Posted on 09/16/2010 7:00:33 AM PDT by markomalley
Papal visits tend to draw out all sorts of folks from the fringe. We saw it when he went to Africa, and when he came to the United States, too. It's happening now that he is the United Kingdom. I guess these groups figure it's one way of getting recognition and their names in the press - anything related to the Holy Father is bound to get some news coverage.
Here's a story concerning one of the more bizarre groups, who've filed a lawsuit in the British courts against Pope Benedict XVI.
European Raelian Movement sues Pope Benedict XVI
LONDON, Sept. 13 – The European Raelian Movement (ERM) has filed a lawsuit in the High Court, Queen’s Bench Division, against Pope Benedict XVI, formerly Cardinal Ratzinger. Allegations in the suit include charges of violating international human rights laws, perpetrating genocide by continuing to claim that condoms don’t stop the spread of AIDS, and stating that Pope Benedict and the Vatican orchestrated a campaign of disinformation against the business of the ERM after its membership reported on these matters.
The ERM says it can prove its allegations.
“The Vatican has maintained an ongoing campaign against the ERM for years,” said Marcus Wenner, Raelian bishop of the U.K. Raelian Movement. “That campaign was obviously carried out in retaliation for the Movement’s clear stance against pedophilia and the cover-ups rampant within the Catholic Church clergy. And there are several other tenets of Vatican policy the Raelian Movement directly opposes, such as its genocidal position against using condoms in Africa, which results in continued HIV infections, deaths of millions and subsequent orphaning of children.
Forewarning Benedict XVI of the impending suit, the ERM also claimed in its pre-litigation letter that his actions continue to violate international law along with treaties on genocide and those concerning organized sexual abuse and trafficking in children.
[...]
Roehr said the Raelian Movement is an atheistic religion founded upon the premise that there is no God. Raelians believe all life on Earth was created many thousands of years ago by advanced extraterrestrial scientists, who were mistaken for gods by our ancestors.
"Atheistic religion"? Isn't that an oxymoron??
I didn't know the Catholic Church had an active campaign to discredit the Raelian movement. Based on what I read at their website, I think they do a pretty good job of self-discrediting, and don't need the help from anybody else, much less the Church. The Raelians are...well, one way to describe them is interesting. Here's info from their website:
The Raelian Movement was founded in 1974, a few months after the encounter between RAEL, its founder, and one of the Elohim, the scientists who created us. Since its founding it has grown steadily and now counts more than 70,000 members in 104 countries and about 170 Guides who lead the activities of the Movement under the direction of the Prophet RAEL.
Raelians come from all walks of life. They have in common a strong desire to make this planet a paradise where Science is a priority and can be freely developed for the benefit of all and where violence is treated as a disease and finally, completely eradicated. They are atheists and practice meditation. They are dreamers and believe in their dreams and this is why they are so active and a subject of significant public and media interest.
"Grown steadily"? 70,000 followers over the last 36 years...that comes to less than 2,000 new followers a year. I suppose that's steady - kind of like how stalactite formation is steady.
And let me see if I have this right. The Raelians are atheists who follow a prophet, and have science as the foundation of their movement, yet can't prove we are created by extraterrestrial beings called Elohim. Got it. Makes sense.
They also believe in geniocracy - which is described as "government of the people, by the people, for the Geniuses." I thought we had that in the US right now, but since I'm not a genius, what the heck do I know?
They have a thing called The Happiness Academy. Here's their promotional video (it has a censored image of a topless woman, just so you know, at about the 1:54 mark):
So, to review: we've been created by a scientific alien race called the Elohim, a "fact" for which there is no proof, in order to be happy. And all the happy geniuses are destined to rule over us happy dummies. Being "happy for no reason" is the nadir of their atheistic religion.
But...but...they've filed this lawsuit against the Holy Father. I mean, they sound upset that the Church has orchestrated a campaign to discredit them, don't they? Perhaps they need to go back to the Happiness Academy and get happy again, or something. It seems their last stay at the funny farm wasn't all that productive.
The Raëlian Church is one of the nuttier groups out there, with elements of Ufology, intelligent design, and peace activism.
What a coincidence! We have UFologists right here on the Religion Forum.
**The Raelians are atheists who follow a prophet, and have science as the foundation of their movement, yet can’t prove we are created by extraterrestrial beings called Elohim. Got it. Makes sense.
They also believe in geniocracy - which is described as “government of the people, by the people, for the Geniuses.” I thought we had that in the US right now, but since I’m not a genius, what the heck do I know?**
Funny comments about this group.
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