(Sltrib.com) — In canonizing Mother Teresa as a saint (“Pope declares Mother Teresa a saint,” Sept. 5), the pope publicly confirmed the essential tenets of Catholicism:
That God could have stopped Catholic priests from raping altar boys. But, overall, He didn’t want to.
And millions throughout the world rejoiced in this good news.
Such is religion.
Granted, the pope didn’t frame the issue quite that way. But it’s true just the same.
One miracle is as possible — or impossible — as another. Preach that an omnipotent deity can perform miracles, and you also preach that at other times He chooses not to.
The reality is that the priests really did rape altar boys. And the reality is God didn’t stop them. There is no excuse of “metaphor” to hide behind here, as moderate theists so often do when it comes to their holy scripture.
Put simply, God was either unable or unwilling to intervene. The Catholic God purportedly is omnipotent and hence was able to stop the rapes — even though He didn’t. The Catholic God is also omnibenevolent. So sitting out and willfully letting the rapes continue was also the right thing for Him to do.
In essence, that’s what every Christian believes — liberal moderates as well as conservative fundamentalists. Though few like to admit it.
Such is the human brain on religion. Read More
