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Bill Maher vs. the Pope

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Posted on Apr 14, 2008
Maher

The “Real Time” host uses the recent raid on a polygamist compound to point a finger at the Vatican, which he calls “the Bear Sterns of organized pedophilia—too big to fail.” This wasn’t one of Maher’s more applauded closing numbers, but it’s not one you should miss.

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By LAWL, April 20 at 2:07 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Bill was right

the catholic league wants Bill maher to apologize about the “pope being a nazi” and not about the sexual comments he made, doesn’t that spark something in your brain? they cover up 1000’s of child molestion cases and they do get away with it.

and ok he wasn’t a nazi, but he did take an oath to Hitler, which is even worse.

please check your facts

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By Hsvdan, April 18 at 4:30 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Maher to apologize!!

Another retarded remark from this loser of a “man”. Now HBO is going to make him apologize. He’s on his way out again.

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By RtWinger, April 18 at 12:15 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I almost feel sorry for Maher and the Kool-aide drinkers that think like him.  They feel totally ok slamming the Catholic church yet if you criticize gays, the global warming prophets, abortion and liberalism in general you hear howls of protest from these very same people.  You know...for your sake I hope you are right and there is nothing to religion or God, but if not make sure you’re dressed lightly when you pass on.

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By Jay Vee, April 18 at 11:58 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Maher's Nutty Rant

I never knew Maher was such a nut and a jerk. It’s easy to live without God but’s it’s real tough to die without God. If the believers are wrong, they have nothing to lose. They just wasted some time going to church. If the non-believers are wrong they have everything to lose for all eternity. Just think about it.

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By greg woods, April 22 at 11:44 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Re: Maher's Nutty Rant

JayVee: you must be kidding??  “God may, or may not exist, so hedge your bet and just go to church anyway”??  That’s staggeringly illogical…
If God exists, don’t you think it would prefer honest, courageous, inquiry using reason to explore the biggest questions in life vs prostrative, disengenous, submissive faux worship?  Wow…
Everyone should get a sense of humour…

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By redblackandblue, April 17 at 3:33 am #
(1 comments total)

Truth through humor

There is a great blog post on exactly this topic here:

http://www.theredblackandblue.com

Talks about the power of religion to overpower all reason… even in cases of child abuse.

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By SRD, April 17 at 12:16 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

The Vatican and comments

While I agree with much of what Lydia says, I just found out that a 16 year old girl at the FLDS Church was found to have already mothered 4 children! Can you believe that? That is incredible. I don’t even think the Aborigines in New Zealand nor the Indians deep in the jungles of Brazil can break that record.

Lydia wrote;
“Regarding the FLDS church, regardless of the ultimate outcome, they are still individuals with feelings.”

These people are victims of larger social issues including white male enslaving women. Honestly, their conduct and private behavior is both illegal and creepy regarding children.

As regards the Vatican. This is an institution so highly irrelevant that the man and his supporters are desperate, with their self appointed Liberace styled appearance...to be relevant. My sister who is a highly religious Catholic was shocked and dismayed when I demonstrated in front of her....holding a bible in my hands, and said, “do you want me to show you how much power this church has? I can rip up this bible in front of any clergy and strip them of their power...You want to see me do it? She said, no.

Another thing that we find very bizarre. Black people dancing, singing, and praising on Sunday while holding the bible above their heads. This is the same BOOKKK the KKK and neo-nazis use to justify enslaving them and relegating them to 3rd and 4th class economic, political, and educational status. This conduct is really bizarre.

SRD

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By Toby, April 17 at 2:21 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Re: The Vatican and comments

Aborigines are indigenous to Australia. Maoris are indigenous to New Zealand.  Is it possible that poor education such as this might render people vulnerable to being misled by their church leaders?

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By Dan Gallo, April 16 at 3:31 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Bill seems to be bitterly clinging to his microphone and his sectarian beliefs.  He is certainly displaying antipathy to those who are different than himself; but I might just being an elitist.

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By rowdy, April 16 at 11:36 am #
(300 comments total)

the pope was a nazi. the cathoilc church is a fascist oligarchy. this stupid old man in a dress and funny hat should die and go straight to the hell he promises for everyone else. fuck all the kkkristians.

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By PatrickHenry, April 16 at 11:50 am #
(1101 comments total)

What do you believe in?

Just want to know so everyone who doesn’t believe in it can poke fun and insult.

I believe in getting another beer.

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By SC, April 16 at 9:42 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

OH thank God (pun intended), I found a site where logical people exist.  I was at other websites viewing their opinions on what Bill said and I was flabbergasted by the craziness!!!  I love Bill Maher and disagree on some things but on this I AGREE!!!!!

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By Bill Loeber, April 16 at 4:10 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Yes! Maher is a HYPOCRITE when it comes to Israel.  Just watch his show.  He bashes religion every chance he gets, BUT defends Israel blindly!?!  Israel’s claim to land based on scripture???

BUT, YES! Cardinal Law was PROMOTED to a position in the Vatican… Any faithful care to explain???

And Yes! Ratzinger wrote the letter Maher referenced, read it for yourself on-line!
Again, Care to explain/defend???

One can have morals and know the difference between right & wrong, without the IDIOCY of organized religion.  If & when the god you believe in shows up for the second coming, he’s gonna roll some heads… And it won’t be mine!

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By MJ, April 15 at 1:31 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Pope = peace?

Is it just me.... or seeing his holiness paraded between a column of guys with rifles doesn’t exactly give me a warm and fuzzy “let’s talk about peace” kinda feeling.

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By Ernie Schreiber, April 15 at 6:56 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Coincident or design?

Strange coincidents?

Pope Benedict XVI has arrived today in the USA for a visit.  Tickets are now being sold for a special Mass celebration at Yankee Stadium on April 20th.  That exact same date is Adolf Hitler’s 119th birthday.  The Pope was born only a few miles upstream from Hitler’s birthplace, Braunau am Inn.  Interesting?

Regards,
H. E. (Ernie) Schreiber
EUNACOM Secular Journal: http://eunacom.net

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By Chris, April 15 at 6:16 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Re: Coincident or design?

Oh yeah!  And the Pope arrived on tax day!  What does that mean?  NOTHING!  Idiot!  119 years since Hitler’s birthday?  Are you serious?  You can create any sinister connections by date or location to anyone you don’t like.  Get a life!

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By rudi bianchi, April 14 at 10:45 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

pope's letter

where i can find the letter written by cardinal Ratzinger that mr.Maher refer to in his commentary on 4/11/show?
thanks
rudibianchi

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By tough, April 14 at 7:31 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

cra

bills mother is a jew now to we catholic go to her synagag and roll aquater through the aisle and start a roit .now I am antismite right. but it is ok for this liberal jew to say harsh things about the catholic church.but when ever we standup for our faith they pull the antismite card.

ps bill there are over60 thousonds catholic soliders in Iraq defending your israel so your mother could have land milk and honey

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By rowdy, April 16 at 11:26 am #
(300 comments total)

Re: cra

you must have gone to a catholic school. they may have taught you catechism, but they sure as hell didn’t teach you basic spelling or punctuation. illiterate moron.

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By mamamelavela, April 14 at 6:45 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Good try Lidia...,
“the Vatican DOES take seriously the issue of child sexual exploitation”.
You are entitled to believe that, you can believe that the earth is flat too.
This sorry ass pope was part and parcel in the cover up, he even promoted cardenal law to a high position in the Vatican. 
Don’t insult my inteligence. 
Bill’s comments are right on the money, and are only a kind of divine and poetic justice for all those sons of bitches that didn’t get caught because of the statue of limitations.
You don’t need to watch this if you don’t like it, just go to mass and get your kool-aide

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By PatrickHenry, April 14 at 1:08 pm #
(1101 comments total)

I wish Maher would criticize Israel

While Bill may feel free to criticize the Vatican and the pedopiles in that church, he remains silent on Jeruselem and that sect of religious nuts. 

The state of Israel would prove to be a more target rich environment for “Real Time” than the vatican, except the unwritten commandment in media that show hosts cannot mock the Talmud and Judaism while they are free to trash Christianity and Islam.

I guess it couldn’t be because “Maher” relates with being a non-religious jew zionist (jewist cult), which in itself is a double negative.

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By voice of truth, April 14 at 11:59 am #
(170 comments total)

What about Ritter?

Why do people here have a problem with pedophilia?  Scott Ritter, a regular contributor (paid, I assume) to this site, was arrested for being a pedophile himself!  In fact, the first time he was caught in the sting (like on Dateline), he was given a warning.  The SECOND time he was caught, same sting, 3 months later, he was arrested, but the case has been sealed.  Both times he thought he was going to meet a 14 year old girl he “met” on the internet.

So, this website employs a known pedophile, who is glorified for by most of the readers on this site for his anti-war views, yet everyone gets crazy on the Catholic Church for the same?

Hello?  Sorry, it’s for you, it’s hypocrisy calling..

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By steve, April 14 at 10:31 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Pope Dumbass

As Pope Dumbass visits the United States, I can’t help but think how true Maher’s comments are.  Bravo bravo Mr. Maher for telling it how it is.

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By Lydia, April 14 at 9:24 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

How Dare You

I am shocked at the venomosity of this display.  It seems our society has used freedom of speech as a justification for their right to insult, demean, and otherwise verbally injure anyone.  Worse, we seem to use it to make a joke out of serious issues.  There are several points that MR. Maher must understand.  First, the Vatican DOES take seriously the issue of child (or any) sexual exploitation, whether by clergy or anyone else.  Secondly, while the issue is present, there are as many allegations unfounded as founded.  (For instance, alleging that a priest has “molested” a child because he patted him on the head) Unfortunately, the church is extremely large, and consequently a most visible target.  It’s kind of like military medicine.  There are those who would allege that military medicine is poor quality.  However, it’s probably the biggest single health care delivery system, and consequently easy to target as it is so visible.  (I can personally assure you, from first hand experience, that that military medicine is one of the best systems around)
Regarding the FLDS church, regardless of the ultimate outcome, they are still individuals with feelings.  Treat them with respect, treat the Pope with respect.  Infact, perhaps it would be more prudent to say, find some other means of entertainment than trampling on the lives of others.
Otherwise, Mr. Maher, enjoy your time ridiculing, embarassing, and heckling others.  Your day will come.

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By Toby, April 17 at 12:13 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Re: How Dare You

Venomosity… does this word really exist?  If it does, it is an ugly word.  What is wrong with “I am shocked by the venom of this display”. It would help me to take you seriously if you were to remember that words have grace as well as meaning.  On a more relevant, yet nonetheless semantic matter, common to many of the posts on this page is the notion that the church is the institution to which a congregation flocks for spiritual guidance and sustenance.  In my understanding, the congregation is the church, and it’s leaders are the individuals trusted to guide and sustain; trust being the operative word here.  The leaders are no more sacred than you or I.  It is neither blasphemous to treat a celebrant as a criminal, nor an institution such as the Vatican.
Why should it matter if Bill Maher is Jewish? Who cares about the faith of a whistle-blower, as long as someone stands up and says “Hey, they’ve been getting away with this for too long.” Churches have held us in thrall with their wealth and splendor for centuries. It might be time to assess whether its leaders are too unaccountable to be worthy of the trust we put in them.

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By lance, April 15 at 4:28 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Re: How Dare You

amen to that Lydia-

Only the ones without faith feel comfortable attacking the ones with faith

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By Ben, April 14 at 6:41 am #
(3 comments total)

Bravo, Bill!

I suspect the reason their wasn’t more laughter was the sober realization on the part of the audience that there was far too much truth in what Meyer was saying.

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By tomack, April 14 at 4:52 am #
(58 comments total)

Bravo!

Bravo! Maher. Bravo! I absolutely loved his comparisons. These types of monologues should be heard daily on 100 radio and television stations. Bravo!

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By Aegrus, April 14 at 4:25 am #
(735 comments total)

This was a particularly venomous tirade Maher made. While I don’t agree with the context of his criticism, it isn’t really in me to defend any church.

Here in Florida, many people might be unaware, there is a big state government push to start teaching Creationism in the classroom and to bypass our Federal Constitution with state legislation allowing state tax dollars to be spent on ‘faith-based’ institutions. Sickening, eh?

If the ‘Religious Right’(which is only a pseudonym for Authoritarian Moral Fascists) is allowed to go unchecked, America might look like Iran under a Crucifix instead of a Crescent Moon. That is the reality. Whatever your religious beliefs are, please keep them to yourself because this holy war tring to be amassed behind the curtain won’t end in your favor. Humanity suffers under ideology.

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By Dr. Knowitall, PhD, PhD, April 14 at 4:01 am #
(561 comments total)

Number 1, Maher’s a “non-believer” and number 2, he criticized the church and you just don’t do that in America. 

Clearly, he stepped on the toes of many of the “thinking” liberals in his audience, which makes me question their real openess to anything.

How can you call yourself a liberal, libertarian or free thinker and still be shackled by myths?

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By Expat, April 14 at 5:53 am #
(866 comments total)

Right on Dr., Dr., and at this point.......

^ let the chips fall where they may.  Stay a slave or live free!

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By Purple Girl, April 14 at 3:12 am #
(233 comments total)

The First Horseman of the Humanitarian Apocolypse

The Vatican is the One of the Oldest of the ‘riders’ for the Beast. As soon as one person had to alter/concede their views about that which can not be truely known by any human, mankind was on a path of distruction. The mere fact that one can claim to be ‘ordained’, the ‘all knowning’ of the unknown tells me they are Meglomaniacs.These Middlemen which get between such a personal relationship with ‘God ‘Or ‘Nature’ are nothing more than monetary and intellectual Profiteers. They Have & will continue to do nothing more then oppress the masses, in unison & indidviually. We can Read & EXPERIENCE such things on our own, These self congradulating heiracrchies are nothing more then ‘Idols’.Their Histories & Their WEALTH alone should indicate their Allegience- to themselves. Anyone who can Kill or even oppress another is certainly not Divine, but a Ruthless, vile HUMAN!

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By Purple Girl, April 14 at 3:19 am #
(233 comments total)

Re: The First Horseman of the Humanitarian Apocolypse

Oh I should say I was Born & Raised Roman Catholic, I realized what a SCAM they were at 9- after my first Communion. I’ve since been RECOVER- I’m 44 now. and Follow No Such Heirarchial (Heretical) doctrines. If THEIR ‘savior’ comes, I’d rather not be enlsaved by IT. Of course if This Judgement Day entity is truly Just, I’m going to love to watch These Criminals of Mankind Be Held Responsible.LOL!

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By cyrena, April 14 at 8:34 pm #
(4143 comments total)

Re: Re: The First Horseman of the Humanitarian

Me too...figured out the hypocrisy at just about the same age..8 or 9, after my mother (and I) were told that she couldn’t become a Catholic because she’d been previously married.

They’re just full of shit, used for the purpose of controlling the masses and other assorted things.

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By expat in bavaria, April 14 at 1:40 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Things I'm Grateful For . . .

Bill Maher

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