Please note: AVfM does not publish articles taking a position on religious matters. This article references religious texts and discusses religious practices. While it is clear that the author holds particular religious views, AVfM continues to have no official position on religious matters. –Ed.
Dear Paul,
First, thank you for putting your article up “It’s time to think before you cut” and telling the world that the matter of sexually mutilating baby boys or any male for that matter, is now part of the FTSU campaign, which should tell the world that you and your membership place this issue at the top of the tree. It seems all abuse of men stems from that one act in society and I cannot agree with you more on that one sentiment.
I am equally pleased you decided to put together neonatalcutting.org (NNC) to provide valuable information to parents and put a public face to these mutilators, abusers of children and those who support them. This is something I advocated in another article you guys released recently and I am so please to see you now taking the bit between the teeth and running with this.
The following information should put to bed any questions as to the legitimacy of, or rather illegitimacy of using religion as a reason to mutilate boys/men genitally.
Some facts about me:
First of all, I have to admit publicly to the guilt of being one of those who has mutilated baby boys. By my permission I have been a perpetrator of this abuse on three of my sons. A forth had a deformity at birth and unfortunately corrective surgery dictated the removal of the foreskin to fix the problem.
However, my other three sons were on me and to this very day I suffer the shame and guilt for harming my boys the way I have and will take that to my grave.
In reparation for this crime, I have been educating all my children (boys and girl) on the hugely negative aspects of this barbaric practice and admonishing them to never repeat my sins on their sons.
The second point I wish to make is the one of my beliefs and Faith: I am an Orthodox ‘True Catholic of the Council of Trent’ who lives his life obedient to the current true pope, Pope Gregory XVIII.
I have in my possession a copy of the only accepted True Bible from the Council of Trent, which is The Original and True Rheims New Testament of Anno Domini 1582 and The Original and True Douay Old Testament of Anno Domini 1610. This is the only text that has existed since St. Jerome collated the final formulation of texts in AD 405.
The following link is the only proof I can offer for the text, I have to type the whole thing out because of my limited internet brain power has me unable to supply your readers with a copy of the text to look at: The REAL Douay-Rheims Bible Site.
I have one request of all your readers both believers and non-believers. It makes no difference whether you believe in God or not, the fact is, the text below is an historical and factual account of something that actually occurred and it cannot be debated to the contrary when no other opposing (public) record exists to prove otherwise.
There is no requirement to believe in this Faith, all you need to do is approach the text below with the mindset of reading from a history book. It is unfortunately or fortunately depending on which way you look at it, the ONLY written record of that meeting that exists today (publicly) that can be trusted with any kind of certainty.
Brothers, I submit to you a copy of the momentous decision made by this council, including the events leading up to it and to the acceptance of that decision:
First or second council of Jerusalem. There could have been one prior to this, when St. Peter sent Saul (Paul) and Barnabas forth to witness to the Gentiles and to be the Church’s emissaries to the Gentiles. As they encountered not only Jews, but schismatic Christians who still held fast to Jewish tradition (a bit like ‘blue pill men’), plus also men who would be converted but who followed Jewish tradition, fought with Paul and Barnabas over them inducting “unclean” or ‘”un-circumcised’ men into the Faith without authority from the Brothers (Apostles) in Jerusalem. So they were basically forced to return to Jerusalem to seek council and permission or authority which could not be questioned again by anyone.
This was indeed a council and it changed a particular law that was held for thousands of years by the Jews.
The text following this point is typed word for word, directly from the True Rheims New Testament chapter 15 of The Acts of the Apostles:
The Acts of the Apostles
Chapter 15
And certain coming down from Jewry, taught the brethren: That unless you be circumcised according to the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.
- No little sedition therefore being risen to Paul and Barnabas against them, they appointed that Paul and Barnabas should go up, and certain others of ‘the rest,’ to the Apostles and priests unto Jerusalem, upon this question.
- They therefore being brought on their way by the Church, passed through Phoenice and Samaria, reporting the conversion of the Gentiles: and they made great joy to all the brethren.
- And when they were come to Jerusalem they were received of the Church and of the Apostles and Ancients, declaring whatsoever God had done with them.
- And there arose certain of the heresy of the Pharisees that believed, saying, That they must be circumcised, commanded also to keep the law of Moses.
- And the Apostles and Ancients assembled to consider this word.
- And when there was made a great disputation, Peter rising up said to them, Men brethren, you know that of old days God among us chose, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the world of the Gospel, and believe.
- And God which knoweth the hearts, gave testimony, giving unto them the Holy Ghost as well as to us.
- And hath put no difference between us and them, by faith purifying their hearts.
- Now therefore why tempt you God, to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
- But by the grace of our Lord JESUS CHRIST we believe to be saved, in like manner as they also.
- And all the multitude held their peace: and they heard Barnabas and Paul telling what great signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles by them.
- And after they held their peace, James answered, saying, Men brethren, hear me.
- Simon hath told how God first visited to take the Gentiles a people to his name.
- And to this accord the words of the prophets, as it was written:
- After these things I will return, and will re-edify the tabernacle of David, which was fallen, and the ruins thereof I will re-edify, and set it up:
- That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, and all nations upon whom my name is invocated, saith the Lord that doeth these things.
- To our Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world.
- For the which cause I judge, that they which of the Gentiles are converted to God, are not to be disputed.
- But to write unto them that they refrain themselves from the contaminations of Idols, and fornications, and strangled things, and blood.
- For Moses of old times hath in every city them that preach him in the synagogues, where he is read every Sabbath.
- Then it pleased the Apostles and Ancients with the whole Church, to choose men out of them, and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, Judas, who was surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren.
- Writing by their hands.
The Apostles and Ancients, the brethren, to the brethren of the Gentiles that are at Antioch and in Syria and Cilicia, greeting.
- Because we have heard that certain going forth from us, have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, to whom we gave no commandment:
- It hath pleased us being gathered in one, to choose out men and to send them unto you with our dearest Barnabas and Paul.
- Men that have given their lives for the name of our Lord JESUS CHRIST:
- We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who themselves also will in words report unto you the same things.
- For it hath seemed good to the Holy Ghost and to us, to lay no further burden upon you then these necessary things:
- That you abstain from the things immolated to idols, and blood, and that which is strangled, and fornication, from the which things keeping yourselves, you shall do well. Fare ye well.
- They therefore dismissed went down to Antioch: and gathering the multitude, delivered the epistle.
I will leave the text at that point, because the rest is simply continued dialog on the matter, and of course the message was received with jubilation and relief among the Gentiles.
From that point in our history, circumcision has been a practice among religious zealots and schismatics, and also including the Jews, which has been totally unnecessary. When Muslims came along, they adopted many of the old Jewish practices and have held firm ever since the Quran was formulated and tradition handed down through the generations.
As for any modern day religion, whether it purports to be Christian or not, to continue with the practice of circumcision is not only barbaric in nature, it is utterly and defiantly radical and completely unnecessary, with ZERO theological substance with which to give this brutal practice any legitimacy.
