Men In Odd Uniforms
There were quite a few men going around Seville in very odd uniforms.
I dread to think, what would happen, if someone tried that in say Alabama, most of Africa and parts of the UK.
How Many Roman Catholic Priests Are Married?
Most people, myself included, would have answered none to this question. But now after this case reported here and in several papers like The Times, the question is how many other priests are leading a hypocritical double life?
I think the Catholic church should take serious action to stop priests from doing things their vows of chastity explicitly forbid them. I’m told that there are fiendish devices available on the Internet, which have their origins in those, that mediaeval knights locked around their ladies interesting bits.
Alternatively, they could change the vows and make them more in line with the real world.
Cardinal Says Paedophilia Not Criminal
This astounding statement was made by Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier and is reported here on the BBC. Here’s the first few paragraphs.
The Catholic Archbishop of Durban, Wilfrid Fox Napier, has described paedophilia as a psychological “illness, not a criminal condition”.
The South African cardinal told the BBC that people who were themselves abused as children and then abused others needed to be examined by doctors.
Do these guys live in the real world?
A scandal sheet has pointed out that hailed Pope is actually an anagram of paedophile. Search for the phrase in Google and you find a lot of matches.
My father who was a stickler for spelling would probably be arguing that paedophile is properly spelled with a diphthong. As I said in this post, diphthongs in letterpress type have a really solid feel.
Football In The Vatican
I’ve just found this article about the Vatican City football team.
It’s definitely worth a read and I don’t think anybody would find it offensive.
The Daily Mirror Isn’t Impressed With Pope Francis
I found this article on the Daily Mirror written by a journalist, who comes from the Falkland Islands.
I think most people in the UK, would agree with what he says, as we tend to have fairly strong feelings about those faraway islands in the South Atlantic. I don’t think I’ve ever met a UK citizen, who thinks we should give the island to Argentina.
The writer of this article finishes off like this.
So Pope Francis, I urge you to join the rest of us in the 21st century and recognise the Falkland Islanders’ democratic rights.
Oh, and while you’re at it, how about changing your mind on contraception, abortion and gay rights into the bargain?
Sadly, I think there’s more chance of me becoming the next Pope than any of that happening.
I think my advice to the Pope would be to stay out of the row and try to be a calmiong influence on all parties.
A Comment On The Election Of The Pope
I cut this out of the BBC web site. It is a comment, that I suspect is typical of the way many Catholics are thinking.
I am praying that the conclave has voted for a progressive Pope. The aggressive rebuking of homosexuals and continued opposition towards contraception have left me doubting whether my social values are compatible with my Catholic faith, to the point where I have considered abandoning my faith. I hope the new Pope will treat these subjects with compassion rather than contempt.
It will be a tragedy, if they elect another backward thinking Pope.
We need leaders, who look forward with clear and radical scientifically-based answers to solve the problems of the World.
Cardinal O’Brien In The Doo-Dah
I can’t say I hold a brief for the views of Cardinal O’Brien, as what right does anybody have to deny anybody a proper marriage, be they straight, gay, divorced or widowed.
So I was rather pleased that Stonewall’s bigot of the year, has got dropped in it, from a great height by a former priest and some other complainants. The priest left the priesthood and got married, which probably sums up the real fault of Catholic doctrine. Being denied your instincts, like wanting to have a meaningful relationship with someone that might lead to marriage, surely causes more problems than it solves.
The full story is here on the BBC.
I do fear that if people like O’Brien are choosing the new Pope, what sort of dinosaur will they choose?
The BBC’s Top Story Today
This story about Irish ‘nuns’ caught drinking illegally in Ireland is the most read on the BBC’s web site today.
I suppose the behaviour could be explained as they were Sisters of Charity and the local priest gave his blessing.
The Danger Of Religious Fraud
This story is running on BBC’s London News. This is the first part.
TV shows made in London that encourage viewers to believe they are cured of life-threatening illnesses by prayer have been condemned by charities.
Charities criticised an episode of the Miracle Hour show, on Faith World TV, during which a diabetic caller was told he was “set free” from the disease.
“It is particularly dangerous and puts his life at risk,” said African Health Policy Network head Francis Kaikumba.
It strikes me that when people like these make dangerous television programs like this, that the law should get involved.
At least they should be charged with fraud, as that is what it is!
The Last Mass For Gay Catholics
I am not religious, but all of those who have religion that I respect, don’t really care about anybody’s race, sex or sexual orientation.
Therefore this story from the BBC’s web site, says to me that the Roman Catholic Church is still living in the Age, where they set the rules and others complied on pain of being excluded. I’m afraid in the modern world, we can all make up our own minds. Now if gay people want to go to a religious service it is up to them, not the church or religion concerned.
I hope one day, that I might be invited as a guest to a same-sex wedding in a Roman Catholic Church conducted by a woman priest!
The Anonymous Widower 