Introducing Honest to Godless

Please join me in welcoming one of the newest members of the Atheist Blogroll, Honest to Godless.

My name is Matt Foss, and I am an atheist.  I used to fear the flak I'd get for uttering such a statement.  Now I know that as more of us that stand up and speak out, our religious cohabitants on this mote of dust we call Earth will be less likely to distrust and despise us.

I'm honest with myself about my disbelief in religious nonsense, and I'm going to be honest with the rest of the world about it too.  I started Honest to Godless to voice my ideas and opinions about life as a Godless American, and possibly share my thoughts with people I'd never have met otherwise.  My posts may include anything from philosophical musings to political rants* and everything in between.  Sometimes I just blog about the sort of nerdy miscellany that I find interesting.

*Warning: I'm a staunch centrist and am known to have heated arguments with liberals and conservatives alike.  I think political ideologies are a lot like religions: nuggets of truth mired in fallacy, falsehood, and irrational idol-worship.  I welcome healthy debate, but don't resort to personal insults if you can't articulate your point.

Are you interested in becoming a member? Visit the Atheist Blogroll resource blog for more information.

Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll

Ziggy Marley says it all

Ziggy Marley – In the name of God. Hell yes.

Technorati Tags: Music,Religion,Marley

Case against pastor Alberto Rodriquez moves forward

Five girls have a accused youth pastor Alberto Rodriquez of molestation. Three of the girls are his foster daughters. a judge found sufficient evidence to take pastor Rodriquez to trial.The abuse allegedly happened at home and at the Valley West Christian Center. A sixth victim has also been identified.

In each of the cases, the girls described trusting Rodriguez like a father and being assaulted while doing innocent things like watching cartoons or playing video games.

Rodriquez has a criminal record. He was convicted of a felony in 1985. Yet he was still allowed to participate as a foster parent and allowed to act as a youth pastor. The thing about background checks is that you must actually do a background check in order for it to be effective. I’ve noticed a trend in these cases where a pastor will say something similar sounding yet deniable. In this case, they “fingerprinted” Rodriquez. Is fingerprinting doing a background check? Reporters drive me crazy – ask the question. Was a background check performed? What service did you use? What were the results? Can you release them to the public?

Pastor Roger Leach says, "Before we hire any type of staff person they have to go through fingerprinting. And we always check references. So he did go through fingerprinting and he passed."

Maybe everyone hoped for the good in Alberto Rodriguez.

Pastor Lance Leach says, "As far as Christians go, and you look at the deeds that people do, what he's been accused of is not what we would desire a Christian be known as."

So reading through the doublespeak we know this – nothing.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Child Molestation

Introducing Blond Nonbeliever

Please join me in welcoming one of the newest members of the Atheist Blogroll, The Blond Nonbeliever.

Hi, I’m Kasha. I have just launched the Blonde Nonbeliever blog. I’m a blonde girl living at the beach in the deep American South, which alone should explain why I felt like I feverishly needed to write about what I encounter down here in the last notch in the bible belt. I’ve always lived in the South and have been a life-long nonbeliever. I have stories to share dating back to my childhood when I was a young closet atheist hiding among church-going friends and family. Please swing by as I continue to blog. It’s brand spanking new! http://blondenonbeliever.blogspot.com/

Are you interested in becoming a member? Visit the Atheist Blogroll resource blog for more information.

Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll

Photo - Woman on bike

I’ve been working in Sylmar for the last two months. I’ve had almost no time for photography. I shot this woman while waiting to get on the freeway. She’s got a few hard years on her already. She sure had and attitude.

I’m off today and home prepping for a fun photo assignment tonight. I’m the official party photographer at my nieces 18th birthday. I’m not whining either. I love doing this kind of thing. Now ask me to fix your computer…

Technorati Tags: Photography

Blogroll update - New members

We had 18 new blogs join the blogroll this month. Please take a few minutes to visit these blogs and welcome our newest members. The Atheist Blogroll contains listing for 1,392 atheist, agnostic, and secular blogs. Enjoy.

1. "truth" under the razor
2. Atheist in Africa
3. Atheist Universe
4. Blonde Nonbeliever
5. Freethinking for Dummies
6. George Clavel Gould
7. Help me, Obi-Mom Kenobi! You're my only hope
8. julie and the silvermans
9. Lone Atheist, Lone Star State
10. Sacrofagia
11. Science and Atheism
12. Secular Musings and Musical Choosings
13. Susi's Soap Box
14. Thank God For Atheism
15. The Cranky Atheist
16. The Grumpy Anti-theist
17. The Secular Gospel According to Jess
18. thebiblicalatheist
19. Απελευθέρωση απο τα δεσμά.

Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll

Grand Jury report on Catholic clergy sexual abuse

I trusted tipster sent me a link to the Grand Jury reporting on the clergy sexual abuse scandal at the Philadelphia Archdiocese. The first 6 pagers are hard to read and it gets no better the deeper you go into the document. The report has case studies. Read about Father Nicholas V. Cudemo on page 125. The man was sick and the documents clearly point to the Catholic church as corrupt and responsible for his actions.

• Father Stanley Gana, 79
• Father Raymond Leneweaver, 101
• Father Joseph Gausch, 117
• Father Nicholas Cudemo, 125
• Father Peter Dunne, 157
• Father James Brzyski, 177
• Father David Sicoli, 197
• Father John Connor, 223
• Father Gerard Chambers, 233
• Father Michael McCarthy, 243
• Father Albert Kostelnick, 255
• Father Edward DePaoli, 261
• Monsignor David Walls, 277
• Father Francis Rogers, 289
• Father Francis Trauger, 303
• Father John Schmeer, 313
• Monsignor Francis Giliberti, 321
• Father John Mulholland, 327
• Monsignor John Gillespie, 339
• Monsignor Leonard Furmanski, 347
• Father John Delli Carpini, 359
• Father Thomas Wisniewski, 365
• Father Thomas Smith, 373
• Father Francis Gallagher, 381
• Father Thomas Shea, 387
• Father John Cannon, 393
• Father Michael Bolesta, 397
• Father Robert Brennan, 405

Technorati Tags: Catholics,Clergy Sexual Abuse

We were all virgins until we were not

Whenever I hear Christian stories of chastity, abstinence, and born again virginity, I laugh to myself. We were all virgins until we were not. It was a club most of us were desperate to get out of. I want my children to abstain sex until they are mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come with sex. Hoping that they will remain virgins until marriage is a fool’s hope. Hormones, peer pressure, and… teen love are a recipe for breaking ironclad pledges – even one sealed by a chastity ring. In the heat of the moment, in that moment when we don’t think but instead desperately dream, we are all left with our own awkward memories. To deny this is to deny reality. I choose to educate my kids instead.

WeWaited.com and WeAbstain.com are two websites that cater to the Christian pipe dream of chastity. Of course, it’s a dream with a silver lining.

WeWaited.com is a place where virgin singles can meet other virgin singles online. WeAbstain.com, the sister website, caters to virgin and non-virgin (or "born-again virgin") singles who are abstaining until marriage. The sites not only provide a safe environment for abstainers to meet one another, they also invite others to abstain from sex until marriage. Its Second Life virtual reality site hosts 11 Abstinence Parks and five Virgin Parks, with 3D chat service open only to Silver and Platinum members.

Call me jaded, but this is a counter productive scam. I wonder how many young man (and old men) sign up just for access to unlimited virgins?

Technorati Tags: Christians,Abstinence,Virgins

Related articles

• Purity Rings: The Abstinence Awareness (rtv2100blog.wordpress.com)
• No sex please, we're American: More than a quarter of young men and women in the U.S. say they're still virgins (dailymail.co.uk)
• What Would Your Mother Do? The 'abstinence' underwear designed to put teenagers off sex (dailymail.co.uk)

Priest convicted for feeding his habits

Pastor, cleric, rabbi, shaman, priest – they are just people with the same problems as the general population. They lie, cheat, rape, murder, and steal to cover their base habits. Like Rev. Kevin Gray – he was sentenced to three years in prison for stealing more than $1 million from Scared Heart/Sagrado Corazon Parish. He used the money to pay for male escorts and a lifestyle well beyond his means.

The Dioceses of Hartford did not request that the money be returned, so Gray is off the hook for restitution. Of course, it is easy to be generous with other people’s money. All they need do is put out their donation bucket. The faithful will empty their wallets to make up the difference. They always do.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Misconduct,Theft,Catholics

Related articles

• Conn. priest gets 3 years for stealing from church (thegreatone22.wordpress.com)
• Priest With Double Life Gets 3-Years Sentence (frstephensmuts.wordpress.com)
• Mike Jones Can Appreciate All the Sex-Starved Priests Who Helped Him Make a Living (queerty.com)

Pastor Nicholas Minerva commits suicide

Baptist pastor Nicholas William Minerva was being served with a search warrant when he ran back inside his church and shot himself in the head. Minerva has been engaged in a ongoing conversation with an undercover police officer posing as a 14-year-old girl. The chats had originally started with a real teen. Minderva is alleged to have shown his willy to the undercover officer among other unsavory actions.

The chats, that were with a teen and then unknowingly with detectives after police had been alerted, had been going on since last July.

Authorites say he had 'inappropriate conversations' with the 'girl' and once showed his genitalia via a webcam.

That’s a hell of a way to go out. He had a wife and four children. It’s all so sad.

Minerva was the pastor at Trinity Baptist Fellowship church.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Sucide

Introducing Atheist in Africa

Please join me in welcoming one of the newest members of the Atheist Blogroll, Atheist in Africa.

My blog was created partly as therapy ( there are not many Welsh atheists in South Africa) and mainly looking at the funny, factual and couldn't-make-it-up irony and hypocrisy I encounter on a daily basis that I can't keep in anymore! Current events in news- local and global that are applicable and also links to useful/ funny videos and images. I post as beLIEve.

Are you interested in becoming a member? Visit the Atheist Blogroll resource blog for more information.

Technorati Tags: Atheism,The Atheist Blogroll

Pedophile priest pleads guilty

Catholic priest Alejandro Jose Castillo pleaded guilty to one count of committing a lewd act on a child. He will face one year in prison. He made the plea to escape a possible 20 year prison sentence. I’m happy to see this conviction. He supporters are vocal, aggressive and abusive. It’s about time they shut up and pay attention to the victim. 

His plea Monday at West Valley Superior Court is part of a plea agreement with prosecutors that carries a sentence of a year in county jail and requires that he register as a sex offender.

Castillo had been charged with eight felony counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts two years ago with a 12-year-old boy. Prosecutors dropped seven of the charges as part of the agreement.

The former pastor, who has also served as a priest in Rialto and San Bernardino, will be back in court June 16 for his sentencing. He is expected to begin serving his year-long jail sentence following his court appearance.

Original Posts: Rally round the pedopriest & Accused pedophile pastor bailed out

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Catholics,Pedophiles

Pastor Jason Phillips convicted

Canton youth pastor Jason Phillips was convicted of criminal sexual assault. HIs victim was a 15-year-old girl. The jury took less than an hour in it’s deliberations. Phillips faces 15 years in prison. I should note that his pastor, Kevin Van Tine, was a firm supporter. Van Tine was sure the charges were fabricated. How sure are you now?
Original post: Life is a gamble. Right pastor Jason Phillips?
Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Sexual Assault

Accused priest kills himself

Monsignor Michael Smith killed himself rather than face charges he molested a young boy. Smith apparently took an overdose of drugs.

Monsignor Smith, who was also responsible for St Peter's Chapel in Hadlow, was arrested on December 7 last year on suspicion of sexual assault "concerning a young person" and immediately stood down from his post at the Lyons Crescent church.

Kent Police said this week the investigation into the alleged crime was still ongoing.

Det Insp Rob Chitham said: "Inquiries are continuing with a number of people who have spoken to detectives in connection with the investigation.

Suicide is rarely satisfying. His victim will never be able to face his accuser. It’s all so sad, and pointless. Suicide is the cowards path, but then again, so is molesting a child.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Suicide,Catholics

Homeless and hungry in Cerritos

I was off on Good Friday. I made good use of my free time by playing disc golf, donating to Good Will, and running a dozen errands. One side trip took me to the beautiful city of Cerritos for a visit to a pharmacy and a quick stop at a grocery store for some fresh vegetables. While walking into the pharmacy I noticed an old woman on the ground laying in the fetal position. She was being cared from by two indigent people, and old man and a young girl. I did nothing.

When I left the pharmacy 20 minutes later, they were still there. I walked past them without a second look. When I was 20 feet past, I heard the young girl ask a couple of women for spare change. She had not asked me for anything. I tend to scare people. I’ve mentioned before that I am the size of a small bear and that small children often cry simply because I smile at them. My guess it that they took one look at me and decided to pretend that I did not exist. I’m used to it.

In the grocery store I realized that I had stepped around an old woman who was laying on the ground and had ignored two people who were obviously in need of attention. My internal dialog was not something I can repeat here. Suffice it to say I felt like a jackass for not staying true to my core values. I resolved to do something.

They were there when I left the store. I stepped into subway and bought them lunch. I dropped sandwiches, sodas, and chips off a few minutes later. They were hungry and grateful. I asked after the lady on the sidewalk. She was sleeping off a night on the bottle. I asked if hey needed help, and the pointed them in the direction of the nearest homeless shelter.

As I walked away a woman stopped me in the parking lot. She was my age and pretty. She asked why I had helped them. I asked her what she meant. She said, “When you feed them they will never go away.” I looked at her without speaking for a few seconds, she added, “I’m calling the police”. She walked away in a huff. The thing I remember the most is a small silver cross hanging between her breasts.

Cerritos is a city without homeless people. It’s a wealthy city with great services and nice parks. Its policed by the LA County Sheriffs. The city has a zero tolerance policy for the homeless and they offer no services for them. I live just over the border in Buena Park. We have lots of homeless people here. The distance between the two cities is only a few hundred yards. I’ll never understand how the wealthy and religious (lots of churches in Cerritos) cannot see past their own borders.

Technorati Tags: Homelessness,Religion,Charity