Coming to a Church near you: the not so subtle threats against religious freedom.

In the midst of all the controversy and debate concerning the coalition government's intention (with the support of the Labour Party leader) to introduce a new law on marriage, we seem to have become lost in a mess of discussion on 'equality' and 'diversity' as if diversity somehow means we all must have the same (which suggests the opposite of diversity to me).
When Lynne Featherstone, the Liberal Democrat Equalities Minister, charged that the Church doesn't "own" marriage she was quite correct, the rituals of the Church came in response to the facts that exist and which had/have always been. The government now claims it has the right to change those facts which suggests that the legislators believe that they do own marriage. This is historically incorrect as the legislation on marriage (which, it is worth mentioning, was based on Canon Law) was introduced to reflect what marriage is; it didn't invent it.
Now, whether you believe that marriage can be changed or not, we can agree that the way in which much of the debate is taking place is rather worrying. Whilst there is clumsy language and scare-mongering on both sides of this debate, it is from the 'liberal' side of politics that some of the more alarming responses appear to be coming. The deputy leader of the Labour Party, Harriet Harman, describes opposition to gay marriage as if it is a piece with homophobia - a quite scandalous and unacceptable claim which could be described as a sort of 'newspeak', forcing change by the subtlety of a threat that, somehow, all those who disagree with the prevailing wisdom of the day are thuggish and unreasonable.
Actually, it seems to be the opposite as far as this particular author is concerned, because threats of protests and disruption (alongside the real threat of legal sanction in the future) are coming from some of those who are arguing in favour of same-sex marriage.
Take the case at the weekend where an activist decided to disrupt a Mass where the Letter on Marriage from the Archbishops of Westminster and Southwark was about to be read. The protester filming the priest made it clear that he would be posting the reading of the Pastoral Letter on Youtube. To avoid disruption, the Priest decided not to read the letter and, after a few more moments of the protester trying to encourage people to walk out of the Church with him (none did, I believe), the protester left. You can watch it yourself here: http://www.youtube.co/watch?v=6em7Yy-MjEc
Now, think this through - a priest is about to read a letter expressing the traditional view on marriage of the Catholic Church and encouraging the faithful to uphold it in the present discussion and he is, by the direct action of the protester, prevented from doing so. Is this religious freedom?
It is made clear that the encounter will be put on Youtube - this stinks of the activities of the secret police who film the Catholic and Anglican priests in Zimbabwe in case they preach against the official line. Is this  freedom of speech?
The priest, who has not given his permission to be filmed, is now on Youtube so he could be open to verbal and physical threat. You only have to look at some of the comments to see the abuse against this blameless priest. Is this freedom from threat to personal safety?
Bear in mind that nobody has been given a chance to express an opinion through the ballot box on an issue fundamental to our society, yet it is being pushed in the hope of enactment before the next General Election, not least by the liberal-minded Conservative Prime Minister, David Cameron.
This is all food for thought and really unpleasant.

I am not Paul Donovan (not exactly a Spartacus moment).

Dear all,

it has been drawn to my attention that I have been misidentified as journalist Paul Donovan. Sadly not; whilst I follow his blog, I make no claim to share his skills as a commentator or writer.

Ordinariates - a good thing?

I have been absolutely fascinated by the creation of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham and the preparations for the Ordinariates in other countries. Historically, I find the idea attractive in that the Church has created a space for Anglicans to be united with the See of Peter whilst retaining something of their traditions and culture, which have grown up over the past five centuries.
This in itself is not without precedent as it has its roots in the creation of Anglican Use parishes in the United States back in the 1980s - these are parishes where former members of the (Anglican) Episcopal Church were received into the Roman Catholic Church and allowed to retain much of their 'patrimony' (a fascinating word which seems to excite much debate between different Anglo Catholic groups), in terms of liturgy and practise. From very small communities, parishes have flourished - I encourage people to visit the website of two of the Anglican Use parishes in Texas, http://www.walsingham-church.org/site/Welcome.html and http://www.atonementonline.com/intro.php.
In our own country, by the end of this month, somewhere over 60 men will have been ordained to the priesthood, a couple to the 'transient' diaconate and one as a permanent deacon. With the 900+ lay members we see the beginning of something that could be very exciting in terms of the future of the Catholic Church in the UK and be a trailblazer for much that is to come in the years ahead around the world.
I have only a couple of niggles - one comes from the fact that I have recently been following discussions on some of the blogsites favoured by Anglo-Catholics (or Anglican Catholics) and am frankly depressed by the poisonous atmosphere between those who wish to take up a place in the Ordinariate and those who wish to continue swimming in the ever decreasing circle which are the 'continuing' Anglican groups around the world. I have to make clear that I am not referring to any of those in the UK here, but those who are mostly in North America. I say to those who are on their way into the Ordinariate - shake the dust off your feet when you arrive and let these arguments go - it is in the joy that you will feel that will give the best answer to the naysayers. To those who aren't coming - don't.
My other niggle is to do with people who are holding back from entering just now; please do not misunderstand me, I don't refer to those who are truly on a journey which may eventually bring them into the Ordinariate (or even into the Church without the Ordinariate). I refer to those who are 'waiting to see what is on offer' before making a choice. Be it those who are waiting to see whether or not the General Synod of the Church Of England will give them another compromise to allow them to remain 'Catholic and Anglican' or those who want to be sure that joining the Ordinariate will not require any real change on their part, allowing them to keep their positions and authority (here, I admit, I am throwing a stone in the direction of the USA and its continuing communities). If you have truly prayed for unity, it is on offer; you cannot use the threat of joining the Ordinariate as a bargaining chip with the General Synod nor can you expect that this journey makes no demands of the individual making it.
So, best of luck to all of you who have already joined the Ordinariate in the UK or those eagerly awaiting the erection of the same in other countries. You are all in my prayers.