The Critical Eye Podcast
Welcome to the Critical Eye Podcast!
In this episode, we’ll take a look at the arrest of a Christian militia group, the recent onslaught of pedophile priests in Europe, and hold a round-table discussion about coming out of the atheist closet with two atheists from a small town in rural Alabama.
Listen below by clicking the play button or download it here:
E03: Coming Out of the Closet
This episode’s layout:
Intro
News: Christian Militia group arrested
News: Catholic Priest Scandal Goes Viral
Round Table: Coming out of the Atheist closet
Commentary on Round-Table
Outro
We would like to thank “Robert” and “Mary” for participating in this episode’s Round Table and for sharing their stories and views on this important subject.
To send us comments or questions, send an email to criticaleyepodcast@gmail.com.
The theme music is Whip the Comet by Kai Kln from the album Rhythm of Stranger under Creative Commons. To hear more Kai Kln, visit the Internet Archive and search for Kai Kln.
Links:
Christian Militia arrested:
AP: Official: Gun charges after FBI raids in Midwest
AP: Feds: Christian militia needed to be ‘taken down’
Washington Post: The Hutaree militia and the rising risk of far-right violence
Chicago Sun-Times: Undercover agent, witness provided intelligence on alleged Christian militia member
Article that spurred the priest discussion:
Times Online: Holy Father, I can stay no longer in this Church of Disgust
Articles related to priest abuse in the past week:
Belfast Telegraph: Priest to move after Derry child abuse allegations
Wine Times of Chile: Chilean Priest Speaks Out As Revelations Sweep the Catholic Church
UKPA: Priest on leave over child safety
Reuters: Pope seen undeterred by abuse scandal, reform calls
Huffington Post: Depose The Pope
AP: Lawyer who found documents has long pursued church
Pharyngula: Sunday Sacrilege: The greatest blasphemy of them all
Times Online: Chief exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth says Devil is in the Vatican
AP via Forbes: French bishops “ashamed” of priest sexual abuse
Vancouver Sun: Pedophile priest storm now threatens Italy
AP: French priest under investigation in sex case
Irish Central: Yet another Irish bishop admits child abuse failure as Vatican may force Cardinal Brady to resign
AFP: Pope knew about US deaf school predator priest, victim says
Grand Forks Herald: Priest in Irish church abuse scandal had ties to North Dakota parishes
WHAS 11: Archdiocese calls accusations credible of sex abuse by pastor
CNN: New Catholic child abuse allegations surface
BBC: Bishop of Clogher did not report abuse claim
Kentucky.Com: Former Lexington pastor enters plea in sex abuse case
Global Comment: Irish Catholic Church: no time for a witch-hunt
Deutsche Welle: German archbishop says Church covered up sex abuse for decades
Richmark Sentinel: Swiss Priest Calls On Vatican To Name And Shame Sex Offenders
STL Today: Support group for priest abuse survivors heading to Europe
Belfast Telegraph: ‘Priest got schoolgirl pregnant’
Guardian: Papal letter fails to quell scandals engulfing Irish Catholic church
Coming Out of the Closet:
Do Atheists Hide From Family and Friends?
Revealing Your Atheism: Should You Come Out of the Closet as an Atheist?
Coming Out of the Atheist Closet
The Out Campaign
There are situations where families DO come around. And there are definite benefits to the person.
I like to listen to Dan Savage, (an atheist), and he has standard advice to young people who come out as gay.
When you come out, be self-sufficient. When they freak out–and often times they will, give them a timeline. An ultimatum. There is one thing a child has to hold over the parents’ heads: contact with them. Tell them: I will give you six months to get over this. (You are the parent, they are the kid.) If, after six months, you haven’t come to your senses, I will go on with my life without you. And hold them to that. Be as consistent as a good parent.
There’s every reason that an experience as an atheist can be like this. After all, the consequences for this can be the same: withdrawal of support. If you are willing to baby them and explain your reasoning in the best way you know how, then do it. If not: it’s your life. You do not owe them for them having sex to make you. But if you do value them, six months of bullshit may not be too bad, especially if you have a family member come to his senses.
Thanks for the comments Alleee!
I completely agree. It’s your life, and children don’t inherently owe something to their parents.