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I read this thread last night, and after thinking about it, I think the proper word for the phoney is MEGALOMANIAC.

This guy is interested in himself. Period. No one else. (and his legacy, yet another Clintonism) His red hat is his ticket to the top. It must really chafe that he has to bow, at least outwardly, to the pope. (hey, just think, we get our own Cardinal Richelieu)

It is not unprecidented for a leader not chosen by the people and not having their oversight to build a monument to himself and bankrupt the system in the process (see Bavaria, "Mad" King Ludwig, Neuschwanstein) (he wasn't really mad, just a flaming queen) (and King Louis XIV, Versailles, although I'm not sure he was really gay).

Anyway, my point is, that these men were not leaders at all. They had nothing to do with the common man and had no interest in the common man. The same with Mahoney. What makes Mahoney more dangerous, appearantly, is his charm and that outwardly, al least, he agrees with "you." (kings didn't have to agree with anything) In his case, actions speak louder than words. What I'm waiting for is the Vatican to wake up and remove him, but I'm afraid it's going to take a mighty request from the laity before it happens.

As for priests, the argument that vocations were deliberately decimated in order to blame it all on Rome is probably correct. I DO think Mahoney's ultimate goal is to split off, what the focus of his church would be, I have no clue, but he's probably counting on the rest of the country following him as he is leader of the "largest diocese in the country." What he doesn't realize is that he has turned off so many people that without Rome protecting him, he would be no where close to any kind of power.

Something about the Mahoney MO and pattern just strikes as being of the Mad King Ludwig ilk. There's just so many similarities. Ludwig was found naked and dead in a lake. No one asked too many questions. Food for thought.