Friday 23 April 2010

Is It Just Crass Stupidity?

Yesterday's news on the car-crash-in-slow-mo which is the Catholic Education Service of England & Wales (twitch of the mantilla to Leutgeb for that description) has been hurtling round my brain.

I can hardly credit that anyone with a modicum of intelligence, on appointing someone to such an important post, wouldn't think to check the candidate's Catholic credentials. Given that the voting records of MPs are easily available, one would have assumed that the easiest options available to any appointment panel for the CESEW would be either to do a Google Search on that person's name, or to phone up SPUC and ask them to check their records (which are pretty comprehensive, as John Smeaton demonstrated yesterday!)

I am reluctant to believe that everyone working at the CES is several sandwiches short of a picnic.

I am even more reluctant to believe that Bishop Malcolm McMahon, as Chairman of the CES, is a blithering idiot.

And I am totally unable to believe that Archbishop Vincent Nichols, as President of the Bishops' Conference, is a half-wit.

So, there must be some other reason why these people did not, in what was described as "a rigorous selection process" do the blindingly obvious check on Mr. Pope's voting behaviour on matters concerning Catholics.

The only alternative reason I can think of is even more disturbing than that of sheer incompetence and stupidity. It is quite simply that the Bishops of England & Wales, and hence the CES, do not consider the teachings of the Catholic Church to be important. They might not even believe them to be true.

Once you accept that, then it all makes sense.

If the teachings of the Catholic Church on human sexuality, the family, and the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death are important, then how a person has actually voted on these issues would have been an essential part of any selection process. The only reason such teachings would be considered important is that they are the truth. Therefore, the only way one can justify ignoring such a voting record is if one does not believe the teachings of the Church on such issues to be true.

And if the Bishops of England & Wales do not believe what the Church teaches, then the whole lot of them should be retired, and fast. We need shepherds who will proclaim the truths of the Faith courageously... and they won't do that if they don't believe it themselves.

The Holy Father made a rather pointed remark during the recent ad limina visit of the Bishops of England & Wales. He said,

"I urge you as Pastors to ensure that the Church’s moral teaching be always presented in its entirety and convincingly defended."

The message doesn't appear to have been heeded.

Please, Holy Father, give us some good Bishops: the sheep of your flock are under attack, and it seems that the shepherds have joined forces with the wolves.

7 comments:

Patricius said...

I've inclined to the view they're three ha'pence short of a shilling but perhaps you are right. In any case shouldn't someone tell the holy father?

gemoftheocean said...

The ONLY time I can consider as a valid candidate for such a position is if the person may have voted contrary to the moral teachings of the faith -- BUT later saw the error of their ways and publically renounced their former views and then starts to vote in keeping with the faith

Fr. John Mary, ISJ said...

MF: I'm sorry to digress here, but I am particularly humored at the comment, "I am reluctant to believe that everyone working at the CES is several sandwiches short of a picnic."
LOL!
We say here in the States that someone is "short of a Happy Meal"(re: McDonalds); how appropos!

Dorothy B said...

"The only alternative reason I can think of is even more disturbing than that of sheer incompetence and stupidity. It is quite simply that the Bishops of England & Wales, and hence the CES, do not consider the teachings of the Catholic Church to be important. They might not even believe them to be true.

Once you accept that, then it all makes sense."

Spot on. I think this now has to be the default position in our attitude to the hierarchy of England and Wales. Time for any remaining scales to fall from our eyes. Thank Heaven for the internet, and the opportunity it gives us to see beyond our shores and gain our nourishment from good Catholic sources.

Michelle Therese said...

Good grief. Sounds like the USCCB over here!

Anonymous said...

This is a business manouver.

The CES receives an investment on the condition that the donating body get's a seat on their board.

How long before we get a (hostile?)take-over bid?

If not that, then for sure we'll see the CES aims and principles further re-alligned to match those of the donor.

OfCES - the Quango, anyone?

Kate said...

It almost feels like an act of agression against those Catholics who protested the CES's collusion in the recent government led sex education proposals.
Certainly, it could be viewed as a statement of intent, regarding the direction of the CES.
I can no longer regard the CES as authoritative or even helpful, in any matter conected to the education of Catholic children, and I shan't be donating to it.
As with CAFOD, the CES has lost the plot.

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