Why is the Vatican angry with Ireland?

"SO, ROME is miffed at “excessive reactions” in Ireland following publication of the Cloyne report. This State has spent millions unearthing what has been available to Rome all along. In October 2005, there was the Ferns report, costs to date: €2.3 million.

In May 2009, the Ryan report, estimated costs to date: at least €126 million. In November 2009, the Dublin report: costs to date €3.6 million. In July 2011, the Cloyne report: costs to date €1.9 million. Total costs so far of the four statutory inquiries? €133.8 million [US $190 million], with more to come.

None of this would have been necessary had the Catholic Church here and in Rome co-operated fully in establishing the truth. Instead, those that could be were dragged, kicking and screaming, into disclosing what they desperately wanted to keep hidden."

Read the whole thing here.

Stephen Colbert on the "Muslim" attack in Norway

DOMA hearing: US Senator Al Franken smacks down Focus on the Family's Tom Minnery

During today's DOMA debate, Senator Al Franken gave us this delicious smackdown of hate group Focus on the Family's head Tom Minnery.  Enjoy:

NOM's Brian Brown: "victims" of the "new gay marriage regime"

Brian Brown, president of American anti-gay group the National Organization for Marriage, today posted that the New York marriage equality law is victimizing Christians:

We've already met the first victims of this new gay marriage regime. Town clerks, charged with a duty to issue and record marriage licenses, are faced with a stark choice: give up stable employment in the midst of a troubled job market, or give up their religious convictions about marriage. Two clerks have already resigned; others have been warned that failure to comply with the new law could land them in jail. Who will the next victims be? A wedding photographer or owner of a reception hall? Parents of public school children who object to curriculum changes this fall? How long before the new law impacts you and your family? The answer from Albany is clear: We couldn't care less.

Rob Tisinai put it best in a June 29 post about an elderly clerk who NOM identified as the "first casualty" of the marriage equality law.  Tisinai's response is worth quoting at length:

Smackdown of the day

Comedian Steve Coogan on the News of the World scandal.