Supreme Court issues un-American decision

WASHINGTON — A divided Supreme Court says police can legally take DNA without a warrant from those arrested in hopes of using it to solve old cases. 

It's not shocking that the current, foolish crew of Supreme Court justices would issue such an un-American decision. The founding fathers would be horrified.

Understand that this applies to people who are merely arrested. This means the police will arrest every person of color they see, just so they can enter the person's DNA into the system. This is not the sort of thing the United States should stand for, never mind instill into law. Yet these strange, elected creatures think it's fine. 

For interest's sake, note how the issue was viewed by our stalwart swing voter -- the man who is America's last hope against rule by the gibbering mob:

Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the Supreme Court, called DNA cheek swabs "a legitimate police booking procedure" like fingerprinting or photographing.

Long ago, the world admired the United States Supreme Court. That is no longer the case.

What kind of sex is Vatican-approved?

Yesterday, I quoted a twit priest who mentioned the "authentic truth about human sexuality". So, what kind of sex does the church consider "authentic"?

I mean, think about it. What type of sex gets the church's approval? They seem to be fanboys of the sex that occurs between male husband and female wife in a marriage -- as long as the couple avoids all the fun sinful positions while doing the deed. This kind of sex is not only great, it's holy!

And, judging by their actions rather than their words, we must infer that the church has no problem with the sex that priests force on children. If memory serves me correctly, it wasn't the priests, bishops and popes who railed against this common practice. It was outsiders who were horrified by priests raping kids, and brought the abuse to the attention of the media.  So I guess the church is fine with that kind of sex, too. It must be "authentic".

The characteristic that these two instances of "authentic" sex share is that the sex is viewed (by priests) as "forced". After all, no "good woman" enjoys marital sex. The husband forces it on the wife and it's her duty to comply with his illustrious, husbandly wishes. No fun, no foul. (And never you mind if the men enjoy it; that's what men do: they enjoy. It's their god-given right as menfolk!)

But in a gay marriage, neither partner is forced to have sex with a more powerful partner. The power issue is very important. If a man doesn't get to lord it over a less powerful creature, it's not god-approved.

Gay marriage, by definition, involves equality. And in the eyes of the church, people who are equal can't have "authentic" sex. Only the sex a man forces on his wife (or a priest forces on a child) is godly, good and above all else, authentic. If neither partner honors god by forcing sex on the other, how can the relationship be holy? Given these parameters, gay marriage will always be a sham. So say the priests.

I think this idea has wings. It's all about the forcing. What do you think? Does this argument ring true for you?

Some religions aren't hateful

LOS ANGELES — The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has elected to a six-year term the denomination's first openly gay bishop.

And it gets better:

Officials say the "partnered gay man" is also the first Native American to be elected. Erwin is part Osage Indian. 

Catholic church, take note. Religion doesn't automatically include hatred of gays. Imagine that!

Catholics, Baptists and Boy Scouts, oh my!

There's an article at CNN about Baptist churches that are planning a mass "exodus" from the Boy Scouts of America, now that BSA has decided to treat gay kids fairly. Can't have that, no siree.

But the article also veers into other religions. Although the Catholic church seems to have no problem with the change (after all, they've got a ton of gay kids in their schools, and they only hate gay adults), some hateful Catholic priests do plan to join the exodus.

“I do not feel that it is possible for us to live out, and to teach, the authentic truth about human sexuality within the confines of the Boy Scout’s new policy,” said Lapp,  a pompous Catholic priest.

You really have to wonder how celibate priests got such a tight handle on the "authentic truth about human sexuality". But the biggest wingnut in the anti-gay Catholic Scouts movement is John Stemberger. The article wouldn't be complete without mentioning him.

John Stemberger, founder of On My Honor, a group that opposed the Scouts’ change in policy, plans to convene conservatives in Louisville, Kentucky, in June to consider forming a new Scout-like group, which could be up and running by the end of 2013.

I can just imagine the uniforms they'll design for these straights-only scout troops. I figure they'll have a big, golden cross on the front, and an American flag sewn into the back of the shirt. It reminds me of that famous quote by Sinclair Lewis:

"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross."

Stemberger exemplifies this fascism perfectly. Perhaps he'll head the new organization and institute a Hitler salute for the scouts. Seriously, I cannot wait to see the uniforms for this newly minted Christian scouting organization. And hey, there may be major changes, too. Like maybe they'll camp out in churches -- you know, to avoid floods and predators. It'll be a whole new kind of scouting. Huzzah!

The article gives some hint of what these new scouting organizations might look like. Baptists already have an in-house organization for boys. It's called the Royal Ambassadors. A quote from one of their religious loons describes what it's like for the boys in the organization.

“We really have an opportunity here to strengthen our RA programs,” the Rev. Ernest Easley, chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, said in a sermon last Sunday, “and to get the boys in a program where they’re going to be protected, where there’s a high moral standard and where they will have an opportunity to learn about camping, missions, evangelism in the local church.”

Sure sounds like fun, huh? You have to pity these kids.

Gay marriage triumphs despite church efforts

There's an article at the NYT today about the grand failure of the Roman Catholic church's efforts to stop gay marriage in the United States.

(BTW, I think the most amazing thing is that, to date, Catholic leaders haven't been able to provide one rational reason for their hatred of gays. This two-page article, although it quotes hateful priests left and right, provides no further understanding about the church's motivation. As far as the rational world is concerned, the church's effort to stalk and harm every gay person it encounters is based on simple meanness. It's wild that this is the case. Their nonexistent "loving god" apparently supports this behavior!)

There are a many gems in the article. Here are a few:

Providence Bishop Thomas J. Tobin warned Rhode Island lawmakers: "It is only with grave risk to our spiritual well-being and the common good of our society that we dare to redefine what God himself has created." The Legislature overwhelmingly voted days later to support same-sex marriage. 

[T]he archbishop of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, likened gay marriage to male breastfeeding...

Silk suggested that some Catholic leaders in the United States may be eroding their influence by "jumping up and down" to fight gay marriage despite strong public support. 

62 percent of American Catholics think same-sex marriages should be legal.

The thrust of the article is positive: despite the hatred that priests express for gay marriage, equality is winning the battle in legal chambers nation-wide. It's kinda fun. Take that, jeebus!

They're imitating me again

Compared to Google Glass, these glasses are more like the "Visors" in Xmas Carol. They're still a far cry from the technology described in the book, but they're moving in the right direction. If you'd like to see where it's all going -- and read a bang-up story in the process -- pick up a copy of Xmas Carol. You won't be disappointed.

First openly gay college baseketball player

John Aravosis has a nice story at AmericaBlog about the first openly gay player in college men's basketball. And he's an ex-Mormon and it's a Catholic college. Very cool in all directions. Check it out.