Now I've Seen Everything...

Fr. Justin has pointed out that he saw this sign at a crematorium. He's a priest, so I have to believe him, but...

New Papal Keyboard To Be Issued...

In view of the storm that has been brewing after the publication of a certain book and its endorsement by the Bishops Conference of England and Wales, I thought the Holy Father might appreciate the latest in modern keyboard technology...

Our Lady Altar Yesterday...

Ha, silly me! I was so taken aback by the flat-pack furniture that I completely forgot about the picture I had taken of our Lady Altar, with the statue of Our Lady all decked out for the Feast of the Assumption.

Better late than never, so here you go:

That Time Of Year Again...

This is a blast from my mis-spent youth: I submit it for any youngsters out there who are getting their exam results today (AS and A2 Levels) or next week (GCSEs). They're probably too un-PC for today's television tastes (I think the latest ads for BT show a "typical" modern family - she has children from a previous relationship, he has a wandering eye...) but back in the mists of time, whenever anyone mentioned exams there was sure to be a a chorus of "an 'ology'? You got an 'ology,' you're a scientist..."

I Hate Flat-Pack Furniture !

...well, obviously I don't actually hate it once it's "up and running" - otherwise I wouldn't buy it! I just hate the hassle of having to put it together.

I desperately need more shelf space: I am tired of falling over piles of books. It's not good for the books, and it's not really good for me. The cat is starting to get irritated - I have piles of books on every available surface, including the sofa and the armchairs. This leaves only the chair in front of the computer... and I keep coming along and moving the cat so I can sit down and blog.

I tried looking at ready-made bookcases, but they were all terribly expensive: one bookcase would have cost about £130. And then I would have had to pay the delivery costs. I bought four flat-pack bookcases for £80...

...but now I need to unpack and assemble them... the problem is, first I have to clear enough floor space so that I can lay all the stuff out! Hmmmn... maybe I'll leave it until tomorrow!

Feast Of The Assumption

I love this Feast. Along with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, I think it shows the most amazing love of Jesus for his Mother.

To paraphrase Scott Hahn, if you could choose your own mother, wouldn't you make her the most perfect human being on earth, and want to preserve her from any stain of Original Sin? Likewise, at the end of her life, wouldn't you want to prevent your mother from experiencing the pain of death (caused by the separation of soul and body)?


Well, Jesus could... and did! Wow, he has style!!

Yes, We Have Some Standards...

As Ttony of the Muniment Room points out, it starts here. At least this Catholic Adoption Agency has decided to stick to its principles, and will refuse to place children with homosexual couples. However, under the current UK legislation, this means that the Agency has to stop placing children with anyone... how very, very sad!

The Point Of Catholic Education?

When I first decided that teaching was my vocation, I was convinced that Catholic schools were a great thing. Good discipline, good results, and good moral standards. And while there were plenty of state schools which could provide good discipline and good results, the Catholic schools won hands down on the moral teaching. After all, they were promoting the teachings of the Church, handed down by Christ to his Apostles...

I wasn't totally naive: I knew that many teachers failed to live up to the teachings of the Church in their everyday lives: but, well, we're all sinners... and at least the party line was that there was an ideal which should be striven for.

I soon realised that this was far from true. In my experience, in most secondary schools, the teaching of the Church was presented, at best, with a rather apologetic air, a sort of "this-is-what-we're-supposed-to-say-but-we-don't-really-believe-it" attitude. At worst, the teaching was derided as "unrealistic and medieval."

Having experienced this first-hand (I was threatened with disciplinary action for bringing the school into disrepute after I protested publicly about the promotion of condoms and the morning-after pill in sex education lessons) I began to have my doubts about the rationale behind our Catholic schools. However, most people assured me that the primary schools were still worth keeping.

The discovery that Channel 4's highly sexually-explicit and quite revolting programme was being used in at least one primary school in Southwark made me question this assumption. And now we have further proof that the raison d'être for our Catholic education system, namely the passing on of the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, has been dealt a body blow.

The Archdiocese of Liverpool has been unable to take action against Charles Coyne, the Head of St Cecilia's primary school, who has registered a partnership with Richard Jones, who is believed to work at a nearby school. Lawyers have told the Church that the Head cannot be sacked. You can read more about it over at the Telegraph.

I was under the impression that, at one time, being in an irregular relationship was a sackable offence for the Head or Deputy Head of a Catholic school (or a Head of RE for that matter.) A civil partnership is, according to the teachings of the Church, a very irregular relationship, and a homosexual civil partnership is even more so.

So, if we can't insist on being allowed to deliver the teachings of the Church to our pupils (as the SORs say this is homophobic and discriminatory... and therefore illegal) and we can't insist on moral standards being passed on by example, then what is the point of Catholic schools?

Ditch them, and use the money for something more worthwhile.

Lump In Throat, Tear In Eye...

Over at the Crescat, Carolina Cannonball and Steve have prepared posts on the martyrdom of St. Maximilian Kolbe and the reactions of Franciszek Gajowniczek (the man saved by the action of Fr. Kolbe) as today is St. Maximilian's feast day. It is very difficult to read either post without getting very, very emotional. Fabulous job guys...

Wow. The Church has such great saints... It makes me proud to be Catholic.

The Wisdom Of Solomon (Or Lack Of It)

I've had quite a few comments indicating disgust, anger, annoyance, disappointment and hurt at the lack of sensitivity demonstrated by the Westminster Cathedral authorities in allowing a film which is so biased against the Catholic Church to be shot in the Cathedral itself, let alone actually saying it is a "must-see" ! I sent a comment to Monsignor Langham, and several others indicated that they had done the same... it would appear that none of these (negative) comments are going to be published...

Now, I wonder: what should one make of a priest who warmly recommends going to see a heretical film?

UPDATE: Not only is the good Monsignor deleting unfavourable comments (I've done that in the past to the occasional rude or completely off-topic comment) but it appears that he's also deleting links - so no-one reading his blog will realise that there is a whole tranch of opposition. How very interesting. Please do go and leave your opinions...

NEW UPDATE: Heheheheh... the links have been re-established. Probably because people are clicking on them from this end (and from Carpe Canum and Gem of the Ocean) - anyone care to lay bets on how long before they get deleted again??

I'm Not A Feminist, But...

...I seriously hope I never meet this chap, or he's going to have to eat his words, teeth, and a knuckle sandwich...

Mantilla twitched in the direction of my favourite Neanderthal, whose attitude to women is actually far less cavemanlike than that of many more liberal types I've encountered... unless those women happen to be the brainless feminazi liberal trendies playing at being stealth-priestesses...!

Animal Or Vegetable...?

Reading Joanna Bogle's post on Bramble Cheese, where she explains the importance of making it clear to children where our food actually comes from, reminded me of a lesson I taught a few years ago.

I was teaching a Year 11 class a unit on something vaguely biological (it was a few years ago, so the exact context escapes me) and I realised that their earlier education had gone seriously astray when I was challenged on the statement that "all food is either plant or animal in origin."

Now Year 11 is the final year of GCSEs, (that's a class of 15-16 year-olds for anyone unfamiliar with the UK educational set-up, or Fifth Year to anyone in Britain who was born before1980!) and since most of this class were planning to leave schooling for ever at the end of the year, I realised that I needed to address the issue before they were let loose on an unsuspecting public...

I ditched the lesson plan and opened a discussion. They weren't having any of it. Food couldn't possibly be from just plants and animals... So, I got them to name some foods, and proceeded to demonstrate that they couldn't find a food which wasn't of plant or animal origin. Pizza was a fairly predictable item. Cornflakes was slightly more worrying. And then one student came up with a blinder: "Hah, tomato ketchup! That's not from animals or plants..." My simple rejoinder, "...And tomato ketchup is made of, well..?" was acknowledged with a triumphant "Tomatoes... Oh, yeah... oops" and a sheepish grin.

I had to restrain myself though. One student wanted to know where spaghetti came from, and I was sorely tempted to say that it grew on spaghetti trees... but they might have believed me!

Solomon's Foot-In-Mouth Saga

Oh boy. The Westminster Cathedral crowd really do seem to have a knack for dropping enough bricks to build... well... a cathedral!

To add to their use of napkins (see my post for a definition) at high-profile events like Corpus Christi processions, the débacle of hosting the launch for Jeffrey Archer's so-called Gospel of Judas, and then the kerfuffle over Taverner's 99 Beautiful Names, they now add another faux pas.

The sequel to the awful film Elizabeth is due out later this year. It will be screened in Canada in September, and over here some time after that. Elizabeth was bad enough: the myths about "good" Queen Bess were perpetuated and a whole bunch of lies about the Catholic Church (including the presentation of a Jesuit priest as a murderous assassin) were presented as absolute fact. The sequel, called The Golden Age, promises to be even worse: it continues with the idea that the Catholic martyrs of the Reformation period were all bloodthirsty murderers, and asserts that the Armada was bringing the Spanish Inquisition along with it (with the implication that this would be a bad thing...)

And now for the rub: they couldn't use the Escorial (not entirely sure why... perhaps the Spanish felt rather more strongly about the lies being perpetuated by the film) so they needed to find a suitable "stand-in." And yes, they picked Westminster Cathedral...

Monsignor Langham actually seems to be pleased about this. And he can't plead ignorance of what was going to be portrayed in the film. The post on his own blog, Solomon, I Have Surpassed Thee, makes this quite clear...

"The trailer is now available; from it one gleans a thrilling, if distorted, version of historical events, and it does appear to perpetuate the myth of 'killer priests'. However, it does look spectacular and evocative, and is a 'must see' for the autumn!"

Oh, right... it distorts the truth and brings the Catholic priesthood into further disrepute among ordinary non-Catholics who don't actually know any history and believe everything they hear on the BBC and read in the papers... but if it's a good film, then it doesn't matter... oh, well, that's okay then...!

Twitch of the mantilla to Carpe Canum.

Brilliant Website Alert

Following my post on the Draft Human Tissues & Embryos Bill, Mark pointed out on his blog that there is a website which allows you to contact your MP directly.

It's a fantastic resource - you type in your postcode, and not only does it tell you who your MP is, it also tells you who your local councillors, London Assembly members (if relevant, obviously), and MEPs are. You can click on the relevant names to send an email. There is also a link to the House of Lords.

The page is called WriteToThem.com, and you can access it HERE, or from the sidebar link.

A Quick Chuckle...

Draft Human Tissues & Embryos Bill

I've already posted my views on the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority's so-called consultation about the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos. Now SPUC have produced briefing papers on the Draft Human Tissues & Embryos Bill. I consider it to be diabolical that, in the year of the 40th Anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act (an Act which allows the killing of 500-600 babies each day), the Government have introduced this new threat against the dignity of the human person.

The briefing papers make it clear why we should fight tooth-and-nail against this bill. The draft bill proposes to:
1. merge the two current authorities (The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Human Tissue Authority);
2. extend the general scope of in vitro fertilisation;
3. extend the definition of “embryo” to include those created by cloning and other processes;
4. widen grounds for testing of human embryos to decide whether to transfer them to the womb;
5. widen grounds for research on human embryos that are not going to be transferred to the womb;
6. permit the creation of interspecies embryos for experiments;
7. permit gametes (sperm or eggs) to be taken from patients without consent.

In addition, some politicians have indicated that they will try to introduce amendments to this bill aimed at removing current legal restrictions on abortion. Others wish to tighten certain criteria, in particular, the 24 week limit for ‘social’ abortions.

Attempts to link abortion to this bill must be vigorously opposed because:
1. the abortion law could be made even worse than it is at present;
2. the law does contain restrictions and safeguards, which are not, but should be, enforced;
3. there is a large majority of MPs in parliament in favour of extending the availability of abortion even more widely than it is at present;
4. the current Labour government is likely to be sympathetic to attempts to loosen abortion restrictions;
5. attempts to improve abortion law by amendments introduced via a government bill have been tried in the past and have proved disastrous.

Some people might say that it's worth trying for a reduction in the number of abortions. However, I would just like to point out that SPUC's concerns about the Mental Capacity Bill were totally justified by subsequent events: attempts to "agree" to limit legislation of this sort are seen as weakness, and the Government just walk all over any such attempts.

SPUC is asking everyone to write to their MP opposing this legislation. The Briefing Paper which SPUC has prepared can be obtained HERE as a pdf file, and the details of the campaign, and the Annual Conference being held in September can be found HERE.

I'm Just Not In The Mood...

...so I guess blogging will be temporarily suspended until I've caught up on my beauty sleep!

The Extraordinary Form Of The Photo Fest...

Words are about as necessary for these photos as they are from the laity at a Low Mass, so I shall just put up a small selection for your delight and delectation, and then I will shut up...

Now That's What I Call A Mantilla...

There was a Mass in the extraordinary form at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane this evening. Nearly every woman and girl present was wearing a mantilla. I managed to take lots of photos (though not of the congregation - you'll have to trust me on the mantilla front!) I haven't got time to upload them all tonight, but here's one to be getting on with...

In the meantime, Fr. Ray Blake sent me a rather snazzy photo the other day, and mischievously titled it "Solemn High Mulier Fortis and Accomplice." I have to say that I heartily approve of the style (though I personally aways wear black.) The altar is also pretty stunning...

More From Woldingham

In what is rapidly becoming part of the Faith Conference Experience, at the end of the Session we were treated to a video "snapshot" of the proceedings, courtesy of "Fr. Gadget" of the Hermeneutic of Continuity...


There have been a few reports from fellow bloggers (there were quite a few of us there, which means that, for the sake of fraternal charity, it was probably Divine Providence which prevented us accessing Blogger while at the school!) and I thought it might be an idea to link to the posts I've spotted... if I've missed anyone out, just drop me a line in the com-box and I shall update the post pronto!

So far we have The Hermeneutic of Continuity, South Ashford Priest, Auntie Joanna Writes, Bashing Secularism, Sisters of the Gospel of Life and Orthfully Catholic (who hasn't actually posted anything yet, but has promised to do so soon...)