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POPE LIFTS EXCOMMUNICATION OF LIBERATION THEOLOGIAN

Pope lifts suspension imposed on Nicaraguan priest 34 years ago

Cindy Wooden

Feb 18, 2019

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

This Aug. 29, 2008 file photo shows poet while under house arrest, in Managua, Nicaragua. (Credit: Esteban Felix/AP.)

ROME – Pope Francis has lifted the canonical penalties imposed 34 years ago on Father Ernesto Cardenal, 94, the Nicaraguan poet and former member of the Sandinista government.
In a statement Feb. 18, Archbishop Waldemar Sommertag, the Vatican nuncio in Nicaragua, said Francis had “granted with benevolence the absolution of all canonical censures” imposed on the ailing priest after he had made the request through the nunciature.
St. John Paul II had suspended Cardenal and several other priests from active ministry in 1985 for joining the Marxist-influenced Sandinista government. Cardenal resigned from the Sandinista Front in 1994.
Sommertag did not say exactly when Cardenal’s suspension was lifted. But Auxiliary Bishop Silvio Jose Baez of Managua signaled that the action had been taken when he tweeted a photo of himself at Cardenal’s hospital bedside Feb. 15.
Baez tweeted, “Today I visited in the hospital my priest friend, Fr. Ernesto Cardenal, with whom I spoke for a few minutes. After praying for him, I knelt down beside his bed and asked for his blessing as a priest of the Catholic Church, to which he agreed joyfully.”
When John Paul visited Nicaragua in 1983, Cardenal greeted him by dropping to one knee and attempting to kiss his ring. But the pope pulled his hand back and shook his finger at the priest in one of the best-remembered images of the Sandinista years.
The Code of Canon Law prohibits priests from holding partisan political offices. After repeated attempts by the Vatican and their religious orders to convince them to resign their positions in the Sandinista government, Maryknoll Father Miguel D’Escoto, Cardenal and his brother, Jesuit Father Fernando Cardenal, the Sandinista education minister, were suspended. A fourth priest, Father Edgar Parrales, who was ambassador to the Organization of American States, requested laicization.
In 2014 D’Escoto petitioned Francis, and his suspension was lifted. Father Fernando Cardenal was readmitted to the Jesuits in 1997, four years after renouncing his membership in the Sandinistas.

PAT SAYS

Cardenal is one of my all time heroes.

He stood with the oppressed against the oppressors.

Rome and hierarchirs sided with the despots and punished prophetic priests.

Cardenal suffered at the hands of the Papal Pollak.

History will judge Cardenal to have been the better man.

89 replies on “POPE LIFTS EXCOMMUNICATION OF LIBERATION THEOLOGIAN”

Ernesto Cardenal was one if the courageous prophets of modern times when he stood valiantly by the poor and oppressed. Hope he will inspire his many admirers and devotees. If only we had men of their calibre now in this time of crises! Fighting for the dispossessed, the wounded, the forgotten, the outcasts. Oscar Romero and Desmond Tutu & Ernesto Cardenal
– giants on our shoulders. Giving selflessly for the poor so they can have a voice. Gid’s blessings on the great Cardenal.

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@ 12.09
I don’t know much about South American happenings – and I doubt others on here do either. The Contras may have been vicious but from various accounts the Sandinistas were barbarous also.
If it’s ok to be a minister in a political government then would it have been ok for Frs. Raymond Murray and Denis Faul should the IRA have overthrown the Brits?
You seem to be championing the ‘just war’ theory.
As for you all applauding Francis removing the death penalty and saying there are no circumstances in which you can take a life and then making heroes out of those who use murder, torture as their modus operandi, I.e. the Sandinistas. You’re a bit confused as to whether you justify means towards an end or not.
As for Desmond Tutu -the man’s a buffoon. He has a bad case of verbal diarrhoea.
Personally, I don’t know the ins and outs of these Central and South American situations, and neither does anyone on here. While sympathies might lie more one way than another if you were a priest on the ground there, I think it is an inherently bad idea for a priest to rule as part of a Government. Because then they can rule as part of ANY Government.
There seem to be a lot of Wolfies running around the blog with their Che berets on today.

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I have nothing but the deepest (and I do, literally, mean ‘deepest’) contempt for that papal Pole, who protected one of the most egregious, serial child-sex abusers, in known Roman Catholic Church history, Maciel.
Such men as Cardenal, and Leonardo Boff, tower above the Polish wretch, both intellectually and spiritually. Yet neither will EVER be declared saints, like the Polish Christ-betrayer.

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Magna, you can make valid comments without your resorting to nasty, abusive, derogatory words about Pope St. John Paul 11. Your hatred of him is unnecessary. Both Ernesto and Boff I’m sure would not accept your vicious name calling. Name calling is cheap and adds nothing to meaningful debate.

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9:24
Every thing I said about that Polish Christ-betrayer is absolutely true.
What’s your problem?😕

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So canon law prohibits priests from holding partisan political office! Pity they ignored the antics of archbishop mcquaid in Ireland when his imprimatur was all over Fianna Fáil politics.

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3:11
No, I don’t incite hatred, but I do express it about those, like the Polish Christ-betrayer, who have done incalculable (and perhaps irreparable) damage to the Church.

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The Vatican has a history of censuring priests who actually practised Christianity instead of Romanism. Never ever thought I would agree with the late Ian Paisley but some of his views on the RC church were spot on. This isn’t a Christian church. It’s an organised mafia run by a don in a white frock. In the words of Michael Avenatti – BASTA

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7.53: You could have just said “enough is enough”….If you read the Wikipedia information on Avennati, he’s not one to talk about moral or ethical probity…

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1.01: Magna, your comments about Ernesto and Boff should stand alone without your ongoing gratuitous insulting and offensive demonizing of Pope Saint John Paul 11. You should refrain fron your ugly abuse of this man. Share instead your Wikipedia research on Ernesto and Boff!! Try to be original.

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Comment on the Polish Christ-betrayer was entirely relevant, given his abusive handling of Cardenal while protecting clerical vermin, like Maciel.

What the hell is wrong with you people?😕

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AT LAST!
At long last the tables are turning!
Reports today that the diocese of Waterford and Lismore’s downturn in financial collections from parishioners have forced them to borrow/ use parish reserves, to pay the 60 or so diocesan priests in Sept and Dec 2018. The diocesan authorities now wait anxiously to see if collections in March will be sufficient to pay out, or if they will have to borrow again. The priests get 20,000 Euro pa.
As many on this blog site have said: only when the laity stop paying will the clergy take notice.
MMM

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Excellent news. 20k salary is pretty good going when you consider free housing and all the other myriad extras; yet still these parasites play the poor mouth.

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That really is something to cheer.
Only when these parasites are forced to confront economic reality (that they meed the laity much more than the laity needs them) will reform have even a chance of occurring.
I can think of far better things to spend money on than a chauvanistic, Roman Catholic clerical parasite. Men like Sean Jones of Kerry, for example. The thought of donating even my leftovers to someone like him, or to the Christ-betraying bishop who ordained him, is enough to make me wretch.😳

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1.01: Magna, I think you’ve had too much of your own leftover crap. Your hatred is boundless. Were I to have the misfortune of finding you lying by the roadside, I’d p**s on you. Only joking🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

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10:37;
MMM,
Time they got off their tods and did some p/t work or gamble on the gee-gees or try their hands at a few three cards poker tricks!
Or sell some of dioceses assets!
Guffaw!Guffaw! Guffaw!
Ha ha ha 😂

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Ot is telling when €20k is an economic crisis for priests. A curate in Cloyne gets €18k and a curate in Cork and Ross gets €35k… not a work on the higher Down and Connor Salary. Meanwhile a priest in Kilmore gets €8k… but we have yet to meet a hungry priest.

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Dear MMM,
Great observation. While I appreciate that priests must be paid this highlights two issues;
1. The affirmation that diocesian priests are not self-employed as they ordinarily tell revenue. Ergo the dioceses may have been evading employer PRSI.
2. The readiness to take from the collection basket will need reimbursement to avoid being misappropriation of parish funds, which were charitable donations for a different purpose. The charities regulator may wish to review this arrangement.

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MMM at 10.37: What a sneering contemptible comment! As an atheist you must have some deep hatred of priests to express so gleeful a comment. I can imagine you at your bar stool proposing a toast to this news. I always treat your comments with respect as you usually speak respectfully and tolerantly towards others but I deplore this trailer trash comment and I find it very distasteful. Incidentally the people who no longer subscribe are the ones who will, hypocritically, expect the same priests to officiate at baptisms, first communion, confirmation, weddings, funerals and call for their sick relatives to receive the sacrament of the sick….Just amazing.

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Aye Anon @ 11.42: and pay extra for those services rendered…..and tax free too.
I’ve seen far too many priests, including relatives, living in luxury way above the ordinary workers. One sister told me she discovered our eminent clerical uncle spent more on his new curtains on first PP appointment than she spent on furnishing her first married home……and our father used get his ‘cast off’ cars……at a price.
Parasites most of them.
MMM

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You are not the authentic MMM. The authentic one was never so course or that rude in general. Magna probably using your name

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1.00: Showing your racist colours MMM and unacceptable prejudice. What sneering contempt you show! I’m sure you don’t have stringy, torn curtains on your windows or broken chairs at your home bar? Get a life.

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With regard to funeral and last rites.
If as a person with a moral conscience you should happen to die…as we all will.
Provided you lived with respect for others and did your work or job to the best of your ability you have no need to worry about your demise….
Last rites and burial ceremonies are irrelevant.
Most are just for show anyways

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2.39: Obviously you don’t work in a parish setting or visit the sick, dying and elderly at home, in hospitals or nursing homes. To a particular generation of people the Sacrament of the sick is very comforting and a moment of God’s grace in their suffering. Your mockery is ignorant.

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@ 3.14
The moron calling everything he doesn’t like ” racist,” strikes again!
Every blooming day this eejit throws this word around!
“I like ice cream” – you’re a racist!
“Priests are given too much money” – you’re a racist!
“Priests don’t get enough money” – you’re a racist!

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Last rites hi. Isn’t everyone a saint after death. Concentrate on life if ya dare. There’s wan life whither tis mortal or eternal see but

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11:42
Isn’t it intriguing that when someone, like MMM or me, cut too close to the bone about the reality, not the propaganda, of Roman Catholic clerical truth, there is an immediate, Stalinist-like attempt to smear the name of the contributor by associating him with drunkenness or whatever? It was done to Jesus in his time, when he was called ‘mad’, or ‘posessed by Beelzebul’.
You know you’ve hit the mark when these parasites cry foul. 😆

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Thank you Magna.
So true. They certainly don’t like it when it hits their pockets.
MMM

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1.00: MMM – begrudgery of the worst kind. Just go suck it up. Stay at your bar stool, keyboard layabout! Isn’t it amazing how trolls like you find worthwhile things to say? At least no priest will have to waste his time on your demise….

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1.23: Pat, There are a myriad of reasons why there is a shortfall of money in Dioceses. The obvious one being less and less people attending Church. I don’t believe that lack of money to pay a priest’s salary is to be gloated over as these very people will request all the services for their ritual moments. I get by on my salary as a priest. People are generally good and generous. There are the usual begrudgers on tday, MMM in particular, who are sneeringly delighted that the Lismore and Waterford Diocese is in shortfall for its priests. I find his ignorant comment utterly contemptible. Pat, what would happen to you if people did not give you a stipend for your services? How would you survive? Incidentally, the parish I’m in forwarded e3000 recently to our African twinned parish through mass offerings. People are very supportive and kind.

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I had to take secular jobs all during seminary to pay my way through.

Since CD sacked me 1986) I have also done secular jobs to supplement my income – writing for the news of the World and the Sunday News. I also did counselling of employees for a large company. Those who want to survive do.
I do not begrudge any good priest his salary ++
But there are far too many priests who do little or nothing.

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2.17: Indeed Pat, I too had to work every hour I could to fund my 7 years studying at seminary and college. I am very aware of the financial struggles of families as I come from a large family. I was taught the value of hard work and taking nothing for granted. I appreciate the offerings people make towards ny salary. Yes, there are some lazy priests, just as there are many lazy teachers as I’ve discovered but would we suggest they get less than the truly committed? I think the issue of salaries is a red herring and encourages the horrible, contemptible mockery of people like MMM.

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The Mo’s nowadays are highly motivated to do nothing but eat, sleep, and have gay sex.

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2.17: Pat, might you be suggesting that you are the prototype priest? I am not inspired…at all.

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+Pat: If I may add a little of my own experience here, similar to your own, and as a riposte to some comments.
Leaving the seminary at 24 without a job to go to, I worked in hotels, pubs etc to keep myself and save the money to go to Uni, as my education authority refused a grant, claiming I had already had tertiary education. (In seminary but with no grant) As a seminarian I’d spent almost every holiday working unpaid in homeless hostels such as Dublin and Belfast’s Morning Star, with the chaplain to Irish emigrants Manchester and similar. At Uni, until I got a grant, (after a year) I financed myself with hotel/pub work.
Subsequently, I always worked in the public sector until retirement, paying income tax, National Insurance etc. A year after retirement I returned to work for five years part time in public sector in completely different focus, again paying taxes, but not N. Ins. as over 65.
So at 75 now, I’ve “done my bit” both to meet my family responsibilities and for the public good. It’s more than can be said for some of the clergy I’ve met. And as I always admit: there’s some very good caring pastors out there, but an awful lot of dross.
MMM

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I’m sure the people of killdorrery are pleased with the contributions they made to their former parish priest, surely he wint stand at the altar again

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I take it that the use of Mo in some of these posts refers to Homosexuals ? I really do think that we could afford not to use, what I presume is, offensive terms about people. You wouldn’t get away with calling other groups by offensive names, indeed you could be prosecuted for such. So, perhaps whoever wants to use the term Mo on this blog would desist. We / you are so much better than that kind of language and name calling.

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It was indeed I posting at 10.37 & 1pm. And I stand by everything I’ve said. And if you smug parasites don’t like to hear what ordinary lay folk increasingly think then tough luck.
I regard the RC church as a parasitical con job of an outdated institution solely concerned with it’s own preservation of power and privilege. Within it’s clerical ranks remains a small proportion of pastors who retain the integrity which originally inspired their dedication. The greater proportion never had it or have lost it.
The fact that I regard all religion and deist belief as delusionally misplaced does not lessen my respect for those of integrity and different belief. Their gentle demeanour underpins their beliefs. The strident vicious ad hominem attacks here simply confirm my perspective of the shallow self serving nature of many clerics.
MMM

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5.14: MMM, There are elements of truth in some of your comments. It’s the smugness, self righteous and arrogant manner if your comments today that deserve contempt. You are definitely showing your nasty, mean spirit today. I am surprised at the nature of your comments but I am wondering if someone else is using your name?

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5.14 Usually I like your comments. There are enormous problems. I went to funeral today presided over by a deacon. It was an absolute delight. I don’t go to church anymore but I still have a very strong faith. There are nuggets of pure gold in the church. There are faithfilled laity and deacons who I believe have been let down by the powers that be. If it goes, it will leave a gap.

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For me, it’s a good sign to see the church lift the excommunication. I wish they would do more of it – perhaps lift all excommunications throughout history. When the realise their own need for mercy, I’m sure clergymen would wish they took the chance to lift all penalties.

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Pat, are MMM comments today from the MMM who comments intermittently? If so, he has become very vicious. The MMM we know is usually more respectful, considerate and tolerant and does not normally resort to mast commentary. He expresses his opinions in a more nuanced way. I think someone else is posting under his pseudonym. It’s not Magna: we know his form and style all too well.

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‘Tis I 6.39!
And I’ve just made another comment.
Thank you for noting my customary balance. While appropriate concerning others sincerely held beliefs, the simple facts of the parasitical cocooned lifestyle of many RC clerics warrants a legitimate expression of my views.
MMM

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You are clearly not MMM. Go away and stop using this name as we can spot you a mile away. Buffoon.

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No one should be excommunicated, it is an outdated practice.
Surely Mc Carrick just needs laicisation and perhaps jailed.

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It’s only a matter of time before Frank has to start selling off some of the ‘family jewels.’.

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Anon@ 5.38: Ad hominem comment invariably invites the contempt you refer to. That you regard my criticism of much clerical opulence as “nasty and mean spirited ” (your words) suggests where your priority lies.
And as for the comment at 5.44 referring to “drink, drink”: this is a good example of what I meant by ‘strident vicious ad hominem attacks.’ These of today are no surprise when priestly privilege is threatened.
MMM (For real!)

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Party politics is a lay vocation and not something for priests to be at. Though of course Bishop Buckley was elected to Larne Borough Council.

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@ 7.26
You are right. The same boyos supporting this individual would go apoplectic if a priest joined the British Tories, Macron or Trump’s Government. They think that it only works one way.

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6.53: MMM, thank you for response to my comment at 5.38. I have always respected your comments as you mostly engage rationally, intelligently and reasonably without vulgar, nasty and abusive language. Your usage of Magna’s oft repeated odious, poisonous word, ‘parasite’ is offensive. While I don’t expect plaudits of any kind from you about Church or priesthood, I am still surprised that you have become so strident in your criticisms. I have not allowed myself to be part of any status of privilege and I’m very conscious of, and grateful for the support still given to me and my colleagues. Since I was ordained in the late 70’s much has changed to dismantle any concept of privilege and it takes a very spiritually and morally blind cleric not to respond to the vibes and signals given to us in these times of crises in the Church. Your comment is one reason why I sometimes, sadly, feel very threatened when I publicly wear my collar. I don’t ever want to be spat upon on any street!

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9 22: Magna, your theology of priesthood is very outdated. I do not obey anyone but Christ. I know where my fidelity lies – and it’s not to any Bishop or Archbishop.

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Magna… There’s medication for a man like you these days, it does generally work!
Try it🙃

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You describe the word parasite as odious, offensive, and poisonous. Suggest you check the dictionary. It’s actually an apt and accurate description of the reality, and non judgemental too in reality.
MMM

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10:25
You’re a Roman Catholic, financially parasitical priest?
So why did you vow obedience to a whoremonger in a silly hat?😕

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9.32: MMM – which type of parasite are clerics – endoparisites or ectoparisites? Just asking.. I still believe it’s an offensive term to use in general about clerics. But you’re entitled to your opinion.

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10 .32: You are absolutely spot on. The true nasty MMM has been found out today with his Magna inspired vitriol. Indeed too much bar stool shite….

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Sadly I’m just too young to remember when the liberation theologians were active, but can understand him being a hero of yours, Pat.
Personally, though, in their position, if the excommunication was lifted I would tell the church where to stick it. One of the high points of my life was when I stopped going to mass – what a relief no longer to be connected to that cess pit.
Is Hans Kung a hero of yours too?

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Odious, offensive and poisonous on the one hand and apt and accurate on the other, are not mutually exclusive categories.
However to employ the first three and to imagine that one is not being judgmental is delusional.
You stated before that your first and second level education in Ireland was mediocre. That it wasn’t until you went to the UK to participate in higher education that you were properly educated.
There’s no evidence of the latter here, but only lots of mediocrity.

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Having just checked a dictionary definition of parasite, I read:
“An organism that lives in or on an organism of another species and benefits by deriving nutrients at the others expense.”
That’s an apposite description of how clergy live on the backs of the laity. The dictionary passes no judgement. Perhaps those who object to the word feel threatened sufficiently to rage against it’s moral implications.
I wonder why.
MMM

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