Gun Lobbyist Wants a Patron Saint for "Hand Gunners"

[Joanne98]

A group led by a longtime gun lobbyist is petitioning the Vatican to make a nineteenth century Passionist seminarian "the patron saint for hand gunners."

I am not making this up. But the lobbyist's case for making an existing saint, Francesco Possenti also a patron for hand gunners, appears to be a fabrication.

Francesco Possenti (1838-1862) was a young man who lived in Central Italy in the mid-eighteenth century. He was known for both his intelligence and affinity for "la dolce vita" - parties and fancy dress. However, during an illness he promised that if he recuperated (he did) he would join a religious order as gesture of gratitude (he did not). Following several family deaths and a second illness, Possenti joined the Passionist order of priests as a seminarian.

He then changed his name to "Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows." The young noviciate became known for his devotion to the Virgin Mary and his deep spirituality. Almost simultaneously, he contracted a fatal case of tuberculosis, dying before he could take his priestly vows. During this time, however, Possenti remained highly spiritual and serene in the face of death. He passed away in February 1862.

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2011/2/3/105144/1203/Dominionism_in_the_military/Gun_Lobbyist_Wants_a_Patron_Saint_for_quot_Hand_Gunners_quot_

Unbelievable!

[xchrom]

1. that gets this

:eyes:

[jody]

2. Why Unbelievable? Do you want to control the faith of those with whom you disagree? nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. It's unbelievable that the man would want to look even more ridiculous than he does

He has a problem with American Catholic bishops being 'pacifist'. He doesn't appear to understand the basics of his faith. Yet he thinks a made-up story should be enough for the Pope to give some support to hand guns.

It is pretty unbelievable, until you see there are multiple sources saying this guy has been trying this for over 20 years.

[jody]

4. More than 10,000 Roman Catholic saints so what's one more? And what does it matter? IMO only

a very religious person would care and that's a personal issue between them and their gods.

[Stuckinthebush]

6. Between them and their gods

HA! That made me giggle. I guess it is very polytheistic isn't it? Major and minor deities.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Except that he wants it not to be a personal issue; he wants an official saint

ie the very opposite of 'a personal issue'. He's calling for people to put spent cartridge casings in collections as a a protest. It's unbelievable that he's such an idiot.

[jody]

8. So what! Bankers, stock brokers, prostitutes and politicians have patron saints. Why should that

bother anyone unless she/he faithfully believes his/her god will listen to the patron saint pleading on behalf of a small group of believers will get god to perform preternatural acts in violation of the laws of nature and ignore their pleadings.

If god exists, I'm confident she can rule justly and if not then I don't care.

I'm amused by the incident and similar ones for other groups pleading for their very on patron saint.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Another Onion article?

:rofl:

[madmom]

9. This guy has been watching to many

John Wayne and/or Clint Eastwood movies.:eyes:

[Demeter]

10. How About Mark David Chapman -John Lennon's Assassin?

He seems to typify the the fervent stupidity of the NRA...

[friendly_iconoclast]

11. The NRA is running the Catholic Church? Wow, they really *are* powerful!

Chapman is still alive and not a Catholic, AFAIK.

It would seem you know as much about Roman Catholicism as you do about the NRA.

Do try and keep up....

[Demeter]

12. Since Mother Church Counts Me Among the Flock

I really don't care if you have no sense of irony.