The Holy Order of
Our Lady of Debauchery
Frequently Asked Questions

You know, this Virtual Cathedral came into being on January 3rd, 1999. (No Singing!!) Because of that, we really have no Frequently Asked Questions as yet. Therefore, it is the duty of you, the loyal Web Surfer who found us so early on, to help us out by asking a question. Just Email us -- we will answer it as honestly as we can, and post the question and the reply on this page. We Need Your Help!

Till then, let's try to read your mind from afar . . .

Who the heck are you guys? What are you trying to do?
The Holy Order of Our Lady of Debauchery, although originally started as a bit of a joke, quickly came to realize that it had a Good Message to give to the world, and that with a little applied effort it might actually get somewhere. The Order is committed to two things:
     1. Showing people that Fun is supposed to be part of life, and that it can be had without hurting yourself and others, and that if we treat others well they'll be more likely to treat us well. (Safe, Sane, and Consensual; Courtesy, Caution, Discretion, Compassion, and Tact; Honor, Joy, Love, Play, and Integrity.)
     2. Creating a Community where people who share these views of the world can come together to celebrate, share information, and maybe do some good in their corner of the world.

How can you claim to be a new religion?
Well, we are trying, silly as it may sound, to create a religion for any faith; we started out by parodying, or using conventional forms as a framework for the rites of Our Lady of Debauchery. Our Rosary and Service are based on Catholic forms; our Hours of the Day and use of Gonzo the Great as an Icon of the Order are based on midieval religious practices; the order of the parts of the rosary are based on the Five elements currently used by modern pagans (spirit, air, fire, water, earth). The goal in using these things was to give people something familiar and then give it a twist. Hopefully we would also make them laugh in the process.

"A religion for any faith" . . . huh?
In our minds, faith is the covenant you have in your heart and mind with the god, goddess, worldview, or void of your choice. Each of us has a unique understanding of the Universe, who runs it, and our place in it; and interfering with your personal beliefs is not our job.
     We are a religion: according to Webster, that means we're in "The profession or practice of religious beliefs; religious observances collectively . . ." We are trying to promote a framework for looking at the world; a way of interacting with others that gives everybody respect and promotes a civility rapidly disappearing from American life right now; and a set of basic principles that will make anyone who follows them a happier and more successful life. The thirteen words that appear in the first question and at the bottom of our business cards is the summary of what we're trying to show people. No matter what god/dess(es) you give your faith to -- or if you give faith to none at all -- the principles of the Order can be applied to your life. And we do not require Faith in Our Lady of Debauchery; just belief in the possibility of her existence -- lip service, if you will.

"Our Lady of Debauchery" -- who the heck is she?
She's plucked from the whole cloth; she's a complete fabrication, with no roots in any saint, Goddess, demideity, or anyone else, real or imaginary. The Mother Superior was given the name during a marathon drinking game tournament, just because she could hold her beer; She has become almost an Imaginary Friend for a couple of us. Every person views Her differently; to me, She's like the Weird Aunt that will party with you and then hold your head afterwards and tell you what you did that was stupid when you're awake enough to listen. She may or may not indulge, but She knows Her limits, and will shake Her head when you exceed yours, but She knows it's part of the learning process. You give Her a solid listen, and you'll learn a lot.
     I had a brief discussion with an Anglican Minister who objected to the name as an affront to the Mother of his Lord; I spent the night desperately wishing that I could think better on my feet. But I couldn't, and he left with a sour taste in his mouth due to us. I hate that, and I really wish I could have explained better. Since then, this is the best I can come up with.

Email the Mother Superior ][ Email the Grand Inquisitor