The Communion of Saints
I hope there's room for me.
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
And people doubt there is a God?
Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp has withdrawn their bid for BSkyB. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Friday, 8 July 2011
A big boy did it....and then ran away.
When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I accidently broke one of our kitchen windows whilst playing 'tiggy-on-high' - we obviously hadn't quite thought through the implications of where we would be jumping. My Mum, when she returned home from work, was very upset and, assured by her 'innocent' children that some rough boys had done it, she got the local bobby to come around to get a description. My sisters, friends (some of whom had not even been around at the time) and I gave a remarkably involved tale of playful children being terrorised by some waifs from the 'other' council estate. The mortification of the memory I have of this is hard to describe - needless to say, it is not one of my proudest memories.
I have had this in mind when considering the situation of the 'hacking scandal' and the News of the World (NOTW); it seems to me that a lot of people have been telling a lot of lies and being believed. The problem is, lies have a way of unravelling and doing so quickly and spectacularly.
I don't propose to rehearse the whole nightmare of what has gone on but it is particularly sickening in its extent and its awfulness. It is beginning to collapse and who is being made to take the blame? Well, finally, one of the apparent perpetrators has been arrested and has found that powerful friends can stab you in the back (prepare the 'Et tu' speech Mr Coulson) and the poor staff of the NOTW are all out of work.
However, Rebekah Brooks, Chief Executive of News International, continues to ride serenely above it all, even though she was editor at the time of one of the worst examples of 'phone hacking (the hacking of the 'phone of the missing Milly Dowler, raising the hopes of her family and hindering the police investigation).
It would seem that if she goes, then there is no protection for her boss - James Murdoch; this, at the moment, would be unacceptable.
So, a 168 year-old, profitable newspaper is shutdown; the former editor (and close media advisor to PM David Cameron until January of this year) is thrown to the wolves and the claim that this was the work of a couple of rogues shown to be false (and known to be so by the News International Chairman).
A little girl once told me whilst I was helping in a Catechism class that "lies are like snowballs, they get bigger and bigger". You know, she was right, and they hurt when they hit you.
40-odd years ago, I tried the oldest excuse in the book, backed by siblings and fellow travellers; my Mother never bought it for a second. We don't buy it either Ms Brooks.
I have had this in mind when considering the situation of the 'hacking scandal' and the News of the World (NOTW); it seems to me that a lot of people have been telling a lot of lies and being believed. The problem is, lies have a way of unravelling and doing so quickly and spectacularly.
I don't propose to rehearse the whole nightmare of what has gone on but it is particularly sickening in its extent and its awfulness. It is beginning to collapse and who is being made to take the blame? Well, finally, one of the apparent perpetrators has been arrested and has found that powerful friends can stab you in the back (prepare the 'Et tu' speech Mr Coulson) and the poor staff of the NOTW are all out of work.
However, Rebekah Brooks, Chief Executive of News International, continues to ride serenely above it all, even though she was editor at the time of one of the worst examples of 'phone hacking (the hacking of the 'phone of the missing Milly Dowler, raising the hopes of her family and hindering the police investigation).
It would seem that if she goes, then there is no protection for her boss - James Murdoch; this, at the moment, would be unacceptable.
So, a 168 year-old, profitable newspaper is shutdown; the former editor (and close media advisor to PM David Cameron until January of this year) is thrown to the wolves and the claim that this was the work of a couple of rogues shown to be false (and known to be so by the News International Chairman).
A little girl once told me whilst I was helping in a Catechism class that "lies are like snowballs, they get bigger and bigger". You know, she was right, and they hurt when they hit you.
40-odd years ago, I tried the oldest excuse in the book, backed by siblings and fellow travellers; my Mother never bought it for a second. We don't buy it either Ms Brooks.
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Sorry Deborah
May I say sorry to anybody I offended with my last blog - it wasn't intended as a dig at the Traditional Anglican Communion in general or the Anglican Catholic Church of Canada in particular. Across the blogwaves may I pour oil on troubled waters.
I look forward to the setting up of the Ordinariates in the USA and Canada later this year and I appreciate how much is being given up by those on their way.
My point still stands - let's stop the sniping and love the Liturgy.
I look forward to the setting up of the Ordinariates in the USA and Canada later this year and I appreciate how much is being given up by those on their way.
My point still stands - let's stop the sniping and love the Liturgy.
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Welcome home, please don't spit in our face.
As I have previously pointed out in an earlier post, I am fairly cheerful about the setting up of the Ordinariates for people of an Anglican tradition within the Catholic Church. I recently attended the Ordination of 3 men to the Priesthood in Nottingham Cathedral and it was very moving and there was a sense of history about the whole thing. I chatted to all the newly ordained and they came with all kinds of hopes and were full of joy - especially the 82 year old great-grandfather (in remarkable health) who spoke movingly of this being the result of a 58 year journey praying for unity. After the Bishop of Nottingham had ordained them for the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham (OLW), their Ordinary, Monsignor Newton, pointedly turned to the diocesan priests and made it clear that they would be working together with the Church in the Diocese to support the work of the Catholic Church: "We are Catholic Priests first and Ordinariate second". This was a good thing to have done and added to the good feeling among all those there.
Now, whilst I am fascinated about how the Ordinariate will grow (and I am sure it will), I would like to turn my attention to the febrile atmosphere that exists in the 'Blogosphere' among those who are waiting for the formation of Ordinariates in Canada, USA, Australia, the Torres Straits (google it) and elsewhere. I am frankly astonished by the number of commentators who seemed to think that the Catholic Church is desperately in need of their immediate arrival so that they might 'save us' from the horrors of our Liturgy, our Bishops and our - obviously very inadequately trained - priests.
Now, I have been to some appallingly prepared/celebrated Masses, which are usually due to the Presiding priest's political agenda and it disappoints/annoys me intensely, but this is a rare occurence and not, as you would believe when reading some of the commentators, the case in every parish. There is a continual reference to the 'N.O.'(Novus Ordo) which, for all you life-long, committed and faithful Catholics out there, is a reference to how we have celebrated our Liturgy since the early 1970's. It is a shortened way of referring to the Novus Ordo Missae which means 'The New Order of the Mass'.
Put simply, a lot of those who are interested in the Ordinariate do not like the N.O. OK - I think that is pretty clear. They share this dislike with the Latin Mass Society who, given the recent issuing of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum by Pope Benedict, have not too much to worry about as they can far more frequently have the Mass celebrated according to the 1962 Missal.
Now, I have been to some beautifully celebrated, Spiritually uplifting, celebrations of Mass and it is very rare where I am not deeply moved to be in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and I always find peace in the reception of Holy Communion. So, I am not overly impressed by the constant sniping from those who have yet to become members of our Church.
Those joining the OLW are having a Liturgy prepared which will be in keeping with the Anglican Patrimony which the Ordinariate is set up to encourage and nurture. The thing is - and pay attention everybody - a lot of those who have yet to join an Ordinariate do not trust those preparing the Liturgy, even though they are led by Monsignor Andrew Burnham, former Anglican Bishop of Ebbsfleet. They believe that those who have already joined the Ordinariate were hardly Anglicans anyway as they already used the Roman Missal and celebrated using the N.O. (they have a point here, a lot of C of E priests did do this) so they are not 'sound'. I believe this to be nonsensical and a lot of those who are 'on the way' to the Ordinariates trust Msgr Burnham, who is not acting alone but with others from around the world to prepare appropriate Liturgies.
Indeed, if anybody wants to see what an Ordinariate Liturgy might look like, I point them to the Anglican Use Roman Catholic Mass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q251EywW__M which seems to this cradle Catholic a beautiful and appropriate Liturgy. I assume this is close to what the USA Ordinariate liturgy looks like when it is set up in the Autumn.
So - what is it with these people; why the lack of graciousness and the anger directed towards those who are inviting them home? In truth, I think it has little to do with the Catholic Church as such, it is to do with ongoing battles between groups of people in small breakaway Anglican communities. They have been so used to fighting with other Anglicans they don't know how to relax and trust; they have been let down too many times and still feel that is what will happen. I am sorry about that and encourage everybody to pray that they find peace and unity in the Body of Christ, the Church.
However, that doesn't mean that the snide comments and patronising remarks should continue; can we have a little more trust and a lot less vitriol, brothers and sisters, as we walk this journey of Faith together?
Now, whilst I am fascinated about how the Ordinariate will grow (and I am sure it will), I would like to turn my attention to the febrile atmosphere that exists in the 'Blogosphere' among those who are waiting for the formation of Ordinariates in Canada, USA, Australia, the Torres Straits (google it) and elsewhere. I am frankly astonished by the number of commentators who seemed to think that the Catholic Church is desperately in need of their immediate arrival so that they might 'save us' from the horrors of our Liturgy, our Bishops and our - obviously very inadequately trained - priests.
Now, I have been to some appallingly prepared/celebrated Masses, which are usually due to the Presiding priest's political agenda and it disappoints/annoys me intensely, but this is a rare occurence and not, as you would believe when reading some of the commentators, the case in every parish. There is a continual reference to the 'N.O.'(Novus Ordo) which, for all you life-long, committed and faithful Catholics out there, is a reference to how we have celebrated our Liturgy since the early 1970's. It is a shortened way of referring to the Novus Ordo Missae which means 'The New Order of the Mass'.
Put simply, a lot of those who are interested in the Ordinariate do not like the N.O. OK - I think that is pretty clear. They share this dislike with the Latin Mass Society who, given the recent issuing of the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum by Pope Benedict, have not too much to worry about as they can far more frequently have the Mass celebrated according to the 1962 Missal.
Now, I have been to some beautifully celebrated, Spiritually uplifting, celebrations of Mass and it is very rare where I am not deeply moved to be in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and I always find peace in the reception of Holy Communion. So, I am not overly impressed by the constant sniping from those who have yet to become members of our Church.
Those joining the OLW are having a Liturgy prepared which will be in keeping with the Anglican Patrimony which the Ordinariate is set up to encourage and nurture. The thing is - and pay attention everybody - a lot of those who have yet to join an Ordinariate do not trust those preparing the Liturgy, even though they are led by Monsignor Andrew Burnham, former Anglican Bishop of Ebbsfleet. They believe that those who have already joined the Ordinariate were hardly Anglicans anyway as they already used the Roman Missal and celebrated using the N.O. (they have a point here, a lot of C of E priests did do this) so they are not 'sound'. I believe this to be nonsensical and a lot of those who are 'on the way' to the Ordinariates trust Msgr Burnham, who is not acting alone but with others from around the world to prepare appropriate Liturgies.
Indeed, if anybody wants to see what an Ordinariate Liturgy might look like, I point them to the Anglican Use Roman Catholic Mass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q251EywW__M which seems to this cradle Catholic a beautiful and appropriate Liturgy. I assume this is close to what the USA Ordinariate liturgy looks like when it is set up in the Autumn.
So - what is it with these people; why the lack of graciousness and the anger directed towards those who are inviting them home? In truth, I think it has little to do with the Catholic Church as such, it is to do with ongoing battles between groups of people in small breakaway Anglican communities. They have been so used to fighting with other Anglicans they don't know how to relax and trust; they have been let down too many times and still feel that is what will happen. I am sorry about that and encourage everybody to pray that they find peace and unity in the Body of Christ, the Church.
However, that doesn't mean that the snide comments and patronising remarks should continue; can we have a little more trust and a lot less vitriol, brothers and sisters, as we walk this journey of Faith together?
Friday, 24 June 2011
Thursday, 23 June 2011
My favourite Tory, off his pedestal.
When the Conservatives returned to power, albeit in coalition with the Liberal Democrats, I had a certain amount of despair, even though I was tired of the rudderless leadership Labour was giving the country.
My hopes were raised by the appointment of that old Tory warhouse, Kenneth Clarke, as the Lord Chancellor and Minister for Justice. At last, a minister who did not buy into the simplistic maxim of 'lock-em up and throw away the key'.
The early days were hopeful with an emphasis being placed on non-custodial, but enforceable, community sentencing. Added to this was the recognition that Indeterminate Public Protection Orders (IPPOs) were antithetical to rehabilitation and lead to the possibility of a minor infringement leading to, in effect, a life sentence. Also, Ken Clarke's long-standing unhappiness with the expansion of mandatory sentencing filled many of those who work in the Prison Service with some hope that they could get back to the job of managing a prisoner's movement through sentences, dealing with drug abuse, educating and, hopefully, providing a possibilty of rehabilitation, rather than the present nightmare of simply corralling often sick people in inadequately funded establishments.
I know the cuts in the Ministry of Justice are deep, but Mr Clarke's proposals would have saved a lot of money and allowed Prisons to finally do their job properly.
Now, I am in despair again, as the government has backed down in the face of press and public pressure (a public often fuelled by the misreporting of the media).
I actually disagreed with Mr Clarke's proposal to halve the sentences for those found guilty of rape and sexual abuse - although I fully recognise the reasoning. I simply believe that there are some crimes which are too heinous to consider rewarding an early guilty plea.
Having said that, it made sense for other crimes to be offered a halved sentence if an early guilty plea is made. It seems all that has now been lost.
On top of this, the government is introducing another mandatory sentence for possession of a knife, not allowing for any discretion by the court. It seems as if no lesson has been learnt from the heavy-handed approach of the last government.
Hopefully, the IPPO reform will still stick - believe me, there are people in prison because a magistrate thought that there might be a 'medium risk' of a person committing an offence. Think about it - not an actual offence, but the possibility. That can't be right.
So Ken, please don't give in totally, fight back. I am willing to put you back on a pedestal, it just won't be as high this time.
P.S. Where are those great prison reformers, the Lib Dems, in all this?
My hopes were raised by the appointment of that old Tory warhouse, Kenneth Clarke, as the Lord Chancellor and Minister for Justice. At last, a minister who did not buy into the simplistic maxim of 'lock-em up and throw away the key'.
The early days were hopeful with an emphasis being placed on non-custodial, but enforceable, community sentencing. Added to this was the recognition that Indeterminate Public Protection Orders (IPPOs) were antithetical to rehabilitation and lead to the possibility of a minor infringement leading to, in effect, a life sentence. Also, Ken Clarke's long-standing unhappiness with the expansion of mandatory sentencing filled many of those who work in the Prison Service with some hope that they could get back to the job of managing a prisoner's movement through sentences, dealing with drug abuse, educating and, hopefully, providing a possibilty of rehabilitation, rather than the present nightmare of simply corralling often sick people in inadequately funded establishments.
I know the cuts in the Ministry of Justice are deep, but Mr Clarke's proposals would have saved a lot of money and allowed Prisons to finally do their job properly.
Now, I am in despair again, as the government has backed down in the face of press and public pressure (a public often fuelled by the misreporting of the media).
I actually disagreed with Mr Clarke's proposal to halve the sentences for those found guilty of rape and sexual abuse - although I fully recognise the reasoning. I simply believe that there are some crimes which are too heinous to consider rewarding an early guilty plea.
Having said that, it made sense for other crimes to be offered a halved sentence if an early guilty plea is made. It seems all that has now been lost.
On top of this, the government is introducing another mandatory sentence for possession of a knife, not allowing for any discretion by the court. It seems as if no lesson has been learnt from the heavy-handed approach of the last government.
Hopefully, the IPPO reform will still stick - believe me, there are people in prison because a magistrate thought that there might be a 'medium risk' of a person committing an offence. Think about it - not an actual offence, but the possibility. That can't be right.
So Ken, please don't give in totally, fight back. I am willing to put you back on a pedestal, it just won't be as high this time.
P.S. Where are those great prison reformers, the Lib Dems, in all this?
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Another Stockport Liberal Democrat jumps ship. Lets hope this one drowns.
Interesting news that Chris Walker, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Brinnington and Central, has quit the party and is sitting as an Independent. Apparently no reasons were given. I would suggest the result of the recent local elections are as good an explanation as one is likely to find, with the Liberal Democrat candidate getting less than 12% of the vote and the Labour candidate receiving just under 70%.
Councillor Walker has previously been suspended from the Lib Dem group due to his conviction for a drunken racist rant towards a police officer in 2008, although this did not stop them from welcoming him back into the fold quite soon afterwards.
I assume he has no hope of being accepted into the Labour Party so are we looking at an attempt to run as an Independent? Whatever happens, Brinnington and Central is my Labour odds-on gain for 2012 and one hopes that Councillor Walker's brief sojourn in the political corridors of the Town Hall will soon be a memory.
Councillor Walker has previously been suspended from the Lib Dem group due to his conviction for a drunken racist rant towards a police officer in 2008, although this did not stop them from welcoming him back into the fold quite soon afterwards.
I assume he has no hope of being accepted into the Labour Party so are we looking at an attempt to run as an Independent? Whatever happens, Brinnington and Central is my Labour odds-on gain for 2012 and one hopes that Councillor Walker's brief sojourn in the political corridors of the Town Hall will soon be a memory.
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