663 Fact and Faith
This week was
huge. For George Pell. For the Catholic Church. For Everyone.
While we were
fed Cardinal Pell’s testimonies regarding the abuse of children by priests (do go
and see this years best movie Spotlight) it was made painfully clear that a) Pell is the third most powerful
official in the Catholic Church and b) the Church is one of the most powerful organizations
in the world.
Never mind
the fact that Pell, now that he has a Vatican passport, is practically
untouchable; that's tragic. But here is a thought that is beyond tragic in its
implications for Everyone: The whole schemozzle - Pell, Christianity, the
Church and its power in the world - is built upon lies.
The lies that
Jesus Christ was born of a virgin; that he performed miracles; that he arose
from the dead. And above all
the lie that there is a God.
There is no God … everybody knows that. Everybody
who gives the proposition some intelligent thought. They may say, “oh, it is not a matter of
fact ... but faith.” Fair enough … but the fact is, there is no God.
The matter of
faith is an unrelated premise: Everybody’s faith is their very own business …
by all means believe whatever you want to believe in (God? Sure).
But how did
this faith thing - while it has nothing to do with fact - become one of the most powerful organisations in the world?
And what is my point with all this? My point is Pell & Co know they are living a lie ... but the lie has become so big, there is no turning back and telling the truth.