Hi, Twin-Skies here. We’re trying a bi-weekly format for the FF Top Ten news of the week. I’ll be handling the Sunday updates, while sinister will be handling the Wednesday updates (at least that’s the plan).
The Church has renewed its opposition to the DOH’s condom policy, with one affiliated group staging protests over the matter last Saturday. On a more refreshing note, Desmond Tutu has voiced his opposition regarding the prevalence of anti-gay movements in Africa:
Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people are part of so many families. They are part of the human family. They are part of God’s family. And of course they are part of the African family. But a wave of hate is spreading across my beloved continent. People are again being denied their fundamental rights and freedoms. Men have been falsely charged and imprisoned in Senegal, and health services for these men and their community have suffered. In Malawi, men have been jailed and humiliated for expressing their partnerships with other men. Just this month, mobs in Mtwapa Township, Kenya, attacked men they suspected of being gay.
Bishop Tutu’s statement is a proverbial breath of fresh air, at a time when the stench of hypocrisy is rife in churches that have systematicall hidden their sex offenders for years, and attempt to impose their medieval concept of sexuality on believers and non-believers alike.
Send your stories via The News Thread or the comments. Theme suggestions are also welcome.
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Chief exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth says Devil is in the Vatican (via Times Online) Link – Egon Spengler and Hellboy unavailable for comment
In Africa, a step backward on human rights (via Washington Post) Link – Desmond Tutu speaks out against homophobia
Polk woman who died alone while fasting was following God’s call, husband says (via St. Petersburg News) Link – Methinks we’ve got a contender for this year’s Darwin Awards.
Ang Kapatiran’s JC de los Reyes nixes WHO push for condoms (GMA News) Link – The short version: *JC covers ears*, “lalalalalala!”
Church-based group’s march vs condom use set Saturday in Manila (via GMA News) Link
Victims react to pontiff’s letter (via BBC) Link – The abused are not happy with Pope Benedict’s apology letter
Jon Stewart Crucifies Catholic Church Over Vatican’s Gay Prostitution Ring (via Gawker TV) Link –
Stewart rips the RCC a new one for their hypocrisy over the scandal
Cardinal Brady will not resign over abuse ‘cover-up’ (via BBC) Link
Sceptic challenges guru to kill him live on TV (via Times Online) Link – A feature article on Sanal Edamaruku, a skeptic who debunks “holy men”
His fortune polishes atheists’ reputation (via News Observer) Link – A feature article on Todd Stiefel, a secularist who’s been using his new-found fortune to help fund freethinker movements in the US
I like this format. 🙂