Janet M. Tavakoli

“Narcissists have poor self-esteem, but they are typically very successful. They feel entitled; they’re self-important; they crave admiration and lack empathy. They are also exploitative and envious. The malignant types never forget a slight. They may kill you ten years later for cutting them off in traffic. But they act perfectly normal while plotting their revenge.”
― Janet M. Tavakoli, Archangels: Rise of the Jesuits

“I find it appalling that the Church claims Mary consented at the age of thirteen to become the mother of God.”

“But she did,” James said. “There is ample evidence to show she consented.”

“Isn’t that the classic defense of the pedophile?” Helena asked. “In Christ’s time and even today in some countries in the Middle East and India, child marriages are customary. But that doesn’t make it right. In Europe and the U.S. we prosecute adults for preying on children. God would be arrested for impregnating a girl below the age of consent.”

“People didn’t live as long then,” James said.

Helena would not back down. “But human biology hasn’t changed. My point is she was too young to consent. The brain of a young teenager isn’t fully developed.”

“The mysteries of the faith require us to have faith.”

“Don’t hide behind that nonsense. What kind of message is the Church sending to women? Only virgin children are pure? Experienced mothers are impure and unfit to raise Christ? It’s creepy and insulting when you think about it, but you would have me suspend rational judgment and just accept something I would tear your eyes out for thinking about my underage sister?”
― Janet M. Tavakoli, Archangels: Rise of the Jesuits