I was making some changes to my sidebar, changing things around like how old my son is now that he’s had a birthday and so forth. While digging through the file, I decided to add a link to the web design company that I work for – their site is here – 4 Guys – and I’m just too damn proud and impressed with the work that my co-workers do and the amazing things that they create to not take a moment to show it off. If you go there, play in the 4Gear Store – it’s cool what they did with Flash & Cold Fusion! And that was before FlashMX came out! And I just have to point out that the 4 Guys logo ROCKS. Oh, have I mentioned recently that I really like my job?

This NY Times article (subscription required) makes some very good points about what has been going on with the Cardinals in Rome. The quote that sums it up best for me is, “We are angry that these spiritual arbiters are unyielding when the “sins” belong to us, not to them.” The are actually debating over who should be removed from the priesthood based on the number of times that they abused children, depending on the age of the victims and the frequency. WHY would these things matter? NO. They don’t. They did finally agree on a “one-grope-and-you’re-out” policy, but that could be watered down at the Bishop’s conference this summer.

Let’s get this straight. Until I get an annulment, the Church won’t allow me to remarry. I also don’t follow the Vatican’s terms about birth control. So my sins here are to have married & divorced and to take pills so I don’t get pregnant (or just to keep my hormones at an even level.) If I remarry without an annulment, the Church will consider that wrong, they won’t recognize it, and I won’t be allowed to participate in the sacraments such as Communion. But we’re not tossing the known child-abusing priests out? We will allow them to stay in their positions, performing the sacraments? Isn’t that a thousand times worse them me participating in them? What is wrong with this picture?

It’s time to allow priests to be married. I strongly believe that if there wasn’t such a shortage of priests they would be responding to this in the way that they should be. Regardless, it’s time to purge the corruption from the alter and excommunicate the priests involved in this horrendous crime. Now.