reign to bully as they please. Do you think it's not pattonly obvious to the most casual observer that fausto is an intellectual defective who runs amok on your site trolling and bullying at your behest. It's apparent and reflects very poorly on you. And then there's Maureen the intemperate, fly-off-the handle, enraged menopausal Harley broom-rider who deletes at will. (Take note. This stuff is funny as opposed to the above comments that you think are funny. Ya know what? You don't think this is funny and of course don't have a problem soiling your reputation by deleting my speech, but those of temperate intellect WILL think it's funny.)
Thomas, if you think it's truly right and just for you to put up this picture of the Blessed Virgin Mary for funny comments then I would like to see a picture of Mohammed so we can do the same thing with him. Now you know I'm a really funny guy. I promise to come up with a myriad of funny comments. Let's do this Thomas. I am with you all the way.
If you have to tell people that what you are saying is funny, then it probably isn't.
As stated Anonymous: "You don't think this is funny...."
I really seem to have a talent for attracting the crazies. :)
Touche' Bill. But I thought that was an ad hominem remark directed at AmP.
"I really seem to have a talent for attracting the crazies."
Now that's an ad hominem Thomas.
Attack your adversary rather than answer his question.
The question is, do you think Our Lord would be laughing about His Mother's being the subject of inane jokes?
Thomas, there's a real easy way out of this. It's a win win. Just say NO to the question, apologize for the bad taste, and delete the photo caption and the thread.
Can I make it any easier?
I think the Lord would be far sooner angry at the uncharitable comments on this thread than the concept of attaching a humorous caption to a photograph of a construction project involving a statue of Mary.
And in answer: your question is phrased wrongly, it's not in bad taste, and the photo caption and thread will remain.
John Reid: Get your own blog and post anything you like or don't post anything you don't like. It's only a win-win to you because it follows your opinion.
This is Thomas Peter's blog. He can do what he likes with it. Plus, the majority of us-his readers-found the picture fun and delightful because we love being Catholic and love to laugh.
Thomas: keep up the good work. Most of us appreciate it.
And *he* told Thomas he "should get over being so sensitive". You can't make this stuff up.
bill, it's so true! sometimes I feel like im taking crazy pills. ;)
John defended Spectatio's use of numerous profane comments and cuss words directed at me (read my blog post if you want more info). Someone who supposedly defends the Virgin Mary shouldn't, at the same time, defend disgusting personal attacks on others.
I support Thomas and really enjoy this blog. I also love the AmP News show! :)
segamon, thanks and sorry you had to put up with that.
It's not your fault, Thomas. Thank you for providing us readers great articles and funny caption contests. Keep up the good work! God bless you.
The answer to the question is YES. Jesus would crack a smile at these comments. To quip positively about something only shows that you care for something. To quip negatively about something only shows your disdain.
"I really seem to have a talent for attracting the crazies."
I guess you're right Thomas. Look at them all they just keep crawling out of the woodwork. One little toadie after another. Where are fausto and Maureen this morning?
"And in answer: your question is phrased wrongly, it's not in bad taste, and the photo caption and thread will remain."
You know Thomas, I really thought you were man enough to admit a mistake. I guess I just shouldn't have so much faith in people. I didn't realize until now that I'm dealing with a bunch of children rather than adults.
But what else can we expect in a blog that is all about you Thomas?
"John defended Spectatio's use of numerous profane comments and cuss words directed at me...."
John, calm down man. I just went to your blog. Nowhere did I defend any of that. I merely said that you should consider your posts are so irritating that they bring out such a thing. And they are. Why don't you quit whinning and go take that stuff down from your blog. That just wasn't smart to post it where everyone could see it. Delete it and take it like a man. And please, please quit whinning over and over.
Oh Segamon, here's exactly what I said. "Well, maybe you should consider the offensiveness of your own posts. I have read them and can certainly understand why someone would do such a thing."
I didn't say it was OK. I said I could understand. Got it now Segamon? And almost everything you say has an offensive tone to it. Think about it.
American Pap:
" I really seem to have a talent for attracting the crazies. :)"
That's because you are CRAZY!
Wanna Make it a BAN-ner Day????
Go Ahead -- Make My Day!
John, maybe I could say that your posts have an offensive tone?
"I could understand why he's a murderer. I mean, the person he murdered was so offensive!" Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?
I can do what I want with my own blog. I never mentioned the person's name that kept on sending profane comments to me. I was using his ridiculous actions as an example for others (and myself). I don't want readers of my blog to see cuss words everywhere so I deleted his profane comments.
I apologize if I'm offensive in my comments. I am a sinner. May God bless you.
John, did you really read my blog post? Do you know what BAD things I said about the person who cussed at me and called me profane things?
This is what I said about him: "I forgive him and I love him."
John: "That just wasn't smart to post it where everyone could see it."
Actually, his comments were intended to be public. He was commenting directly onto the blog so that everyone reading my blog could see such profanity.
"Actually, his comments were intended to be public."
Segamon, you didn't have to post them publicly. So quit all the whinning. Can you just get over this?
Now let's look at this objectively. I see you participating in a joke fest that is demeaning to the Blessed Virgin Mary, but all the while whinning and bellyaching about someone's insults to you. Are you more important than her?
"I could understand why he's a murderer. I mean, the person he murdered was so offensive!" Makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?"
Well, I guess you've never heard of justifiable homicide.
I'm participating in a joke fest about a STATUE of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
It is debatable if I was whining regarding someone cussing me. All I know is that Spectatio's behavior was uncalled for whether it was directed at me or anyone else. I did not intend to whine; rather, I intended to act swiftly to ill words against me.
Just because Spectatio believed I was being sacrilegious doesn't give him the right, or "justification", to call me a homo, sissy, coward, s***-head, etc. etc. etc. I'm not whining when I say that his actions were wrong (an act of hatred towards me). The old saying "two wrongs don't make a right" applies.
"Can you just get over this?" I have. I have forgiven Spectatio in my heart. It would help if you could "get over this" too. I do not intend on continuing a conversation if it leads into negativity.
May God bless you, John.
I am a silent reader of this blog and I must confess I do not find the photo offensive or ridiculed the Blessed Mother. I remembered the time when we were in the seminary and Cardinal R.Martino was still the Apostolic Delegate for Malaysia and he visited our Seminary and during dinner we all had a good laugh when he was trying to explain the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception to all of us which simply went...
If you remembered when Jesus said that he without sin, cast the first stone, a stone actually flew past Jesus head and hit the lady and Jesus looked up in despair and went "mom!!! Stay out of it" :-)
Anyway, all I can say in this situation above, after reading all the endless comments... its simply this
You can please some of the people all the time, and you can please ALL the people SOME of the time, but you can never please ALL the people ALL the time...
Cheers and keep up the good work and it is your blog... you have to right to post and say whatever you wish
and only you have that right.. the rest of us, if we're not happy, the door is right over there.. or should i say the X button, is right on the Right upper hand corner of your screen. you can just click on it...
Hey Patrick, you'll make a great little toadie in this blog. You should have been here long ago. I just love a suck up.
Segamon, you're still crying and whinning. How about if you just shut up. Do you do this when your Mom breaks your egg yoke?
"If you remembered when Jesus said that he without sin, cast the first stone, a stone actually flew...."
Ya know Patrick, I could not even finish the quote of your joke example. I find it utterly disgusting and definitly sacriligious. The fact that you COULD actually tell such a joke deletes your opinion as having any credibility.
It's strange to me how people like Maureen, Thomas, and Segamon (who whinned and whinned ad nauseam about being called a few insipid names) get soooo offended at uncomplementary comments to themselves, yet think nothing of insulting others even to the point of this photo caption with the Blessed Mother as the subject.
Ya know folks, the question here is not your or anyone else's opinion as to the appropriateness of this photo caption contest. The question is how does Our Lord view this and not YOUR opinion of how YOU think He might view it.
I am sorry to inform you that you haven't come to the realization that your opinions are either wrong or of no value whatsoever. Fact is you don't actually have a right to an opinion. You have a duty to know the will of The Church and obey it, or just call yourself Protestant. I defy anyone of you to find any writing of the Church or the Early Fathers that held up the Blessed Mother or the Holy Father to ridicule or jokes of any kind.
Maybe this will get your attention. Think about a picture of the Crucifixion for the next photo caption contest. Keeping in mind it's just a picture of Our Lord not really Him.
Is anyone here crude enough to even dare to post a caption?
(I personally think there are plenty of you who would do such a thing.)
This is my happy face. So don't tell me to lighten up.
"The question is, do you think Our Lord would be laughing about His Mother's being the subject of inane jokes?"
Don't you and your family make jokes about each other? My grandmother is very well respected as the matriarch of our family. At the same time she's probably the one we joke about the most when we're together. It's out of love not ridicule.
"Maybe this will get your attention. Think about a picture of the Crucifixion for the next photo caption contest. Keeping in mind it's just a picture of Our Lord not really Him."
That's not quite an exact analogy. A picture of a construction crew moving a statue of the Crucifixion would be a better analogy.
You probably don't want to see this photo caption call: http://www.americanpapist.com/20...-call-
9108.html
As I said Brian, your opinion is of no value. Don't you ever listen to anything? Didn't that post cause you some reflection on the fact that your sense of decorum is in the trash.
You are far too overwhelmed with your sense of self-importance to hold anything or anyone as better than you. The fact that you could even reply to my post so quickly with such nonsense indicates that you have an ego problem just as the clique running this blog get so incensed over the slightest criticism.
Are you elevating your family to the position of the Holy Family? I know what's in the back of your mind even though you don't. I am irritating you and others to no end because I am standing in the way of your self-gratification, and not the Blessed Mother, the Holy Father, nor Holy Mother The Church Herself is going to stand in the way of your self-gratification because you come from the me first generation.
Protestants have a way of insulting the Blessed Virgin Mary by saying that she is just an ordinary woman. You and this blog have done that same thing.
Go down to your local Baptist Church and register there. They will approve of your jokes about the Blessed Virgin.
"Didn't that post cause you some reflection on the fact that your sense of decorum is in the trash."
Yes. That was how I came up with the other analogy. I was wondering what my reaction would be to this exact same situation only with a statue of crucifixion, as you suggestion we imagine.
"You are far too overwhelmed with your sense of self-importance to hold anything or anyone as better than you."
Could you provide some evidence before making these accusations about one of your brothers.
"The fact that you could even reply to my post so quickly with such nonsense indicates that you have an ego problem just as the clique running this blog get so incensed over the slightest criticism."
Your argument here could just as easily apply to you as to me. While I don't know the fancy name for this, I think it may be some kind of logical fallacy.
"Are you elevating your family to the position of the Holy Family?"
No. Please read my comments with charity.
"I know what's in the back of your mind even though you don't."
How would you react if I used this sentence to accuse you of elevating yourself to the position of God? I don't accuse you of such a thing, but I do wonder how you know what's in the back of my mind.
"I am irritating you and others to no end because I am standing in the way of your self-gratification..."
You're not irritating me Bill, I can't speak for the others though.
"because you come from the me first generation."
How do you know how old I am? Which generation is the me-first generation, which approximate years? Out of curiosity which generation do you come from (please don't feel obliged to answer such a personal question if you don't want to)?
"Protestants have a way of insulting the Blessed Virgin Mary by saying that she is just an ordinary woman."
Where did I say that? Where did anyone say that?
"You and this blog have done that same thing."
Here was my (likely failed) attempt at making a funny comment: 'What Really Happened at Mary's Assumption?', a demonstration put on by former priest John Dominic Crossan and the Jesus Seminar yesterday, failed to sway any believers.
I thought I was using a joke to uphold Catholic teaching in general and Mary's Assumption in specific. Where did I make any assertion that Mary is an ordinary woman?
"Go down to your local Baptist Church and register there."
Are you advising me to commit mortal sin and cut myself off from the Sacraments?
"They will approve of your jokes about the Blessed Virgin."
I'm not sure they'll get my jokes, I don't how many of them would know of the Jesus Seminar and in their minds the believers would be the ones who doubt the Assumption. I have a feeling I'd bomb with the local Baptists.
Bill said, "I defy anyone of you to find any writing of the Church or the Early Fathers that held up the Blessed Mother or the Holy Father to ridicule or jokes of any kind."
I haven't quite un-defied his defiant defense, but this picture doesn't work as well in the modern context as it did in its own...apparently.
http://fits.depauw.edu/aharris/
C...StBernardFS.jpg
"Could you provide some evidence before making these accusations about one of your brothers."
Why yes, you just provided that in your last post. Your ego is very much like a hornet's nest when you give it a little poke.
Oh man. People need to chill.
This is a great blog which shines as a beacon of hope for our culture, that (to steal another blog name) we can really be Catholic and enjoy it.
With respect to the picture: It's a statue of Our Lady being lifted by a crane. Puns and jokes made about this picture are about a statue of Our Lady being lifted by a crane. If you don't find such puns and jokes "uplifting", then perhaps you shouldn't read the humor posts. It's quite simple, really.
And even if you feel we place ourselves in grave danger of mortal sin from making crane-and-statue jokes (a crane and statue of Our Lady walk into a bar...) or worse, enjoying them, then not only do I thank you for your concern, but add that perhaps you'd find yourselves better disposed to discuss it by first praying a Rosary or two for our souls and THEN coming to tell us readers what heathens we are.
Just saying, if you're really right and we're all going to hell for some puns, then we'll probably be in a better position to repent if we're receiving the grace you asked for in those prayers and you don't come off raving like:
"I know what's in the back of your mind even though you don't."
Which leads me to believe that you're either psychic, psycho, or a humorless neurosurgeon. I don't listen to any of those three groups, so again... phrasing is everything.
Thanks and God Bless.
Bill, I responded to all of your statements using reason and logic (or at least attempting to use them), and not emotion. I honestly wasn't trying to come off as angry.
When you asked if I reflected, I gave you an example of how I did so. When I thought one of your arguments was poor I made sure to use the words "think" and "may", so as to leave myself open to correction if I was wrong. When I used one of your sentences as an example to demonstrate how you misinterpreted my words, I went out of my way to state that I wasn't actually accusing you of making yourself like God. And I flatly said that you're not irritating me. I apologize if I did something offensive, please let me know what gave you the wrong impression and hopefully I'll be able to fix it in the future.
When you say "me first generation" I'm honestly not sure which generation you're referring to (FWIW my top two guesses are the ones commonly referred to as the Baby Boomers and Gen X). You accused me of making a joke insulting to Mary, and all I did in return was provide evidence of what I actually said to defend my character. I hope there's not something wrong with that. I truly don't see how it would do me any good to leave the Church for a Baptist community, nor do I see how they'd find my joke funny. If you could help clarify these things maybe I'll be able to understand them.
Jef's Chesterton quote on the 12/5 caption thread nailed it.
Pathetic.
All this fuss over a photo submitted for comment by the audience.
Folks here are in serious need of the proverbial bullet in the head!
PLEASE BAN EVERYBODY ON THIS THREAD!
IOW: GET A LIFE! ! !
"Bill, I responded to all of your statements using reason and logic (or at least attempting to use them), and not emotion. I honestly wasn't trying to come off as angry."
You didn't come off as angry only as a whinner. Your response doesn't merit a reply.
"Jef's Chesterton quote on the 12/5 caption thread nailed it."
Not at all. Don't you comprehend the meaning of the quote? Both you and Jef misunderstand that quote.
Here's my reply to Jef.
Jef, that's a good quote. I like Chesterton very much, but it applies to one's self not to holy things. If you want to joke about me that's fine, but don't tell me jokes about Jesus, His Mother or the Pope.
C.S. Lewis said, "There are some things that should not be joked about." Now if it's OK to joke about the Pope, Jesus, and The Blessed Virgin what does that leave that we shouldn't joke about? President OBummer? Nancy Pelotoski?
E. do you always advocate violence when you can't understand what's going on?
"This is a great blog which shines as a beacon of hope for our culture, that (to steal another blog name) we can really be Catholic and enjoy it."
No wonder e. said, "Pathetic."
If this insipid blog is a beacon of hope we are in serious trouble and you are in great need of education.
If you want a beacon of hope go to Fr. Corapi or Father Z. I only stumbled into this place by accident and haven't been able to shake all the spiders long enough to leave.
The name of it should tell you something is wrong. American Papist? "Papist" is and has always been a Protestant insult.
Oh, maybe e. was saying "pathetic" about that because it certainly is.
What??????? I thought ya'll wanted some humor?
Is the foo is on the other shoot now?
Why isn't everybody laughing?
ROFL ROFL ROFL
What exactly is a proverbial bullet in the head? I don't think that was in Proverbs. You sure are serious about defending your rights to be an irreverent bunch of jerks. Why is it so wrong for other people to want to preserve their right to defend Our Lady and not find a bunch of stupid jokes as being funny but simply demeaning, low brow humor which serves only to insult through mockery?
Good times! :)
"If you want a beacon of hope go to Fr. Corapi or Father Z. I only stumbled into this place by accident and haven't been able to shake all the spiders long enough to leave."
Fr. Z and AmP site articles on each others sites. I've never seen Fr. Z say anything bad about AmP. I read both sites regularly, I'm confident a lot of AmP's readers also read Fr. Z.
"The name of it should tell you something is wrong. American Papist? "Papist" is and has always been a Protestant insult."
Fisheater also is and always has been a Protestant insult. At fisheaters.com They make jokes about religious orders, priests, and even St. Peter: http://www.fisheaters.com/jokes.html
How do you feel about Fisheaters?
Brian, give me some other excuses. Those didn't work.
Rustler, Brian's points are very valid. Maybe you do not think so, but I do.
Thank you for the link to Catholic jokes, Brian, I loved them! :)
"Rustler, Brian's points are very valid. Maybe you do not think so, but I do."
Oh, I am soooo disappointed that a couple of ninnies can't....
Oh never mind.
Ok, Rustler, if you really want more excuses. Here's a direct quote from Fr. Z:
"Go HERE and vote for Thomas Peters, who runs the American Papist site.
He is a good kid trying to do good work."
Here's the link to it: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2008/11/f...fellow-blogger/
Are you a DI rustler?
If so, oorah. Yut yut.
But I'm sceptical about that. Seriously, behind your tough typing lies little in the way of useful thought.
When did you ever think you had gotten rid of him and his legion of aliases? Go look at the Catholics for Obama website. You can ignore him all you want but he will keep popping back in various re-manifestations. The only reason he is kept to a minimum there is because there are fewer comments and thus easier to moderate. But even then, he is still allowed in from time to time for comic relief and/or to serve to act as an example of how foolish and downright ugly people are who opposed Obama.
+++
AmPap: Matthew, everytime we think we're rid of him some idiot pops out of the woodwork and pops off. Now zip it.
Fausto,
You really are on thin ice with your finger pointing. You troll here just about as bad as Rustler. The only difference being, he made you mad, and out talked you. Troll though he may be you are simply advertising that you got mugged.Your wounded pride is showing and getting embarrassing. He's gone,just let it go.
"how foolish and downright ugly people are who opposed Obama."
All 58 million?
Fausto,
Was that your statement, or were you referring to someone else?
Gender bending again, Rustler45?
No that wasn't my statement, David B. It was Rustler45 stealing my moniker. Is it any wonder so many folks think conservatives are whacked?
"It was Rustler45 stealing my moniker."
Now why would anyone want to steal something so dumb as "fausto" for a moniker?
Fausto,
"No that wasn't my statement, David B. It was Rustler45 stealing my moniker."
I'm glad you didn't say it. I'm sad
Rustler keeps disregarding the rules of this blog and attacking people. He needs to do something constructive, like log off his computer. :-)
Rather, log off the internet.
Rustler sure messed you two up didn't he? He's not been here for days and you're still whinning about the a.kicking he gave you.
It is laughable if you think Rustler's trolling here is a good thing. He's wasting time, that's all.
BTW, I don't remember Rustler going after me. I don't like Rustler's trolling anyway.
David, Tom is Rustler. So is Tami and a host of others. He likes to swing both ways.
Just a splinter from the Cross for us to bear. Pray for him.
Wrong, Tami is Spectatio and he back to haunt you.
You girls worry about the tiniest things.
Fausto, I gotta give you credit for figuring out Rustler45. You're a genius. As if I didn't give you any hints. You're not too smart though because Spectatio fooled you.
Notice David couldn't figure it out. His memory is gone. But this doesn't your problem of self-loathing.
Insert "solve" in the appropriate place. You should be able to figure that out with no assistance. I could be wrong though.
Hey fausto, do you have a homepage?
HAY FESTO YOU LITTLE FOREIGN RAT....
WHO GAVE A LITTLE ITALIAN RAT PERMISSION TO BACKTALK AMERICANS.
YOU NEED TO CLEAN UP YOUR NASTY LITTLE CRIMINAL COMMUNIST COUNTRY, IT'S NOT PRESENTABLE FOR DECENT PEOPLE. AND COME OUT OF THE CLOSET ARE RUSTLER AND I THE ONLY ONE'S THAT CAN SEE YOU'RE GAY?
"Go back, go back! It's a trick! There are two of them!"
THE PEEPS ON THIS THREAD HAVE CONVINCED ME OF THE NEED FOR HUMOR, SO I'M GOING TO START OUT SLOW, MAKING FUN OF A GAY I-TALIAN FOR BEGINNERS AND THE MAYBE SOMEDAY I'LL BE LIKE THEM AND BE ABLE TO LAUGH AT THE SACRED......AT LEAST I'M TRYING.
YOU CONVERTED ME FESTER.
"Aggravated Harassment In The Second Degree.
A person is guilty of aggravated harassment in the second degree, when, with intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, he or she:
1) Communicates, or causes a communication to be initiated by mechanical or electronic means or otherwise, with a person, anonymously or otherwise, by telephone, or by telegraph, mail or any other form of written communication, in a manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm."
"Aggravated harassment in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor."
Section 240.30, New York State Penal Law.
Other states have similar laws. You may want to consider this option, AmP.
HAY YOU GUYS CONVERTED ME, I JUST CAN'T MAKE FUN OF THE BLESSED MOTHER YET (WHICH IS WHAT YOU WANT) BUT NOW YOU'RE MAD BECAUSE I'M STARTING OUT WITH A GAY ITALIAN......GEE WHAT DO YA WANT BILL?
You see Bill this is exactly the response I knew I would elicit from you hypocrites. When I considered your disrespect to the Blessed Mother
to be offensive, your response is derision and banning. (DOWN WITH HIM! KICK HIM OUT!!)......No consideration for 1 second. But if I make fun of a sodomite, oooooooooo, GET THE POLICE!!! THIS MUST STOP!!!.......It is your choice, Bill, to protect sodomites and laugh at the Virgin. Do you think I did not know what you would do? Don't pretend you are not from team sodom.
Hey Bill932, Is this what got you upset?
"You girls worry about the tiniest things."
I said it, not Spectatio.
So call the cops now!
Hey Bill, maybe I should call the cops. Just the thought of Maureen annoys and aggravates me to no end.
Thomas's videos.....
Oh never mind.
Spectatio, did we find a bag of nuts or what?
Bill, we're on it.
We deployed a SWAT team to his residence. He resisted arrest and they shot him. We got him and his little dog too. We just hate annoyers.
You won't have any more problems.
Call us if anyone else calls you any names.
bill967 said: "Just a splinter from the Cross for us to bear. Pray for him."
Man, that praying didn't last too long did it?
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA
Are you annoyed yet?
Have any of you wondered what Rustler and his "friends" look like?
This is my guess:
http://www.voccoquan.com/images2...ge%
20people.jpg
Spectatio, penso que tu hai un piccolo cazzo!
fausto, I don't think meds are going to help your inferiority complex.
"Notice David couldn't figure it out."
Yeah, big shocker there with your multiple ids. I try to avoid accusing someone of using multiple Identities because one can never be completely sure. Apparently, one troll isn't enough for the net.
"His memory is gone."
This from the person who seems to have trouble remembering his own combox name. :-D
David, you were included in this. "You girls worry about the tiniest things."
You were feeling left out weren't you?
My apologies.
BTW, I don't know why you keep whining about my different names. You'd never have known the difference if I hadn't revealed it to you so give it up. It told you my names and am telling you that Spectatio only posted under that name. The other three people who posted here, you'll never know when, where, or who they are. Now worry about it.
Wow, what a reaction. I just was checking to see the funny caption that you all came up with and found the trolling that's been going on here.
To clear it all up, the lady who sent me this, a TAC graduate from way back, a great Catholic mom and the daughter of the VP of TAC made a little joke about the Assumption.
"It's like the Assumtion!" she said, and wasn't making fun of it at all.
People need to lighten up, for as Aristotle said, those who can laugh at nothing are boors, and have not the virtue of good humor.
" David, you were included in this. "You girls worry about the tiniest things."
You were feeling left out weren't you?
My apologies.
BTW, I don't know why you keep whining about my different names. You'd never have known the difference if I hadn't revealed it to you so give it up. It told you my names and am telling you that Spectatio only posted under that name. The other three people who posted here, you'll never know when, where, or who they are. Now worry about it."
Rustler45,
Are you really that pathetic?
And for you to pick on David B. in such manner; although I must admit, your nom de guerre "Rustler45" is quite apt --
You must, indeed, be amongst those saintly motorcyclists in Ginsberg's poem that so describe you with such precision!
"BTW, I don't know why you keep whining about my different names."
Because it is against Thomas Peter's rules.
"You'd never have known the difference if I hadn't revealed it to you so give it up."
Mind reader too? Why don't you have a TV show by now?
"It told you my names and am telling you that Spectatio only posted under that name. The other three people who posted here, you'll never know when, where, or who they are."
Yeah, I'm kinda having trouble believing your statements, friend troll. That's what trolls want though, correct?
e., It's hard to feel insulted when a toady attempts to do so. So far your record is 100% for snide remarks. Do you ever do anything other than take potshots?
It's obvious that your ability to delete and ban in this blog gives you a feeling of great power.
This thread was supposed to be humorous e., but you're not taking the joke very well.
David, are you finished crying yet?
Sure seems like Rustler45 is now into the phase of serious spamming which brings in solicitation posts from multiple sources.
E, it sounds like you got under someone's skin. ;-)
Apparently, trolls can dish, but they sure can't take it, can they? :-D
"It's hard to feel insulted when a toady attempts to do so."
My heartfelt appreciation for your having unwittingly laid out an argument against yourself and admitting the very reason why David B. and myself need not feel any manner of insult or injury given the risible nature of your person and your maniacal rants.
"So far your record is 100% for snide remarks."
Given I had made merely one remark concerning you in this entire thread, that must have been some slam dunk at just the first try.
"Do you ever do anything other than take potshots?"
The mirror's reflection is indubitably accurate.
"It's obvious that your ability to delete and ban in this blog gives you a feeling of great power."
Your dialogue hitherto with yourself has lent itself to even further hysteria, as I do not possess any such power on this blog nor is it mine to begin with (it is, as any sane individual is aware, under the rightful purview of he who owns it; namely, Thomas Peters and, perhaps, those to whom he has entrusted such administration, which is, most certainly, not myself).
Might I suggest that you cease with your uncharitable name-calling and the ever so puerile trolling?
It may well be the very remedy for your madness.
e., chuckle chuckle, who is under whose skin?
OK e., go take some Exlax and then write me another rant.
David, You act as though you have inflicted great pain upon me while I am here laughing at a dunce.
fautso, your mom says for you to come clean your room and quit bothering people.
Hey e., Did you get the 'e' by taking the 'e' from snide?
You really need to work on your lame comebacks.
BTW, I wasn't referring only to this thread. I was referring to all your comments in this blog. You're not married are you? :-)))))))
eek, I am waiting for an answer?
Well E, I think we've had fun, but now I think it's time to starve the troll.
Fun? I had fun and you were the butt of it.
Unless you're really stupid how do you have fun being a butt of my humor?
You started off having fun with a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. You thought that was funny, but when the tables turned you have whinned and bawled....
So don't be saying you had fun.
BTW what's the difference between a troll and a regular comment poster in AmP?
Trolls know what's funny and what's not funny.
Humor involving the Blessed Mother is not funny.
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