Repetition: Not Only Good, but Necessary

Editor’s Note: We have been informed by Pistrina Liturgica that they’re still on “hiatus,” and that they may or may not post, depending on how things go.  But, whatever they do (or don’t do), we’ll still be posting.  Our article for this week follows somewhat along the same lines as our last one (in which we brought up Schiavo again) in that it talks about why we repeat themes, that is, why we bring up “old subjects” again (which some of our “commenters” view as “unnecessary” and/or “redundant”).  That said, here is our article… 

One of the complaints that we often get (in “comments” from the cult-masters’ apologists) is that we “harp about the ‘same old things’ all the time” – Schiavo, for instance.  The inference here is that Schiavo (and anything else we reprise) is “old news” (and therefore doesn’t “need” to be mentioned again).  Their inference is probably also that, if the cult-masters haven’t “committed any sins” lately, perhaps they’ve “reformed” – so why condemn them for “old sins”?¹

Well, they’re wrong on both counts: first, “old news” does need to be brought up now and again; and secondly, the cult-masters continue to demonstrate that they haven’t reformed.  We continue to get confirming intelligence that they have not cleaned up their act.  And as we do, we report it – but it doesn’t necessarily come on a “regular basis” – each and every week, so to speak.  Indeed, it would be unrealistic to expect that there would be “something new” to write about every week.  Also, there is often new information that comes to light on “old news” (such as on Schiavo), so we “dredge it up” again.

These hypocrites know that we are telling the truth (and that they are not).  They know that they can’t deny or disprove it, so they must resort to “name-calling” – labeling what we say as “harping” or as an “old canard” -- in their fruitless attempts to diminish its credibility.  The other thing that is so hypocritical about them is that they habitually do the exact same thing: they often dredge up “old news” themselves.  In fact, that which they typically accuse others of, they are invariably guilty themselves.  That’s because there is no intellectual honesty in Tradistan.  They believe what they want to believe, and ignore what they want to ignore -- especially when it negates their point (and is embarrassingly obvious).  Their typical ploy is to “change the subject,” and then start harping about one of their old “pet peeves” – or some other such “diversionary tactic” to avoid the real issue.

In our responses to these complaints that we are repeating “old news,” we simply point out that there are many instances where repletion is both legitimate and necessary: the Gospels, for one. Every week, the Gospels are repeated from church pulpits (along with a corresponding sermons), because people need to be reminded on a regular basis – especially in this day and age of “short memories” (and even shorter attention spans).  Repetition is reinforcement.  That’s why it’s used so much in “political”and “commercial” ads: it is a well-documented fact, again, that people tend to forget, unless they are reminded regularly: “out of sight, out of mind.”

And not only do people “forget,” but they also “forgive.”  Over time, as peoples’ memories grow dim, so too do their senses of outrage often subside over time – about Schiavo, for instance.  Several of were outraged about that, and left SGG.  (Many, however, stayed, because they thought that, at the time, this wasn’t “reason enough” to leave.)  [Oh, how sadly mistaken they were!]  Some even later returned to SGG, because they “forgave and forgot.”  Then came the school scandals of 2009; and this was “enough” – at least for half the congregation.  For them, this was indeed “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”  (But for the other “half,” this was still not “enough.”)  And for some, they too (unfortunately) “forgave and forgot” over time, and returned.

Had these people been “reminded” more regularly about those two events (Schiavo and 2009), they too might have left for good – and especially if they had heard about the so many other malicious acts of which the cult-masters have been guilty. There are too many to catalogue here; but if they were known, the cumulative effect of them, we believe, would certainly be more than “enough.” And that is precisely why we must keep these things – all of these things -- in the public eye, and repeat them as often as we can, lest people forget.  Again, if they are “out of sight,” they will certainly be “out of mind.”²

We mentioned earlier the inference (by some of the cult-masters apologists) that the cult-masters may have possibly “reformed,” because nothing “big” (like “Schiavo” or “2009”) has happened lately. Well, let’s put that myth to bed right now: although nothing so “spectacular” as those two events has (supposedly) happened since then, much has happened that is no less significant: Dannie’s and Tony’s frequent slandering and/or ill treatment of innocent people (such as Abbot Leonard Giardina, Bernie Brueggemann, and Sr. Gerard Vincent), for instance; their malicious meddling in other peoples’ affairs (such as Dannie’s attempt to sabotage an ordination in another chapel), for instance; and “appropriating” the proceeds from the sale of a satellite church (including its $120,000+ building fund), for instance.  Actually, there is a whole litany of “for instances,” any one of which conclusively demonstrates that they have not “reformed,” nor ever will.³

Another “for instance”: the “school.” No one much hears any more about what’s happening there (excepting Dannie’s occasional “propaganda plug” for it). Does this mean that “all is well” there?  Does this mean that the “principal” has “reformed”?  We think not.  (Sadistic principals don’t “change their stripes” either.)  Our guess is that, because of the irreparable damage that he did back in 2009, the “principal” has been ordered (by Dannie) to “behave himself,” lest the other half of SGG’s congregation “sees the light” and leaves -- and Dannie just can’t afford to let that happen.  (Another possibility is that the abuse at the school has “gone underground,” i.e., that it’s still there, but goes unreported -- which, we think, is a distinct possibility.)  But whatever the case, a telltale sign “that something’s wrong at the school” is this: its anemic attendance.  Most of the parents of school-age kids, whether they’ve “heard about 2009 or not,” must “know something” -- because they’re not putting their kids in the school.

No, the cult-masters have not “reformed”; they’re probably just becoming more careful, more cunning, more discreet -- or at least trying to (and not doing all that good of a job of it, we might add).  And, regardless of whether it’s the “school,” or Schiavo, or anything else, enough has already surfaced about the dastardly duo, that no new “scandals” are necessary to prove conclusively that they are wolves in sheep’s clothing, that they are unrepentant rogues, and -- to repeat what we said earlier -- that they will never “reform.” (However, we believe that there will be “new scandals” yet to come, because Dannie and Tony are scoundrels; and as history has repeatedly shown, scoundrels never stop being scoundrels, but keep doing their mischief until they trip themselves up.) 

And that’s why we have always been there, reporting and repeating – whatever it takes -- to get the word out and keep it out, until these parasites are put out of business.  If Tony would only admit that he was dead wrong about Schiavo (and apologized for it); if Dannie would only admit the obvious truth about what took place at SGG’s school in 2009; if he would only admit that fornication and watching porn are not “boys will be boys,” but blatant immorality; if only Dannie and Tony wouldn’t have slandered and harmed all those innocent people that they did; if only they hadn’t wrongly confiscated that satellite chapel’s “building fund” money (as well as pocketing the proceeds from its sale) – the “if only” list could go on and on. 

“If only” they would have apologized for all they’ve done, and recompensed all whom they’ve harmed – but they didn’t.  (But that, of course, takes humility, and a conscience – neither of which they have.)  Or, better still, if only they had not done all those nasty things to begin with, but they did – and they don’t show any signs of “slowing down.”  And that is why we are here, “reporting and repeating.”  Perhaps we will never be able to convince the “hard core” at SGG to abandon the cult; but if we can prevent others from falling prey to the cult-masters, we’ll consider that a “win.”  And for those of you who are “others,” you can help make that “win” happen by withholding your material support from these parasites.  Keep your cash in your wallet.  Don’t give it to Dannie. 

Starve the Beast!

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¹ Their inference is also that we must always be coming up with “something new and different” every time in order to prove our point (or that “old news” loses its validity and “expires” over time).  But how many “new and different” examples of the cult-masters’ malfeasance must one produce in order to prove that they are scoundrels?  How many times must we “prove our point”?  How much is “enough”?  Actually, once is enough. And since we have already produced dozens of “new and different” examples – all of which are independently verifiable -- we think that this is more than “enough.”

² Many people, incredibly enough, may still be unaware of Schiavo and/or the events of 2009.  And for many, if they became aware of these events “too long” after they happened, “forgive-and-forget syndrome” may have set in -- in which case, the impact of those events on their minds may have been severely diminished (or even lost) over time.  And so, for such people, more “reinforcement” may very well be necessary.

Some time back, we posted an article, “Schiavo Alone” is Enough (click here), which stated (as its title implies) that Tony Cekada’s words alone (about Terri Schiavo’s death) should have been enough to cause one to reject him and Dannie.  However, we realize that this alone may still not be “enough” for some people.  Therefore, even more “reinforcement” may be necessary -- especially in this day of short memories and attention spans.

³ And considering that both we (Lay Pulpit) and PL have been reporting on the cults for a decade or so, that “litany” is quite a long one – literally hundreds of articles, most dealing with Dannie, Tony, and Donald Duckmeister.