http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2010/02/stephen-fry-on-catholic-church.html

At an Intelligence Squared debate in London, openly gay British author, actor, and director Stephen Fry delivered a brutal twenty minute evisceration of the Catholic Church that should be played on American television once a day for the next year. Fry touches on the Church's appalling wealth, its direct responsibility for uncountable AIDS deaths, and Pope Ratzinger's repulsive child molestation cover-ups. This clip is long. Make time for it sometime today.

I love Stephen Fry and I didn't know he was openly gay :-/

His doco series on America is a must watch if you haven't seen it.

That's a very good monologue on the Church.

Just wish I could have also viewed the rebuttal - always prefer to get both sides, regardless of what my personal opinion is.

How long is the video? It seems that my workplace has Daily Motion blocked, so the video isn't loading.

30 minutes I think?

Just wish I could have also viewed the rebuttal

I went looking for the rebuttal but only managed this:

UK Telegraph Article

Seems like the rebuttal was pretty poor anyways.

Well he ripped them a new one didn't he!

That was a great watch. Thanks for sharing it dude.

He's a real master of vacabulary isnt it... so many words I had to look up haha.

Stephen Fry is really incredible. I'd much rather debate Dawkins than Fry.

As for the other side of the debate, it was really weak. At the start and at the end of the debate everyone in the audience votes on their opinion of whether or not the Catholic church is a force for good... and of course, by the end of the debate everyone agrees it's a force for evil.

Just wish I could have also viewed the rebuttal - always prefer to get both sides, regardless of what my personal opinion is.

Don't forget, there's only one side to facts like the pope lying about condoms increasing AIDs.

could almost see the self doubt in the minds of the africans catholics there when he laid it out for them

Don't forget, there's only one side to facts like the pope lying about condoms increasing AIDs.

Of course there is. But the right of reply must never be denied.

That's not how we roll, its outright dangerous - the sort of s*** the old school Church would pull.

Yeah, the right of reply should never be denied.

That's often where the laughs come from.

We love a good lulz.

huh never knew he was gay

Here's the start of the debate, watch the rest on Youtube.



last edited by Mantorok at 12:52:23 12/Mar/10

Of course it's important to hear both sides of a debate, I meant that, in spite of any counter arguments, keep in mind the disgusting facts about the church/pope.

Intro and Archbishop Onaiyekan (of Abuja, Nigeria) & Christopher Hitchens


Christopher Hitchens & Ann Widdecombe


Ann Widdecombe & Stephen Fry


Beginning Pol and Q&A from audience


Closing and Results

that should be played on American television once a day for the next year.

I didn't think Catholism was the majority religion in the US, I thought it was that fundamentalist baptist type stuff? (Edit: Baptist etc dislike the Catholic church also so would probably rejoice in it?)

f*** me Stephen Fry is a great speaker. I could sit hear and listen to him speak all day.

He sure showed them who's boss.

I loved stephen fry after watching Absolute power, then going backwards in time going into a little of Fry and Laurie, then even further to my all time favorite series, Jeeves and Wooster.

On the dvd commentary of one of the seasons of house they said they couldn't have fry as a guest star on house because Hugh Laurie drops his american accent and starts talking Brittish again. They're a perfect couple in comedy.

I could gush on more about Stephen Fry, but I'm sure you all know how i feel ♥

f*** me Stephen Fry is a great speaker. I could sit hear and listen to him speak all day.

He sure showed them who's boss.

If you think Stephen Fry is good take a look at Geoffrey Robinson QC

Stephen Fry has done the readings for all the Harry Potter audiobooks... they are $100 each... but f*** me they are so brilliant.

I feel sorry for other religions, the Catholic Church makes religion as a whole look like s***. Stephen Fry is awesome! When he used to tweet alot he was hilarious.

I feel sorry for other religions, the Catholic Church makes religion as a whole look like s***. Stephen Fry is awesome! When he used to tweet alot he was hilarious.

Religious groups make religion as a whole look s***.

Of course, this statement only applies to rational people.

There are only two things about religious groups that are of value in my opinion, and neither have anything to do with God:
1. Religious groups provide a common place for social interaction (like any sports club, reading club, etc)
2. Religious groups encourage good general morals (don't steal, don't bang paveway's mum, etc)

What really annoys me is that in the case of number 2. people can't seem to separate that you can have good general morals AND not be religious. That's where rational thought breaks down a lot in those groups I think. To be Christian, for example, doesn't mean you are 'good'. However even the word 'Christian' is often used as an adjective to describe something/someone that is 'good'.

Since I know this is QGL and I'm opening the can with this post: I saw an advert on the back of a bus the other day which said "ATHEISM" and then underneath in smaller font, "Celebrate Reason" - it was some ad for some organisation. I identify as Atheist, but I reacted with distaste at the ad. The reason why is because of point 2. This kind of marketing is starting to say that if you are Atheist you are 'good' which is completely wrong and should be avoided. Or even worse, if you are Atheist you are 'correct' which is also wrong.

The things that should be celebrated are: independent thought, strong moral conviction and positive social environments.

independent thought, strong moral conviction and positive social environment

Just those three things? You haven't seen me in speedos.

Oh, right, yeah, I saw this a little while back. Fry pretty much stole the show, his points were amazing. I think I'll watch his again just because of how awesome he is.

The Catholic Church as a whole seems pretty evil, specialy after watching that clip, but the problem is the evilness seems to come mostly from the Top down.

The Catholic Church as a whole seems pretty evil, specialy after watching that clip, but the problem is the evilness seems to come mostly from the Top down.

And from Italy. I think that's clear.

I saw an advert on the back of a bus the other day which said "ATHEISM" and then underneath in smaller font, "Celebrate Reason" - it was some ad for some organisation. I identify as Atheist, but I reacted with distaste at the ad. The reason why is because of point 2. This kind of marketing is starting to say that if you are Atheist you are 'good' which is completely wrong and should be avoided. Or even worse, if you are Atheist you are 'correct' which is also wrong.

Come on, you're smarter than that. Or is this a troll?

Clearly everyone believes they are correct, that's why they believe what they believe. If they didn't believe that they were correct then they would believe something else now wouldn't they. Just as clearly, "Celebrate reason" makes no moral judgements what so ever. It's neither good nor bad to have faulty logic or lack of reasoning, it has nothing to do with morality but intelligence and comprehension.

What that slogan means that if you are not an Atheist, then you are a slobbering idiot. Many slobbering idiots I know are good and moral slobbering idiots.

I don't get why you would think that's a troll? I didn't like the ad. I don't like a lot of ads. Why is that trolling?

Maybe I just interpreted the ad incorrectly.

I'm asking if it was a troll because your interpretation of the ad seems to be deliberate in order to insight response. Perhaps I've misinterpreted your post though.

Surely you can't be surprised that someone feels that they are correct about what they believe? How can you be offended by that? And how can you derive a moral judgement on behalf of the slogan based on the words "Celebrate reason"?

Is that what you are suggesting or am I completely wrong?

Nah I think you are right. I'm trying to think why I took offense at the ad now. Maybe there was something more written on it because obviously my description of it isn't provoking similar response.

I think a lot of religious people in your upbringing kind of convince you that it is offensive to talk about Atheism. I've seen it time and again where people don't believe in God, but would find they are being disrespectful if they were to come out and talk about it.
I think that is why Dawkins was perceived as being so harsh and intolerant on that Q&A show. Even if you tread delicately, simply questioning religion comes across as quite threatening to anyone raised in a religious society (i.e. Australia!!!) whether they are invested in those beliefs or not.

incite

Pinky, I have the reverse feeligs to those ads: f*** atheism, lets just be rational!

I have no problem with religious people who are rational. I have a problem with atheists if they are irrational (Bill Maher).

Here'a fun fact for the day:

Maher in Arabic means 'skillful'.

You can draw your own conclusions from that in which ever way you wish.

Just watched the one with the Nigerian Priest from the Catholic church, Did he actualy say anything? He mentioned that they have 1.2billion people in the catholic church and they apparently run some aid's clinics, you'd think he would have some more figures or something to back himself up, its kinda like he just said we are good because we are realy big community and some of us do some good things sometimes.

I'd much rather debate Dawkins than Fry.

Hahah..does this statement mean anything? You would get owned by either. A bit like saying you would rather get run over by one make of car rather than another.

But, you have piqued my curiosity I must admit. What would you debate with Richard Dawkins in which you would fair much better than in a debate against Stephen Fry?

Chief exorcist says Devil is in Vatican:
The Devil is lurking in the very heart of the Roman Catholic Church, the Vatican's chief exorcist claimed on Wednesday.

"The Devil resides in the Vatican and you can see the consequences," said Father Amorth, 85, who has been the Holy See's chief exorcist for 25 years.

"He can remain hidden, or speak in different languages, or even appear to be sympathetic. At times he makes fun of me. But I'm a man who is happy in his work."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/7416458/Chief-exorcist-says-Devil-is-in-Vatican.html

70'000 exorcisms aye!
Father Gabriele Amorth is 85
If he has been performing exorcisms for say 70 years, every day of his life without fail, then that's 2.74 exorcisms a day.
What a Champ!

Must take a lot of "love and devotion" to hold and restrain the fearful and struggling possessed and perform rituals on their bodies.

Father Amorth's average would be different if it weren't for the church throwing it's doors open for "Exorcismorama!", the annual event where the possessed line stretches twice around the Vatican for 48 hours of back to back exorcisms. Free meat tray for the soul keeping the 10,000th banished demon.

just watched it, stephen fry is a king among men.

might watch hitchin's part as well, he's pretty awesome to listen to.

What a great speech . 10/10

wow, stephen fry just utterly dominated that debate!

His doco series on America is a must watch if you haven't seen it.

Just wanted to post and agree with this.

I couldn't watch that Ann chick... I felt like jumping through my computer screen and punching her fair and square in her c***.

Arguing about religion will be forever pointless.

The stupid have unwavering faith in their opinions while the intelligent constantly doubt their own.

Unless we go all Hitler on the world and start selective breeding then religion will always exist.

Unless we go all Hitler on the world and start selective breeding then religion will always exist.

Religion is not genetic.