The Pastoral Company - Latest Comments

Re: The Greeting of Peace – not just saying ‘Hello’

paulneeley — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 16:16:00 -0000

This was very good and helpful - thanks for writing it!

Re: Male Circumcision

Keith — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 18:30:10 -0000

A greedy ignorant doctor conned my mom into having him cut my foreskin off. He ruined my penis, now I don't orgasm. High time to make genital cutting punishable by life imprisonment/death.

Re: Male Circumcision

lamk123 — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 12:29:26 -0000

How is that clearly racist? A practice the poster (and most people) considers barbaric would be performed by modern thinking people?

Re: Do I walk around with time bomb on the end of my penis?

concerned cynic — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 05:34:37 -0000

A million times over would mean that the main role of the medical profession in Europe, New Zealand and Japan would be one of treating catastrophic urological problems, and relentless STIs.

There is no evidence that Brian Morris has ever talked to a woman about sex, or read what a woman has written about it. On gender issues, he strikes me as a mossback from the 1950s. He is utterly clueless about the sexual role of the frenulum and foreskin.

Re: Do I walk around with time bomb on the end of my penis?

15 Square — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 04:35:58 -0000

At http://tinyurl.com/cm86oju, Morris said:-

The AAP's policy is not strong enough. The benefits exceed risks by over 100 to 1 just from number-crunching. But if the severity of the perils of not circumcising are compared with the trivial nature of the risks, then the benefits would be something like a million to 1 in favor. The ridiculous nonsense by the anti-circs stands condemned. This includes fallacious claims that circumcision is detrimental to sex. High quality research findings prove such propaganda to be absurd. In fact sex is better for a circumcised man. And women prefer circumcised lovers.

So Morris reckons the benefits of being circumcised outweigh the disbenefits a million times over. Does he not realise how ridiculous this makes him look?

Re: Male Circumcision

miles — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 03:33:37 -0000

lads don't get the cut!!! sex feels so much better with it on

Re: So, cancer again.

Jennifer — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 19:52:44 -0000

May the blessing of light be on you - light without and light within.
May the blessed sunlight shine on you like a great peat fire,
so that stranger and friend may come and warm himself at it.
And may light shine out of the two eyes of you,
like a candle set in the window of a house,
bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm.
And may the blessing of the rain be on you,
may it beat upon your Spirit and wash it fair and clean,
and leave there a shining pool where the blue of Heaven shines,
and sometimes a star.
And may the blessing of the earth be on you,
soft under your feet as you pass along the roads,
soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the end of day;
and may it rest easy over you when, at last, you lie out under it.
May it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be out from under it quickly; up and off and on its way to God.
And now may the Lord bless you, and bless you kindly. Amen.

Scottish Blessing

Read more at: http://www.faithandworship....
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution

Re: Male Circumcision

cthornby — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:16:41 -0000

I don’t believe I did, at all. His comment about ‘barbarians’ is clearly racist, and needs to be seen for what it is.

Re: Male Circumcision

Bob — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:04:55 -0000

cthornby - talk about putting words in andries mouth!!

Re: Infant circumcision may be illegal (in Tasmania, Australia)

Lynn — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:44:32 -0000

"In weighing the risks and benefits of circumcision, doctors consider the fact that penile cancer is very uncommon in the United States, even among uncircumcised men. Neither the American Academy of Pediatrics nor the Canadian Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine circumcision of newborns. In the end, decisions about circumcision are highly personal and depend more on social and religious factors than on medical evidence."- The American Cancer Society

"There is no medical indication for routine male circumcision."- The Royal Australian College of Physicians

"There is no convincing evidence that circumcision is useful or necessary in terms of prevention or hygiene. Non-therapeutic circumcision of male minors is contrary to the rule that minors may only be exposed to medical treatments if illness or abnormalities are present, or if it can be convincingly demonstrated that the medical intervention is in the interest of the child. Non-therapeutic circumcision of male minors conflicts with the child’s right to autonomy and physical integrity."- The Royal Australasian College of Physicians

"The foreskin has two main functions. Firstly it exists to protect the glans penis. Secondly the foreskin is a primary sensory part of the penis, containing some of the most sensitive areas of the penis."- The Royal Australasian College of Physicians

"Ethical and human rights concerns have been raised regarding elective infant male circumcision because it is recognized that the foreskin has a functional role, the operation is non-therapeutic and the infant is unable to consent. After reviewing the currently available evidence, the RACP believes that the frequency of diseases modifiable by circumcision, the level of protection offered by circumcision and the complication rates of circumcision do not warrant routine infant circumcision in Australia and New Zealand."- The Royal Australasian College Physicians

"Review of the literature in relation to risks and benefits shows there is no evidence of benefit outweight harm for circumcision as a routine procedure in the neonate."- The Royal Australasian College of Physicians
"There is no convincing evidence that circumcision is useful or necessary in terms of prevention or hygiene. Partly in the light of the complications which can arise during or after circumcision, circumcision is not justifiable except on medical/theraputic grounds."- The Royal Dutch Medical Association

Re: Male Circumcision

cthornby — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:25:58 -0000

If you’re a Christian, Andries, you need to do some reading of Paul’s epistles, and study some church history, because what you say is ‘Biblical’ is not. Romans 2:25-29, 1 Corinthians 7:18, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 3:3, Galatians 6:12, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 5:2, Philippians 3:2-3 are good starts.
Your comment about barbarians is, I expect, directed to Muslims. It is unworthy, uncharitable, un-Christian, and impolite. I only let it stand to demonstrate the silliness of your comment.

Re: Male Circumcision

Andries — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 07:53:22 -0000

Male circumcision - yes - that is biblical. Woman circumcision - no. that is barbaric, and should be banned in 1st world countries. Leaf that to the barbarians!

Re: Contact Me

Bob Walsh — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 20:47:19 -0000

Tony, just a suggestion: Could the embassy in Indonesia be used as an immigration assessment centre to handle the needs of refugees, instead of the illegal boat operators? Those then choosing the trip by boat can be returned to Indonesia. Indonesia is the last port used not the place where the alleged abuse occurred. Keep up the pressure on the Labor Govt. Warm regards Bob Walsh

Re: Phimosis

Phimosis Treatment — Sun, 22 May 2011 10:50:35 -0000

Hi Sam,
I agree with Col considering a non-surgical approach before moving on to more aggressive treatment options. While I'm not sure if Betamethasone cream would work in your case since you have already entered your teens. Have you tried any stretching techniques - manually or device assisted?

Also, I agree that you should try to resolve this problem before you become sexually active. Because the foreskin does not retract completely in phimosis patients, the chances of micro injury to the foreskin is greater.

Re: Phimosis

cthornby — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 01:45:20 -0000

Hi Sam.

It would be best if you went to see your doctor.

Lots of cases of phimosis can be treated medically, and at your age, lots of young men have phimosis. It is important, though, to have it treated before you start to become sexually active.

You can expect that it will take around a month for a circumcision to heal properly. It won’t be painful for that whole time, but it will be for perhaps the first week. You can have pain relief for that, though.

The amount of skin left depends on the technique used by the surgeon who does the circumcision. Some favour looser circumcisions, some tighter.

There is always scarring with surgery, but if the surgeon is competent and experienced, you shouldn’t have too much trouble.

Any surgical procedure has risks. At your age, the risks are those associated with any surgery - the anaesthetic (general or local) has a risk, so does cutting tissue (bleeding being the chief one). There aren’t any particular risks associated with being circumcised. In the immediate post-operative period there is a risk of infection.

There is a less radical procedure called a preputioplasty, which widens the opening. That might be an option you’d like to consider with your parents and doctor.

Ultimately, as you’re 14, I’d say it is up to you whether you want to be circumcised. My advice would be to check out the non-surgical options before doing it, though. In the future you might find that being uncircumcised is what you’d prefer, and there is no going back once you’ve had the operation!

Col

Re: Phimosis

Sam — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:19:58 -0000

Thanks Dave...

I think I have Phimosis. I am 14, close to a stage of sexual contact... I looked at your story and I think I might go for a circumsision though I have some questions:
-How long will it take to heal?
-Will the skin be able to stretch back and forth in sex (As easy as it would for a 'Normal' person)?
-Any scaring?
-More importantly, what are the risks of 1. The operation? and 2. Just generaly with circumsision?

I am not scared but want to make the right choice, I have not taked about it with anyone but I think I will talk with my parents today. Then go to see a doctor. There is a build of of segma and my penis looks exactly like image 1 on the right.

Help me please (Anyone)
Thanks,

Sam

Re: Where to from here?

Scott Thornby — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:12:14 -0000

Write about you, brother. You don't need to be struggling with moral dilemmas or for your very life for us to want to read what you have to say.

Blesséd be.

Re: Emptiness

Smileyjack2 — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:52:05 -0000

I too am in this situation. Im a Roman Catholic and for me it influences everything, since I live in a country where it has had a huge influence on our way of life in the past. I have been compared by priests to people who are mentally handicapped, I have been told to prey to jesus to make me a hetrosexual, and I have been told Im going to hell! But you know what, at 18 years old I am no longer a child, and I have learnt that sometimes people take orders from others without questioning those in charge. To add insult to injury those telling us what to do (in this case the vatican) brake their own rules and in many recent cases this has been through the physical and sexual abuse of inoccent children. But despite what these people may tell me (and they are people not god) I believe in the basic foundations of my religion. I treat others with respect, I embrace who I am and what god has made me, I strive to help those who need a helping hand and I aim to put a smile on the faces of those who are hurting. I do not condemn people who do not share my opinions, I do not judge others based on their maritial situation, I do not believe that christs love applys only to a small minority of people. Why? Because I believe in god, not the church! You hold your head up high because god loves you, and if you find a man to love who loves you just as much, then that is a true blessing, because no matter what anybody tells you love is all that matters, in gods eyes and in those who have found god.

Re: Depression and anxiety in gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (GLBTI)

Depression Crystal — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 05:53:24 -0000

Most often depression for gays and lesbians is because of the racism or the in acceptance of other people sometimes their loves ones for their sexuality. But as our world becomes modernize acceptance for the third sex is slowly being accepted by the society.

Re: Phimosis

cthornby — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 19:38:01 -0000

Thanks for your comment, James. You're right to point of the level of distress some men have when they discover they've been surgically altered without their consent. That's the root of my concern - these boys and men don't consent. If an adult wants to be circumcised - more power to him.

Re: Phimosis

James — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:34:43 -0000

I my self was diagnosed as a young child as having phimosis back in the early 80's. I'm incredibly thankful that my parents and my pediatrician agree that they didn't have the right to choose to mutilate someone who wasn't old enough to choose for them selves considering there are non invasive options such as stretching the foreskin over time. Over the years the idea of circumcision has become a topic of great interest to me and I've done a lot of research on the subject. Also I've spoken with many males from the United States who had no idea whether they were cut or not (due to how common place a practice it has become), and more often than not were incredibly upset to find out that they were. I've also come across a few men over the years who have tried to regrow their foreskin using medical tape to slowly stretch the skin back up and over and was glad to hear it worked for them. It's a slow process but at least it gives hope to those who want to feel intact again.

Re: Suicide is never painless

Karen — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:33:40 -0000

My deepest sympathy goes out to all those that were close to Brian.

Re: Infant Male Circumcision – position statement of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (Canada)

FrederickRhodes — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:19:36 -0000

Is it ethical to allow the parents who practice known false god worshipping customs to sacrifice body parts from their children? It is now common knowledge that the masculine Y chromosomes were first created/mutated/evolved/given birth to by a feminine X chromosome, and not by the Heavenly Father myth. Allowing this farce to continue will only lead to more and more cases of circumcision induced paranoid delusional terrorism. This is why all this bogus pseudo-scientific data-twisting misinformation is preventing true knowledge from progressing. It is quite clear that false creation myths will only lead to the opposit which is self extinction.
There was no mention of the sexual enhancement functions of the masculine and feminine prepuce. These parts of the prepuce feel good to play with, therefor excising them is a form of eugenics or sacrifice. They also contain specialized cell structures that are known to function as anti-viral defence for our epidurmal, reprodution, and renal organs.

Re: Should Australia reintroduce routine infant circumcision to reduce HIV rates?

Shay — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:02:07 -0000

John
I'm afraid science is going to let you down and prove against your argument. Trends change all the time. We need to promote safe sex to avoid spreading disease. The fact of the matter is that Circumcision is a matter of human rights! No one may ever take a scalpel to my son for no reason whatsoever. And to me, there is never a good enough reason to circumcise. I will teach my son clean habits and trust in him that he will make wise decisions. To mutilate your children because you already have condemned them to be promiscuous or unwise is a very sad thing.

Re: Doctors back call for circumcision ban

Shay — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:35:04 -0000

And as to Johnny's comment on bacteria growing on boys who can't retract their foreskin, I'm afraid you are talking out of ignorance. The penis is self-cleaning and doesn't require cleaning until becoming sexually active really. As I have said, smegma is antibacterial and urine is sterile, so it works perfectly. The vagina is self-cleaning too, and doesn't smell all that pretty. But you know what, douches aren't that popular in Australia either. If were such a problem, don't you think they would be? So people aren't as obsessed with that as some may think.