Outrageous: Take them at their word - Excommunicate them.

How Robert S. McElvaine slunk his way into a Washington Post's "On Faith" column I'll never know. Unless the column is a joke.

McElvaine's entry ("impeach the pope") sure is laughable and - I would argue - actionable. It's clearly offensive. Some quotes:

"Amid all the justified outrage we all feel at Bernie Madoff and the AIG bandits, let us save some intense outrage for Pope Benedict XVI."

"I am a Catholic and the idea that such a man [as Pope Benedict] is God's spokesperson on earth is absurd to me."

"Let's start a movement within the Catholic Church to impeach Pope Benedict XVI and remove him from office. While we're at it, let's replace him with a woman.
He reversed the excommunication of a Holocaust denier. Will he excommunicate me for pointing out that he is a misogyny denier?
If this be heresy, make the most of it."

Well heck, fine with me. Excommunicate him if that's his wish. He's certainly guilty of being an idiot.

Plus he has insulted a figure beloved by literally hundreds of millions of people. Plus he's ignorant of basic truths of historical fact, demonstrating absolutely no good will or honest desire to verify his libelous claims about the Catholic Church in the process. Plus he does all of this as a Catholic - causing grave scandal to the faithful.

"On Faith" should be embarrassed to welcome such malevolent contributions.

And while we're at it, let's add another to the excommunication docket:

The pope's comment was "irresponsible and dangerous", said Jon O'Brien, head of Catholics for Choice, adding that "few Catholics and even fewer medical personnel agree with his stance." (AFP) [More damning evidence here.]

At least O'Brien is bought and paid for, McElvaine is trying to draw attention to his new anti-Catholic book.