The Andrew Extravaganza

I haven't taken the opportunity to spew reactionary vitriol in a long time, so here goes:

For inexplicable reasons, I still have Yahoo! as the homepage on my browser. Among the unorganized mess of articles and links this one caught my eye. For those not willing to take the jump, let me summarize: Catholic priests in Mexico spent the day sprinkling holy water on animals and reciting "special animal blessings".

"Maybe with the blessing she will be better behaved, because she's very naughty," said 19-year-old Beatriz Zuniga, clutching a yowling, wriggling kitten dressed in a tight pink T-shirt and a paper bow and wrapped in a blanket.

In general, though with occasional exceptions, I don't like to shit all over religion. I'm not a militant atheist. On some level I can respect the faithful, and I certainly don't think less of a person just because they are a believer. I don't see Jesus or the South rising again anytime soon, but if you feel like taking a rooting interest more power to you.

Just don't try saving my soul along the way.

And leave the animals out of it too.

Want a sure fire way to trivialize your religion? Go sprinkle some holy water on a kitten dressed in a pink T-shirt.

Does the Catholic church really need to pander to the idiot masses of pet owners?

Did Jesus take three nails so that Dolly the Chihuahua can be absolved of her sins against the carpet? I bet J.C. is rolling in his grave right now.

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.