# Man in gorgeous brocade dress and darling hat says homosexuality should be banned **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 16, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069 "2005-01-16T20:14:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/21 "2005-01-17T16:33:14Z")
Organized religions bewilder me, all of 'em. Or maybe the ones I’m exposed to most seem howlingly off kilter in what they concentrate on. The obsession with sexual affairs seems blown bizzarely _waaayyy_ out of proportion. C’mon, where are the thundering, front-page screeds against spiritual arrogance, murder, stealing thy neighbor’s ox and/or car, etc. Maybe sex sells even religion but if they must concentrate on fluff you’d think they’d be a _little_ more acute about the marketing aspects. What’s all OVER every media outlet? _Diets_, that’s what. They’ve overplayed Lust already; why not go with Sloth and Gluttony for a while? Every lame-o quack and opportunist is jumping on the get-thin bandwagon. (‘Gravy train’ doesn’t sound right, somehow.) Why demote Sloth and Gluttony when they’re such a lucrative secular trend? On second thought, those wouldn’t work nearly as well for scapegoating. They would require paying more attention to one’s own behavior rather than prying into salacious details of the lives of others. Much more satisfying to think, “Well, at least I don’t bugger” as a diversion from one’s own shortcomings. Though I still think Choir and Ab-Crunch Practice holds some real potential. Veb ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/22 "2005-01-17T16:39:35Z")
> [@TVeblen](#): > > Organized religions bewilder me, all of 'em. Or maybe the ones I’m exposed to most seem howlingly off kilter in what they concentrate on. The obsession with sexual affairs seems blown bizzarely _waaayyy_ out of proportion. Because organized religion is about _control_, and one of the best ways to control human beings is by controlling their sexuality. As LBJ would say, once you have them by the balls their hearts and minds will follow after. ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/23 "2005-01-17T16:50:45Z")
Ah, so the Bishop is speaking his mind again. This is nothing new - Fred Henry has an opinion on pretty much everything. Most often the comments provoke a “WTF?” reaction as you try to figure out which planet the man is on. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/24 "2005-01-17T17:10:25Z")
A Catholic bishop says he is against homosexuality, and you all are acting surprised? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/25 "2005-01-17T17:14:31Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > A Catholic bishop says he is against homosexuality, and you all are acting surprised? > > 😕 Who’s surprised? ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/26 "2005-01-17T17:32:30Z")
> [@](#): > > I would be somewhat more impressed with the Bishop’s comments if it weren’t for the fact that he is speaking as an authority in an organization known for arranging and perpetrating the ass-fucking of young children. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Jurhael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@Jurhael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurhael)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/27 "2005-01-17T18:09:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Because organized religion is about control, and one of the best ways to control human beings is by controlling their sexuality. > [@](#): > > As LBJ would say, once you have them by the balls their hearts and minds will follow after. That just makes me sad. It really does. People in such situations never really had a choice. I don’t call that “hearts and minds following”, I call it what it is: insincerity. If God exists, then he’s not stupid, is he? Surely God would know the difference between those who sincerely believe and those who just want to avoid prison or worse, right? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/28 "2005-01-17T18:44:01Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > [sidebar] > > Knew a guy, some years back, who was a Tullulah Bankhead enthusiast. He relates the story of Tulullah attending a High Mass, with an archbishop in full battle array, leading the squad down the aisle and swinging a burning censer. > > “Darling, the dress is simply divine, but your purse is on fire.” > > [/sidebar] This story always makes me giggle. Ahhhh, Tallulah…dear, dear Tallulah. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/29 "2005-01-17T20:10:54Z")
> [@Lord Ashtar](#): > > A Catholic bishop says he is against homosexuality, and you all are acting surprised? > > 😕 Well, not really surprised. But I am mildly torqued that he is presuming, in Canada, to say that homosexuality ought to be banned. Our most right-wing party drummed an MP out of their ranks the other year for much the same thing, so you can see that that’s not the sort of thing we cotton to much in these here parts. Especially from an elderly bachelor in such a pretty, pretty dress. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/30 "2005-01-17T21:26:24Z")
> [@Baldwin](#): > > (Please note, though, that Catholic vestments aren’t actually female dress; they’re just holdovers from medieval vestments, with Byzantine influences. There used to be quite a few male garments that look like “dresses” to the modern eye.) Heh heh. “Nice frock.” ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/31 "2005-01-17T23:19:03Z")
> [@yBeayf](#): > > Cite? Are you joking? [Google is your friend](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=catholic+priest+abuse+settlement&btnG=Google+Search). ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/32 "2005-01-17T23:22:07Z")
[The bishop should be greatful he’s not in Iraq.](http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/01/17/iraq/index.html) > [@](#): > > MOSUL, Iraq (CNN) – A Catholic archbishop was kidnapped Monday in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, Iraqi officials said. > > Basil George Casmoussa, 66, was outside a private residence on a main road in al-Muhendisin, in Mosul, when he was taken captive at 5:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m. ET), said Kahsro Goran, deputy governor of Nineveh province. > > Casmoussa, an Iraqi, lives in a neighborhood east of Mosul called Qaraqos, Goran said. > > The Vatican issued a statement that said: “The Holy See deplores in the firmest way such a terrorist act and demands the archbishop be freed immediately.” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/33 "2005-01-17T23:28:38Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > (\*Off topic, it reminds me of Carson Kressley of _Queer Eye_ who, looking at a Marine dress blue uniform quipped “What do you mean there are no gays in the military? Someone had to design THIS!”) I just got back from Mid-Atlantic Leather this weekend and this footnote just made me snertz… ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/34 "2005-01-18T01:31:21Z")
> [@](#): > > Are you joking? Not at all. I’m well aware of the current abuse scandal. I don’t see how that relates, though, to the Catholic Church “arranging and perpetrating” the abuse of “young children.” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/35 "2005-01-18T02:24:48Z")
> [@yBeayf](#): > > Not at all. I’m well aware of the current abuse scandal. I don’t see how that relates, though, to the Catholic Church “arranging and perpetrating” the abuse of “young children.” Are you kidding? That _is_ the “current abuse scandal.” ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/36 "2005-01-18T02:52:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Are you kidding? That is the “current abuse scandal.” Really? I could have sworn that at no point did the Church condone the abuse, much less arrange it, but rather dealt with individual perpetrators in a way that in retrospect was highly ineffective. I also thought that the victims were overwhelmingly adolescents, not “young children.” ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/37 "2005-01-18T03:03:01Z")
> [@yBeayf](#): > > Really? I could have sworn that at no point did the Church condone the abuse, much less arrange it, but rather dealt with individual perpetrators in a way that in retrospect was highly ineffective. I also thought that the victims were overwhelmingly adolescents, not “young children.” For the most part, individual priests were the perpetrators. However, the hierarchy engaged in a cover-up intended to protect and in some cases rehabilitate the priests, at the risk of further molestation, and often effectively stonewalled any investigations that would have dealt with the molestations criminally and provided psychiatric help or counseling to the children. It was for his role in this cover-up, not for any accusations of abuse, that Cardinal Law was forced to resign. There were some willing adolescents, some adolescents coerced into sexual relationships, and some out-and-out abuse of prepubertal children. My impression was that there were somewhat more adolescents than children involved, but that the numbers were not “overwhelming,” when all the instances were dealt with. Also intriguing, and seldom brought to light, was a prevailing code of turning a blind eye to gay sex among seminarians at, and priests graduating from, certain seminaries. **Tom~** did a very interesting post on this back when the scandal was “hot,” indicating that it was a matter of “seminary culture” (à la “corporate culture”) where some seminaries had absolutely no problem and up to half of those at other seminaries were involved in it. ---
**Author:** ![yBeayf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e274bd/32.png) [@yBeayf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yBeayf)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/38 "2005-01-18T03:47:12Z")
> [@](#): > > However, the hierarchy engaged in a cover-up intended to protect and in some cases rehabilitate the priests, at the risk of further molestation, and often effectively stonewalled any investigations that would have dealt with the molestations criminally and provided psychiatric help or counseling to the children. Agreed, and again, in hindsight, their approach was stunningly ineffective and counterproductive. There’s still a big difference between that and “arranging” for the abuse to happen, though. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/39 "2005-01-18T05:13:17Z")
What word would you prefer to “arranging”? The church routinely sent child-rapists into situations where they would have incredible authority over children. They knew it was happening and facilitated its continuation, setting up unknowable numbers of children to be victims. ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2005, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069/40 "2005-01-18T06:25:29Z")
> [@yBeayf](#): > > Really? I could have sworn that at no point did the Church condone the abuse, much less arrange it, but rather dealt with individual perpetrators in a way that in retrospect was highly ineffective. I also thought that the victims were overwhelmingly adolescents, not “young children.” The church also wants their money back - paid to a victim - if a priest molests a _young_ **six** year old child. They’ll call it an ‘industrial accident’. That’s not only condoning, that’s getting a profit out of it. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5193291&postcount=1](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5193291&postcount=1) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-in-gorgeous-brocade-dress-and-darling-hat-says-homosexuality-should-be-banned/285069.md?page=1)