Brazzil

I am not a Catholic and think that abortion is a heinous crime carried out against vulnerable unborn babies.

The word 'phoetus', as abortionists call the unborn child, comes from the Latin and means 'young one'.

You do not need to be a Catholic to know that it is always take the life of innocent being.

But abortion makes things even worse, because the baby is killed gradually and by means of torture.

Cristaldo Rules!!!

Spelled "fetus," fool. No, you're not Catholic, you're a fundamental Christian dimwit.

I guess Cristaldo isn't a non compos mentis after all.

the world is getting more jewish everyday!!!

O aborto e homicidio! Nao importa se voce e Cristao, Judeo, Musulmano, o Ateo.

The cross is a part of Brazil's Catholic Christian heritage, if he doesn't like it he can go to back to Europe where they sensor the mere metion of G*d. I wonder if Cristaldo's wife would be sooo offended by seeing the cross there.

VIVA BrAsil ! VIVA CRiStO REI!

"Spelled "fetus," fool. No, you're not Catholic, you're a fundamental Christian dimwit."

Just so that you know, 'phoetus' is the British English spelling for ´fetus´. And no, you don´t have to be a Christian to think that abortion is wrong.

Really? I've searched on-line dictionaries and google.com (google.co.uk) and "phoetus" comes up with pretty much nothing other than that "Phoetus" is the name of a band. I did also find in wikipedia that "foetus" is an alternative spelling. Are you Brittish? But you are a Christian, right?

You are also wrong by suggesting that the term "fetus" or "foetus" is a term of "abortionists." Rather it is a scientific term referring to an unborn vertebrate offspring after the embryonary stage. And you note that fetus, in Latin, means "young one." Not sure what you poin is there.

No, you don't have to be a Christian to be and anti-abortionist. That much you have correct. But you are, aren't you?

What pretentious crap. It's GOD. Replacing the "o" with an "*" is childish. But, then again, pious regligious types are very childish, so I'm not surprised. Do you think that substituting the "*" means you haven't uttered the Lord's name? Boogie-boogie-boogie!

I just noticed what you wrote: "where they sensor the mere metion of G*d." LOL! Isn't that what you just did?

Anyway, don't you know that many European countries are Catholic? That includes Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Malta, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania. So what the hell are you talking about, you ignorant a*****e?

"O aborto e homicidio!" Not in any civilized country it isn't.

The Brittish English spelling is "foetus," as in this BBC News story: Doctors 'find dead foetus in boy':

"Doctors in Bangladesh say they have removed a long-dead foetus from the abdomen of a teenage boy who was complaining of stomach pains.
They said the foetus would have become the boy's twin had it grown normally in their mother's womb.

"They said it was a case of an extremely rare condition where two foetuses are conceived as conjoined twins but one absorbs the other.

In 2003 Kazakhstan doctors removed a foetus from a seven-year-old boy . . ."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4624307.stm

If you dare to believe.... If you would dare to sit in your room alone.... silently... and say these simple words: "Jesus If you are real, then please reveal yourself to me"... you will be astounded at what will happen. The truth friends is that Jesus is still alive. He is living and acting but the way you realize this for yourself is to seek. I challenge you... Jesus is not just a tradition. Jesus is not just a theory.... he's a person.
TAKE THE CHALLENGE
ASK THE QUESTION
JESUS ARE YOU REAL?

If you are serious about finding out why people have followed Jesus longer than any other gods... email me
Rassbwoy2000@yahoo.com

Nothing happened.

"people have followed Jesus longer than any other gods"

First of all, as a purported Christian you're a blasphemer by suggesting that there are other gods, other than God. You're going to hell.

Next, Jesus was purportedly the son of God. Are you saying Jesus was God?

Islam is not as old as Christianity, but Allah is just the Arabic word for God. It's the same god, you ignorant fool.

Apparently you also have no idea that the Jews believe in the same God. Judaism, of course, has been around for over 5,000 years, you complete moron.

Buddhism began over 500 years before Jesus was even born.

Hinduism began around 1500 years before Jesus.

Shinto was around about 500 years before Jesus.

The founder of Taoism is believed by many to be Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE), a contemporary of Confucius. Taoism started as a combination of psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religious faith in 440 CE when it was adopted as a state religion.

The roots of Vodun (aka Voodoo) may go back 6,000 years in Africa. That country occupied parts of today's Togo, Benin and Nigeria. There are around 60 million people who practice Vodun. Religions related to Vodun are: Candomble, Lucumi, Macumba, and Yoruba.

But, you are a “Christian” and therefore you are ignorant of anything else, because you have a small and narrow mind. You are like a child and Jesus is your mother and father all in one. If you want to grow up, why not study world religions. You may ask yourself, Why? You may or may not get an answer. I dare you not to be ignorant. If that’s too scary for you, then stay the ignorant child you are.

Few things in this world ever sound more ridiculous than a fool with a Phd, as exemplified by the author of this article.

It never ceases to amaze me how a so-called atheist can be so deeply offended by something they claim not to believe. I do not beleive in Santa Claus, yet I have never been offended by the presence of his image.

The fact remains of course that the self professed atheist is in efect commiting intellectual suicide. By claiming such a title, he in effect, claims to have total and complete knowledge of the universe. There would be no other way for him to be certain that there is no god.

The interesing aspect is that such a great mind, greater than the world has ever known, who has manged to conquer complete and total knowledge can be so offended by somehting as insignifigant as a religous symbol.

I think the truth might lie more in the reality that man is by nature a religous creature. I don't think it's the cross that offends Mr. Cristaldo. Indeed, I think it is the fear that he may in fact not posess total knowledge.The cross is simply a reminder that he may very well be wrong; the consequences of which are to great for even Mr. Cristaldo to comprehend.

1) G*D was meant as a pun you jackass.

2) Europe mostly Catholic? What a crock of s**t. Post-Catholic and Post-Christian would make more sense. Pretty soon Europe is going to be more Muslim. Where have you been for the last decade?

3) "Not in any civilized country" 3-4000 innocent babies are aborted every day in the United States of America. Its absurd to call the USA a civilized nation.

Not to mention all the executions, poor treatment of immigrants, euthanasia, the war, environmental destruction etc etc etc etc etc......
Its a joke to call America civilized!

Making the image of a man viciously tortured to death(crucifixion) into a key religious symbol is a product of sick, warped minds. But, then, all organized religion is sick, isn't it? All organized religion stinks with a vengeance!

1) It's not a pun. It's an abomination of the English language. Who you callin a Jackass, Jackass? You remind me of the Monty Python about the dead parrot where shop keeper claims that telling him the wrong name of the town "was a pun."

Praline: I understand that this is Bolton.
Shopkeeper: Yes.
Praline: Well, you told me it was Ipswich.
Shopkeeper: It was a pun.
Praline: A pun?
Shopkeeper: No, no, not a pun, no. What's the other thing which reads the same backwards as forwards?
Praline: A palindrome?
Shopkeeper: Yes, yes.
Praline: It's not a palindrome. The palindrome of Bolton would be Notlob. It don't work.
Shopkeeper: Look, what do you want.

By the way, "G*g" isn't a palindrome either, Jackass.

2) Okay, you want to question the authenticity of Catholics in Europe. Fine. You are truely a Jackass. The list of countries I gave consists of countries that are officially Roman Catholic.

3) A fetus is not a baby. Get your biology straight. A baby is not a person. Get your law straight, Jackass.

It's true, Cristaldo is a fool with a PhD. Remeber that every time you read one of his articles.

Fetus, zygote, blastycst,etc etc etc. Its HUMAN. Its not a pig, its not a giraffe, its not a duck, its a human individual. Your laws permit MURDER. Obviously in your blindness you don't see that and prefer to criticize grammar and spelling rather than argue ideas.
PS
Been to Western Europe lately? Christianity is practically dead there.

"Your laws permit MURDER."

Who's laws are you talking about?

And, of course, you are wrong yet again. You can only murder a person. A fetus and certainly a zygote or blastocyst are not people. Some day they might become people, but they're not people.

If people don't practice Christianity the way you do, then they're wrong. I see. Well, who can argue with that?

Was "phoetus" a pun too? Or a palindrome?

The author gets no sympathy from me on this article. Last time I checked, Brazil was a Catholic country, so don't waste your time complaining that (oh the horror!) you had to see a cross with Jesus on it in a crematorium. That'd be like me going to Israel and asking the Israelis to remove the star of David.

And the Muslims are feeling squeamish over seeing the cross? Puh-lease. All the Muslims do is whine about how badly they were treated in the Crusades and the Inquisition. (Which, respectively, occurred in around the 1000s-1200s and 1492. Yeah, they can't get over something that happened hundreds of years ago, or condemn Middle Eastern terrorists - All they do is complain.) I'm sure everything was freakin' hunky-dory under the Moors in Spain, that's why the Spanish kicked them out.

Don't expect everyone to bow down to you just because you're an atheist, especially when you're living in a place that's predominantly Catholic. Maybe here in the U.S. the American Civil Liberties Union would champion your pathetic cause, but in the non-politically correct world (a.k.a. the REAL world), nobody really gives a darn.

You know what they say about PhD's: Piled Higher and Deeper.

Oh, and I see that you've studied at the Sorbonne. So here's some French for you I learned in high school:

Ta guele! Petite ordure, va!

Insofar as Cristaldo is a citizen of Brasil, he has every right to complain. Also, atheists don't ask anyone to bow down to them. You've got it all backwards. Christians predominantly want everyone to bow down to Christ. You are a complete idiot or a brainwashed Christian (oops, same difference) to not see that. As for the ACLU, they protect your rights as a Christian in the same degree as they protect the rights of non-Christians to practice as they wish. In the US there is no official religion. The US Constitution forbids that. And it's a good thing, too. Any non-Christian knows how much Christians hate that, becuase they want everyone to bow down to their idols. To have the unmitigated gall to suggest it's the other way around is truely amazing. I'll agree to this much though: Cristaldo is also a fool, albeit a "well educated" one. The guy's a dinosaur on everything except religion.

The unborn child is not potentially a person it is a person. Prove how it isn't, or better yet tell us when you consider the unborn child to have achieved personhood in your eyes.

"A person is a person no matter how small" Dr Seuss. Horton Hears a Who.

Pun, palindrome, poetic license. Your probably an anal-rententive school marm or a homosexual sodomite. You guys are really repulsive. You and Cristaldo need to stop the bitching.

"Your probably an anal-rententive school marm or a homosexual sodomite"

Hey, you guys are stealing my lines now and using them against me. LOL! What an idiot you are! What is it, anal retentive or a sodomite? You're sputtering now. Yes, I'm a sodomite. I love oral sex! Mmm, pussy. Sometimes anal too. Now, who's the uptight bitch here anyway? YOU! LOL! Losen up baby. Sex isn't dirty, honey.

Quoting Dr. Seuss as authority now? Oh, boy, that's great. I see your depth of knowledge of science and philosophy are deep. Maybe we're arguing with a 10 year old . . . in which case, your parents shouldn't let you use their 'puter 'cause you might see bad things. That may explain your dimwitted commentary and retorts. On the other hand, I think probably you're just a dimwitted Christian.

You're confused in your terminology. First it's "phoetus" now it's "unborn child." Do you know what the f**k you're even talking about? Wait, the answer is in your own posts: NO, you don't. You're clueless.

It is funny to me, after reading the article and the comments that follow, that some people cannot debate about anything without taking personal offense to it. How can you learn from other people or cultures if you are closed off to what they have to offer. If you find someone to actually debate with and they can do the same with you (on an intelligent level-not resorting to childish insults) thats good. If a person will not listen or is hostile, let it go. Don't waste your time or theirs. As for the article, there are somethings I agree with and some I do not. I do know that the man was morning his wife, and if he did not want a cross hanging over her than so be it. It's his wife.

How sweet of you . . . yawn. Yes, individuality "rules," but stupid Christians are just a pain in the ass. Some people aren't worthy of an "intelligent argument," becuause they're too damn dimwitted. Sorry, but I'm just calling it like I see it.

"You know what they say about PhD's: Piled Higher and Deeper." As opposed to a vacuum, like you. You've got "common sense," right. You don't need no book learnin'. Hell, you know a little French from High School. You're set there, genius.

I am a Christian. But far from dimwitted.
Whoever you are, you seem to be pretty passionate about what you believe and have voiced your opinion. Why is it that if someone disagrees with what you think, you become irrate? I believe what I believe and you have a different belief. And what?
There are people out there that try to PUSH off on others what they believe. But you can not change the opinion or the heart of a person. Nor is it my place to try to. The author of this article, may glory in the removal of "Christian" artifacts, but fail to realize that while it may seem to overthrow the "Pushing" of one idea, you are in fact trying to push your own ideas off on to others. So where is the balance?

"The author of this article, may glory in the removal of "Christian" artifacts, but fail to realize that while it may seem to overthrow the "Pushing" of one idea, you are in fact trying to push your own ideas off on to others."

Nonsense. Putting up a placard declaring that “God is dead” or the image of some non-Christian religious idol would be pushing of another idea. The absence of religious iconography is neutral. Spare us your erroneous Christian victimization ideology. Just because someone doesn’t want to suffer your religious pride or evangelizing does not mean you are suffering someone else’s ideology. It just means that you have to respect many other people in a multicultural society.

To the person who posted to my comment,

Thank you for calling me a "complete idiot" and "brainwashed Christian" - How civil of you.

If you live in the U.S, than you would know that the ACLU is incredibly biased, and for the most part, takes cases of leftists and Democrats. They could really give a darn about Republicans, much less Christian causes. Therefore, don't make the mistake of assuming that they support EVERYONE (even though they claim to do so).

I never said the author of the article doesn't have the right to complain - So don't put words in my mouth that aren't there. I said that he shouldn't waste his time talking about the subject. If he wants to remove Christ from the public sphere, then maybe he ought to consider moving to Russia or the Netherlands. He'd probably fit in great over there, since those countries are so morally bankrupt and atheistic. He should at least visit one of those countries so he can have an idea of what would happen by removing religion.

Dur, I'm an American - I know there is no official religion in the U.S. But, my esteemed colleague, do you know that the majority of the Founding Fathers WERE Christian? Therefore the U.S. has a Christian background, just not an official religion, because the Founding Fathers saw the dangers of religion in the political sphere, that's why it's prohibited. However, for example, John Adams said that it was important for people to have religion in order to have a moral guideline for their lives.

On a final note, I just wanted let you know that I'll pray for you, that you may know Christ one day and that you will find peace in Him.

"Oh God You have created us for Yourself so that our hearts are restless until they find rest in You." ~St. Augustine

"If you live in the U.S, than you would know that the ACLU is incredibly biased, and for the most part, takes cases of leftists and Democrats. They could really give a darn about Republicans, much less Christian causes. Therefore, don't make the mistake of assuming that they support EVERYONE (even though they claim to do so)."

You are truely ignorant, aren't you? They exist to defend freedoms set forth in the US Constitution, which are enjoyed by all people in the US. The fact that you don't like all people in th US and that you are an oppressive Christian is the reason that you think the way you do. Rush Limbaugh is just like you. Hates the ACLU, except when they defend him.

"The mission of the ACLU is to preserve all of these protections and guarantees:

"Your First Amendment rights-freedom of speech, association and assembly. Freedom of the press, and freedom of religion supported by the strict separation of church and state.

"Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.

"Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.

"Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.

"We work also to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including Native Americans and other people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor.

"If the rights of society's most vulnerable members are denied, everybody's rights are imperiled."

http://www.aclu.org/about/aboutmain.cfm

Knowledge will set you free.

You misunderstood me. I do not claim to be a victim of anything nor did I say Christians are victims. Trust me, we're not. But my point is that yes, to demand that people stop "evangelizing" which is another way of saying telling others what they believe, is to push your ideas on them. Maybe this is just me, but I possess friends of other nationalities, and religious beliefs. We are able to talk, debate, and share and actually celebrate the differences between us. They accept that I believe what I believe and are not offended at the cross that hangs from my neck. Nor am I offended by them and their practices. It does not change what I think. But I guess how you view and accept things is a personal choice. And we as friends are not offended at each other by choice.

I don't need to trust you, I know.

No, you misunderstand, because you are part of the majority religion in the US. If the majority religion were Islam, you'd be crying for the ACLU to champion the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from promoting religion. You would be a champion of neutrality. But, since you're a Christian, you see no problem foisting your religion on everyone.

Yes you are offended by other people who don't want the government to be promoting your religion.

Why you can't see how neutrality is the opposite of pushing ideas is truly amazing. You are either purposely being obtuse or you are a f**king idiot. Which is it?

The issue is what is being displayed in public places. Hang a cross on your neck. That doen't offend me. Hang a pentagram on your neck. I don't give a damn. Just don't insist on having tax dollars go toward putting your religious iconography in public places. Your insistance on government sponsored proselytizing is offensive to me.

Deixa os Brasilieros decidir se eles querem uma cruz ou não. O Brasil não é os EUA e nem é a Europa. Alem disso parece que uma minoria quer reclamar e fazer muito barulho. Eu escrevo em portugues para illustrar que essa discusão deve ser para o Brasil ter e não uma banda de gringo doido. Alem disso não tenho duvida que a maioria do Brasil é Christão e gostaria ter uma cruz em seus lugares de sofrimento. De novo um professor vem falar para o povo como eles são ignorante. Sinto muito mas o escritor do artigo precisa realizar que a cola do Brasil é a combinação de religões. Dos catolicos aos macumbeiros o povo brasileiro tem muitos valores em comun. Valores que vem justamente dessa combinação, mistura. O que será o proximo passo, abolir os feriados religiosos. Isso eu gostaria de ver. Tenta abolir o Carnaval ou dia do São João..

"Deixa os Brasilieros decidir se eles querem uma cruz ou não."

O Cristaldo e brasileiro. Ele nao gosta de cruz. Se voce tem argumento sobre este assunto, fala com ele. Me deixa em paz nao reclama de mim, palhaco.

You guys are full of crap. Religion is the opium of the masses. It is created by humans for humans. Humans created god and not the other way around. Only brain washed people cannot see that.

Has hubris will set in? How much longer before they over-reach and we can look forward to the next round?

Your (Cristaldo) views are disturbing. I have read similar things when researching the Nazi and Communist movements. Jesus will forgive you and I will pray for your soul.
The lord gave his only son, so that who ever believes in him will not die but will live forever.John 3:16

Why don't you stick your preyer along with your stupid bible up your ass?

ignorant comment. Some psychologists would say that your comment comes from homosexual feeling and that you are the one who wants something up his ass. Furthermore, I would never tell you to shove Darwin or Marx up your ass. I would converse with you to try to understand your point of view and how you arrived at it. It's obvious that your attitude is one born of ignorance and that you lack the knowledge to say something intelligent. Even so, I will pray for you that God will lift the ignorance from you so that you might see things more clearly. Oh yeah, you spelled "preyer" wrongly smart guy.

I agree with the comments written in Portuguese by the Brazilian. This is an argument for the Brazilians, and common decency would suggest that it should not turn into a shouting match for U.S. citizens involving ad hominem attacks or foul language. What is good about all of this dialogue is that we are free to express our opinions without fearing reprisals or suffering persecution. As mature adults, I would hope that we have outgrown resorting to the exchange of insults à la playground brawl, heavy with testosterone and brazen pride. The God of the Bible also prohibitted making graven images, so Christians should question why so many idols crowd some of our church buildings. It is a good idea to listen to those shouting insults at Christians because many strange ideas and movements have been circulating under the name of Christianity (along with some shamelessly reprehensible, headstrong, arrogant, hegemonic behavior), such as mixing politics with religion. Jesus Himself decried the mixing of religion and politics (Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's), hence, the Christian founding fathers were wise to ordain separation of church and state (Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world.") Many countires and institutions are formed around very admirable ideals and they all fall short of these ideals. The United States and Brazil are just two examples (ask the average citizen of any country). The founding fathers of the United States believed in freedom, as does the God of the Bible (as per Adam & Eve), so they used their freedom and, following their beliefs, they instituted freedom OF religion (not "freedom from religion). We human beings are all imperfect, suffering sinners evil to the core until the day we die, especially every single Christian, so the playing field is even. That is why the cross is so important. Everyone is free to accept or reject Christ, in a way, since those chosen of God are drawn to Him and they were known to Him before the beginning of time. Evangelism and salvation is the work of God (No one comes to Me unless the Father draws him [her]), so no person, not one single Chrisitian can boast or berate others in clear conscience. To the atheists, I respect your choice and apologize for those claiming to be Christian who hurl insults, feel; that they must wield worldy power to oppress others, promote idol worship, promote organized churches as if they were holy and immaculate, and those hijacking this forum about Brazilian issues to discuss domestic US issues. It is THEIR country, so let's let THEM decide on the issues and dominate THEIR forum. Great to say after having written the longest comment. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone...

To catholic country. Stick your f**king prayer up your ass!!! You can stick it up your vagina if you have one!! Religion is the most stupid, unscientific ideology. Believing in god is like believing in Santa. The only difference is that people die by the millions because of it. There is no evidence for its existence. It is only in the minds of stupid asses like you.

Boy, I am so scared of your homosexuality innuendo. s**t! Unlike you religious homophobes I don't think that people who are different from myself must be burned to the stake. By the way, some people like to take up the ass. Didn't Jesus?