 Well, well … My comments regarding World Youth Day in the past few weeks have certainly ruffled a few feathers. But one letter particularly stood out, so I thought I’d very briefly respond to its postulations here – what better place?
A certain gentleman, who shall remain anonymous, was ‘alarmed’ by the way I ‘denigrate young Catholic pilgrims’. Although he admits – ‘sure the Catholic church is a bit fucked up, but not all of us are fucked up’. He also invited me to ‘publicly attack’ him on the streets if I think he’s so ‘morally bankrupt’ (his words, not mine, but who’s arguing?).
Further, he felt compelled to inform me that he’s a ‘proud cock-sucking Catholic’. Thanks for clearing that up.
Now sir – I’m certainly not saying that every individual who identifies as Catholic is ‘morally bankrupt’ or ‘fucked up’. BUT, I will question the moral fibre of an individual who voluntarily travels to a city to CELEBRATE a man who is unquestionably a high-powered vehicle of intolerance. It’s about taking personal responsibility for the people and the institutions you support. It’s perhaps about saying – ‘I have always identified as a Catholic but you know what? Some things aren’t okay; some things I can’t accept or tolerate or forgive’. And, I’m sorry, but by glossing over those things, you are being highly irresponsible and, yes, a bit morally bankrupt. It’s about making a stand.
Have your belief in God – I think spirituality is a beautiful thing. But there is nothing spiritual about the Pope, and nothing spiritual about the people who choose to blindly rejoice in his presence.
 WHAT THE *&^%$##@$%
As was reported on the weekend, former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, who ironically heads the national anti-depression initiative Beyond Blue and is President of Hawthorn Football Club, told a Melbourne newspaper that country football club Bonnie Doon was correct to sack its trainer of 22 years, Ken Campagnolo, when it discovered he was bisexual.
“The club felt that once this had been pointed out and you had this gentlemen there who was obviously close to young men – massaging young men – it ran an unnecessary risk and that’s why it decided it was best that he not perform those duties again. So the club was trying to do the right thing,” Kennett told the Herald Sun.
“When you are in charge of a group of young boys, as this club was as I understand it, it’s got to make sure.
“It’s the same if you have a pedophile there as a masseur, right? And you might say the pedophile would do no damage, but once it was pointed out to you, you have a duty of care to those underage children not to put them in a situation of risk.”
Kennett later told the newspaper his comments were taken out of context. “You have to have a higher level of duty of care nowadays because of potential litigation,” he said. “I’m not interested in the sexuality of a particular person.
What I am talking about is duty of care and litigation, so I’ve been taken completely out of context.”
No, I don’t think you have, Jeff. You’ve simply been exposed as the homophobic plonker you are. Your reasoning doesn’t make sense even semantically. What about male football clubs that employ female trainers, or vice versa?
Would your comments apply to those situations too?
I am horrified – truly horrified. ‘It’s the same if you have a pedophile there as a masseur’? Oh my fucking god.
 FACE UP
How about that UK man who has been awarded over $45,000 in damages after a court found that his former friend and business partner attempted to embarrass him by setting up a fake Facebook profile with links to gay groups?
Grant Raphael has been found to have set up a fake profile for Matthew Firscht, and signed the profile up to a number of gay groups, including ‘Gay in the Wood … Borehamwood’ and ‘Gay Jews in London’.
I’ve always said that Facebook, or ‘Crackbook’ as I like to call it, is not only addictive, but very dangerous – and this situation is a classic case on point. One of my friends reckons it’s run by the CIA. Now I’m not your usual conspiracy theorist, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
 HERE COMES THE BRIDE
I almost had a bit of a cry yesterday – weddings get me every time (you should have seen me at Greg and Avan’s wedding during Sydney Festival). My wonderful colleague and friend Monty and his partner Nick tied the knot at the British consulate on Friday, July 11, before they went on holidays and had a traditional Javanese ceremony at Amanjiwo in Indonesia. Monty was back in the office on Monday and broke the news.
My heartfelt congratulations go out to you both! I’m sure you were a truly ravishing bride, Monty.
Garrett Bithell
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