History's Greatest Lie

The greatest lie of History still remains Untold, throughout the world, in any home, And never taught in school of thatch or dome; And after centuries, this lie still stains Our history books. It gives false tyrants gains, And fills their banks, as bees fill honeycomb. This lie - for power - by the Church of Rome Still causes human sufferings and pains.

The year we count as "one", was then and is The Roman Empire's birth. For in that year Augustus made the title "Ceasar" his, which was his Uncle's name, to end the fear in old Republic Rome. It's gone, but 'tis the Roman Church that spreads that lie, still, here.

Norman F - Pollack May, 1998

More of my poems

The Ponifex Maximus

No criticism is intended for the current incumbent of this office. Without a doubt the present Pontiff must be the most sincere, honest, decent, caring man to have held that office since Peter himself, the first Bishop of Rome.
When will Rome admit that the Roman Church is the continuation of the ancient Roman Empire, the same body-politic that executed Jesus. It is little wonder that Jews were always blamed. It is not because the Church was inherently anti-Semitic, as is often assumed, but because they needed someone to blame other than themselves. Until the fifteenth century, the continuity from Ancient Rome to the modern Roman Church was clearer. It is only since the great social changes since the counter-reformation that the Roman Church was able to think of itself independent enough of its ancient past to accept that the blame does not belong to us Jews. We still wait for the true culprit to accept the blame.

I dream of the Pontiff entering Jerusalem on his knees, begging for forgiveness. Not for the death of Jesus, which was of course an historical inevitability (as his life would have been meaningless without his death as it was) but for the destruction of Judea and the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.

The Imperial Roman Church

No criticism is intended against the fundamental teachings of Christianity.

I object to the Imperial power of Rome, and the authority of its head over governments.
I object to some of its teachings, such as the refusal of Communion to gay and homosexual people.
I object to the false theology that is promulgated, and which is readily rejected by those who "lapse" with terrible results for both the people and for society generally.
I object to the specious educational system that graduates students with no meaningful education but who are ignorant of their own ignorance, and confident that they are competent, when in fact they are not; these people seem to find themselves in powerful Government positions, particularly in Australia (the home I love) where they are incompetent, to the detriment of society.
I object to their irresponsible teachings on birth control, that causes most of the suffering in the world today.
I object to their hypocritical teachings on equality and wealth, that promulgates a "Cult of Poverty" that argues the only way to end inequality is to make everyone equally impoverished. Mostly,
I object to their belief that only they are right, when in fact they are more wrong than most people. I particularly object to the way they re-write history and teach lies to their adherents.