**You’ve probably noticed a few posts over the last few weeks where the link was courtesy of Wesley. That is a small fraction of the stories that he’s sent my way. So as to get that material out, free up some of my time, and add some breadth to the blog, I asked Wesley if he’d be willing to put it into a blog post. Expect to see more news reports like this in the future. Wesley, welcome aboard!**

Hello World!
My name is Wesley. I am an atheist, a secular humanist, and try to be a skeptic in the best sense of the word. Look forward to recent topics that raise my ire, set my woo-meter on fire, or just give me a chuckle. Let’s dive on in…

Scientology awareness
If you are up to date on scientology news, you are probably aware of Valeska Paris who was shanghied aboard the cult’s cruise ship, Freewinds, for 12 years. Or Ramana Dienes-Browning who was forced to give up her dream of being a dancer, marry at 16, and generally torn apart by the cult for almost 2 decades. Don’t forget the lady who’s tragic and preventable death brought scientology to the forefront starting in 1995. Lisa McPhereson, like so many other cult followers, was brainwashed after years of isolation from her family, intense physical labor, and mental cruelty. Her death and many others at the hands of a corporation under the guise of a religion, need to be brought to the light. Don’t let Lisa’s death be in vane. Learn more about scientology. Get involved and lets start by getting their religious tax exemption revoked in the USA!

Is this Penn State or the vatican?
As reported in Reuters, Father Shawn Ratigan loved to carry his camera around to snap photos of people; especially children. When Ratigan took his laptop in to be repaired, the technician discovered hundreds of child porn photos. Turns out this was not news to Bishop Robert Finn, head of the 133,000 member strong Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Finn not only knew about the photos prior to the tech calling the police, but knew of many other reports from parents, teachers, and other priests talking about inappropriate action between Ratigan and local children. Apparently, Finn decided to follow in the foot steps of Mr. Ratzinger, the current pope, and cover up Ratigan’s actions.

Ratigan attempted suicide and barely survived once the photos were discovered. In an odd twist, the police said the laptop was destroyed before they could inspect it. Do me a favor and put aside the many warnings from parents and teachers that were brought to Finn’s attention. What I want to know is who destroyed the laptop before the police were able to search it? Who took it from the computer tech after the police were called? Was it Ratigan or another priest? Tampering with evidence in a felony case must have some very serious consequences… Who should be serving time for that? From what I have read, Ratigan faces years in jail. Bishop Finn, the highest-ranking Catholic official to face criminal charges, will most likely never see the inside of a prison cell.

Fair and equal time for everyone… Or not
German courts drop charge against the pope. Ok, so it was only for not wearing a seat belt, but we have to start somewhere, right? First a traffic court conviction. Then getting the United Nations to revoke nation status of the vatican and yank that diplomatic immunity away… just in time to slap some cuffs on Ratzinger for a photo-op before he is put on trial for every priest he helped to evade the law. The UK had the right idea.

If read, the woo is bound to lower your IQ
Over time, I fear you will come to see a lot of articles and references to Mike Adams, Health RANGERrrrrr (you have to stretch the R… it’s contractual) linked from here to his supremely woo-filled **catablog, Natural News. I just wanted to warn the faint of heart before I just dropped a Health RANGERrrrrr article on you… Be careful, I don’t think there is an article on there that is not trying to take your hard earned cash.

**Catablog: n. (catalogue+blog) A website that every article posted is designed to sell you products. Credit for this word goes to Michael Marshal of the MSS.

I hope to see each and every one of you at the Northwest Free-thought Convention in Seattle, Washington next year!

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You can email Wesley at [email protected] and you can find him on Google+.