This is almost too funny for words. Do you think they were afraid there might be dancing there?
posted by Mad Anne Rackham at 11:03 AM

Pete Townshend has this song about reincarnation on his compilation album Scoop (I don't know if it's on any other album) called, "You Came Back," the chorus of which is simply the title sung sweetly a couple of times. I am reminded of this song now because I bit the bullet and wrote to the person I was debating about whether to write, and, "She wrote back/She wrote back," as the song might go. I'm pleased that I followed my instinct although many might say that by the rulebook of what's "healthy" perhaps I should not have. A good friend recently said about me that I give more second chances than anyone she's ever known. I must reply that my life would be probably totally empty if I did not. But of course there are some people who indeed should be avoided, like the two toxic people I described in the same entry. The key is to figure out where to draw the line. I'm getting better at it at least. In any event, I think a small healing has taken place in me from getting her reply and corresponding again. They add up.

On another note, I did drop the metaphorical dime on the criminally toxic person that I mentioned in that entry. I fulfilled my moral obligation by passing the info on to who needs to make the decision about what to do. And now I can let it go, hopefully.

Did I say criminally toxic? What a great segue for another rant about the Catholic Church! The local spokesman (of course spokesMAN, this is the patriarchy) was on the news claiming that they already follow most of the recommendations made by the local sexual assault support agency about what they should be doing. But he of course drew the line at turning in those who reveal in confession that they are sexually abusing people. So since they will never agree to do that, I have a suggestion. They should institute a rule for those hearing confession. Anyone who comes to confession and confesses that they've been sexually abusing someone must be told in no uncertain terms that they are going straight to hell and that no absolution is possible unless they turn themselves in to the civil authorities. Tell them this every time. Then maybe they'll do the right thing and turn themselves in or commit suicide. It's not a perfect solution, but it's better than their current policy regarding confessions. They could, for good measure, read those verses from the Bible about how anyone who causes a little one to stumble should be tossed into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck. Jesus said that, the big guy.

Why am I so vehement about this? I was never Catholic and have never been sexually abused. But I know a number of people who have been. One of my exes was abused starting at the age of nine by the son of her Anglican minister. She'll probably never be right. I met a woman here who was raped by a Catholic priest who was supposed to be counseling her to help her deal with being sexually abused by her father. The scum-sucking bottom-feeders at the state's Catholic newspaper raked her over the coals in their pages as if she had done something wrong! And then the judge let the bastard go even after he was convicted (he was probably bought off--he has issued other such baffling decisions since then.) Remember that line in "Broadcast News," where the suit who was responsible for laying off a bunch of employees asks one of the senior workers whom he canned if there is anything he can do? The fired worker says, "Well, I certainly hope that you'll die soon," in a totally calm tone. I'm reminded of that because the bastard priest who did that did die not long afterwards. Good riddance, have fun in hell. See, that's why I have to have this blog--I could not possibly say these things to the general public here, not even on talk radio. But they are all the truth. The other reason I hate the Catholic Church so much is that they keep interfering in my life by stopping legislation that would improve my life and the lives of those around me. They have no right to do that. We have separation of church and state in this country, damn it. So I have every right to hate them with a vengence. It's the least I can do.
posted by Mad Anne Rackham at 5:46 AM

If I'm really bored, I just have to remind myself of how much work I have to do. Then I will quickly be able to find something else to fill the time. The work will just have to wait until I am in a better mood.

Line I just used in an email: "I don't participate in religion anymore." I think that's a good way to describe it. I am very spiritual, but no church believes what I do (and the Unitarians are too unfocused for my taste), and even if they get close, they are inevitably so dyfunctional that they end up causing me more harm than good. A community would be nice to have, but I just don't feel that it is achievable at this time.
posted by Mad Anne Rackham at 12:01 PM