From:  art@indy.net
 CC:  rotate172@hotmail.com

 Subject: Do you have brain cancer?

 Gee, bartbaby, are you stereotyping me by lumping all
 catholics in the same boat as if all catholics believe the same thing?
 I am staunchly pro-choice, would love to see married
 and women priests, and I don't lose any sleep over getting
 my playboy subscriprion every month----and I'm catholic.

 Excuse me, Sir or Madam.
 If you're Catholic, you took an oath.
 Yes, I lump those that took the same oath together.
 That's why you take the oath, to reaffirm that you believe
 that which the Church has taught you.
 By definition, Catholics all believe the same thing.

 At every single mass, you swear your loyalty with The Creed.
 Are you the type who takes an oath, then rejects it?
 When I take an oath, it means something to me.
 Are we different in that respect?

 I, like you, fell far away from my childhood faith but several
 years ago but I made a "mature" decision to return with several caveats.

 ha ha
 You made a "mature" decision to worship a ghost?
 I'd like to hear more about your "caveats."
 With whom did you negotiate?

 Your rant to R Ford makes you no different than all those republicans
 in white sheets toting guns in "massabama".
 It goes like this: all black are niggers, all jews are kikes,
 and to all catholics believe "Clinton is a baby-killer"

 If all "niggers" and "kikes" took the same oath, yes, I'd lump 'em.
 I wouldn't have a choice, because they all took an oath.
 I don't know how to address a pro-choice Catholic.
 Which branch of the church lets you pick and choose your dogma?
 Tell me, is there a virgin mother in your world, too?
 Or is that another plank you negotiated away?

 You may have your difficulties with catholicism and on all of
 the points you ranted on I agree. I have an open mind about
 your opinions and respect your beliefs----however, when you
 lump me in with Russert or Mathews, my blood boils. Lumping
 me with them, moin froind, is a stereotype. And if I'm not
 mistaken that makes it prejudice. And if you proclaim to hate
 intolerance and bigotry as I know we both do, it makes you
 a hypocrite, a bigot, and a waste of my time.

 ha ha
 Playing Hardball with Ol' BartCop?
 Trust me, I have no difficulties with Catholicism.
 It's a part of my past I can't deny,
 but it's certainly not a difficulty with which I struggle.

 We keep getting back to that oath.
 If a bunch of Republicans got together in a field in Massabama
 and took an oath to lynch the "niggers," would it be wrong of me
 to label them racist pigs?  How dare I lump them together, right?

 The definition of "prejudice" is "to pre-judge."
 Once you take that oath, there's no way I can pre-judge you
 because you've sworn to God that you're against abortion.

 But, wait, I forgot. I have an open mind I can forget about
 your lapse into intolerance. I'm not an absolutist and so what
 if you got this one wrong. You still got so much else right.

 You have an open mind and you're Catholic?
 What are you teaching your kids?
 To be good Catholics except for rules #7, 12, 17, 24, 38 and 60?
 You can't be a good Catholic and have an open mind.
 Faith is rejecting reason and embracing the illogical.

 Hehehehe....should I pray for you?
 Too damn funny...

 Your prayers cannot harm me - go ahead.

 p.s. You do not have my permission to <snip> this
 listening to rush so much you might be tempted to
 edit this for your own edification (big word, huh?)

 If you're Catholic, who taught you to mangle a paragraph like that?
 Were you raised in Texas?
 Where's your punctuation?
 Where's the period at the end of your first sentence?
 Where's the capitalization of the first word in the second sentence?
 You don't even capitalize the word, "Catholic."

 Besides, how will anyone know if your words have been snipped?

 ...and yes, edification is a very big word.

==================================================
OK, like I said, I get a lot of mail.
This "attack" came in yesterday.
I have not yet gotten to all of Monday's mail, but
"Do you have brain cancer" isn't likely to be the first e-mail I'd open.

Since I failed to answer this letter in 24 hours, a second letter arrived.
==================================================

 From:  art@indy.net
 To: "R. Ford" <rotate172@hotmail.com>

 Subject: Re: Do you have brain cancer?

 He didn't reply. I guess ol' bartcop doesn't have the guts to post the
 message on his website or even have the courage to reply.

 Funny, isn't it? He rages on how rush and laura are such frauds since they don't
 allow any other viewpoints and then he turns around and does the same thing.
 I kind of felt sorry for ol' bart when the ol' wizard of whimzey tore him a
 new one, now I don't.

 C'mon, bartcop, practice what you preach.

 Dear Sir or Madam,
 You thought your questions were too difficult for me to answer?
 That might indicate some arrogance on your part.
 Our disagreement seems to hinge on the value of your word.
 When you take an oath, it should mean something.
 On the other hand, if you're lying about the oath you took,
 why would you call me a fraud?

 If you were a regular reader, you'd know I live for a good fight.
 Do you know anyone?

 And before you get all huffy about my attitude,
 remind yourself how this conversation started.

 Update

 This is the last letter I'll print from art@indy.net
 because these petty squabbles tend to go on forever.
 Besides, I'm too afraid he/she might outwit me.

 From: sMaPdi <art@indy.net>
 To: "R. Ford" <rotate172@hotmail.com>

 Hehehehe,

 He devoted a whole page to me. I feel so honored. Funny thing, though,
 I know Mr. Perkel since we both grew up in St. Louis on a neighboring
 parish of his. I also have reletives in Springfield that I'm going to visit
 in couple of  weeks. I can't wait to see his face when I show up at Computer Tyme.
 I know everything about you, Marc, and you completely forgot who I am.
 Oh well, so it goes...

 Marc Perkel can take care of himself, but why drag him into this fight?
 He didn't attack you, I did.

 BTW, Bart---should I forward these email messages and your response to your
 Catholic in-laws in St. Louis.
 I'm sure they would love to know what a bigot their daughter married.

 I have no in-laws in St Louis, Sherlock.
 My family lives there.
 There are staunch, pro-life Catholics.
 You see, they took an oath.

 p.s. Mr. Perkel....you do not have my permission to display this message or
 parts thereof in any public forum without my WRITTEN consent.
 Gee, marrying someone with a J.D. is finally coming into some good use.

 ha ha
 We don't need your permission to print shit.
 If you think you can stop me, have at it.
 

 "R. Ford" wrote:

 > i think he proved what kind of level he operates on with his reply on his
 > site, and it obviously isn't a very intelligent one.

 ...and why are you forwarding private mail from R Ford?
You seem to value friendships like you do your faith.