Pope Picket Sunday in San Francisco

JOIN SAN FRANCISCO ATHEISTS & EAST BAY ATHEISTS IN A RALLY TO PROTEST THE POPE’S ROLE IN PERPETUATING PRIESTLY ABUSE OF CHILDREN!

THIS SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2010 ~ 11 AM

Pope Benedict, aka Cardinal Ratzinger, is more than complicit in perpetuating the ongoing abuse of children by priests. This abuse became widely known approximately ten years ago. Since then the scandals have continued to emerge. We read about the sexual abuse of children, usually boys, that is upheld by threats from the abusers that disclosure will send the victim to hell for an eternity. And when that does not work, there are always beatings.

The beloved Pope has quite the credentials. For many years he was head of what the Church euphemistically refers to as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the modern day name for the esteemed institution that brought us the Inquisition. As such he was intimately involved in Church policy on abuse.

In Europe and the United States, many Catholics are calling for a transparent investigation into the Church’s policies, such as merely transferring an abuser to another parish, that perpetuated this incredibly harmful abuse of children. And they are calling for the Pope to resign.

We feel that Atheists and other Freethinkers should likewise show their support for these noble goals. At the same time, we can point out how the very nature of Christianity promotes blind obedience to established authority and how the sexual repression demanded of priests can result in abusive relationships with those lacking the power to resist.

Please join San Francisco and East Bay Atheists in this rally.

Where: St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church, 1111 Gough St., San Francisco

When: Sunday, May 23, 9:30 to 11:00 AM

How To Get There: BART Access: Take the 38 Geary Muni bus from the Montgomery BART station. From the Civic Center BART: Walk north up Hyde Street to Geary, then left about 5 blocks. (Warning: Funky Neighborhood)

More Info: San Francisco Atheists (http://www.sfatheists.com); East Bay Atheists (http://www.eastbayatheists.org); Don Havis (650-375-1745)

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2. Donnelly Denigrates The "San Francisco Military"
3. Protest the Pope rally sees thousands march through London’s streets
4. Pope's Preacher: Criticizing Church for Child Rape is Like Anti-Semitism
5. Most US Catholics think Pope Benedict should not resign