New York City's Saint Patrick's Cathedral, perhaps the most recognized Catholic Church in the United States, recently hosted a funeral for a transgender activist.
Leading up to the event, there was little opposition to be seen. But in the aftermath, some Catholics are outraged that the church allowed it go forward.
Angry critics have even started a petition demanding the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York perform an exorcism on the famous cathedral.
Now the Archdiocese is backpedaling, blasting the “scandalous behavior” at the funeral as “sacrilegious” – statements which have angered friends and family of the woman who was recently laid to rest.
So, what happened at this funeral? And is St. Patrick’s Cathedral really in need of an exorcism?
"Mother of All Whores"
The funeral service for transgender activist Cecilia Gentili’s is being called a funeral like no other. Gentili, a well-known advocate for transgender people, sex workers, and those with HIV, passed away on February 6th at the age of 52.
More than 1,000 individuals packed in to St. Patrick’s Cathedral to honor her life, and the eulogies were at times raucous.
One person celebrated her as “this great whore, St. Cecilia, mother of all whores.” It made the rounds on social media, drawing criticism from some Catholics who said the funeral was offensive and blasphemous, unbecoming of such a holy space.
That’s not all: in what could hardly be considered your average Catholic funeral, scores of LGBTQ+ activists offered prayers for gender-affirming care, and funeral goers sang ‘Ave Maria’, but changed the words to ‘Ave Cecilia’.
Some critics are even demanding a reversal of "Fiducia Supplicans" – a recent policy change declared by Pope Francis which allows same-sex couples to be blessed by the Catholic Church.
Who You Gonna Call?
Evangelical news outlet LifeSite News, which began the petition, described the funeral proceedings as “a shameful moment in the life of the Catholic Church in the United States” which “[desecrated] St. Patrick’s Cathedral with sexual expletives and immodest dress.
The petition – which has since been signed by more than 10,000 people – asks the church to “make reparation and offer exorcism prayers in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, lest this evil be met with lukewarm indifference.”
It's also not clear exactly what an exorcism of a church would look like, as such rituals are traditionally reserved for expelling demons believed to have a hold over an individual.
A Funeral to Remember
As backlash mounted, the local Archdiocese sought to distance themselves from the controversial ceremony by pleading ignorance.
"We didn't know the background. We don't do FBI checks on people who want to be buried," said Cardinal Timothy Dolan days after the funeral. Citing the “irreverence and the disrespect of the big crowd that was there,” Cardinal Dolan nonetheless praised the quick efforts of priests who helped get the ceremony under control and bring it to a close an hour ahead of schedule.
The cathedral also issued a statement from Fr. Enrique Salvo, who had harsher words, chastising the ceremony as “sacrilegious” and "deceptive."
Meanwhile, Gentili’s family is now demanding an apology from the Archdiocese both for bringing the ceremony to a close early, and for their statements critical of the event.
“We brought precious life and radical joy to the Cathedral in historic defiance of the Church's hypocrisy and anti-trans hatred,” the family said in a statement. “The only deception present at St. Patrick's Cathedral is that it claims to be a welcoming place for all."
What is your reaction?
112 comments
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Jan M
Fellow officiants, it hurts me to say, but in this day and age with everything going on here and around this upside-down world, I am finally glad that I am 78 years old! Don't have a tremendous amount of faith in much anymore except my own beliefs which I keep close to my heart and would never think of pushing them on ANYONE. If everyone would just mind their own business, help where they can and respect others' beliefs this would be a much nicer place to live. Love and Light to you all.
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Donald J Rothschild Jr
Good response Jan. Unfortunately there are those will not accept anything other than their beliefs. All revealed religions have the same flaw, “do as I command”. It’s like they never once read their holy books, or if they did they perverted it to fit their own narratives.
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Don James Buckel
Hello Jan M., Thank you for the uplifting words. After reading a lot of posts here, a lot of he said/she said, a lot of this is fake, that is made up, it is nice to read a friendly word. When I see an article like this, I like to read the posts first, then read the article, then go back to the posts. I normally do not write until after I read the article, but yours caught my eye... I am in agreement. No one should push their beliefs on anyone. If someone is interested, it is our responsibility to talk with them, but never force them. In my quest for understanding, I have, so far, found that almost all religions are set on the idea of love, peace and acceptance. It seems to me, it is what people read and interpret the way they want, that brings violence and hate. I wish you, and everyone else, joy in life, love in your heart, and peace in your home.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Build a holy bonfire and do a Native American rain dance to wash off the evil. Whatever trips their trigger. But I have to use a limited vocabulary on this site when expressing how inane even the IDEA of such a plan, much less being sufficiently ’cognitively challenged’ to follow through on the execution of such.
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Rev Mark D
Now is it fair to say that those who put on the rain dance show are the ones cognitively challenged, or the ones who actually buy it, thus rewarding those who put on the show? Think about that before you answer because you may be criticizing the entire method of Hump and his band and the GOP and they're supporting kingsmen who go around ridding the king of turbulent priests.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Actually I meant it literally. Dancing doesn’t make it rain. And originally the dancers and the rest all believed it would rain. Well, maybe there were non-rain dance believers even back then? Exorcisms, rain dances, seances…all hokum.
As for humpty dumpty, I think he is cognitively challenged but nowhere near the level of his followers.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
I so love it when the “religious” folks whine about satan and demons. You would think they were actually admitting that those are stronger than their god. Otherwise no need for exorcism. This is just plain silly.
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Robert Edward Szekely
And it should be noted that "Satan" is a Hebrew word meaning "adversary". It is also a title, and not a proper noun (just as "Christos" or "Mesiach"). The Old Testament is full of people encountering "satans" in their paths as obstacles. Neither is "Lucifer" a correct name, as it Latin Vulgate (untranslated) meaning "Morning Star", or the planet Venus seen in proximity to Earth's sun as dawn breaks, as it reflected enough sunlight to appear in the early morning sky as a star.
There are numerous legends "about" the Bible, that aren't actually found "in" the Bible! ;)
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ServantOfJudgement
Enter the Woke Hive mind. The spirit of the age. Good is evil and evil is good. The woke hive mind accepts and loves all except those who do not agree. The woke hive mind hates and attacks those who do not agree. It must. What greater love can a drone display than to deceive, mock and attack those who disagree with the hive mind? The woke drones all buzz the same words, inclusiveness, love and acceptance. In front of cameras, message boards and podcasts the drones buzz their coded language. When translated into common speak they actually mean exclusivity, hatred and conformity. Good is evil and evil is good. It must be, and so it is.
The hive came to offend and demanded an apology when those they intended to offend became offended and reacted to the offending party. Such belligerent and wickedly bold actions will continue, they must. The Christ must be degraded wherever and whenever possible. Those who believe the Christ must be bullied and hated until they go silent or conform to the hive mind and deny his teachings as the woke hive mind perverts then denies his teachings.
The demonic presence departed from the church with those who carried them in. Exorcism will serve no purpose other than a boost in morale perhaps. Something was stolen from the church that isn't easy to identify, retrieve or replace but it was stolen nonetheless. The filthy lie that this group is a group of love is easily exposed by their deception for love deceives not. This is your litmus test. Trust it.
I commend the christians that kept their calm during the satanic attack. It's not what the enemy wanted but it's what the enemy got.
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Robert Edward Szekely
Ummm...what was your point? I think I missed it.
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Rev. BH
Something about waking up in a bee-hive? I dunno.
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Misty Leighann Chapman
Bahahahaha 😂 after reading all this mind boggling BS in the other posts I really needed the laugh . Thanks
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
"Woke hive mind?"
You mean the same Hive Mind that burned Harry Potter books when the series came out? The same Hive Mind that celebrates kids getting slaughtered by gunmen as THEY go to church because "it's the wrong church?" The same Hive Mind that screams hate at any person who is different?
You mean THAT hive mind?
Oh, but "That's Different we're doing it because Jesus want us to do it!"
Horse manure. They're doing it because they're filled with hate.
Just like your post is filled with hate.
This was not a "degrading satanic attack". This was a funeral for a kind, loving, gentle, woman who opened her heart and arms to those that the ACTUAL hive - mind spat on and screamed hate at. And now they're trying to spit on her memory and scream hate at her loved ones who are mourning her because they can't let go of their egos and their cherry-picked passages.
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ServantOfJudgement
I thought it was a dude in a dress. Yea, I just read it again, it's a dude in a dress. My taxpayer funded, government tested education says that's a he, not a she. I guess the dress doesn't have much to do with it. Christians do support self defense against anarchy like the 'very firey but mostly peaceful' riots the hive mode carries out. We need to protect ourselves against evil that we all know exists. They burn the bible all day long, I don't care. Go burn one tonight if it pleases you. I burned some D&D books once cause I got super pee'd off at rules lawyers, it felt nice but a month later I bought them back. Who cares if someone burned some books, go buy more.
These people went into someone else's house to diss and offend. Praising the foul thing as the 'Mother of Whores'. Come now, we all know that's not right.
If Christians spit one these offensive beasts shame on them, I didn't read that anywhere. That said, they're lucky getting spit on is all that happened. God forbid that Christians would stoop to the level of the Woke Hive Mind and carry out a national 'peaceful protest'.
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Rev. BH
Comment removed by user.
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Colleen McAllister
The real question here is why a funeral for an Atheist would be held in a Christian Cathedral? Surely there were better venues. As to exorcising the building, a simple blessing is all that's needed. There was no evil involved, unless it was the motives of those who planned this farce.
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Lionheart
Yes, let’s have a farce instead of a man-made construct called a “blessing”. 🤷🏼
🦁❤️
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
The ‘LOL’ acronym annoys me. It’s yet another example of the trendy use of superlatives and exaggerative speech. ROTFLOL?? People generally neither laugh out loud, much less do it while rolling around the floor.
But your comment? Got a big BAH HAH out of me.
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Rev Mark D
Colleen, the church might have just done it for the fee. Not only that, but if they do this exorcism I think they should sell tickets. I need to help the poor and people in need, seriously.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
A final f….., thank you?
But most indeed a farce, as is all religions. Oh, you meant THE FUNERAL!!! Yeah, also that.
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Reverend Andrew
I am confused. who are We to judge so what if the person was an Atheist it does not mean that their family members are. I mean I don't want any kind of religious service when I go Stick me in a box put me in an oven and throw a Kick A** Party! But I know thats is not what my family member will do they will hold a mass and what not .So what a trans person Had a funeral in a church so what they were an Atheist .
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
My family won’t go against my wishes of doing whatever they want as long as no religious figures are in attendance. I’m dead, headed for the oven.
Here in Japan the family accompanies the body to the crematorium and wait for the body to be loaded in and the oven fired. Then they go back for a couple of hours and drink/talk/mourn. Then they return and are present as the oven is opened and the bones/ashes are pulled out. Each person uses large chopsticks to put a couple of bones into the urn. Then they hang around the ‘official person’ loads in everything else.
I’ve left instructions for ‘Fading Lights’ to be played during the loading and ‘Washing of the Water’ when they come back.
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Rev Mark D
I think I'd put you in an urn so you can attend the party... Well okay I'm speaking of what I would like done with me.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
cristofascists at it again. but an exorcism? really? goes to show the ignorance of so many of these cristofascists; to them anyone not like them is possessed, demonic, evil, episcopalian. all cristofascists should just change their motto to: We Love To Hate
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Wayne Edward Kilmer
Yes I can see that you do
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
no actually, I just refuse to suffer fools and that includes every person of every religious stripe who thinks their religion, their belief is the one and true and attempt in ways big and small to demean, demote, demonify and force others to accept and follow their fantasy cosplay. sadly you are incapable of seeing that
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Charles West
I could categorize most of the commentary as offered by “nattering nabobs of negativism” but I agree with you wholeheartedly!
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James Richard Munro
The Catholic Church should Not have allowed this desecration to take place in a Holly place of worship. Father, forgive the LGBTQ, for they no not what they do.
No, I do not hate them. With proper psychiatric care, there may still be hope for them.
Pastor Jim
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
First, being LGBTQ+ is NOT a "psychiatric condition" You are either born LGBTQ+ or you are not. It is 100% natural. Just like being human is completely natural.
Second - those that do not worship YOUR god doesn't give a da** about your prayers and rolls their eyes every time you say "I will pray for you".
Third, your "conversion therapy" as individuals like yourself call it, is nothing more, and nothing less, than deliberate psychological torture to get a person to hate themselves. MOST individuals who are forced through it never change from being LGBTQ+, they just hide it to get out of that hell-hole, and then flee the ones who forced them through it and never look back.
Those that don't, often end up suiciding, or living in such severe depressions they self-destruct. In other-words, your "conversion therapy", as you call such "mental health help", is DEADLY and it doesn't work. It's nothing more than religious-sanctioned brutality.
And last, this was a lovely funeral for a kind, loving, gentle woman who would more be at home with Jesus's teachings than you would ever be. HE taught that everyone, no matter who they were, were to be loved and respected. Not hated. Your posting is so filled with hate it's sad, and I feel bad for you.
Jesus, if he were alive today, would likely be HATED by individuals like yourself because he would advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals, not hate them. He would speak out, LOUDLY, against pastors of mega-churches that are making BILLIONS by preaching "the word of god" while lining their pockets. He would be advocating for equality and kindness, not hate.
ACTUALLY read your bible sometime. Gaia knows, I've read a lot of them.
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ServantOfJudgement
Lol Bridget
Yep, Jesus would hold the door open to strip clubs, push the plunger for heroin addicts, pour tequila for drunkards, square dance with drag queens and then tell the hard boiled preacher he's hell bound because he wouldn't do a funeral for the mother of all whores.
We don't need to guess what Jesus would do, we can read it. You don't buy into Jesus? Fine. Nobody has to, who cares anyway? Don't presume what he'd do if you don't. You buy into Jesus? Great, then read what he said, it sure ain't what you said.
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Rev. BH
"Servant of Judgement" is a very scary handle! Like an Administrator of Discipline? Judge not lest you be judged, right? Maybe a little tequila would calm you down.
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ServantOfJudgement
Rev BH "Judge not lest ye be judged". Bible quoting generally comes from atheists when judging Christians but I'll not assume you're an atheist.
You're in a long line of people who've judged me based on my user name, a very long line. Really really long. Its candy for antichristian members who want to hate Christian no matter what they say or do.
My surname means Servant of Judgement. My last name literally means Servant of Judgement. To my surprise my full name means God's graceful and precious servant of judgement. I found this out after I became a Christian. If we put the person to it, my name means "God's gracious and precious servant of Christ"
I was born this way, I didn't name me and my parents didn't know. Dad was an atheist I think, not sure.
Tequila makes me mighty wild, I'll take a short fat glass of scotch with a ball of ice instead if that's ok.
Take care
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Russel A. Kester
SOJ, the facts about your name were interesting. Thanks for sharing.
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Donald R. Wooster
Not sure what Jesus you're talking about, but it's NOT the Jesus of the bible. Also, if she was such a kind, loving person, why didn't those in attendance show her the respect you say she deserved, instead of acting like out of control, childish dolts? Apparently, the LGBTQ.......to infinity crowd isn't capable of being respectful, of ANYTHING.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
I enjoyed that.
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James Richard Munro
The description of the funeral says she is an atheist. Why would an atheist want to have a funerial in a religious building? You say that she would be more at home with Jesus.? Didn't think atheists believed in Jesus. Is this another one of those, I go both ways? You say you can't help the way you are? Clevland Clinic, John Hopkins Hospital, and MT Cyanite Hospital all did independent study`s. Results, there is no evidence to prove, you are born that way. Again, it's a choice, and you chose it.
Question for you. If I could find a doctor who would violate their oath, and do a sex change on me, would I be a girl? ( The oath is to do no harm ) May you some day, get help for your mental disorder.-
Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
@Munro “ The description of the funeral says she is an atheist. Why would an atheist want to have a funerial in a religious building? You say that she would be more at home with Jesus.? Didn't think atheists believed in Jesus.”
Why a church? Thumb the nose at them one last time. Maybe she liked the architecture.Cause the uproar that it has.
I have no firm opinion of whether or not Jesus actually existed, though that isn’t necessarily a big deal to atheists. There might have been a real guy. More likely more similar to Monty Python’s ‘The Life of Brian’. And the born of a virgin, miracles and coming back to life thing is found in stories from previous cultures so that malarky isn’t new.
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Rev. Michael Gerraghty II
You cant "cure" being gay.
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James Richard Munro
You also can't cure stupid.
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Robert Edward Szekely
I disagree that the act of having a funeral for a transgender activist and prostitute in a cathedral desacralizes it. If it did, Jesus would have sinned by associating with Mary Magdalene and lepers. Again, a church is not a building, but wherever believers gather to worship. Followers of pagan dieties were required to enter those dieties' temples for worship, rituals and sacrifices. Jews did also, until the Second Temple was destroyed, and Rabbinical Judaism made the traditions and practices of their faith unschackled from place.
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Robert Edward Szekely
Jim,
What do you mean by, "with proper psychiatric care, there's still hope for them"?
Are you referring to therapy which helps them resolve their gender dysphoria, and helps them reconcile gender identity and physical anatomy discrepancies, until such time as they might undergo SRS (sexual reassignment surgery)?
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Yep, places worshipping holly need to be protected.
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Danny D. Maynard
With proper psychiatric care, you can be helped too!
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
James Richard Munro Feb 22, 2024 at 07:10 pm
The Catholic Church should Not have allowed this desecration to take place in a Holly place of worship. Father, forgive the LGBTQ, for they no not what they do.
No, I do not hate them. With proper psychiatric care, there may still be hope for them.
Pastor Jim
I pray to SATAN every day that with proper psychiatric care all people deluded into believing in a goD can likewise be cured. but alas, there is no hope for those that are fervent in their belief because how else could they agree, applaud and approve of all the terrible things that people do in the name of their goD
Also, for the love of SATAN, the word you are looking for is 'HOLY', not 'HOLLY', eessh you'd think you'd know that one at least
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James Richard Munro
Shame, shame, shame on my spell check for changing it.
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Elvin St. James
It is their ritual. Leave them alone
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
I’m not suggesting that anyone interfere with them. But laughing at their silliness is perfectly acceptable. When kids do silly stuff forbearance is called for. But society needs to censor stupidity.
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Robert Edward Szekely
I would say "censure" stupidity rather than "censor" it. Rather than blocking it, it needs to be critiqued to death, so that people become properly ashamed of flagrantly embracing and showing off their ignorance, and start keeping it to themselves as they once did in the past.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
‘Society needs to censor stupidity.’ I used voice dictation on the sentence above and you can see what happens. You’re entirely correct, it should be ‘censure’. Perhaps I should be censured for not proofreading dictated messages.
Many people on this group are ‘offended’ by many of my comments. But I have said exactly what you suggested and I DO it rather frequently. The first step of eradicating, a non-desirable behavior in a population is to make it socially. Unacceptable. And this is done by social pressure. Essentially it’s simply telling people “ that opinion is socially unacceptable and we want you to stop it.” I saw it happen in the 60s when people were told to stop being racist. It doesn’t always result in individuals changing their opinions, but pushes it into the back closet. Fine, at least we don’t have to put up with that crap. Back in 2016 that closet opened back up. And roundabout 2020 and effort was made to start putting that stuff back in the closet.
But there was a difference between what happened after 2016 what happened prior to the civil rights movement back in the 60s. Back in the 60s had guys in white sheets burning crosses and peoples front yards and dragging them behind until they were dead. 2016 people in polo shirts carrying tiki torches. 50 years of being in that closet, kinda chilled their butts out.
For me, all the religious people have to do is keep their opinions to themselves unless they’re willing to be told their ideas are backwards and antiquated as an extension of that politicians need to cut out all talk about religion whatsoever in the legislature. The.’In god We Trust’ needs to come off all currency, and out of the pledge of Allegiance. That wouldn’t be something new, just the way that it was originally intended.
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Robert Edward Szekely
At last count, there are 71 million Catholics in the United States. 10K is 1/100 of a percent. That's a minority of homophobic imbeciles acting like ignorant, superstitious 12th century European peasants. They don't even deserve the recognition that this article gave them, never mind calling them Catholics, which casts aspersions on the mainstream members of the faith. I cite these protestors as "ignorant" and "superstitious" in calling for a "church exorcism" for a few reasons.
They are ignorant of the faith they profess to practice, because the objective of an exorcism in Catholicism is to expel malevolent supernatural entities which reside within the body of a human host, having taken possession of that host's consciousness and will, overriding those with its own.
By demanding that the cathedral undergo an exorcism, these ersatz Catholic protestors appear to present as superstition what is actually a disingenuous attempt to veil their homophobia under the implied assertion that it must be demonic possession which causes a person to be transgender. Their mock indignation further reveals their antipathy and disgust toward the LGBT+ community as a whole, revealing their hypocrisy as true followers of Christ.
If this 1/100th of a percent of the American Catholic community disagrees with the direction in which their Church is progressing as it matures, instead of their insistence that it remain immutable (which is ludicrous, just as they are), they should just simply go and find another church, and another religion.
Their attitudes and their hearts are not Christian, in spite of what they may call themselves. They may not even be true Children of God with the hate in their hearts that is evidenced for those who are different from themselves, who they refuse to accept, but rather seek to vilify and literally demonize.
That is not what their god, the Anointed and Beloved Nazarene Son of God Yeshua bar Yosef, Nazarene, taught his followers during his earthly ministry. Do Christians not wonder why Adonai (Father of the Universe) chose Yeshua (Jesus) as his 'Favored Son, of Whom He Was Most Proud'? As it must be remembered that King David was a Christ (Christos) or "Anointed One" as well.
It was because Yeshua, the Son of Man, was the exemplar that Adonai was trying to get the Judea, the Hebrews and Israel to live up, to become. Yeshua was sinless not because he was immaculately conceived, but because he was able to observe (execute) all of Adonai's Commandments (Mitzvot).
Remember that Yeshua (the Christos - a title, and not a name) and his Apostles were called "Christians" by the Romans as a perjorative, they were a Jewish sect who followed the enlightened teachings of the Carpenter Rabbi, the Christos of Galilee and Nazareth. To those who respected the sect, they were Nazarites, as in "Followers of the Nazarene".
I've digressed here to illustrate that what we call "Christianity" today both evolved, and has been historically demonstrated was shaped by Roman political forces in its early centuries, primarily by ecumenical councils at Nicea and Trent. That having been said, the greatest gift Jesus (Joshua), son of Joseph and Mary gave the world was his message of love, compassion and brotherhood, regardless of whether one worships him as God or not. Thomas Jefferson was one of those who viewed Jesus, during his earthly ministry, as the paradigm for humankind to emulate.
As it has been said by others before--we learn more by studying the religion of Jesus, than the religion about Jesus.
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Daniel Gray
Why? No matter if some like it or not the person deserves to be honored and remembered (as long as they were not like Stalin or Hitler or Dahmer or Mao or Poppa Doc) If they harmed no one, then leave them alone.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
or mother theresa, or any/all of the popes, or bishops, archbishops, cardinals, blue jays, hawks, skunks,
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
the time is coming where no longer will 'respect' be given to any religion. it's a mental deficiency, cognitive dissonance of the highest order. religion exists for one purpose and one purpose only: control other other. how else could priests, bishops et al convince children to let them touch them (and later...more).
religion serves no purpose other than to vacuum up as much money as possible, don't believe me, go take a tour of vatican city, st peter's cathedral, or st patrick's cathedral, or any cathedral, or catholic church, or joel ostrom's mega church. these things didn't grow organically, they weren't willingly built by the masses, they were built under threat of eternal damnation.
religion is cancer. it eats away at society, pitting one against the other, using up resources better left for the greater good and instead horded, used to increase it's size and influence, just like a tumor. you can see the dependency, the addiction, when you tell someone their god is false, make-believe, pretend. you can see that right here in these pages from the usual members who in one way or another are here only to condemn every non-believer they meet to damnation. well, at least that's what they like to believe.
anyway, the nigh approaches where religion due to its own sanctimony, it's own greed, it's own disregard for the people they claim to love, is going to be soon banished to plastic-covered 20 year old furniture living rooms where the few will huddle while they chant and pray to their make-believe goD to save them. even their children won't visit them anymore. cold comfort indeed
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ServantOfJudgement
It's interesting JJ that the vast majority of atheists in USA are white. Pew research says 78%.
So...... We can now surmise atheism is the new white supremacy? All who aren't atheistic are idiots says the atheist. All who aren't atheistic are backwards dullards says the atheist. Pew says mostly white are atheist. Mostly non whites are what? I think you guys have been saying their clowns and fools.Are you guys saying mostly only whites are smart enough to ditch God?
Yikes!
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
read it any way you like, atheism is no form of racism which you should be quite familiar with. the fact is most atheists are college educated and understand how the world and the universe works (mostly) but most certainly does not include some dumb azz make believe goD to keep people down. religion became 'popular' with slaves because they were taught that their true reward would come after death. what better way to keep the masses down by claiming their reward is when they're dead. how you gonna prove them wrong?
nope, religion is all about being and being kept, ignorant. the priests, shamans, imans, were always the more educated in the tribe. who knew their people better than they? who knew better how to manipulate them?
religion is indeed the opiate of the masses and you are double-hitting
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ServantOfJudgement
JJ,
Pew research says atheism is highest amongst people with highschool and some college completed. Once they get a full college education it begins to fall. The higher the education the more atheism drops. Ego and self worship causes atheists the believe they're smarter and know better. Pride in self is a terrible obstacle. Indeed, before there were universities, there were atheists.
It's true religious outfits like the Jehovah witnesses, Mormons, Islam, scientology and many others use the spiritual mechanism in humans to control them. Jim Jones, David Koresh, Stalin and Hitler all use this spiritual mechanism. Organized religion is not needed but can make it easy, does it not? The atheist is every bit at risk as the creationist. According to Pew research, to the atheist, government takes the place of God or gods. We are all at risk of being used and misled my friend.
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Deborah Lynn Strafuss
Ok - Energy healing comment here. All spaces should be cleared after every funeral ceremony. Think of it - a roomful of sad, heavy-hearted people who believe in death coming together around a vacated, lifeless corpse and talking about dust. Hearts filled with so many unresolved issues, angers, frustrations, difficult relationships, complex pasts and pure grief and loss over the one who is gone. So much emotional garbage sitting in that space. Clear it! Every one!
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Kevin Oconnell
Being ordained I have a responsibility to all humans . God has given me this right to wed to baptize and to perform funeral it is what my calling is. . I'm not here to judge you or him or her but to do God work, let God judge at the end. We will all stand before him in judgement, who's to say I'm perfect or you
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Let’s be perfectly clear here….God didn’t give you the right. That plastic Sheriff badge you got here allows you to do that.
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Rev. Dr. Father JJ
lol exactly
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ServantOfJudgement
Well not exactly. Only atheists think their rights come from pieces of paper. Indeed, you keep your rights in a brown paper bag. They can come and go like waves on a beach. The flavor of the day dictates your so called human rights. Your high priests say human rights don't exist at all, therefore slavery is the moral equivalent to drinking a glass of milk.
Creationists have rights that transcend language, they just exist. Wicked kings and crooked merchants need reminding of this from time to time.
In either case, your right and so am I. Your rights come from filthy men while mine come from eternity.
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Wayne Edward Kilmer
For me it comes down to this - accept Jesus as your savior, love GOD with all your heart mind strength and soul, love thy neighbor as you love yourself. Don’t accept Jesus that is your choice, don’t believe in GOD that is your choice, but can you tell me that if we all loved our neighbor as we love our self that this wouldn’t be a better world. As a believer the first two are easy. As a human love thy neighbor as thy self is the toughest, because I am human with an ego and emotions, but I try and pray for forgiveness when I fail and I try to learn from those failures. We can’t know the heart of the deceased or the full anguish of the family. Give aid and comfort when you can. Unfortunately those screaming praise GOD the loudest aren’t always the true believers. We all know good from evil but many times our ego won’t let us speak the truth. Ego is the first and most insidious sin.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Praise Cheeses! Thank you for that sermon, brudder!
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Wayne Edward Kilmer
I am sorry I don’t understand, was that a serious response or are you just a troll
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
It means I think you lack the ability to take your little revival on the road and so you drag out your soap box and yammer on like some homeless guy on the street with a sign.
As for being a troll, Bilky Bob Thornton said….
like to fish. But I catch and release. Drag the bastard around by the lips until he gets all gassed up with lactic acid, then you take the hook out and look him in the eye and say ‘Naw, I was just *u**ing with you, buddy.
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Wayne Edward Kilmer
I don’t know if Billy Bob Thornton actually knew anything about fishing and you can extrapolate that anyway you choose.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
Extrapolate? Extrapolation involves a taking a series of data points and inferring something about data outside the range of said data. The word that you were grasping for might simply be’ take’. ‘Construe’ would be another possibility. Or ‘draw any conclusion’.
Myself, the conclusion I would draw would be that you are trying to appear smarter than you really are by using words that you don’t really understand.
Go back and sit at the kiddy table.
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Rev Mark D
Let me guess: Somewhere I see the influence of somebody's theatrical agent.
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Rev Mark D
We have met the lord of the flies, and them is us.
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Russel A. Kester
It seems from this article that some of those who attended the funeral displayed deplorable decorum. They should have been mindful of the venue and conducted themselves accordingly. They were bad guests in another's home. They had options and could have held the funeral elsewhere and avoided this stigma entirely. But they didn't. In fact, the article mentioned that they might have done it purposely to embarrassing the Catholic Church and thereby took advantage of the church's compassion. Once again, the inconsiderateness of activists shows. While claiming to be so very tolerant, they behaved most intolerantly.
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Rev. Rory
I agree. Some of those who attended the funeral displayed deplorable decorum. They should have been mindful of the venue and conducted themselves accordingly. To honor their friend, another venue could have been the better choice. It's not that the deceased was not worthy to have a ceremony in that church, but the mourners wished instead to make a statement. Complain as much as you want, outside the building. An exorcism is ridiculous, anywhere for any reason. If the religion calls for it, than so be it. Religion in general was not tolerant in the past and it is not tolerant now.
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Nicholas J Page
Perform an Excorsism on a Holy Church wow that's ridiculous do they work only if those are stupid enough to believe they do.This is the modern world when you are gone your gone Why should it matter what funeral your having.Or are you going to let the deceased rot out in the open air without a proper service.Its those left behind to grieve without all this nonsense going on.Does it matter people of what gender you are.? Obviously to a lot of morons it does.Accept who you are live your lives how you wish
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Merlin
Prejudice has not limits or bounds.
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Theresa C. Marquess
The funeral of Cecilia Gentili was an event that was disrespectful not only to the Catholic Church but to all Catholics. It was an abomination. The one thing that is wrong with today's world is the lack of respect for one another. It doesn't matter if the relationship is between friends, family, co-workers, or a civic or religious body. Disrespect is disrespect. Cecilia's group had their 15 minutes of fame. Now I hope things can settle down. I have nothing at all against the LGTBQ, etc. groups, but enough is enough.
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Rev. Michael Gerraghty II
Amazing how you can say that when it was the catholics not LGBTQIA that was throwing the temper tantrum because of a trans persons service in the cathedral.
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Rev Mark D
Several issues here aren't there?
Behavior of those attending was atrocious inappropriate irreverent and not at all in keeping with solemnity or normal joyfulness of a funeral. It was clearly excessive exhibitionism and perhaps intended to alienate or mock or serve themselves and perhaps an opposition or alienation to others present in the event itself I think that's pretty clear.
Then we have the issue of having the funeral in the church in the first place.
Then we have the families reaction and the community of evangelicals reaction.
And we have the calling for the exorcism; and perhaps along with it but different is whether to take it seriously and under consideration or advisement.
Do we need some way of subdividing this whole thing into subplots or should they be all combined together as some mishmash or something in between either extreme or order it in some other way like as in topic by time of occurrence? I'm flummoxed by this whole mishmash, but less so about each of the issues.
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Denise
Thank you all I really had a great time reading all the comments and learned a few new words, haha. I hope all have love, peace, soft TP and fun in the life you choose to live. I would love to meet some of you have lots of drinks and discuss this world.
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Wayne Edward Kilmer
I am afraid you would be disappointed in most of us. I think some are just here to stir the pot or believe they are the pinnacle of existence. I would be happy to buy the first round
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Dr Rohn
Again, I smile. Trying to make a decision whether this is sarcasm or not. Either way it was cool.
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Dr Rohn
This isn’t about love or even Christianity. This is about control and manipulation from people who hide behind religion. And my understanding and I’m sure I will be corrected is that Catholicism does not consider itself Christianity to begin with. But be that as it may, it’s all religion and as was stated by one of my favorite commentaries/comedian; Religion is the champion of false promises and exaggerated claims with its list of 10 things God does not want you to do. And if you do any of these things, he has a special place full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry, forever and ever until the end of time, but he loves you. I will not say that I agree with the wording of the eulogies of this funeral. For I feel that calling someone who was an activist for the rights of people, whether I believe in those or not, a whore, or a great mother of whores is not a compliment but pretty degrading to a person that they are saying was a good person and did good things. Should the church have exorcism? Now that brings a smile to my face. As for this being a “shameful moment for the church“ well, add it to the list… Let me close here with, If, in fact, an exorcism of this beautiful building is scheduled to be performed, tell me where I can get tickets I would love to be there.
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Robin Anne Hannon
If anyone needs exorcism it is these people demanding an exorcism. What on earth have we come to? Jesus would be appalled and embarrassed. He hung out with what was at that time the dregs of society, always preaching love, healing, and redemption. This is not Christianity I am seeing here. I have no clue what it is, but we all share the same embarrassment if we call ourselves Christians at all.
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Ari Joseph Bertine
Here are my thoughts on this, as a member of the LGBTQ community:
Why on earth pick a Catholic church for this? Surely there was some other venue available that had enough seating for as large a funeral as they wanted to conduct, but that wouldn't stir so much ****, knowing how they wanted the ceremony to go. This seems either very imprudently chosen or deliberate, and neither casts the organizers in a good light.
Why were there people who were not a part of the funeral party there to know about what was going on? Why were Catholic priests present and running the ceremony, and why weren't they informed of the way things were intended to go? If things did not go as intended, why would the family be upset that it was cut short? Again, this seems either very ignorant or deliberate, and as such, does not put a good face on the organizers.
Why would people think "exorcism" when that's not something that the Church likes to talk about, admit to or do in this day and age? Surely they are not allowing their love of horror and fantasy movies color their view of their own religion? It sounds absurd and petty. Some people need a bit of a talk from their priest on that.
And it's not like profanity, mockery or loudness are anywhere close to something that can desecrate a consecrated area. That's like worrying about a bug splat on your windshield totaling your car. The overreaction is clearly based in homophobia and transphobia, which neutralizes any sympathy I might've had for the parishioners. Again, needs a serious talk from a priest.
This was an unnecessary conflict, and not the sort of thing that the LGBTQ community at large needs or wants. People need to consider the effects of their statements on others, and if they are aiming them at those that they consider oppressors that is understandable but it's NOT understandable to allow the fallout to harm others. We have people now clamoring for less understanding and less compassion due to this.
Both sides of this issue need to think hard before they lash out. While I understand that religious trauma can be deep and cause a lot of resentment that can be assuaged by acting out, I also understand that there are ways to do that without causing ripples that cause damage to people who didn't earn it. And while I understand that it's upsetting and enraging to have your safe space invaded by people you consider "the enemy", the people that belong to that safe space must also adhere to a specific code laid out by the very important guy depicted on a cross at the front of their church space.
If this was a reddit AITA situation I'd say ESH. Both sides need to do better.
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Rosalie Stafford
Perversion is inspired by demons, which seek to defile every good and natural thing (such as the family unit: mom, dad, kids) and replace it with loathsome frauds (males pretending to be females, & vice versa, adults raping youngsters, etc)
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Rev. BH
Demons? This is 2024.
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Steven Ferrell
Sadly to many churches are condoning sin. We are indeed to love everyone, but that does not mean we also love their sin.
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Eric Laspe
So many commenters are just attacking the ideology of the side they disagree with here.
I think it’s perfectly reasonable for an institution that owns a building to be a little upset about another group coming in and disrespecting the norms of that institution in their building. Surely there was a conversation had, or maybe even an agreement signed about the church’s expectations on behavior when renting their space.
Many atheists and gender ideologues enjoy disrespecting religion in intentionally provocative ways as a sort of sport or retribution for perceived harm religion has done to them. But to rent a religious building and then disrespect it like that? It’s simply dishonest and uncouth.
I guess if an essential part of being a trans activist is making a fool of yourself by disrespecting others in public, they are doing it well. Good luck winning more sympathy from civil society.
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Nova Kali
So the Catholics were not upset and contine to support a pedophilic cult. What's the big deal?
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Ari Joseph Bertine
I assure you that it is not, and they did not do well by their own community, at all.
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Rev. Diana
Jesus teaches infinite love of everyone. Anything else from a Christian is apostasy, which can only be fought with love. This isn't a difficult concept, and can be distilled down to one simple thought: "be good to each other."
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Nova Kali
Hilarious... a religion that habors pedophiles. Perhaps those attend this cult church are all in on it.
Where is thst uprising and upset?
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John Edgar Buonagurio
Inappropriate at best and certainly not representative of the greater LGBTQ+ community who have worked so hard to be accepted and supported by all people.
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Richard Mutch
If you give them an inch they will take a mile. This is exactly why God rained down fire and brimstone on Sodom AND Gomorrah. Most people don't want to know that Gomorrah was the female dunghole.
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Rev. BH
Comment removed by user.
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Rev. BH
We all want to know, Richard. Please fill us in on the "female dunghole".
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So, this bible verse is a complete lie? 1 John 4:7-12
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
The hypocrisy of Christianity is unbearable.
I have said for years and one of the reason I don't believe in Christianity anymore is that "There is no LOVE like christan HATE"
And yet like the Everready battery bunny… ….they go on, and on, and on about it.
Sorta like what you do in your hatred of anything religious.
Absolutely. One of many reasons I left Christianity. They only use the bible as prop.and twist words to suit their needs. Biggest con game in town.
There's no hate like Christian "love".
Is it that type of love that God had when he drowned almost everyone on earth and killed those babies of the firstborn, and also suggested stoning people to death?
I’m just asking for a friend of mine that likes the idea of slavery being as god approved it.
🦁❤️
God got into self-help therapy after that. Knew he needed help. Came up with a great idea.
Do a mystical rape number on a teenage virgin. This allowed go to give birth to himself so he could sacrifice himself to himself THUS allowing him to forgive humans and therefore provide protection to the humans from himself. It should be noted however that: 1) This protection from god is only valid for humans that can keep a straight face and say that they believe all of the above and 2) The death wasn’t a permanent, forever, everlasting ‘normal’ death, just a 3-day weekend.
Well Z, when you put it like that...
Perfect way of starting one of the most obviously overlooked conundrums in the “written word of God”. Well done! The end, however, that wasn’t needed. After all, he was the only one who could come back after all this. The rest either live in castles built on golden streets or BURN IN HELL…
So he's a trump supporter?
If I had to bet I’d feel comfortable wagering a large sum that any random MAGA I met would be a religiously delusional xtian.
I think you’ll find most of the woke are Biden supporters.
🦁❤️
Those first born future slave masters were put down because pharaoh wouldn't free 1 million slaves. Surely you side with God on his antislavery stance. The USA killed a gentlemen's share of men women and children to free slaves. Pound for pound USA willingly paid much more than Egypt was forced to pay.
SOJ don't forget there were a fair number killed in that USA war who were kind of trying to keep the slaves to be slaves too.
difference is the Civil War was fact, what you're talking about is fantasy
Gentlemen, let's not be hostile towards a person or nation for something we've done and would do again. If the God of the Bible is real or not, freeing slavery from oppressive slave masters and a ruthless dictator is noble and worthy. It's just and righteous.
You should realize when you attack God or anyone for freeing slaves your character comes into view.
Yes God freed slaves. Yes a dictator refused to free them when told several times. Yes God put that dictator down, Yes, the good guy won and cleared the name of the dictator from history. He's gone.
So did USA. If we can, why can't God?
as I pointed out above, the civil war and slavery were real. your goD is not. so apples to...well, to nothing but magical thinking, fantasy, cosplay.
why do people really think quoting their bible is sufficient to prove their goD exists. think about it, according to the delusional their goD wrote the bible, then they quote their bible to prove that their goD exists because he wrote the bible they use to prove goD's existence because it's on the bible. tautological much?
Of course it isn’t a lie but that doesn’t mean that some people who profess to be Christian’s aren’t liars
We are to love people but that does not mean love their sin. Even Jesus after keeping the woman from being stoned, then told her to go and sin NO MORE.
To condone sin is wrong.