From Reuters comes this story of just how much more credibility the right-wing “security” theatre gives to authoritarians it finds sympathetic: Catholic pilgrims to Lourdes (remember “The Song of Bernadette”?) aren’t allowed to bring back holy water from the spring. But the Church can plant some in every seat on the plane.

I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.

The Vatican runs an air service to a shrine. Check.
Secular security inspects passengers before they board. Check.
Secular security deprives passengers of water from the shrine.
Check.
The Vatican, apparently gifted with the ability to predict the future (witchery?) or maybe just wanting to reassure the pilgrims that their (expensive?) trip hadn’t been for naught, furnishes little bottles of holy water (certified as coming from the spring at Lourdes?) for each passenger, already on the plane at departure.
What the HELL, Over?

I don’t know whether to be amazed that the passengers aren’t rioting over being deprived of religious artifacts, stunned that the Catholic church isn’t suing the security apparatus, or just … tickled to death at the irony of it all.

Of course, part of me is outraged at the further opportunities to defraud devout travelers thus revealed.