Reply #11: The timing sucks...

[Richardo]

...is my point. We read all kinds of symbolism into how Bush times his pronouncements (anti affirmative action on MLK's Birthday, for example) yet the sensitivities of our religious members is given short shrift in the name of fun.

If this had appeared yesterday, or tomorrow, I probably wouldn't have given it a second thought, but as it is I'm sitting at work with ashes on my forehead and as a result, I'm a tad more aware today.

I'm not above a good-natured jab or two at the Vatican, but read some of the captions here - many are not good natured, and the anti-Catholic broad brush is in full use by some...as if we're some kind of idiots being blindly hoodwinked instead of thinking beings who give a lot of thought to our faith and are in many case conflicted about the moral and political ramifications of the church's tenets, and are seeking ways to resolve our spiritual and political lives.

(OK - well THAT turned into a rant.)