Audio Transcript, Case File: 52u334x00
Title: Gregorius v. Authority
Finding: for Authority
Adjudicator: Fernando Martins de Bulhoes::re.AUTH::re.ANGL
Plaintiff: Gregorius (aka Pope Gregory I), via Interpretor Vigilus
Adjudicator (A): State your name for the record.
Plaintiff (P): Gregory of Rome, son of Gordianus
A: Good morning, sir.
P: Good morning.
A: I have read your case stated against the Authority. What I don’t understand is why now?
P: Why now?
A: Exactly. You have had 800 years of Authority experience, working directly, why make a case of injustice on Prime now? Especially for yourself? Most complaints are brought up within the first year post-Prime.
P: It took a long time for me to realize the injustice, I suppose.
A: You suppose?
P: Do you know who I am?
A: I do. You just stated it. You are Gregory of Rome, son of Gordianus.
P: I am Pope Gregory the First.
A: I recognize that you were a Pope on Prime. Late 6th century… ish.
P: Where do you hail from, my son?
A: Portugal.
P: No. When.
A: As Adjudicator, that is not relevant to this discussion.
P: It is.
A: Fine. Early 13th century.
P: Splendid. A Christian man?
A: I am asking the questions, Gregory. Let’s try to focus on your case.
P: It is relevant to my case!
A: Then, yes, I was. For disclosure, a Franciscan Friar.
P: So to you, I should be well known.
A: (audible sigh) Pope Gregory the Great.
P: Indeed, my son. I was canonized.
A: I fail to see how this relates to your case against the Authority …Gregory. And please remember, it is my choice as to how this plays out.
P: Of anyone, you should understand. I was a devoted monk. A very devoted man of God. I prayed with most of my time. Sometimes forgoing food, drink, and rest. I prayed for the world, for the sick, the poor, the unwanted.
A: Like the sick dying monk you threw on the manure pile out of spite?
P: That story is always taken out of context. He was not dying, he was dead. It was meant as a symbol.
A: It just happens to be in the file. Please continue.
P: I was devoted to finding the truth of God. The Godness of God, if you will. I expected to see a vision of the greatest Creator of all. Not necessarily understanding Him, but communing with Him, in my own way. I argued for Him, I fought intellectually for Him, I wrote works for him… long dialogues about the very nature of faith and belief in the Creator.
A: I have read some of them.
P: Then you know!
A: Know what?
P: Its all a lie!
A: How is it a lie? Your belief in God paid off didn’t it? You found that God exists. How is that lie?
P: Yes, he exists. But…
A: Let me remind you, as Adjudicator, it is my duty to understand the facets of your case, and lay out the decision that will set precedent in this matter for all future matters that may arise. It seems your case has reached my desk because no one has any clue on how to riddle the twisted logic for your claim. A claim… let’s see here, I have it right here… ah. A claim that, and I quote, ‘The Authority should publish its truth on Prime as not to mislead billions of individuals that the concept of Heaven and Hell not only do not exist in absolute terms, but that the life after death is mostly subjective from person to person. The absence of absolute truth in this has slighted every man of faith since the dawn of creation.’
P: Those are indeed my words.
A: You are not the first to demand some form of Prime education effort as to the so-called afterlife. That has been well addressed in precedent and most would consider the matter closed. So, on that alone, it would have stopped your claim immediately. What tripped the office up is the last line. The absence of absolute truth being presented as an act of transgression against you personally by the Authority.
P: It is an act of transgression! I was lied to! For the last 800 years, I have been lied to! There is no heaven! There is no hell!
A: You have seen the Authority. You have worked for it for 800 years.
P: I have. With faith and diligence.
A: So what is the problem?
P: The problem is that I spent my entire human life praying, with an expectation of a heaven on the other side of the veil.
A: So have many others. That is not a slight against you, but a choice you made.
P: And that doesn’t bother you?
A: I try not to think about it.
P: We have been lied to. There is no heaven. There is no hell. I could have spent my entire life doing evil things and the result would have been the same.
A: True. You expect recompense for your faith.
P: Yes! For all this I expect recompense for my faith!
A: Your case is dismissed.
P: What?! You cannot do that. I was a Pope! I am a Saint! I demand the rewards I was promised!
A: Yeah, well… news flash. You are not the only saint in the room. I suggest you suck it up, your grace. Just because there is not a heaven or a hell where we are at does not preclude them from existing. As I was told, as you were told, this is just the next step.
P: But…
A: Perhaps, your grace, you should focus on doing the right thing all the time, and let the rewards seek you out. That way you are not wasting everyone else’s time.
P: But…
A: Speaking of, you will be charged for my time. Have a good day.
P: Now, you wait a minute… Friar. I was a Pope! I demand answers!
A: Then I suggest you take to your knees and start praying. It might help. Never know… Maybe this time you will actually get an answer.