Follow-ups: The Goddess and The Pope

The splitting of the statue of cult figure Maria Lionza in Venezuela has made the news again. The BBC investigates the political ramifications for the country, they even interview the goddess herself.

” In his incense-filled office three blocks from the parliament building, Priest Rafael Albis dons a shiny white robe, scents his hands with magical perfume, and, with a paroxysm of shuddering, is miraculously transformed into the goddess herself. “What message does her fall hold for the nation?” asks a reporter present at the event. “If the people want violence, there will be violence; if they want peace, there will be peace,” replies a feminine voice from Albis’ huge torso. “I want peace for the world.” Whatever the message, nobody interprets the goddess’s crisis as positive for Venezuela. – Mike Ceaser

In even more Pope news, modern pagans should watch their step.

“The Vatican is holding a special summit with Catholic leaders from around the world, hammering out a way to deal with so-called “New Age” religions and fads that pose a “threat” to Christianity.” – Jeannette Walls (”MSNBC,” June 21, 2004)

“This is an enemy with dozens of heads: the version of the Jewish kabbalah espoused by Madonna, the Enneagram personality-reading cult, ancient Egyptian occult practices, Sufism, the lore of the Druids, Celtic Christianity, medieval alchemy, Renaissance hermeticism, Yoga, Zen Buddhism, and many more.” – Peter Popham (”The Independent,” June 16, 2004)

Hey, didn’t the Pope just apologise for the Inquisitions?

Tags: Neopaganism