What whack-job church is spreading this?

[ChoralScholar]

I was talking about the death of the Pope to my students today, when one of my 5th grade students raised his hand and said:

"Mr. ChoralScholar, they passed out this thing to us at church, that shows that the Pope has been running the US government all this time. He had, like a secret society over here that was helping him do it."

I said, "Well, there are some people think that is true, I suppose"

He says, "No, it really is true... they had pictures and everything"
---------------------------------
I changed the subject before I said something I shouldn't.

Is anyone familiar with this particular propaganda? I remember reading that people thought the Pope would be running the government if Kennedy got elected, being a Catholic and all, but I've never heard of a 'secret society.'

Is someone really saying this somewhere, or is it the delusion of an 11 year old?

Anyone?

[MADem]

1. I would have had to ask

"What church is that, dear?"

I doubt the kid made that up all by hisself!

[FloridaPat]

2. I ran into something like that in Chicago years ago. There were

pamphlets passed around a neighborhood with stuff like that. Tons of references. On the back of the pamphlet in very small print was the list of references. About 10 books - all written by the same guy. Haven't run into it since then, but have heard all about how the Jews are running the country from Hollywood.

[Book Lover]

3. That's an old one

That lie has been around for a good long time, yep.

[Seabiscuit]

4. Yes, it's one of those dittohead urban legends that makes the rounds

every so often.

[coloradodem2005]

5. Cockamame bullshit.

[RevCheesehead]

6. That could be any fundie church...

especially those who call themselves "full gospel church".

Around here (in WI), it could also come from the ultra-conservative Lutherans, too.

[donco6]

7. Sounds like John Birch Society

They're big into Papal Conspiracy.

[Archae]

8. Sounds like a Jack Chick comic

Dweebs.