July 29 2007: Matthew 5:39
Filed under Politics
Recently a video surfaced of the dean of the archdiocese of Melbourne, Reverend Monsignor Geoffrey Baron, Dean of St. Patrick’s Cathedral here in the city. In this video, he was apparently verbally provoked by a group of teenagers on church grounds.
He retaliated with such clever comments as:
- Get off the property you fucking cunts.
- Go back to where you come from, you don’t belong in Australia…little foreigner there, look at the slanty eyes, black hair.
- You’re stained by the sperm of all these boys that fucked you.
He was also shown trying to kick one of the teenagers, and taunting a teenager’s physical appearance (calling him “four eyes” for wearing glasses).
An official apology has been made by the Catholic Church for his behaviour…but isn’t it heartening to know that the religious education of Melbourne Catholics is in the hands of such a non-biased, open-minded and eloquent member of the Church?
Whatever happened to “…If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39)?
16 Responses to “Matthew 5:39”
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What the fuck?
Jordie on July 29 2007 #
People are corrupt, even some of those that are religious…
Amber on July 29 2007 #
The Catholics are above what they preach.
Nellie on July 29 2007 #
More importantly, to the Middle East what happened to the first commandment? “Thou shalt not kill.”
They sure do a lot of killing. Plus the commandment doesn’t actually qualify about witches, gays, infidels or whatever. It’s pretty absolute in that you shouldn’t kill another person.
The fact is institutionalised religion is prone to hypocrisy.
Robert on July 29 2007 #
That’s very sad to hear.
Jennifer on July 30 2007 #
Are you serious?! My god….
Crystal on July 30 2007 #
not that it justifies it.. but the kids werent angles.. they were pushing at him, and taunting him as well.
and one would assume the footage is cut in a ‘today tonight’ fashion - ie, the kids probably didnt show all the provocation they were giving the racist bigot before he unleashed revelations style.
a case of treat others the way they treat you perhaps?
Reply: Despite what provocation he may have received, it’s clearly stated in the Catholic doctrine that if someone does you a wrong that doesn’t threaten your livelihood, you should simply turn the other cheek to them. I believe in walking the walk if you’re going to talk the talk. Geoffrey Baron clearly doesn’t.
random stupid internet jerk on July 30 2007 #
“Go back to where you come from, you don’t belong in Australia…little foreigner there, look at the slanty eyes, black hair.”
Because Australia was first inhabited by White catholics?
Julie on July 30 2007 #
it’s sad that so much negativity and violence can come from religion…I’m definitely not religious, but I get the gist that it preaches GOOD behavior, whatever religion it is. hmm, I just like to believe in doing the right things and being a good person.
marilyn on July 30 2007 #
Oh the Catholic church… It just keeps getting worse.
Kimmie on July 30 2007 #
Thank god I got out while I could. (I was brought up catholic)
Bobbi-lee on July 30 2007 #
It’s interesting to me that people automatically blame the guy’s Catholicism for his bad behaviour. Religion gets a real bad rap nowadays, thanks to asshats like this. Christianity preaches patience, tolerance, turning the other cheek… so it’s just perfect that this guy goes and ruins the entire image with his massive idiocy. I’m at least glad the church apologized.
Reply: It’s not so much that I’m blaming his Catholicism, I’m blaming him for not practising what he’s preaching.
Chantelle on July 30 2007 #
Well I got quite “scared” (ok not really) when I heard that the current Pope had been a Jugend Nazi when he was young.
Plus that smile of his is really scary.
That said, nothing really amazes me much anymore - it’s dog’s world :P
Vera on July 30 2007 #
Vera: Not that I really care to defend the current Pope (John Paul II > Benedict XVI), but IIRC, the Hitler Youth was mandate for young boys in Germany. The “Nazi Pope” thing was really off.
Jordie on July 31 2007 #
That’s typical ‘do as I say, not as I do’ hypocrisy; all the more shocking because it comes from the church.
sharon on July 31 2007 #
What to have if we don’t have the church guilding humanity.
Individuals in it have come and gone and 2 thousand years later it’s still here.
Get a drug addiction or have a deverastaing eposode in your life and you might realise how important it is to have something that has stood firm, dispite it’s human failings, what else do we have if we don’t have it?
Reply: The magnificance of its longevity is diminished when one realises that they don’t practice what they preach, and when they hold tight to outdated ideals as “no contraception” when diseases like AIDS is ravaging the planet.
Robert on August 7 2007 #