HAPPY DECEMBER 25, 2015

GREETINGS TO ALL OF MY READERS HERE AT NJ GAY LIFE!

I AM WRITING THIS JUST BEFORE 4 P.M. ON CHRISTMAS DAY... AS WE ALL HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY THE MEDIA OR BY OUR OWN PERSPIRING BODIES, THIS IS THE HOTTEST CHRISTMAS  SINCE WEATHER RECORDS WERE FIRST RECORDED. I KNOW... YOU HAVE JUST YAWNED!  SO DID I, BUT SINCE I WAS TYPING THIS OUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE DEXTERITY OR THE MOTIVATION TO COVER MY "PIE HOLE"... a term I overhead one eight year-old little girl say to a friend of hers at Bridgewater Commons Mall.

I AM FULLY AWARE THAT WISHING ANYONE GREETINGS FOR A PARTICULAR HOLYDAY/HOLIDAY IS NOT CONSIDERED POLITICALLY CORRECT. WHILE SOME OF MY FRIENDS ARE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT TRYING TO GUESS THE ETHNIC/RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND OF THE SALES ASSOCIATE (aka a cashier) AND BEING CAREFUL TO SAY SOMETHING APPROPRIATE. IN VIEW OF THIS GUESSING GAME, COUSIN BUTCHIE LETS A GENERIC HOLIDAY WISH WORK BEST FOR HIM. LIVING IN A VERY SCARY WORLD, I BELIEVE THAT THE SINCERE GOOD WISHES WE HAVE FOR EACH OTHER IS SO IMPORTANT IN THEMSELVES THAT WE NEED NOT FEEL EMBARRASSED FOR WISHING A JEWISH FRIEND A HAPPY/BLESSED CHRISTMAS... and we can add all of the variations of the HOPE AND PRAYER AND SAFETY THAT WE NEED... ABOVE ALL ELSE. AND THE GREETINGS OF A SINCERE ATHEIST OR AGNOSTIC IS ALSO AN AWESOMELY SINCERE GIFT.  

FROM YOUR COUSIN BUTCHIE, THERE ARE MANY, MANY WISHES, GOOD THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS I EXTEND TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE A CURRENT OR BROKEN ABILITY TO FIND COMFORT IN WHAT ANY PARTICULAR CHURCH DOES OR SAYS. AND TO THOSE CHERISHED READERS WHO HAVE 'JUMPED SHIP" OVER LGBT ISSUES OR THE  VERY  SACANDALOUSLY & OUTRAGEOUS WAYS THEY HAVE COMMITTED OR HAVE INVESTIGATED THE SINS OF CHILD ABUSE AND MISUSE OF POWER AND ASSETS... REST ASSURED THAT FINALLY, WITH MUCH PRESSURE FROM POPE FRANCIS, THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE GUILTY ARE NOT BROUGHT TO SOME TYPE AND DEFINITIVE PUNISHMENT. WHAT THE LAW CANNOT DO AFTER THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAS PASSED, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH NOW BRINGS THE CRIMINAL PEDOPHILES BEFORE CHURCH COURTS COMPOSED OF LAWYERS, DOCTORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND VICTIMS OF ABUSE. PLEASE READ THE FOOTNOTE (marked with ***) When Cousin Butchie runs out of steam. THERE IS A 'WHISTLE-BLOWER' POLICY WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE TO ANONYMOUSLY ASK FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF A PRIEST OF ANYONE WORKING FOR THE CATHOLIC CHURCH!

COUSIN BUTCHIE is NEVER, EVER a bible-banger who will knock on your door and infer that I have all of the answers to questions for which you are stupid and have no spiritual validity or peace. 

MY FIRM BELIEF, AS A GAY MAN WHO HAS NEVER ALLOWED ANY TOP ECHELON JACKASSES TO FORCE ME AWAY FROM MY IMPROVING... BUT NOT  ANYWHERE NEAR PERFECT... RELIGION. I'M GLAD I HUNG AROUND AS MANY OF FRIENDS WERE LEAVING.  TO THOSE FRIENDS, or anywhere else willing to take a fresh look at vibrant and dynamic and socially involved parishes...  PLEASE ASK ME WHERE YOU CAN FIND A NEW EVOLVING PARISH. There are more than a few in the Central NJ area. Just send me a message at www.kippynj@aol.com.

I'll conclude this (yeah, I know...Thank God) with the titles of several songs which are now used in progressive Catholic parishes. Go to YouTube and their singing will possibly move you to take another look. The songs are 'ALL ARE WELCOME IN THIS PLACE" AND VARIOUS RENDITIONS OF "BE NOT AFRAID."  If you sign on to Saint Matthias Church in Somerset there is a very moving rendition of 'ALL ARE WELCOME" and what they are singing is what they do very effectively--welcoming everyone, without qualifications or roadblocks--wherever they are on their journey.

So... Happy/Merry EVERYTHING..as together, we pray or yearn for peace.

The rumor that the pope is God's grandson who lives with God the father in Vatican City has been discredited by 1,830,133 at last count.  (LOL)

Your Cousin Butchie

*** The footnote is merely to say that the child sex abuse outrage has been identified in the Catholic Church, a brief check online will tell you that no institution or church working with children is exempt.  The financial culpability to the Jehovah's Witnesses is very significant.  Equally, you will be able to read about the Mormons, et al.