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Loading ...UK Priest: Tattoo sodomy warnings on gays
10.06.2008 4:41pm EDT
(London) A Church of England priest is under fire after calling for gays to be forcibly tattooed with a sodomy warning.
The Rev. Peter Mullen, who is chaplain to the London Stock Exchange, made that remark and other incendiary homophobic comments on his internet blog.Mullen said the forced tattoos would be similar to warning placed on packages of cigarettes.
“Let us make it obligatory for homosexuals to have their backsides tattooed with the slogan ‘Sodomy can seriously damage your health,’ their chins with ‘Fellatio kills.’
In another posting, the 66-year old Mullen calls for gay pride parades - which he called “obscene” - to be outlawed.
In yet another, he blasted another Church of England priest, the Rev. Martin Dudley, for blessing the civil partnership of two fellow clerics.
“The Bishop of London is in a high huff, Because Dr Dudley has married a puff; And not just one puff - he’s married another: Two priests, two puffs and either to other.”
Bishop of London the Rt Rev Richard Chartres has criticized Dudley for conducting the ceremony, but chastised Mullen for the blog postings.
“While clergy are entitled to their own personal views, we recognize that the content of this text is highly offensive and is in no way reflective of the views of the Diocese of London,” Chartres said in a statement to The Evening Standard newspaper.
The paper also reported that Mullen is under investigation and may face a disciplinary inquiry over his comments.
Mullen dismisses the criticism, calling his postings “satire.”
“I wrote some satirical things on my blog and anybody with an ounce of sense of humor or any understanding of the tradition of English satire would immediately assume that they’re light-hearted jokes,” he told the paper. “I certainly have nothing against homosexuals. Many of my dear friends have been and are of that persuasion. What I have got against them is the militant preaching of homosexuality.”
Why not just use a pink triangle? How quickly the morally unacceptable actions of the Nazi Germans are forgotten. There is no difference between what The Rev. Peter Mullen is advocating and what the Nazi Germans did to homosexuals during WW II.
Satire? Jokes? Oh please! If what he wrote was meant to be a joke, and he claims to have gay friends, I want to hear from his gay friends to see if they think what he wrote was meant to be a punch line. What he wrote was very defamatory and just downright vulgar. There is no joke there. He meant what he said, and now is trying to spin it to save his hide.
Obviously this man thinks everyone is as ignorant as he clearly is. His remarks have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH SATIRE and he knows it. It’s pretty obvious he is afraid of the backlash his remarks may have - and deservedly so. Far better it would be for the rest of us to tattoo people who follow mythologies from thousands of years ago — I think the slogan “I belong to a CULT and have no ability to think for myself!” would suffice nicely.
Hiding behind the claim of satire or humor when expressing outright bigotry or advocating violence against a targeted group is a common tactic used here in the U.S. by our radical right. And it’s being copied by their allies overseas. They know that no one believes that it’s meant as humor. The pretense is meant to be galling, because it allows them to spread their hatred with impunity.
What a scary person! Rev. Mullen is not funny and this crap is anything but satire.
The only satirical thing I’ve found is that this man claims to be a man of God!
How about tattooing him with the warning “keep out of reach of children!”
Chris S, I really would recommend some medications for you. This misguided anger that you seem to exhibit should really be controlled.
Now if this Reverend thinks that his postings are “satire,” he needs to get out more. I’m confident that the Church of England will handle this situations and put an end to Rev. Mullens intolerant postings.
I am SO f*cking sick of incendiary biggots falling back on this lame defense: “I certainly have nothing against homosexuals. Many of my dear friends have been and are of that persuasion.” The man should be defrocked and tossed into the gutter.
As a liberal gay Episcopalian, I make no excuses for this man. He is being very immature and has forgotten his calling to serve all humanity.
I believe that the majority of Episcopalians would say that the English cultural tradition of satire has its place, but that however this brand of satire is not even good satire, it is blatant discrimination spewing forth from a mind that is not only immature but is also filled with a compelling need to demonize gay people.
There are plenty of people in the Church of England and in its offshoot the US Episcopal church who would be repelled by his remarks and who would stand with the gay community.
Satirical my butt, no pun intended, he’s homophobic plain and simple. What’s more ludicrous than his suggestion to forcibly tattoo gays with ridiculous warnings similar to cigarette warnings. Is he actually thinks he can explain away his homophobia by simply saying. “Anybody with a sense of humor or understanding of tradition English satire, would assume he was making light-hearted jokes.
Here’s an idea, why not forcibly tattoo the words, child molesters, hypocrites or pedophiles on Priests foreheads. Sadly though, this couldn’t be considered a light-hearted jokes or satire. Basically, because it falls into the category of the truth, which isn’t the least bit humorous.
…and what I have against you is the militant preaching of your absurd religious beliefs. You are a moron.
Just the total proof that these right wing freaks are examples of born again Christians- the re-incarnation of adolf hitler. And they dare talk about God.
Or maybe he is just like Ted Haggard, the christian minister that ranted against gays, then went to have sex with his gay prostitute boyfriend. And so many others, who also are republicans.
We need laws to put people like this guy in a mental institution for life, as a danger to society.
Trace S. : That’s right sweetie, you just keep telling yourself that.
I think the poster’s suugestion that they should just use a “pink traingle” gets to the heart of the matter perfectly.
We’re quite alright with the dear mr mullen unless we speak out about or for ourselves…oh,well you can’t have everything mr mullen. when trace says to chris in previous postings that the church itself will take care of the matter,i assume that means do nothing until it blows over. if this man gets kicked out of the church i’ll get any tatoo he wants…..because well all know advertising is good for business.
“I certainly have nothing against homosexuals. Many of my dear friends have been and are of that persuasion. What I have got against them is the militant preaching of homosexuality.”
Either you HAVE or HAVE not got anything against “them”. Satire is a valid form of humor, however, those who are seen as leaders have to be careful that their humorous remarks can be understood as such by all their followers. This “satire” is a little too obtuse, even for our friends in England.