Snip it in the Bud

Religions are stuck in a rut.
They're all full of regressive nuts.
They don't seem to care
'bout instances where
they get kids sick after they cut.

I have never tried to hide my feelings toward circumcision. I think it is an evil, barbaric practice that should be illegal in every civilized society. It should be looked down upon like most people look down on Female Genital Mutilation because, honestly, there is no difference between the two.

The Friendly Atheist shares a story about mohels, Jewish men and women trained to perform circumcisions. After performing the deed, they are required to draw blood from the wound. This is done by a suction device or, in Orthodox ceremonies, but the mohel sucking the blood away. With his mouth. On the penis of an infant.

Apart from the unsavory morality issues inherent with this, there are many medical complications that can arise. Infants, 8 days old as required by Jewish tradition, have contracted herpes as a direct result of this ritualistic disfigurement. Two babies have died.

The parents of children who have been given diseases by these practitioners have refused to name the mohels that got their children sick. New York City's health department has banned two mohels from performing circumcisions in NYC, but will not name them. Because, of course, we wouldn't want to prevent them from moving somewhere else and slicing up other infants.

This is, to me, just as disgusting and wrong-headed as the Catholic Church refusing to name priests who molested children.

With Rhyme, Without Reason

Though in the courts they were beaten,
it seems one more thump they are needin'.
A Bishop said priests'
names won't be released.
And why? He said "There's no reason."

Another day, another story about Catholics above the law but below civilized morality.

The Bishop in charge of the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana has stated that the church will not release the names of priests who were responsible for the molestation of children. The Diocese was ordered to pay a $26 million settlement for those crimes. At least one of those priests, Gilbert Gauthe, was transferred between churches in the Diocese, allowing him to hurt a new batch of victims.

Bishop Michael Jarrell has refused to release the names of the priests who preyed on children. His reasoning? That releasing the names "would serve no purpose." There is an allegation, which the Church denies, that one priest is still in the same Lafayette church in which he victimized a young boy.

The purpose of releasing the names of EVERY priest who attacked children is to prosecute them for their crimes, and protect any other children from ever being harmed by them again.

What Is The Current Market Price For Children?

The Catholics say they've a heart
because they help families start.
The guilt goes away
if you will just pray
after tearing a family apart.

Catholics in Spain are accused of stealing nearly 300,000 babies from their mothers, and selling those babies to 'fit' parents. That is 15% of all adoptions in Spain over the 50 years. A network of nurses, doctors and priests would tell women that their child had died, but they could not see the body or attend the funeral.

Why did they have to stop? The Spanish government started regulating adoptions.