2016 Caribbean Cruise - Days 3 and 4

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Amber Cove cruise ship port

Our cruise continues to be quite enjoyable, although yesterday while at sea we experienced 41 knot winds and today our trip into the rain forest in the Dominican Republic which had as its destination one of the beautiful pools at the Damajagua Waterfalls (pictured above) was truly an experience in the rain. Luckily, the rain did not get anyone's spirits down and before boarding the coach back to the ship we savored rum punch and beer. The guides were wonderful - and some of the guys VERY cute - and overall the experience was a positive one.

Last night for Halloween, many of the passengers went all out with costumes.  The husband and I were very plain in comparison as the photo below indicates.  It was good fun and I got to do some dancing as well.

As far as our ship goes, I give the Carnival Sunshine a positive review.  The cleanliness, crew courtesy and food quality has been great.  If I have one complaint, it is the line's failure to enforce any sort of a minimum dress code in the main dining rooms.  This even, eight passengers - likely from Gloucester, Virginia, from the looks and waist size of them - were seated at the table next to our table of five, all of whom were attired in sport coats (no ties) and nice slacks.  The men at the next table were less well dressed than I would be if I were running to Lowes on a Saturday morning to pick up mulch, lumber, or something else for a home project without "cleaning up" beforehand.  Oh, and did I mention the ball caps on their heads as that sat at the table.  All definitely had the look of Trump voters.     

Shortly before leaving the Dominican Republic

  

Vacation Preparation Madness

On Friday afternoon the husband and I and several friends are setting sail on the Carnival Sunshine (pictured above) on a cruise out of Norfolk to Nassau, the Dominican Republic and Grand Turk before returning to Norfolk eight days later.  As seems to be the norm when we travel, we are engaged in frenzied preparations, both at work and on the home front to be ready for what we hope will be a relaxing trip.  At work, as seems always to be the case, I am working to complete work and put out fires.  Naturally, I will have my laptop with me and be checking office e-mail regularly. 

At home, we had to find a new house sitter to stay at our home and babysit the two dogs.  Unlike in 2013, we will not be holding a political fundraiser at our home the day before we sail (we held an event for Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring in 2013).

As I have done in the past, I will be posting about our trip and my views on news events and all things gay. Posting frequency may well be reduced.

Apostolic Nuncio to Dominican Republic Investigated for Sexual Abuse

The news media - and Catholics who are eager to engage in wishful thinking that the Catholic Church is changing - have given Pope Francis the benefit of the doubt if not a free pass entirely since his elevation to the Papacy.   Sadly, nothing has changed substantively not withstanding Francis' more humble conduct and statements that have been misread to believe gays can perhaps hope for kinder treatment at the hands of the Church.  Another thing hasn't changed either: there still has been no thorough house cleaning of clergy and members of the Church hierarchy that aided, abetted, covered up, and in some instances engaged in sexual abuse of children and minors.  Bringing this reality into focus is the news that the Apostolic Nuncio to Dominican Republic (pictured above) is under investigation for sexual abuse.   The UK's Catholic Herald looks at the development.  Here are excerpts:

The Dominican Republic’s top prosecutor has said that he plans to investigate claims of sexual abuse allegedly committed by the apostolic nuncio to the Caribbean country, just a day after the Vatican confirmed its own investigation into the allegations.

Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, appointed as nuncio in 2008, was removed from the post on August 21, and a Dominican bishop confirmed in early September that the dismissal was due to the sexual abuse scandal unfolding in the country.

Days after Archbishop Wesolowski’s removal, a television news programme aired allegations that he had paid for sex with minors and was connected to a Polish priest accused of sexually assaulting at least 14 underage boys.

The programme, “Nuria”, claimed that Archbishop Wesolowski regularly visited Santo Domingo’s historic center, where he allegedly drank alcohol and paid for sex with underage boys in an abandoned monument nearby.

Attorney General Francisco Dominguez Brito said he plans to open an investigation, although it was unclear if he had legal jurisdiction over the case since it involves a diplomatic representative.

Archbishop Wesolowski arrived in the country in January 2008 and also served as apostolic delegate to neighboring Puerto Rico. He drew praise from Cardinal Nicolas Lopez Rodriguez of Santo Domingo, who called him a “great friend and promoter of peace” as recently as last week.

The cardinal’s press office said it had no comment on the claims against Archbishop Wesolowski and that Cardinal Lopez had no immediate plans to make a statement on the situation.

The Church hierarchy remains a foul cesspool.  Catholics who continue to give deference to these horrible men are complicit in the crimes they have committed and are either utter fools or prefer to keep their heads buried in the sand rather than face the face that they have been duped by the Church.