A Vatican spokesman in the shape of a priest (a celibate male, in other words) called the open letter to the pope ‘paid propaganda to promote the use of contraceptives’. Well, yes: it was paid in the sense that it was a paid advertisement in the Corriere della Sera and it was propaganda in the sense that it was an attempt at persuasion – but nevertheless calling it that is 1. somewhat tendentious and 2. a bad joke coming from the not exactly unpaid Vatican which spends quite a lot of time and effort on its own propaganda, well backed up with commands which are in turn backed up with threats of excommunication and burning in hell for eternity. … Read the rest
All entries by this author
Is Either Amis Any Good? 
Jul 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Neil Powell thinks the first is better than the second.… Read the rest
Patriarchy Makes Men Crazy and Stupid
Jul 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Sometimes men sulk until women give up the debate.… Read the rest
Islam and Apostasy
Jul 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The main traditions of jurisprudence in Islam draw on Hadiths to argue in support of death for apostates.… Read the rest
Where Religion and Authority Mix
Jul 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Conversion tends to be a no-no.… Read the rest
Texas Board of Ed Fantasizes Biology
Jul 26th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The new wheeze is to teach non-existent ‘weaknesses’ of evolutionary theory.… Read the rest
Jersey ‘Bone’ is Probably a Piece of Wood
Jul 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Experts have told Jersey police that multiple tests show the fragment is not bone.… Read the rest
Priest’s Sudden Insight About Sexuality
Jul 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
‘The gift of love should be allowed to be fruitful. This simple idea lit up everything like lightning in a storm.’… Read the rest
Vatican Priest Calls Letter ‘Paid Propaganda’
Jul 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Obscurantist nonsense about spiritual relation between husband and wife and fecundity.… Read the rest
Happy 40th Birthday ‘Humanae Vitae’
Jul 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Vatican refuses to change disastrous policy on contraception.… Read the rest
Catholics to Pope: Lift Contraception Ban
Jul 25th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Groups said Church’s ban has had catastrophic effects, particularly in prevention of AIDS.… Read the rest
Jersey Abuse Claim ‘Corroborated’
Jul 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Police investigating allegations of child abuse say search of a bunker seems to support witness statements.… Read the rest
Catholic Group Tries to Prosecute Parade
Jul 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Catholic ‘civil rights’ group accuses organizers of gay pride parade of ‘inciting religious hatred.’… Read the rest
Aberystwyth Cleric Defends ‘Life of Brian’ Ban
Jul 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Hasn’t seen it, says it was unpleasant then and still is, therefore should be banned.… Read the rest
Olivia Judson on Recent Evolutionary Change
Jul 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Start with the evolution of beak size in finches in the Galápagos archipelago.… Read the rest
Michael Shermer on a Habit of Human Cognition
Jul 24th, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We have evolved brains that pay attention to anecdotes because false positives are usually harmless.… Read the rest
Universal or selective?
Jul 23rd, 2008 5:34 pm | By Ophelia BensonThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) begins with a preamble, the first clause of which says
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world…
The Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam (CDHRI) also begins with a preamble; its first clause is quite different:
… Read the restReaffirming the civilizing and historical role of the Islamic Ummah which God made the best nation that has given mankind a universal and well-balanced civilization in which harmony is established between this life and the hereafter and knowledge is combined with faith; and the role that this Ummah should play to guide
Getting a Laugh From ‘World Youth Day’
Jul 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The walls had collapsed. I was standing out in the open. It was very liberating. … Read the rest
Man, 64, Will Wait to Poke Bride, 10
Jul 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He’s paid the SR100,000 but will wait until she’s 15. Lucky girl.… Read the rest
Hitchens Gets Himself Waterboarded
Jul 23rd, 2008 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Waterboarding used to be something that Americans were being trained to resist, not to inflict… Read the rest
