Same Shit, New Pope: Hitler Youth, we can understand. Cardinal Ratzinger, now renamed Pope Benedict XVI, was a kid; it was his country; he was being a good boy scout. It’s his Nazi Catholicism that gets us.

This new "screaming pope" (to borrow the title of the famous portrait, at left, by Francis Bacon) is a backward-looking dinosaur whom one theologian, speaking to the New York Times on conditions of anonymity, called "John Paul II, without the imagination.”

Dignity, an organization of gay Catholics, have long tangled with Cardinal Ratzinger. The powerful prelate saw to it that the all-gay Dignity masses were thrown out of liberal Catholic churches. Devout members often had to hold services in the basements of gay community centers and the priests who ministered to them risked censure.

Such a priest was the famous "Priest of the the Firemen," Father Judge, who died on 9/11 from falling debris as he was comforting the dying at the World Trade Center. Not only did he perform mass for Dignity members, he was a publicly out gay man and an increasing embarrassment to a church that under John Paul II campaigned for the repeal of gay-rights laws. There is now a movement to canonize Father Judge. We doubt it will get very far under the Rat Pope. (read the full article)

Did Somebody say Tea-Bagging?

New for you tonight, in the Circle’s over-revved Cruiser Boys division, 6 Raging Hard-on Video Clips featuring San Diego surfer dude Lonnie. Now here’s a guy you can really look up to — but don’t bang your head!

(MEMBERS / non-MEMBERS)

BUSTED!: Another vile gay Republican enjoys rights he wants to deny you and me.

From the New York Daily News:

Former President Bill Clinton wasn’t about to let just anybody attack his wife – especially a gay Republican operative. Clinton fired back yesterday, suggesting that political consultant Arthur Finkelstein, who has launched a "Stop Her Now" campaign, is suffering from "self-loathing."

Finkelstein married his male partner in a civil ceremony in Massachusetts in December, with a few of his conservative clients at the nuptial…Clinton said at a Harlem news conference. "I thought, one of two things. Either this guy believes [the Republican] party is not serious, and is totally Machiavellian in his position, or there’s some sort of self-loathing there. I was more sad for him."… Finkelstein did not return calls for comment.

(read the full article)

It’s been a tale of two presidents this week in Rome. One is an international rock star, the other a despised yahoo. One was impeached for lying about a blow-job he got in private (a lie that harmed absolutely no one) and the other was re-elected though he declared war based on lies and willful self-deception (a web of deceit that has so far killed 1,500 Americans and wounded 12,000 more.)

Rome, the Eternal City, has seen them come and seen them go, of course. So we shouldn’t be surprised if even in docile Vatican Square, a certain Roman jaundice yellows the eye: (read the full article)

Robert Mapplethorpe’s elegant nude photo, "Christopher Holly, 1980" (above) may have been a product of intelligent design, but science needs something it can weigh, measure, or count before it can conclude who, if anyone, created this divinely erect penis, the body it’s attached to, and the universe that body walks through. (read the full article)

Behold our little Devil Pope, at left. Of all the many souvenir T-shirts, candles and haloed images of the late pope sold in the streets of Rome this week, our little red friend, alas, will not be among their heavenly number. (Thank God for the internet!)

Meanwhile, the funeral pictures from Vatican City have been so very pretty, and MSNBC should get some sort of Hallmark Hall of Fame award. After artful shots of slo-mo doves in flight, a still photograph of his Holiness shimmers onto the screen. He is deep in prayer, and five billion people are waiting in line to pay respects to the voodoo he do so well. Hardball host, Chris Mathews, introduces a trio of solemn, media “voices” and asks for commentary on Pope John Paul II’s “illustrious” reign. Only one Pundit Prince crys foul at the orgy of canonization that ensues: (read the full article)

American Idol‘s only equal within the carnival of culture is JK Rowlings’ Harry Potter. Both are juggernauts that have spellbound the public and created a mini-religion. What’s the secret? As a motif, both work within the realm of corporeal magic.

I disagree with folks who claim American Idol is popular because it traffics in humiliation. In fact, that’s the opposite of what the tribunal is about. Thirty four million people vote for their favorite Idolette each Tuesday night. There’s some sort of hormonal impulse that makes us respond with a devout fervor to the beauty, showmanship and glamour. Set these qualities within the magical realm of music — and well, it’s better than Jesus! (read the full article)

Once again the fine folks over at Raging Stallion Studios have all the right stuff to make your mid-week slump go hump hump hump.

To celebrate: This week’s Rear Stable update (in the Circle’s over-glutted Video LaunchPad) is the opening scene from the flick Nexus. Unfortunately this is not the cinema version of Henry Miller’s book by the same title. Though, we’re certain, if Mr. Miller were alive (unlike the Pope) he’d bestow a giddy benediction on this motley heap of well-oiled wildness.

Fans of out-of-control orgy assaults will be smiling, and offering their approval, too — especially when one let’s the mind balk and considers the plethora of hot men on display. Guys like — do I have enough fingers to count on here? — Carlos Morales, Rik Jammer, Tony Serrano, Bruce Jennings, Riley Porter, Fyre Fli and Tom Vacarro (and that’s just the crew within the first two minutes of the clip!)

What’s a greedy horn pup to do? Why join up you nut!

(MEMBERS / non-MEMBERS)

NEW IN THE INNER CIRCLE: Aries. Impulsive! Explosive! Penetrating! And we’re not just talking about his Sign.

This Russian ram, originally from St. Petersburg, has a wonderful way to keep warm on those crystalline nights when the Arctic winds sweep down. It’s a little game he calls Peter and the Wolf. We won’t get into all the Byzantine rules but basically he’s the Peter and you’re the Wolf. By the time the game is over you will know all the instruments in his orchestra!

And you know what they say about redheads: Big feet, big lips, big schlong-ovski!

(MEMBERS / non-MEMBERS)

Because nobody is afraid to celebrate hard-ons there. This is an ad — in English – that is plastered all over Paris. To find it here, you’d have to go to the Levi’s web site and click on Europe. (read the full article)