Phantom priest

[screwtape]

I read American Conservative.  One of the bloggers there is Rod Dreher.  I detest him.  He's a hyper-religious conservative prude.  He hates gay marriage, hates premarital sex, and is a general douche bag.

Today he posted a mundane story about a car accident.  In the midst of the rescue operation a priest showed up, cast some spells and the trapped young woman was rescued.  When they looked around, the priest was gone. Rod implies this was all miraculous and god's work.  But he doesn't come right out and say it. 

I left a comment.  We'll see if it gets past moderation.

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/wanted-mystery-priest-police/

[Mrjason]

I agree with your comment.

Just to hammer the point home in case you were in any doubt that this was a miricle priest Rod adds

Erin points out that Sunday, the day Katie Lentz was saved from the wreck, was the Feast of St. John Vianney, the Curé d’Ars, who is patron saint of priests.

at the end of his story.

[screwtape]

yeah. but he still pussed out in his reply to my post.  He said he didn't know what happened. I replied.  Waiting to see if that gets through.

[Mrjason]

it did. Rod's an arse.

this part of the story made me lol

The Hannibal Fire Department showed up right after that prayer with fresh equipment and was able to finish the extrication

 

[wheels5894]

This is a report of the accident when originally reported - al least that's how it seems. My trouble is that it sounds like a long re-told story that grew legs as it was re-told.

[ParkingPlaces]

My own phantom priest is a better one. He hangs around all the time, so I've never had an auto accident. Which beats the crap out of having one that lets you get all squished up and then shows up, all heroic and shit.

Of course I've never actually seen mine. Nor even suspected he existed. But he's still doing a great job.

Where he was when I was carefully picking out my various ex's, I dunno. He probably didn't know much about women.

The trouble with bull like mentioned in the OP is that like the real thing, it is bovine excrement all the way down. Anyone can make such claims. Nobody can prove them. You would think that a 100% failure rate would have a negative effect on certain philosophical stances. But nooooooo...

[neopagan]

If phantom priests start showing up, I'd anticipate an increase in the number of molestations, gropings and the like of young boys. 

[One Above All]

My own phantom priest is a better one.
<snip>

Mine sucks. I've gotten into two accidents. I was trying to sleep during one of them (I wasn't driving, obviously) and ended up insulting the other driver with every name I could think of that didn't have a curse word in it. The other one was kind of funny, given that nobody was hurt. My mom's car (a crappy Fiat Punto) got hit by this Mercedes, and the Mercedes spun out of control and hit a wall, smashing its left side to bits.
I wasn't in any danger, being a god and all, but it still pissed me off.

[ParkingPlaces]

^^^

Certainly, as an immortal, etc., you have expectations, and when some puny human who can't drive  causes an affront, you have every right to get pissed.

I'm mortal, but I still have to put up with republicans, so my situation is not dissimilar to yours. (Of course, they aren't crashing cars so much as they are crashing the economy, which is at least as bad.)

[One Above All]

Certainly, as an immortal, etc., you have expectations, and when some puny human who can't drive  causes an affront, you have every right to get pissed.

Of course.

I'm mortal, but I still have to put up with republicans, so my situation is not dissimilar to yours. (Of course, they aren't crashing cars so much as they are crashing the economy, which is at least as bad.)

Every civilization I've ever seen (which means all of them) has gone through a period such as this. This is the time when your planet's fate will be decided. Will your civilization destroy itself (it's happened more times than you know), or will it save itself? Only time will tell.[1]

1.	I'd do it, but then I'd be interfering way too much.

[ParkingPlaces]

^^^
Well, no matter how it turns out, I'll be dead by then.

You, on the other hand, have to suffer through even more human stupidity. Until people kill themselves off.

At least you have something to look forward too. 

[One Above All]

Well, no matter how it turns out, I'll be dead by then.

You sure about that? Really, truly 140% sure?

You, on the other hand, have to suffer through even more human stupidity. Until people kill themselves off.

I have suffered through more than your people's stupidity. I have existed forever.

At least you have something to look forward too. 

I don't look forward to any being's death. It's always saddening to see something die.

[ParkingPlaces]

One

If you just and a little more pull with yourself you could fix all that.

[nogodsforme]

I wonder if religious people, trusting in gods and all, have more car accidents than atheists? I ask that as a person who has lived in 3rd world countries where every bus and cab driver has all kinds of religious symbols in and on their vehicles. You know, crosses and virgenes hanging from the mirrors, "dios bendiga" and so forth painted across the front of the bus. And then they drive like Lindsey Lohan, if she was wearing Zaphod's Joo Janta 200 Super-Chromatic Peril Sensitive Sunglasses and being directed by a drunk Britney Spears.

Because they know that god is protecting them.

As an atheist, I know that god wants to make my car crash, so I drive as carefully as I can.

[Nick]

I thought that was St. Christopher's role.  Now this mystery priest has taken over his job.  Pretty sad.

[neopagan]

St Christopher or one of his horde of phantom priests took the day off for this tragedy... then again, they were baptists, so maybe they have phantom deacons or something that took the day off

Sad story - on many levels

http://www.jconline.com/article/BG/20130728/NEWS/307280019/Before-Indianapolis-bus-crash-youth-pastor-asked-church-members-pray-safe-return?odyssey=obinsite

[screwtape]

St Christopher or one of his horde of phantom priests took the day off for this tragedy... then again, they were baptists, so maybe they have phantom deacons or something that took the day off

Sad story - on many levels

http://www.jconline.com/article/BG/20130728/NEWS/307280019/Before-Indianapolis-bus-crash-youth-pastor-asked-church-members-pray-safe-return?odyssey=obinsite

I just used that at AC.  Thanks.

[Tero]

Obviously he rides around the country on a motorcycle and listens to  police radio, so he can appear at several accidents a day. He's bound to achieve a "miracle" once in a while.

[rev45]

I'm reminded of the song "Riding with Private Malone^Wiki" when I read this. 
WARNING: COUNTRY MUSIC

[Hatter23]

I was driving home from the goth club one foggy night. I saw a strange light up ahead. I slowed down and looked around the corner to see a car upside down on fire. A family was pounding on the windows as the roll had crushed the door handles. I ran up with my cane, broke the window and pulled the father from the car, and then others.

When that was done people who been watching from the darkness, came forth, their little gold crosses on their neck and "Thank God" on their lips, stating they were afaid to approch because the fire was on the gas tank.

I disappeared back into the fog...never said a word. Completely pale and dressed on odd antique clothing. This little Atheist, who didn't think he would have gotten a sweet afterlife special, took the risk.

[screwtape]

priest found.  Not an angel or ghost afterall.  Just a guy.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/12/mystery-priest-identified/2646255/

 

[neopagan]

at least now that they have a name the catholic church can proceed with "saintification" a few years after he dies - he worked a miracle! 

Now if he could just slink out of the darkness and heal an amputee or a down's syndrome kid, we might have reason to listen...

[Nick]

So I guess the Christians will have to go with the back up plan...God made sure that priest was there on that day and time to assist the girl.

See how easy this is?

[neopagan]

or we will hear how the priest as on the way to the YMCA to take his weekly sauna with the altar boys when he suddenly felt compelled to drive a different route and whammo he saw the accident

[stuffin]

There is an MVA and a women needs to be extricated. Coincedentally a priest is at the scene. The trapped victim asks for someone to pray with her while they are waiting for some equipment to arrive. This priest abliges and leaves when the proper extricating equipment frees the victim. 

WHERE IS THE FUCKIN MIRICLE???

[neopagan]

I hope to see the ghost of Christopher Hitchens if I'm ever smashed up in a vehicle waiting to be extricated.  Unless a priest is carrying a flask, he better stay away...

[screwtape]

WHERE IS THE FUCKIN MIRICLE???

jesus H made sure the priest was there to comfort her.  There are no coincidences, especially when it turns out well.  That always means god is at work, no matter how mundane it may seem. 

This allows xians to live in a mytho-poetic world, where snakes talk, beanstalks grow to castles in the clouds and a hippy jew makes sure a priest is on hand to comfort you when in a car wreck.  Just make sure you don't need, you know, real help.

[Tero]

It's pretty much like Mother Teresa's only "miracle."

[nogodsforme]

I have been in several car wrecks, a bus explosion and a few dangerous plane trips. No priest, ever. And I have survived, somehow.