OneAngryCultist: This Week in Religion

In a far cry from the apparent unity exhibited above by Muslims and Christians during the protests against Mubarak this past January, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended Egypt be included in their list of countries of particular concern (CPCs)for violations against religious freedom along with Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

“CPCs are nations whose conduct marks them as the world’s worst religious freedom violators and human rights abusers," said USCIRF Chair Leonard Leo. “In the case of Egypt, instances of severe religious freedom violations engaged in or tolerated by the government have increased dramatically since the release of last year’s report, with violence, including murder, escalating against Coptic Christians and other religious minorities. Since President Mubarak’s resignation from office in February, such violence continues unabated without the government’s bringing the perpetrators to justice. Consequently, USCIRF recommends CPC designation for Egypt.”

Despite being one of the foremost secular nations in the Arab world, followers of the world's two largest religions continue to have issues playing nicely in the sand-box.



In another "come to Jesus moment", there's been a some very vocal outcries taking place regarding the slated May 1st beatification of late Pope John Paul II by (now Pope) Benedict XVI in particular surrounding the former pope's blindness and inactivity regarding clerical child abuse cases that have scandalized the church. The Nation Reports:

"Moreover, on the greatest internal crisis facing the church, [John Paul II] failed, time and again, to take decisive action in response to clear evidence of a criminal underground in the priesthood, a subculture that sexually traumatized tens of thousands of youngsters. Despite a 1984 warning memo from the Rev. Thomas Doyle, then a canon lawyer in the Vatican Embassy in Washington, and a ninety-three-page report on the problem co-written by Doyle in 1985, which was sent to every American bishop, John Paul ordered no outreach to victims, no binding policy to rid the priesthood of deviants. In 1989 the US conference of bishops sent experts in canon law to Rome, seeking a streamlined process for defrocking child molesters rather than waiting for the byzantine Vatican bureaucracy and final word from the pope. John Paul refused. Litigation and prosecutions spread, but the pope remained passive."

Interestingly, and much to the contention of the more anti-Ratzingers reading this blog, during his curate as prefect for the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, then Cardinal Ratzinger did much to try and handle the emerging child-abuse problems and make sure that offending priests were brought to justice... unfortunately he didn't get far and was met with some hostility by other cardinals and the late pope for his actions. Maybe he's not such a bad guy after all.



Stepping away from monotheist drama, did you know that May 2nd is Pagan Coming Out Day? Neither did I - at least until I read the update from my favorite Pagan blog The Wild Hunt, which conveniently links to the official site for International Pagan Coming Out Day:

Coming out to someone is a decision only you can make and it’s a decision best made when you are ready to do so. IPCOD encourages Pagans who are ready to come on out!

There are benefits, personally and for our religious community as a whole, as more Pagans come out. Some of these benefits include the reduction of anxiety caused by living a double life and creating a climate of greater acceptance for all Pagans.

While I personally have some issue with the appropriation of the term "coming out" on this particular and other issues, there are a lot of benefits to coming out pagan, particularly if you're queer such as:

1.) No angry, lightning-flinging sky fairies (unless you're into that sort of thing).

2.) You can quit having to find excuses or lie in order to to avoid church or awkward holidays with the family if there's an overt religious cover.

3.) Pagan festivals can be pretty fun...

4.) ...and there's a lot of hot pagan guys and gals...

5.) ...and sometimes nudity...

6.) ...and, generally speaking, sex and sexuality are celebrated.

7.) You can say, "No" to guilt, shame and Hell.

8.) NUDITY!!!

9.) You can have a big party every six weeks in honor of the god/s/esses of your choice.

10.) MOAR NUDITY!!!

OneAngryCultist: Mubarak Leaves Town

Note: Since the whole kerfuffle surrounding Egypt, Ian Awesome has been profoundly effected by these events leaving me (the OneAngryCultist) to report on the Mubarak step-down in the sudden event of Ian's incapacitation. Ian is currently stabilized after spending hours rocking back and forth mumbling about flying carpets and camel spiders.

According to, well, every news source right now, Mubarak has officially stepped down from his office as president of Egypt as of 18:00 pm Cairo local time (GMT+2) 11:00 am. Vice President Omar Suleiman announced the news on the TeeVees saying:

"In these difficult circumstances that the country is passing through, President Hosni Mubarak has decided to leave the position of the presidency... He has commissioned the armed forces council to direct the issues of the state."



Interestingly enough, before leaving Egypt (which he said he would never do in a million years) Mubarak did manage to take a nice little vacation in a posh hotel near the Red Sea where, you know, thousands have taken their exodus before him.

A special shout-out to the Egyptian People: "CONGRATULATIONS! You've won your freedom - now start making cool ass changes so we can come join the parties I expect you to be having for months on top of the pyramids." Also, doesn't this guy look hot? Just sayin'...



In related news, according to the Wall Street Journal: "NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--U.S. stocks popped higher Friday after Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak stepped down from power, sparking celebrations in Cairo and relief among investors."

Moral of the Story: Tyranny Never Pays.

THE END.

Hosni, You Rascal

Egypt is feeling like a bride left at the altar tonight as the fallout from Mubarak speech embroiled the crowds in fresh anger.

Far from the speech of resignation expected by the protesters, Mubarak instead handed some of his powers to Vice President Omar Suleiman, and remained the de facto leader of Egypt. 

"As the speech, which began just before 11 p.m., wore on, the muttering began. 'Donkey,' someone said.  When it ended, and it was clear that their hopes had been dashed, the protesters’ angry chants echoed throughout the square.

 I would have stronger words than "Donkey."  Luckily, I have my own blog and you can read my foul mouth below.

"People gathered in groups, near the tent cities demonstrators had set up days ago, trying to figure out what had just happened.

"Some said the president’s speech was intended to divide the protesters, by peeling off those who thought he had gone far enough. Others said the speech was typical of the president they had come to detest after 30 years of authoritarian rule. 'He is stubborn, and he doesn’t want to be brought to account,' said Yasmin Fawzi, 24. 'If he doesn’t step down, these people won’t leave.'"

Okay, this dude can't really be serious.  I mean, for fuck's sake-- the Egyptian Army has dedicated itself to making sure the transition is peaceful, you've got a successor, take your goddamn billions, move to Paris (notice how political exiles always move to Paris?), and shut the hell up! 

[NYTimes]

Egyptian Army Chief Tells Protesters: All Of Your Demands Will Be Met

As labor unions strike and the military steps in to ensure a peaceful transition of power, protesters in the streets of every city in Egypt are celebrating as the regime makes clear:  Hosni Mubarak is capitulating to the revolution's demands.

His 30-year regime is now numbered in hours and minutes.  Victory is being declared in Tehrir square, NDP Secretary General Hossam Bardawi has been quoted as saying "I hope President Mubarak transfers power to Vice President Omar Suleiman."

More updates as they come.  In the meantime, click below for streaming Al-Jazeera.

[Watch live coverage here]

Nina Explains It All

Confused by the situation in Egypt?  Nina knows what the hell is going on, and she's going to tell you about it.  A must watch, especially for all you gross mushy parents out there.

Party Leadership in Egypt Resigns

In the 12th day of protests, the leadership of Egypt's ruling party (the NDP) resigned in another gesture aimed at pacifying the angry populace.  Nobody is fooled.

Protests continued, with tens of thousands still crowding the street demanding the resignation of autocrat Hosni Mubarak.  Even with party leadership (to include Mubarak's son Gamal) gone, the people are not satisfied.  These were the top decision makers in the regime, and they've now been replaced with younger officials who will hopefully bring a breath of fresh air to Egyptian politics. 

Barack Obama is urging a gradual transition from Mubarak's administration to Omar Suleiman, the new Vice President appointed just days ago.  Mubarak says that he wants to step down, but he fears chaos will envelop his country.  One could point out that Egypt has already sunk into chaos.  Perhaps it's time for him to go?

[CBS]

Egypt: Day of Departure

Violence has reached a fever pitch in Egypt, with 500,000 (in a city of 4 million) flooding the streets in Alexandria and over 2 million choking downtown Cairo.

Journalists have started fleeing the country.  Brian Williams and Katie Couric have already flown out, while the normally intrepid Anderson Cooper is broadcasting from his laptop from an undisclosed location.  "I'm a little bit scared," he admits, and boy howdy I don't blame him.  It seems that international journalists are being ousted from covering the unrest in Egypt, and he would do well to hide from the violence.

Today is a huge day for anti-Mubarak protesters.  It has been dubbed "The Day of Departure," the day when the nation comes together to demand that Hosni Mubarak relinquish his grip on power.  With Joe Biden calling the Vice President Suleiman and Mubarak being contacted by Barack Obama, it appears that international support for the autocrat has dissipated-- now even his ally, the United States, is urging him to step down.  How can he last the day with his office intact?  It doesn't seem likely, and we may be on the verge of seeing a 30-year dictator toppled from his seat.

Far from the victory we thought had mollified the masses in Egypt days ago, Mubarak's promise to not seek re-election was not enough.  Now, the world watches breathless, and damn, this is fucking exciting.

Sultan Al-Qassemi, who has live-tweeted an emotional story telling of a country shrugging off it's oppressors, says that the protests have crossed cultures and religions, with both Muslims and Christians joining in shouting "Down, down, with Mubarak."

I'm watching the live coverage on Al-Jazeera English, and I can say that the crowds shouting in unison is one of the most amazing, powerful things I have ever seen in my life-- and I've witnessed the fall of a government. I've seen an Arab country reinvent itself.  This... this is amazing.  This is the most populous nation of the Arab world discovering that democracy equals the voice of the people-- wow.

If you're awake right now, watch here:

[AlJazeera]