More from the 'Human's are Morons' Catelogue
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/books/77496376/catholic-school-cancels-recently-outed-gay-authors-visit'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/books/77496376/catholic-school-cancels-recently-outed-gay-authors-visit</a></p>
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<p> </p>Catholic school cancels recently outed gay author's visit<img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/a/5/0/n/o/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1a50l4.png/1456952153848.jpg" title="" alt="1456952153848.jpg"><div>
<div><span>NIC WALKER/FAIRFAX NZ</span></div>
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<p>Young adult author Will Kostakis.</p>
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<p>A Catholic school in Australia has cancelled a speaking visit from an award-winning gay author of young adult books because his new book - which includes a gay character - has been deemed "not appropriate".</p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://willkostakis.com/'>Will Kostakis, 26, came out as gay on his </a><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://willkostakis.com/' title="">blog</a> last week after an ex-boyfriend of his was diagnosed with cancer.</p>
<p>Just days later he received a cancellation email from a teacher at De La Salle College in Sydney, where he had done a successful speaking visit last year.</p>
<p>"We have a concern about promoting your new book at our school as it is a Catholic school," the email reads.</p>
<p>"We were reading over your blog and I think it might not be appropriate, and parents might not be happy."</p>
<p>The email goes on to say the teacher has "nothing personally against" Kostakis, and his new book, <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780143309031/sidekicks' title="">The Sidekicks</a>, sounds like a touching story, but it wasn't "appropriate".</p>
<p>Kostakis says the political furore over the Safe Schools programme, including attacks by former prime minister Tony Abbott and MP Cory Bernardi, has emboldened conservative responses to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.</p>
<p>"I want to add my voice, however quiet it is, at the end of a week when every idiot in parliament is making links between Safe Schools and sex shops," Kostakis said.</p>
<p>And repercussions are being felt elsewhere.</p>
<p>Michelle Telfer, the director of the centre for Child and Adolescent Health at the Royal Children's Hospital, said her young transgender patients and their families are distressed.</p>
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<p>"It's the first thing they want to talk about at appointments," she said. "What worries me is we have vulnerable trans and gender diverse young people that are being used as fodder in a wider debate."</p>
<p>In his response to the school's email on his blog, Kostakis said coming out publicly was difficult.</p>
<p>"I had hoped, having spoken at some Catholic schools, those schools would be comfortable with my revelation knowing what I bring to my presentations and workshops. And that my sexuality, while it informs who I am, is not the subject of my presentations."</p>
<p>The school had been contacted for a response.</p>
<p>In 2005, Kostakis won the Sydney Morning Herald Young Writer of the Year award for a collection of short stories. His second novel, The First Third, was shortlisted for the 2014 Children's Book Council of Australia awards.</p>
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<p>I don't know why this grates me so much, but it does</p>
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<p>I kind of think 'fair enough' if it is a adult church group or something where people have these ideas and can't tolerate it but these are kids and he has spoken with them before. He would have been gay then too, I imagine.</p>
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<p>It sets such a bad example.</p> -
<p>It grates on me as well.</p>
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<p>Quite frankly, its un-fucking-Australian to be this up tight about anyone's sexuality in this day and age, using religious freedom as some kind of excuse.</p>
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<p>We received a booklet from the local Diocese (my kids are Catholic schooled) talking about preserving marriage as it is, with simpering arrogance such as "its not fair to offer marriage to gay people when they can't <i>really</i> be a family" and other associated rubbish.</p>
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<p>I was livid, and thankfully so were a lot of the school community.</p>
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<p>The Australian Catholic hierarhy doesn't need more shit thrown at it when they've got their highest ranking member under questioning for his conduct on paedophilia. They need to cut away some dead wood.</p> -
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/77494073/auckland-bishop-says-madonna-highly-offensive-to-christianity'>Auckland Bishop says Madonna 'highly offensive to Christianity'</a></p>
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<p>Well I find Christianity highly offensive to Science and all of humanity.</p>
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<p>Far out religion is a joke.</p> -
<p>It's funny, my son goes to a Catholic school, and i can't imagine any of this stuff coming home with him. The principle is pretty good, and they are very big on being "inclusionary" where everyone gets involved. Maybe because it's a primary school though?</p>
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<p>Like you guys, i really can't understand why this is a fucking issue in this day and age, and if religion wants to remain relevant in western societies (well, outside of America, but i think we've established those guys are mentally deficient), they will need to look at this shit. There are what, 7 passages in the bible that even mention homosexuality? while there are hundreds about treating people well, and loving your neighbour and shit. </p>
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<p>Seriously, fuck the religious hierarchy of this country, and fuckwit politicians like Cory Bernardi</p> -
That is shocking. Was there anything in his book that might have caused offence? Perhaps it not being age-appropriate? Refusing to let him speak because he's gay is just asking for trouble.
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="562037" data-time="1456960897"><p>
It's funny, my son goes to a Catholic school, and i can't imagine any of this stuff coming home with him. The principle is pretty good, and they are very big on being "inclusionary" where everyone gets involved. Maybe because it's a primary school though?<br><br>
Like you guys, i really can't understand why this is a fucking issue in this day and age, and if religion wants to remain relevant in western societies (well, outside of America, but i think we've established those guys are mentally deficient), they will need to look at this shit. There are what, 7 passages in the bible that even mention homosexuality? while there are hundreds about treating people well, and loving your neighbour and shit. <br><br>
Seriously, fuck the religious hierarchy of this country, and fuckwit politicians like Cory Bernardi</p></blockquote>
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Safe Schools is a shocker though. I've got no problem with anti-bullying initiatives and respect for gays etc being included and even emphasised with that. Have a look at what it involves. -
<p>To be honest i haven't looked at the program at all, so i am not in a position to comment. I find the rhetoric around it from both sides a little distasteful however.</p>
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<p>Religion has so much to answer for when it comes to the world's ills.</p>
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<p>Sick to death of western bigots waving a bible in the air and indoctrinating little kids into being the next generation of homophobic, sexist, racist, haters.</p>
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<p>To say family is a mother, father plus kids is fucking horseshit. A true family is unit that loves, cares and supports one another. I've met some bloody awesome kids who had two mums or two dads - confident, inclusive, compassionate and smart. Kids aren't born racist/sexist/homophobic, they are pushed that way.</p> -
Not sure if anyone is following the investigation going on at the moment over in oz but the head of the Catholic Church said he wouldn't have been interested in hearing about one of his priests who was raping a boy in his care. Quite a contrast in attitudes there, ones in a consensual long term relationship and that's the church's business, but they arent g interested in a member of the clergy forcing himself on a young boy.
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We're talking about people who hear special voices and think that they answer to that voice, not everyone else. An institution that has enjoyed and taken advantage of privileged position in society.
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<p>Here's the cardinal I was talking about <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/77444188/top-cardinal-says-he-wasnt-interested-in-complaints-about-paedophile-priest'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/77444188/top-cardinal-says-he-wasnt-interested-in-complaints-about-paedophile-priest</a></p>
<p>He also accompanied the priest to court because it was the christian thing to do but now admits it was a mistake <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/77527656/cardinal-george-pell-walking-paedophile-priest-to-court-was-a-mistake'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/australia/77527656/cardinal-george-pell-walking-paedophile-priest-to-court-was-a-mistake</a></p> -
<p>Pell is an overly ambitious sociopath. He only thinks it was a mistake because it might tarnish his image. He'd let the fucking world burn if it meant he could be Pope.</p>
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<p>Some people are defending him on twitter, and look, he's not guilty of touching kiddies himself. But the standard you walk past is the standard you accept in <em>any</em> organisation, and he's tied a boat anchor to both his testes.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="562120" data-time="1456985809">
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<p>Pell is an overly ambitious sociopath. He only thinks it was a mistake because it might tarnish his image. He'd let the fucking world burn if it meant he could be Pope.</p>
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<p>Some people are defending him on twitter, and look, he's not guilty of touching kiddies himself. But the standard you walk past is the standard you accept in <em>any</em> organisation, and he's tied a boat anchor to both his testes.</p>
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<p><img src="https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlt1/v/t1.0-9/12802877_961312677257813_5646325476940240619_n.jpg?oh=92b0cfa8786a62fbbf3be4a3c500eb55&oe=575AF2FC" alt="12802877_961312677257813_564632547694024"></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="562120" data-time="1456985809">
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<p>Pell is an overly ambitious sociopath. He only thinks it was a mistake because it might tarnish his image. He'd let the fucking world burn if it meant he could be Pope.</p>
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<p>Some people are defending him on twitter, and look, he's not guilty of touching kiddies himself. <strong>But the standard you walk past is the standard you accept in <em>any</em> organisation, and he's tied a boat anchor to both his testes.</strong></p>
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<p>This. There is no excuse for turning a blind eye to criminal behaviour involving young, vulnerable kids. Especially sex abuse. The two of them should be subject to some old testament punishment.</p> -
<p>His modus operandi in these discussion is to spout bullshit about "No-one ever came to me with evidence, because they <em>knew</em> that <em>I </em>wouldn't stand by and shift priests around different parishes to try and hide their wrongdoing"</p>
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<p>He should just resign and go live in one of those monasteries on a fuck-off giant mountain.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="562066" data-time="1456966688"><p>
Not sure if anyone is following the investigation going on at the moment over in oz but the head of the Catholic Church <strong>said he wouldn't have been interested in hearing about one of his priests who was raping a boy in his care. </strong>Quite a contrast in attitudes there, ones in a consensual long term relationship and that's the church's business, but they arent g interested in a member of the clergy forcing himself on a young boy.</p></blockquote>
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I recon Pell is a detestable human being whose sole purpose was to protect the church and by extension himself.<br><br>
However ... the bold bit above ... <br><br>
I'm not sure if that's exactly what he said... Without reading your link there Jeg ... I understood it was that more back in that time it had no interest for him ... which I read as he didn't get it ... which is kind of understandabl (not right ... understandable ).<br><br>
What he's done subsequdntly has been pretty fucking ordimary.<br><br>
The whole Catholic church thing is ordinary really -
<p>Booboo from the link, I guess there are other ways of interpreting what he said . I can't think of a good one though.</p>
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<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;color:rgb(51,51,51);background-color:rgb(18,114,180);"><strong>Cardinal Pell has repeatedly denied knowledge of Ridsdale's offending in the 1970s.</strong></p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;color:rgb(51,51,51);background-color:rgb(18,114,180);"><strong>"I didn't know whether it was common knowledge or whether it wasn't," he said.</strong></p>
<p style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;color:rgb(51,51,51);background-color:rgb(18,114,180);"><strong>"It's a sad story and it wasn't of much interest to me."</strong></p> -
This is the thing I just cant understand, the church has the right to collect taxes (atleast in Finland) and they have no responsibility. If a political party doesnt support mass immigration or gay rights, they loose funding from the state, why should the church be any different?<br>
Make them behave like normal human beings or take money off from them, fucking fluffies.<br><br>
And then there is this lad in my rugby club, nicest bugger going around, highly religious, can take a joke and is always a joy to talk to. Has absolutely nothing against gays, nor transsexual people and actually takes part in pride-things and whatnot. <br><br>
But its the old school conservative people who flip my shit over, like the leader of the Christian democratic party; She actually said in live-TV that she got gay-friends but still wont support gay marriage, what an absolute waste of oxygen. To top it all she is a doctor, an actual medical doctor and still believes on stories and bases her politics on bits and pieces of a 2000-year-old book.
