Too Bad We Can't Talk About This

     I was raised to understand that there were three things you could not talk about in polite company (during parties, any social event, maybe not even at home): politics, religion and sex.  Times have changed a little, but these three topics are still considered taboo in many circles.  Sometimes I wish not to be in polite social environs just so these topics could be thrashed and thrashed well.
       Glenn Meade really thrashes religion, specifically Catholicism, the Vatican and its role in promoting Christianity and tearing down religious barriers (something it has yet to do).  He does this in his latest book, The Second Messiah.
     This book revolves around the Catholic church, archeology, murder and keeping secrets.  Archeology plays a prominent role in this story as does what may be seen as an unnatural alliance between the Mossad and the Vatican working together. There are also cliche scenes throughout reminiscent of Indiana Jones, but the dialogs and thoughts expressed via the thoughts of the main characters about archeology and religion are very thought provoking.
     I attended Howard University in the early '70's.  One day, my boyfriend who was an artist, took me on a tour of "America's Catholic Church" aka the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  We had a difference of opinion about the church.  He thought it was a beautiful work of art.  I thought it was an appalling display of opulence that was almost vulgar when I thought about all of the poor Catholics that put their last pennies in the offering so that someone could design a church like this with gold walls and ceilings and other expensive trappings.  We argued about it for over a week.  I agreed that it was beautiful, but was an example of why I thought the church in general was failing those it claimed to serve.  A few years later I noticed a movement in mainstream religion that God did not want people to be poor and especially wanted the church to be an example of wealth so that folks would have something to emulate and would have leaders to represent them well.  "You don't want pastor to be driving an old beat up car when he goes to visit the sick and shut in do you?" Was something I heard from the pulpit as deacons encouraged the congregation to donate a "love" offering for the pastor or to donate to the pastor's car fund, or clothing fund, etc.
     I say all of this because Meade addresses just these issues and more in this book.  Here you have an accidental pope who upon being sworn in tells the cardinals that he plans to open the Vatican to all, especially the secret archives and provide full financial disclosure.  He plans to have no secrets, past nor future.  He even forsakes the vestments and accommodations of the Vatican for a sparse room in an abbey.  He wears modest monk wear.  He wants to emulate Jesus as Jesus wanted the church to do.  He is going to try to reach out to the other christian denominations and join the churches.  As one cleric cries, "what next, reaching out to other religions?!?!".  Maybe you can imagine what happens next, the mayhem that this stirs up.
     Throughout this book there are some very interesting discussions about the role of the Catholic church, archeology, culture and life itself.  Too bad we can't talk about them, but you can read them in The Second Messiah and form your own thoughts.  Who knows, you may even break camp and talk about them.