Footballer Cautioned For Blessing Himself

A ROMAN Catholic footballer who blessed himself during a match has been cautioned by police after it was decided his behaviour had been provocative and had led to crowd trouble.

Fans complained after Artur Boruc, the Polish goalkeeper for Glasgow Celtic, crossed himself during a derby with arch-rivals Rangers at Ibrox stadium, Rangers’ home ground, in February.

The teams have strong religious associations, Celtic seen as Catholic and Rangers as Protestant. As crossing oneself is a Catholic tradition, it might be seen as provocative by some Rangers fans. Boruc is a practising Catholic and says he has always made such gestures while playing.

After an investigation by the procurator fiscal — the Scottish crown prosecutor — it was decided that Boruc’s behaviour provoked alarm and crowd trouble and constituted a breach of the peace, but not one serious enough to warrant court action. (click to read the whole story.)

I have known one or two Scottish folks in my time, and always liked them (still do) and considered them all to be sensible, level headed people. A few years back, I worked for a local discount department store, and became acquainted with a gentleman who was the sales representative for General Electric’s Electronics’ Division, whom everyone called, appropriately enough, Scottie. Scottie had lived in this country for the previous 25 years or so, and had never gotten his citizenship here, but, kept his citizenship in Scotland. Scottie was a fine fellow, and all of us who worked for this store thought very highly of him. One day, we were all at the store snack bar taking a break, and Scottie had joined us. One of my co-workers and I were discussing some current event that escapes me now, and I made some comment about America being free. Scottie tapped me on the shoulder, and in that wonderful Scottish brogue of his said, “America is not free…Scotland is free!” The tone of voice in which he said it, and the manners of the man kept me from taking offense, and we laughed, and continued our conversation. After reading the story I just read on The Sunday Times, I am afraid that today I would have to ask Scottie, when did the Scottish folks decide to start trampling on freedom?

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Mad-Donna Blasphemous Again

More From the Hopelessly Stupid Corner

It seems that Mad-Donna (I refuse to call this heretic and apostate Madonna) is bound and determined to blaspheme, and especially this Sunday in Rome, the heart of the Catholic faith. According to published news reports, on her concert tour “she performs a mock-crucifixion - will play to a 75,000 sell-out audience in Rome this Sunday.” They also report “Vatican leaders are furious at the image of Madonna descending on a suspended, mirrored, disco balltype cross while wearing a fake crown of thorns during her song Live To Tell.”

Church officials close to the Vatican have called for her excommunication since the 47 year old star was brought up Catholic. Cardinal Ersilio Tonino, speaking with the approval of the Holy Father, said: "This time the limits have really been pushed too far. It's a blasphemous challenge to the faith and a profanation of the cross. She should be excommunicated." Another official from the Vatican, Bishop Velasio De Paolis, pointed out that Satanists have used religious objects in black masses. He also said her show represents the “rotten fruit of secularism and the absurdity of evil.”

Now, Mad-Donna, just couldn't stand to be charitable, and consider the wishes of the Holy Father, the Vatican and other religious leaders in Rome. No, she has the unmitigated gall to invite Pope Benedict XVI to her tour, which is called the Confessions Tour. Her spokesperson told the New York Daily News that she thought that Pope Benedict XVI would enjoy the show ( I am not making this up) and applaud Mad-Donna's performance. She also said he had an open invitation to see the show and see “ the eloquence and beauty” that Mad-Donna “expresses for humanity” while performing her song Live to Tell.

Who does this woman think she is kidding? Mad-Donna eloquent? Expressive of humanity? Since when? I have not been in a coma or incoherent in my entire life, and I know fully well if there had ever been a time that Mad-Donna expressed anything for humanity, that was eloquent or beautiful in any of her performances, I'd have heard about it. Heck, someone would have heard about it. Can anyone else use the words Mad-Donna, humanity, beauty, and eloquence in the same sentence and keep a straight face?

Read the article at the web site of Scotland's The Daily Record, and pay close attention to how Mad-Donna talked NBC into not removing the crucifixion mockery out of the to be televised in November special of her tour. “Kevin Reilly, an executive at NBC network which will air the show, said: 'She felt that was a cornerstone of the show. We viewed it and didn't see it as being inappropriate'.”

Didn't see it as being “inappropriate”. The fact that there are millions of Christians who do see it as inappropriate means nothing to you at NBC Kevin? Apparently not. After all, this is the same network that tried to force on us a series “The Book of Daniel”, which made a mockery of Christianity. That one didn't fly, yet, NBC apparently still does not get it. So, maybe if NBC doesn't get it, the sponsors of NBC programming will. I think that none of us should purchase any products, goods, or services from any company or corporation that would have any ad on this airing of her tour. In fact, since the parent company of NBC is General Electric (GE), I think we should begin by boycotting all products made by GE. What do you think?

ADDENDUM 08/07/2006: The following was on the UPI entertainment news in regard to Mad-Donna's performance in Rome on Sunday:

"There was also another controversial part of the show in which a video clip was shown where Pope Benedict XVI and former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi were alongside Adolf Hitler, Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein."

The more she goes, the more she lives down to the gutter level she relishes.

Copyright © 2006 Steve Smith. All Rights Reserved.