A reader sent me links to a couple of stories.<\/p>\n
Rome, Dec. 06, 2005 (CNA) – Dissident theologians opposing the beatification of Pope John Paul II have issued an appeal urging Catholics critical of the late pope to tell the Vatican if they also think he should not be made a saint.<\/p>\n
The Rome diocese has opened a beatification cause for the Pope. Church officials have asked all Catholics to come forward with personal experiences or evidence of possible miracles that could support a reputation for holiness.<\/p>\n
The Group of dissident theologians presented their views in a press conference hosted by the Italian agency ADISTA, in order to foster public backing against the beatification process of Karol Woytila.<\/p>\n
One of the best-known signatories was Jose Maria Castillo, a Jesuit professor who has taught theology at the University of Granada. Another was Italian theologian Giovanni Franzoni.<\/p>\n
"We invite such persons (critical of the late pope) to overcome their shyness and timidity and formally express, with gospel freedom, facts which according to their consciences and convictions should be an obstacle to beatification," they wrote. [Source<\/a>]<\/p>\n That’s a laugh, especially the shy and timid critics of the pope part. An answer to prayer would be shy and timid dissidents.<\/p>\n Los Angeles, December 5, 2005 — Beyond Belief Media has formally “Christian conservatives complain nonstop about the ‘War on Christmas,’ but there really isn’t any such war,” said Beyond Belief Media president Brian Flemming, a former undamentalist As its opening salvo, Beyond Belief Media has purchased “No Christmas pageant or Nativity display is safe from our troops,” said Flemming. “Wherever the mythical figure Jesus is No surprise that this mockumentary includes Richard Dawkins who seems to spend his whole life explaining why God does not exist. If you believe something is only a fairy tale and then devote most of your short human life to debunking a fairly tale. Even James Toranto who is not exactly part of the religious right calls such people "Atheist Jerks" For example he referenced another group<\/a> that was asking students to exchange bibles for porn magazines at the University of Texas at San Antonio.<\/p>\n
\ndeclared war on Christmas, the December 25 holiday in which
\nChristians celebrate the birth of the mythical figure Jesus Christ,
\nthe company announced today.<\/p>\n
\nChristian who is now an atheist activist. “So we have decided to
\nwage one, to demonstrate what it would look like if Jesus’ birthday
\nwere truly attacked.”<\/p>\n
\nadvertisements this week in the New York Times, USA Today and the New
\nYorker magazine. The company’s 300-member volunteer “street
\nteam” is also descending on Christmas-themed public events with
\nrandom “guerilla giveaways” of Beyond Belief’s acclaimed
\ndocumentary THE GOD WHO WASN’T THERE.<\/p>\n
\ncelebrated as if he were real, we will be there with an information
\nbarrage. We will undercut the idea that there is any point at all to
\ncelebrating the ‘birth’ of a character in a fairy tale.”<\/p>\n