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Folks, because of the recent sexual abuse scandals in the Catholic church, the Pope has been in the news a lot lately.  Many have asked questions like: “Does the Pope hold responsibility for the actions of these priests?  Is the sin of omission tantamount to a sin of commission?  Is the fact that the Vatican was granted a status as a sovereign state by the man who created fascism problematic?  Does the installment of a figurehead which has been granted moral authority, a top placement in a spiritual hierarchy, and immunity from prosecution as the head of a sovereign state troubling to anyone?”

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My friend Roger and I were at the gym attempting to fulfill our New Year’s Promises, namely ones involving carrying less fat around the chin area.  We occasionally chit-chat, though not always.  I’d been in the treadmill zone for about ten minutes when he said, “So, Midgie is going to be speaking on Sunday.”  (Midgie is a mutual friend of ours who is as fun and interesting as her name sounds, and in the interest of full disclosure, someone that both Roger and I have made love to, but not at the same time to the best of my knowledge.) (more…)