More hate mail from the Catholic Church on same-sex marriage

A letter from a number of senior Catholics, plus over a thousand Catholic priests, has today been published in the Daily Telegraph on the topic of same-sex marriage. I am quoting the letter in full below, together with the name of every signatory. Not of course because I agree with what is said in the letter, but because I want to record here the depths to which this so-called 'Christian' organisation will stoop to further its hateful bigotry. Also to place on record here the names of those who have lent their support to this bigotry so that all may know who they are - they will have to answer for their action one day I hope. Personally, I would like to see the charitable status of the Catholic Church revoked in the UK - it offends and disgusts me that my taxes contribute to the funding of this hate-peddling organisation. There are many flaws in logic in the letter and a few actual falsehoods (e.g. it is factually incorrect that Catholics may currently participate fully in the life of this country, given that a Catholic many not be Monarch of the UK, not a situation which I feel acceptable, whatever I may think of the Catholic Church). Quite why an organisation which forbids its own personnel from entering into any kind of marriage (priests and nuns are bound by vows of celibacy and chastity) can be considered a source of moral guidance on marriage of all subjects is really rather bizarre, don't you think? In any case, the legislation being proposed will not force any religious organisation to marry same-sex couples if it does not wish to, any more than the Catholic Church is forced to go against its 'doctrine' by marrying divorced persons. Nor do some heterosexual couples who choose to get married necessarily have to procreate by having children, either because they do not wish to or because one or other of the couple cannot do so. Are these marriages any less valid? Whether the Catholic Church itself chooses to marry same-sex couples or divorced persons is, to be quite honest, a matter of supreme indifference to me, but they should certainly not be able to exercise any kind of veto about such unions taking place under civil authority or by religious organisations that do wish to perform them; the same comments apply to the Church of England, incidentally. There are, despite the scaremongering that the Catholic Church seeks to engage in, NO negative consequences in legislating to permit same-sex marriage - instead it will be a very positive development both for those directly involved and for the wider community by encouraging stable family units. I don't particularly 'like' divorce, any more than does the Catholic Church, but I do not believe same-sex marriages will diminish in any way the value of heterosexual marriage or reduce its stability, rather they are likely to increase the cohesiveness or society as a whole. Whether a married couple (heterosexual or same-sex) stays together long-term in happiness is entirely a personal matter between the two people concerned and about which outsiders very often have little useful to contribute, except to wish the best for the couple involved and perhaps, if invited to do so, to offer a sounding-board for them to discuss the ways in which their marriage may be failing. I think the Catholic Church would be a much better and more worthwhile organisation if it were to re-evaluate its stances on these and other matters.

It would appear that, for whatever reason, the Catholic priest at St Mary's Church in Nairn, Rev. Francis Barnett SJ, does not appear as a signatory to the letter, as a matter of information.

The letter in full (to read it in the Daily Telegraph, click here and scroll down the page):

Same-sex marriage law SIR – After centuries of persecution, Catholics have, in recent times, been able to be members of the professions and participate fully in the life of this country. Legislation for same-sex marriage, should it be enacted, will have many legal consequences, severely restricting the ability of Catholics to teach the truth about marriage in their schools, charitable institutions or places of worship. It is meaningless to argue that Catholics and others may still teach their beliefs about marriage in schools and other arenas if they are also expected to uphold the opposite view at the same time. The natural complementarity between a man and a woman leads to marriage, seen as a lifelong partnership. This loving union – because of their physical complementarity – is open to bringing forth and nurturing children. This is what marriage is. That is why marriage is only possible between a man and a woman. Marriage, and the home, children and family life it generates, is the foundation and basic building block of our society. We urge Members of Parliament not to be afraid to reject this legislation now that its consequences are more clear. Rt Rev Peter Brignall - Bishop of Wrexham Rt Rev Terence Drainey - Bishop of Middlesbrough Rt Rev Philip Egan - Bishop of Portsmouth Rt Rev Malcolm McMahon - Bishop of Nottingham Rt Rev Mgr Keith Newton - Ordinary, Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham Rt Rev Daniel Mullins - Bishop Emeritus of Menevia Rt Rev Philip Pargeter - Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Birmingham Rt Rev Patrick O’Donoghue - Bishop Emeritus of Lancaster Rt Rev Francis Walmsley - Bishop Emeritus to HM Forces Rt Rev Mgr Edwin Barnes - Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham Rt Rev Francis Baird OSB - Abbot of Prinknash Rt Rev Dom Aidan Bellenger OSB - Abbot of Downside Rt Rev Abbot Cuthbert Brogan OSB - Abbot of Farnborough Rt Rev Dom Paul Stonham OSB - Abbot of Belmont Very Rev Hugh Allan O Praem, Very Rev Leo Chamberlain OSB MA Very Rev Dom Michael Clothier OSB, Very Rev Michael Copps OFM Very Rev Damian Humphries OSB, Rt Rev Anthony Maggs CRL Very Rev Senan Mahoney OCSO, Rev Emmanuel Mansford CFR Mitred Archpriest Alexander Nadson, Very Rev Daniel Seward Cong Orat Very Rev Bernard Swinhoe OSB, Very Rev Henry Wansbrough OSB Mgr John Allen, Mgr Peter Anglim, Mgr John Armitage, Mgr Keith Barltrop Mgr Anthony Barry, Mgr Provost David Bottrill, Mgr Anthony Boylan Mgr Vincent Brady, Mgr Christopher Brooks, Mgr John Conneely Mgr Provost Peter Cookson, Mgr John Corcoran, Mgr Jim Curry Mgr John Daly, Mgr Canon Gerard Dasey, Very Rev E Alan Denneny Mgr Walter Drumm, Mgr Gerald Ewing, Mgr Jeremy Fairhead, Mgr Timothy Galligan Rev Mgr Canon Jeremy Garratt, Mgr Vincent Harvey, Mgr Martin Hayes Mgr Provost Sean Healy, Rev Mgr Philip Holroyd, Rt Rev Mgr Brian Kinrade Mgr David Kirkwood, Mgr Canon John Maguire, Rev Mgr Thomas McGrath Canon Sean P McTernan, Mgr Canon John Moran, Mgr Provost Cyril Murtagh Mgr John Nelson, Mgr William Nix, Mgr Patrick O’Dea, Mgr Gordon Read Mgr Phelim Rowland, Mgr John Ryan, Mgr Bill Saunders, Mgr Canon Francis Slattery Mgr Richard Stork, Mgr Andrew Summergill, Mgr Adrian Toffolo Mgr Canon Harry Turner, Mgr Canon Aidan J Turner, Canon Colm Acton Canon Grzegorz Aleksandrowicz, Canon Michael Bell, Canon Vincent Berry Canon Joseph Boardman, Canon Michael Brockie, Canon Pat Browne Rev Canon Patrick Chrystal, Canon John Clark, Rev Canon Joseph Collins Canon Francis Cookson, Canon Dunstan Cooper, Canon Philip Cross Canon Thomas Dakin, Canon Colin Davies, Canon Michael Fitzpatrick Canon Michael Flook, Canon Sean Gilligan, Canon John Gordon, Canon Sean Grady Canon John Griffiths, Canon John Gunn, Canon Alfred T Hayes, Canon Michael Hazell Canon Robert Horn, Canon Joseph Kelly, Rev Canon Bernard Lordan Canon Michael Loughlin, Canon Brendan MacCarthy, Canon Bosco MacDonald Canon John Madden, Canon Bernard Massey, Canon Anthony McBride Canon Michael McCreadie, Canon Jonathan Mitchell, Canon Bernard Morgan Canon Paul Moxon, Canon Bernard Needham, Canon Kenneth Noakes Rev Canon John F Nunan, Canon Kevin O’Connor, Canon John O’Regan Rev Canon Timothy O’Sullivan, Canon James Pannett, Canon Luiz Ruscillo Canon Timothy Russ, Canon Colin Taylor, Rev Canon Paul Townsend Canon Tom Treherne, Canon Peter Turbitt, Canon Gerard Wharton Rev Richard Aladics, Rev John Berry, Rev Raymond Blake Rev Sir Charles Dilke Bt Cong Orat, Rev Peter G Edwards, Rev Ian Farrell Rev Timothy Finigan, Rev Stewart Foster, Rev Peter Geldard, Rev Marcus Holden Rev Ian Ker, Rev Michael Marsden, Rev Paul Mason, Rev Aidan Nichols OP Rev Andrew Pinsent, Rev John Saward, Rev Alexander Sherbrooke, Rev Paul Watson Rev Benedict Bullen Abuo, Rev William Adams, Rev Dominic Adeiza Rev Andreas Agreiter MHM, Rev John Ahern, Rev Andrew Alexander CJ Rev Jim L Allen, Rev Andrew Allman, Rev Michael Amalados Rev Joseph Alex Angodage OMI, Rev David Annear, Rev Stewart Ansbro Rev Matthew Anscombe, Rev Oliver Antao, Rev Francis Antwi-Darkwah Rev Ivan Aquilina, Rev Michael Archer, Rev George Areekhuzhy Rev Vincent Gabriel Arnold OSB, Rev Kingsley Arulananthem Rev John Ashton SDB, Rev Michael Ashworth SJ, Rev Anthony G H Attree Rev Benedict Austen OSB, Rev James Austin, Rev Francis Austin Rev Cyril Axelrod CSsR, Rev Roman Badiak, Rev John Baggley Rev Christopher Baker, Rev David Baker, Rev John Ball, Rev Graham Bamford Rev John Bane, Rev David Barnes, Rev Nigel Barr, Rev Lee Barrett Rev David Barrow, Rev T Bartnik SDB, Rev Michael Bateman, Rev John Batthula Rev Michael Beattie SJ, Rev Gordon Beattie OSB, Rev John Beirne Rev William Bellamy, Rev George Bennett, Rev Lee Bennett, Rev Bill Bergin Rev Chris Bergin, Rev Jerome Bertram Cong Orat, Rev Kazimierz Bidzinski Rev Jonathan Bielawski, Rev Robert Billings, Rev Denis Blackledge SJ Rev John Bland IC, Rev James Blenkinsopp, Rev Peter Blundell Rev Brendan Blundell OFM Com, Rev John Boland, Rev Andrea Bord Rev Chad Boulton OSB, Rev Bill Boyd SDB, Rev Bernard Boylan, Rev Cornelius Boyle Rev Terry Boyle, Rev John P Bradley, Rev Owen Brady, Rev Michael Branch Rev Michael Brandon, Rev Laurence Brassill OSA, Rev Martin Breen Rev Raymund Brennan, Rev Tom Breslin, Rev Malachy Brett, Rev Silvio Briffa Rev Charles Briggs, Rev Marcus Brisley, Dom Nicholas Broadbridge OSB Rev Paul Brophy, Rev S D Brown, Rev Michael Brown, Rev Alexander J B Brown Rev Joseph Brown SDB, Rev Andrew Browne, Rev Antony Brunning, Rev Gary Buckby Rev Martin Budge, Rev Sylvester Bukenya, Rev John Bosco Bukomba, Rev Paul Burch Rev Timothy Burke, Rev Michael Burke, Rev David Burns, Rev James Burns Rev Peter Burns, Rev Gerard Burns, Rev Andrew Burns CSsR Rev Peter Burns OSB, Rev Peter Burrows, Rev Francesco Buttazzo Rev Keith Butterworth, Rev Alfred Buttigieg SJ, Rev Keith Byrne OSA Rev Gerard Byrne, Rev Denis Caddle OAR, Rev John Cadwallader CJ Rev Malcolm Cairns, Rev John Cairns, Rev Xavier Calduch, Rev James Callaghan Rev Kevin Callaghan CSsR, Rev Francis Calnan SCJ, Rev Raymond Camilleri OFM Rev Charles Cammack MHM, Rev Duncan Campbell OP, Rev Gordon Campbell Rev Michael Campion, Rev Francis Capener, Rev Darren Carden Rev Brendan Carmody SJ, Rev Dom Matthew Carney OSB, Rev Patrick Carroll Rev Sean Carroll, Rev Louis Caruana SJ, Rev Louis Catterall SMM Rev John Causey, Rev Pietro Celotto CS, Rev John Chandler, Rev Bernard Charnock Rev Mongkhon Charoentham, Rev Neil Chatfield, Rev Paul Chavasse Cong Orat Rev Eric Cheetham, Rev Gregory Chillman OSB, Rev Simon Chinery Rev Anto Chittilappilly, Rev Anthony Cho OFM, Rev Jacob Choi OSA Rev Dominic Chukka, Rev Aloysius Church SJ, Rev Krzysztof Ciebien Rev Bogdan Cisek, Rev John Clancy CSsR, Rev Edward Clare, Rev James Clark Rev Peter Clarke, Rev Roger Clarke, Rev James Clarke, Rev Martin Clayton Rev Damien Clemas AA, Rev Anthony Cogliolo, Rev Michael Cole Rev Ray Collier SSC, Rev Allan Collins CSSp, Rev John Collins Rev Martin Collins, Rev Michael Collis, Rev Christopher Colven Rev Augustin Conesa, Rev Mark Coningsby, Rev Philip Conner Rev Mark Connolly CSSp, Rev Thomas Connolly, Rev Francis Conway OFM Rev John Cooke, Rev Leo Cooper, Rev John Cooper, Rev Robert Copsey SOLT Rev Edward Corbould OSB, Rev Eamon Corduff, Rev Charles Corrigan CSsR Rev Anton Cowan, Rev Peter Coyle, Rev Ronald Crane, Rev Tom Creagh-Fuller Rev Thomas Crean OP, Rev John Cribben, Rev Michael Crumpton, Rev Janos Csisco Rev Bryan Cunningham, Rev Thomas Cunningham, Rev Christopher Cunningham Rev Brendan Curley, Rev H A Curtis, Rev V J Curtis, Rev Anthony Cussen SMA Rev Justin Daanaah, Rev Victor Dakwen, Rev James Daley MHM, Rev John Danford Rev Francis Daniel OMI, Rev Francis Davidson OSB, Rev Jeremy Davies Rev Jeremy Davies, Rev Royston Davis, Rev Stephen Day, Rev Philip de Freitas Rev Bernard de Smet OSB, Rev Anthony de Vere, Rev Tesfamichael Debesay Negusse Rev Patrick Deegan, Rev Salvador Del Molino IMC, Rev John Delaney OFMCap Rev Edward Delphine OSB, Rev Anthony Delsink, Rev Robert Devaney Rev Martin Devenish MCCJ, Canon Robert Dewhurst, Rev Richard Diala CM Rev Paul Diaper, Rev Gary Dickson, Rev Casmir Dike, Rev Stephen Dingley Rev Michael Docherty, Rev John Docherty OAR, Rev Anthony Doe, Rev James Doherty Rev Francesco Donega, Rev Daniel Donohoe SDB, Rev Brian Doolan Rev William Dowds MHM, Rev Francis Doyle, Rev Anthony Doyle, Rev Tom Dubois Rev Richard Duffield Cong Orat, Rev Joseph Duggan SJ, Rev Michael Dunn OP Rev Michael Dunne, Rev Roy Dunstan CRL, Rev Wieslaw Duracz, Rev Sean Durcan Rev Bruce Dutson, Rev Paul Dynan, Rev Philip Dyson, Rev James Eamer CP Rev Patrick Earley, Rev James Early, Rev William East, Rev Richard Ebo Rev Andrew Ebrahim SDB, Rev Ignatius Edet, Rev Tim Edgar Rev Robert Ehileme SMM, Rev David Elder, Rev Anthony Elder, Rev John Elliot Rev David Elliott, Rev Simon Ellis, Rev John Eze MSP, Rev Reuben Ezebuofor Rev Josaphat Ezenwa, Rev John Fairhurst SJ, Rev Isidore Faloona OFM Rev Marcel Fangoo CSSp, Rev Robert Farrell, Rev Joseph Farrell Rev David Featherstone, Rev John Feeley, Rev Joseph Feeley Rev Anthony Fernandes SDB, Rev Malcolm Ferrier, Rev Michael Fewell Rev Kevin Firth, Rev Simon Firth, Rev Kieran Fitzharris SVD Rev Sean Flannery OAR, Rev Martin Flatman, Rev John Fleming Rev Gerald Flood, Rev Francis Flynn, Rev Kieran Flynn SMM, Rev Frank Flynn Rev Maurice Flynn OCD, Rev John Fordham Cong Orat, Rev Bernard Forshaw Rev Thomas Forster, Rev Andrew J Foster, Rev David Foster Rev Peter Foulkes, Rev Kevin Foulkes, Rev Peter Fox, Rev Bernard Fox MHM Rev Anthony Frain SDB, Rev Jesus Frances OAR, Rev Anthony Franey Rev Gerald Freely, Rev Russell Frost, Rev Tony Furlong IC Rev Joseph Gabiola, Rev Andrew Gallagher, Rev Michael Gallagher Rev Michal Garbecki MIC, Rev John Garry SPS, Rev Austin Garvey Rev C S Geddes, Rev Daryl George, Rev Matthew George, Rev Paul J Gibbons Rev John Gildea, Rev Brian Gilmore SVD, Rev Peter Glas, Rev Malcolm Glaze Rev David Glover, Rev Dominic Golding, Rev Thomas Goonan SM Rev Krzysztof Goralski, Rev Piotr Gordon, Rev Maurice Gordon Rev Timothy Gorham OSB, Rev Brendan Gorman, Rev David Gornall SJ Rev Martin Gowman OSB, Rev Paul Graham OSA, Rev Donald Graham Rev David Grant, Rev Reg Gray OFM, Rev Brian Gray, Rev Andy Graydon Rev Patrick Greasley, Rev Charles Michael Grech OFM, Rev Julian Green Rev Martin Griffin MSFS, Rev Austin Griffin, Canon Michael Griffiths Rev Gregory Griffiths, Rev Damien Grimes MHM, Rev Bernard Guest CMF Rev Roger Guiver, Rev David Gummett, Rev Mark Hackeson, Rev Peter Hackett SJ Rev Kentigern Hagan OSB, Rev Bernard Hahesy, Rev Kevin Hale, Rev Denis Hall Rev Henryk Halman FDP, Rev John Hancock, Rev Stephen Hardaker Rev Richard Hardstaff, Rev Paul Hardy, Rev John Harris, Rev Philip Harris Rev Jonathan Redvers Harris, Rev Michael Harrison, Rev Peter G Hart Rev Austin Hart, Rev John Hartley, Rev Edmund Hartley, Rev David Hartley Rev Richard Harvey, Rev Gerard Hatton, Rev Gerard Haugh, Rev James Hawes Rev Padraig Hawkins, Rev Simon Hawksworth, Rev Raglan Hay-Will Rev Colm Hayden, Rev Andrew Headon, Rev Simon Heans, Rev Ian Hellyer Rev John Heneghan, Rev Kevin Hennessey, Rev Simon Henry, Rev Patrick Hibbert Rev Jonathan Hill, Rev John Hindley, Rev John Hitchen Rev Dom Xavier Dinh Ho OSB, Rt Rev Dom Jerome Hodkinson OSB Rev Thomas Hoole, Rev Kevin J Hooper, Rev Tim Hopkins, Rev Michael Hore Rev John Horn, Rev Ian Hoskins, Rev Peter Houghton, Rev Angelus Houle Rev Austin Hughes SCJ, Rev Paul Hughes, Rev John Humphreys, Rev Andrew Hurley Rev Peter Hurley, Rev David Hutton, Rev Patrick Hutton, Rev Edward Huwanga Rev Cosmas Ikirodah, Rev John Inglis, Rev Dominic Innamorati, SCJ Rev David Irwin, Rev Christopher Jackson, Rev Ian Jackson Rev Frederick Jackson, Rev Matthew Jakes, Rev Bengt-Ove Jakobson CHS Rev Howard James, Rev John James, Rev Dylan James, Rev Habib J Jaujou Rev Slawomir Jedrych MS, Rev Leonard Jioke, Rev John Johnson Rev Paul Johnson, Rev Norman Johnston, Rev Paul Johnstone Rev Michael Johnstone, Rev Michael Johonnett, Rev Peter Jones Rev Michael Jones, Rev Kevin Jones, Rev Michael Jones, Rev Lawrence Jones Rev Bryan Jones, Rev Darline Joseph MSFS, Rev Martin Joyce Rev Cornelius Joyce, Rev Sebastian Mari Kajko CFR, Rev Auson Kamugisha SDS Rev Jason Karippai, Rev Dominic Kavanagh, Rev Nicholas Kavanagh Rev Christopher Keen, Rev Seamus Keenan, Rev Peter Kelly MAfr Rev Gerard Kelly, Rev Chris Kelly CP, Rev Fergus Kelly CM Rev Daniel M Kelly, Rev Michael Kelly, Rev Tom Kelly SCJ Rev Joseph Kendall, Rev Jim Kennedy CMF, Rev Thomas Kennedy Rev Joseph Keogh, Rev William Keogh, Rev Brendan Killeen, Rev Malcolm King Rev David King IC, Rev Paul King, Rev Kieran Kirby, Rev Michael Kirkham Rev Peter Kirkham, Rev Michael Kirkpatrick, Rev K Kita, Rev Leslie Knight Rev Peter Knott SJ, Rev Leonard Kofler MHM, Rev Thomas Kolangaden OSB Rev Vitalis Kondo, Rev Jaroslaw Konopko OFMCap, Rev Marcin Kordel CRL Rev Tadeusz Kordys, Rev Stanislaw Kowalski, Rev Joseph Kuttivayalil MSFS Rev Philip Kuzhipparambil, Rev Michael Lakeland, Rev Douglas Lamb Rev Michael Lambert AA, Rev Patrick Laydon, Rev Michael J Leadbeater Rev John Leahy SSCC, Rev John Lee, Rev Francis A Leeder Rev Cadoc Leighton OPraem, Rev Shaun Lennard, Rev Gerry Lennon Rev Sean Leonard, Rev Paul Leonard, Rev Simon Lerche, Rev Michael Lester Rev Timothy Lewis, Rev Gareth Leyshon, Rev Gladstone Liddle Rev Christopher Lindlar, Rev Robert Livesey, Rev Denys Lloyd Rev Paul Lomas, Rev Barry Lomax, Rev David Long, Rev Michael Lovell Rev Michael Lowenthal, Rev Alexander Lucie-Smith, Rev Jimmy Lutwana Rev James Lynch, Rev Peter Lyness, Rev James Mackay, Rev John Mackie Rev Anton Madej SCJ, Rev Stephen Magro OFM, Rev Jim Maguire Rev Vincent Maguire MCCJ, Rev Canon Peter Maguire, Rev Derrick Maitland SJ Rev George Malecki SDS, Rev Ambrose Maliakkal IC, Rev Anthony Mangnall Rev Francis Maple OFMCap, Rev Jean-Laurent Marie, Rev Luke Marrapillil Rev Francis Marsden, Rev John Marsh, Rev Peter Marsh, Rev Bernard Marsh Rev Richard Martin SSC, Rev Paul Martin, Rev Terry Martin Rev Michael Mason, Rev William F Massie, Rev Michael Masterson Rev Franco Mastromauro MCCJ, Rev Pius Matthew, Rev Stephen A Maughan Rev Ambrose May OFMCap, Rev Laurence Mayne, Rev Marcelino Mayor OAR Rev Alexander McAllister SDS, Rev Canon Nicholas McArdle Rev Daniel McAvoy SMM, Rev Ian McCarthy, Rev Ian McClean O Praem Rev Austin McCormack OFM, Rev Michael McCormick, Rev Francis McCullagh Rev Christopher McCurry, Rev Gilmour McDermott, Rev Kevin McDevitt Rev Denis McGillicuddy, Rev Brian McGinley, Rev Brian McGrath OFM Rev James McGrath, Rev Rick McGrath, Rev Owen McGreal Rev Brendan McGuinness SDB, Rev James McGuire SDB, Rev Peter McGuire Rev Dom Simon McGurk, Rev Peter Jude McHugo CJ, Rev Bernard McInulty OSB Rev Leslie McKenna SJ, Rev Tony McKentey, Rev B McKenzie, Rev John McKeon Rev Patrick McKeown CP, Rev Dcn Stephen McKevitt, Rev Mgr Patrick McKinney Rev James McKnight IC, Rev Michael McLaughlin, Rev Hugh McMahon CM Rev James McManus CSsR, Rev Bernard McNally, Rev Neil McNicholas Mgr Michael McQuinn, Rev Thomas McShane SCJ, Rev Duncan McVicar Rev Desmond Meagher, Rev Augustine Measures OSB, Rev Robinson Melkis Rev John Meredith, Rev John Metcalfe, Rev Richard Meyer, Rev Shaun Middleton Rev Jan Milcz CSsR, Rev Paul Millar, Rev Philip Miller, Rev Robert Miller Rev Donald Minchew, Rev Mark Minihane OSA, Rev Dominique Minskip Rev Augustine Monaghan MHM, Rev Francis L Mooney, Rev Gregory Moore Rev Mark Moran, Rev Myles Moriarty SM, Rev Rob Morland SMA Rev Richard Moroney, Rev Ivor Morris, Rev Martin Morris, Rev Allen Morris Rev Michael Morrissey, Rev Kevin Moule, Rev Lazarus Msimbe SDS Rev Clement M Mukuka, Rev Kevin Mulhearn, Rev Kieran Mullarkey Rev Michael Munnelly, Rev Brian Murphy, Rev Brian Murphy, Rev Jeremiah Murphy Rev Agnellus Murphy FI, Rev Aidan Murray SDB, Rev Peter Murray SM Rev Dom Gervase Murray-Bligh, OSB, Rev Kieran Murthagh SSCC Rev David Musgrave ISch, Rev Richard Mway, Rev Joseph Narikuzhi Rev Masaki Narusawa, Rev James Neal, Rev Peter Nealon, Rev Arthur C Nearey Rev Edmund Neizer, Rev Roger Nesbitt, Rev Brian Newns, Rev Peter Newsam Rev Peter Tien Dac Nguyen, Rev Hoan Minh Nguyen, Rev Guy Nicholls Cong Orat Rev Ambrose Nicholson, Rev Joseph Nnabugwu, Rev Sunith Nonis Rev James Norris OSB, Rev Dermot Nunan, Rev Joel Nwalozie, Rev Kefa O Nyakundi Rev Bernard O’Brien, Rev Gerard O’Brien, Rev John O’Byrne CMF Rev John O’Callaghan, Rev Patrick O’Connell, Rev Kieran O’Connell Revd Tom O’Connell, Rev Bernard O’Connor OSA, Rev Joseph O’Connor Rev Dominic O’Connor, Rev Martin O’Connor, Rev Andrew O’Dell AA Rev Michael O’Doherty, Rev Kevin O’Donnell, Rev John O’Donnell Rev John O’Donoghue, Rev William O’Gorman, Rev Denis O’Gorman CRL Rev James O’Hanlon, Rev Conleth O’Hara CP, Rev Eamonn O’Hara Rev Mark O’Keeffe, Rev John O’Leary, Rev Maurice O’Mahony CSsR Rev Michael O’Neill MHM, Rev Michael O’Reilly, Rev Des O’Riordan SDB Rev Kevin O’Shea CM, Rev David Oakley, Rev Mark Odion Rev Emmanuel Ogunnaike, Rev Martin Orme, Rev Dan Oryema, Rev Francis Osman Rev Julius Otoaye, Rev Robert Pachuta, Rev Arockia Mariadass Pagyasamy OCD Rev Jean Marie M Paluku, Rev Geoffrey Parfitt, Rev W Alfred Parker Rev Richard Parsons, Rev John Pascoe, Rev Andrew Pastore Rev Anthony Pateman, Rev Colin Patey, Rev Sunny Paul, Rev Ken Payne Rev Maurice Pearce, Rev John Pearson, Rev Basil Pearson, Rev Stephen Peate OCSO Rev Anthony Pellegrini, Rev Anthony Pennicott, Rev Leon Pereira OP Rev John Peyton, Rev John Hai Pham, Rev Joseph Ngoc D Pham Rev Anthony Pham-Tri-Van, Rev David Phillips, Rev Terry Phipps Rev Stephen Pimlott, Rev Saju Pinkkattu-Thomas OFM, Rev Richard Plunkett Rev Geoffrey Pointer, Rev Gabriel Polo FI, Rev Chris Posluszny Rev David Potter, Rev Eamonn Power, Rev Peter Preston SDS Rev Graham Preston, Rev Philip Price, Rev Malcolm Prince Rev Michael Purbrick, Rev Louis Purcell MHM, Rev Steven Purnell Rev Innocent Joseph Putthentharayil CM, Rev Leo Pyle Rev David Quarmby, Rev Peter Quinn SDB, Rev Philip Quinn, Rev Gerard Quinn Rev Emanuel Rajan, Rev Nicodemus Lobo Ratu, Rev John Ravensdale Rev Mgr Alex B Rebello, Rev Alexander Redman, Rev Padraig Regan CM Rev John Reid, Rev Francis Reid, Rev Carlito Reyes, Rev Neil Reynolds Rev John Rice, Rev Andy Richardson, Rev Edward Richer Rev Roberto Riezu OAR, Rev Yaroslav Riy, Rev Joseph A Robinson Rev Keith Robinson, Rev Alan Robinson, Rev Lucas Rodrigues SFX Rev Cecil Rogerson, Rev Dominic Rolls, Rev Peter Rolph, Rev Bill Rooke Rev John Rooney MHM, Rev Mark Rowles, Rev Philip Rozario OSB Rev Wojciech Rozdzenski, Rev Christopher Rutledge, Rev David Ryan Rev John Ryan, Rev Henry Ryan, Rev William Ryan, Rev Thomas Ryan SMA Rev Joe Ryan, Rev Paschal Ryan, Rev Sebamalai Saba Rev Robert Sahayaraj-Susainathan OCD, Rev Anthony Sammarco Rev Martin Sanderson OFMCap, Rev Mario Sanderson, Rev Denis Sarsfield Rev Guy Sawyer, Rev Peter Sayer, Rev John B Scanlan, Rev Nicholas Schofield Rev Feliks Sciborski, Rev Jimmy Sebastian, Rev John Seddon OSB Rev Michael Sellers, Rev Jean-Claude G Selvini, Rev Patrick Sexton Rev Desmond Sexton, Rev Peter Sharrocks, Rev Gerard Sheehan Rev Fred Sheldon, Rev John Shewring, Rev Tomasz Siembab, Rev Chris Silva Rev David Skeoch, Rev Gerard Skinner, Rev Anthony Slack IC Rev James Smale CSsR, Rev John Smethurst, Rev Christopher Smith Rev Geoffrey Smith, Rev Philip Smith, Rev Michael Smith, Rev Brian Smith Dom Daniel Smyth OSB, Rev Bernard Snelder MHM, Rev Bernard Soley Rev Michael Spain OCD, Rev Stephen Squires, Rev Simon Stamp Rev Andrew Starkie, Rev Kazimierz Stefek, Rev A Stelmach, Rev Brian Stevens Rev Martin Stone, Rev Bryan Storey, Rev Damian Sturdy OSB Rev Brendan Sullivan MHM, Rev Timothy Sullivan, Rev Tony Sultana SDB Rev Francis Sutherland SDB, Rev Charles Sweeney MSC, Rev Allan Swift Rev Mark Swires, Rev Anthony Symondson SJ, Rev Patrick Tansey Rev Aldo Tapparo, Rev Robert Taylerson, Rev Brian Taylor, Rev Michael Teader Rev Cyril Thadathil, Rev Christopher Thomas, Rev John Patrick Thomas Rev Simon Thomson, Rev Sean Thornton, Rev Peter Tierney Rev Joseph Tirello FDP, Rev David Tobin IC, Rev Greg Tobin Rev Luis Tomas IMC, Rev Keith Tomlinson IC, Rev Adrian Tomlinson Rev Dennis Touw, Rev Adrian Towers, Rev Simon Treloar, Rev John Trenchard Rev Jeremy Trood, Rev John Troy MCCJ, Rev Adrian Tuckwell Rev Gerry Tuite FDP, Rev Paul Tully, Rev Raymond Tumba OSA Rev Derek Turnham, Rev Petras Tverijonas, Rev John Twist Rev Thomas Udie, Rev Francis Umendia OAR, Rev Andrew Unsworth Rev John Vallomprayil SDS, Rev Edward van den Bergh, Rev Ian Vane Rev Peter Vellacott, Rev Gregory Verissimo, Rev Mark Vickers Rev Alberto Vico CS, Rev Neil Vincent, Rev Peter Wade Rev Francis Wadsworth OFM Conv, Rev Marcus Wakeley, Rev David Walford Rev James Walsh, Rev Anthony Walsh, Rev Patrick Walsh, Rev Gary Walsh Rev John Walsh, Rev Thomas Walton, Rev Joseph Wareing SJ Rev Peter Wareing CMF, Rev Chris Warren, Rev Frank Waters SDS Rev Stephen Watson, Rev Christopher Webb, Rev William Wells Rev Ivan Weston, Rev Michael Weymes, Rev Brian Whatmore, Rev Joe Wheat Rev Richard Whinder, Rev Joseph Whisstock, Rev Joseph White Rev John White, Rev David J White, Rev Christopher Whitehouse Rev Thomas Wilberforce CSSp, Rev William Wilby, Rev Peter Wilcocks SJ Rev John Williams, Rev Alan Williams SM, Rev John Williamson O Carm Rev Stephen Willis, Rev Edmund Willoughby SJ, Rev William Wilson Rev Gerald Wilson OAR, Rev Adrian Wiltshire, Rev Simon Winn Rev John Winstanley, Rev John Wisdom OPraem, Rev Bruno Witchalls Rev Slawomir Witon, Rev Thomas Wood, Rev John Woods, Rev Jeffrey Woolnough Rev Stephen Wright, Rev William Wright OSB, Rev J Colin Wright Rev Alan Wright, Rev William Young, Rev Theodore Young OSB Rev David Young OFM Conv, Rev John Younger, Rev Ryszard Zalewski Rev John Zampese SX, Rev Paul Zielinski, Rev Renato Zilio CS Rev Philip Ziomek, Rev Bartholomew Zubeveil CSSp

Bigot of the Year 2012 - Cardinal Keith O'Brien

Stonewall have named Roman Catholic Cardinal Keith O'Brien, head of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, as their 'Bigot of the Year' for 2012, in particular because of his visceral opposition to same-sex marriage.

The Catholic hierarchy have reacted with fury and have 'demanded' (just who do these people think they are to demand anything!)that the Scottish Government and two banks (Barclays and Coutts [part of the RBS group, incidentally]) withdraw their sponsorship. The two banks have already indicated to Stonewall, apparently, that they may indeed withdraw their sponsorship if this particular award is not dropped from next year's awards.

It is rich for the Roman Catholic Church to claim it is being intimidated and vilified by Stonewall when it is this 'sky-fairy cult' that has a long history of intimidating and vilifying anyone who disagrees with what it grandly calls its 'doctrine', not to mention covering up the abuse of children by its paid agents (aka 'priests') over many decades. Cardinal Keith O'Brien deserves his title of 'Bigot of the Year' awarded to him by Stonewall, for that is what he is - a bigot. He may not like being held up and named publicly, but his bigotry is a matter of simple objective observation. When he alters his odious viewpoint and issues a public recantation of his hateful language in respect of gay and lesbian people it will be time enough to consider relieving him of his deserved 'badge of shame'.

Incidentally, as a customer of RBS I shall be making my views known to it. I find it quite deplorable that it's subsidiary, Coutts, is even considering bowing to the pressure from the Roman Catholic Church; rather than withdrawing its support from Stonewall it should re-emphasise its support, even if its own financial situation makes it difficult for it to continue its charitable donations at earlier levels. This is not solely a matter of money, but about where Coutts stands on this moral issue.

Catholic "sky fairy" cult continues its campaign against same sex marriage in Scotland

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic "sky fairy" cult in Scotland has caused to be read out in all 500 parishes in Scotland the following subversive message, designed to enlist the followers of this cult to attempt to thwart the will of the elected Scottish Executive (aka 'Government') in its stated aim of legislating for same sex marriage in Scotland:

A Message for Marriage Sunday 26 August 2012 from The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland In all things, we as Catholics look to Jesus Christ as our model and teacher. When asked about marriage He gave a profound and rich reply: “Have you not read that the Creator, from the beginning, ‘made them male and female’, and said: ‘This is why a man must leave father and mother and cling to his wife and the two become one body’. (Matthew, 19: 4-5) In the Year of Faith, which begins this October, we wish to place a special emphasis on the role of the family founded on marriage. The family is the domestic Church, and the first place in which the faith is transmitted. For that reason it must have a primary focus in our prayerful considerations during this period of grace. We write to you having already expressed our deep disappointment that the Scottish Government has decided to redefine marriage and legislate for same-sex marriage. We take this opportunity to thank you for your past support in defense of marriage and hope you will continue to act against efforts to redefine it. We reaffirm before you all the common wisdom of humanity and the revealed faith of the Church that marriage is a unique life-long union of a man and a woman. In circumstances when the true nature of marriage is being obscured, we wish to affirm and celebrate the truth and beauty of the Sacrament of Matrimony and family life as Jesus revealed it; to do something new to support marriage and family life in the Catholic community and in the country; and to reinforce the vocation of marriage and the pastoral care of families which takes in the everyday life of the Church in dioceses and parishes across the country. For that reason, in the forthcoming Year of Faith we have decided to establish a new Commission for Marriage and the Family. This Commission will be led by a bishop and will be composed mostly of lay men and women. The Commission will be charged with engaging with those young men and women who will be future husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, and with those who already live out their vocation to marriage and parenthood in surroundings which often make it hard to sustain and develop the full Catholic family life we cherish. We wish to support too, those who are widowed, separated and divorced and all who need to feel the Church’s maternal care in the circumstances in which they find themselves. The new Commission will promote the true nature of marriage as both a human institution and a union blessed by Jesus. The Commission will be asked to develop an online presence so that prayer, reflection, formation and practical information on matters to do with marriage and family life can be quickly accessible to all. It will also work to produce materials and organise events which will support ordinary Catholic families in their daily lives. During the course of the coming year we will ask for your support for these initiatives. Our faith teaches us that marriage is a great and holy mystery. The Bishops of Scotland will continue to promote and uphold the universally accepted definition of marriage as the union solely of a man and a woman. At the same time, we wish to work positively for the strengthening of marriage within the Church and within our society. This is an important initiative for all our people, but especially our young people and children. We urge you to join us in this endeavour. Pray for your own family every day, and pray for those families whose lives are made difficult by the problems and cares which they encounter. Finally, we invite you to pray for our elected leaders, invoking the Holy Spirit on them, that they may be moved to safeguard marriage as it has always been understood, for the good of Scotland and of our society.

My objective in quoting the text of this letter here is not, just to state the obvious, because I support it in any way, but because I think it is important for as many people as possible to read for themselves the full measure of the delusions that afflict this particular 'sky fairy' cult. Let no one ever forget that this is the same organisation which for decades in many of the countries in which it operates actively covered up the criminal misconduct of its paid operatives (aka 'priests') in their deviant paedophile activities involving children of both sexes, misguidedly placed under their care by parents and guardians. Supposedly this organisation has now 'cleaned up its act', but I remain sceptical and whatever changes it has made have been brought about solely by the threat of financial sanction, not because it has fundamentally changed its ethos of intimidation and control, as is amply demonstrated by this ridiculous and hateful 'pastoral' letter. For a religion which is supposed to stand for peace and support for the weak and downtrodden is in fact nothing more than a crude protection racket in the Roman Catholic 'cult' version of it.

Of course, adherents of this subversive cult have the right in our democratic society to believe whatever nonsense they choose to and even to promulgate their deluded ideas should they so wish, but it gives them absolutely no right to have any more attention paid to their notions than that accorded to any other citizens. Elected politicians are how we as a country choose to run our affairs and it is time that this subversive cult remembered this. The Scottish Executive (aka 'Government') will, I hope, carry out its stated policy of legislating for same sex marriage as soon as possible.

Separately, the UK government has held consultations on introducing similar legislation in England and Wales and will, no doubt, continue to be the object of similar tactics there on the part of the Roman Catholic 'sky fairy' cult; I hope the UK government will be just as resolute in standing up for democratic values.

Roman Catholic cardinal in Scotland throws a wobbler & Boris comes good

So what else is new? Roman Catholic Cardinal Keith O'Brien has thrown his toys out of the pram - not really the first time he has done this, but passing on...

The good Cardinal's strop relates to the intention of the Scottish Executive (aka 'Government') to [consult to] legislate for same-sex marriage in Scotland and his decision to cease personal contact with the First Minister. Well, bully for him! But who really cares? This is just the petulant reaction of a person who has no serious commentary to make. Anyone who has read my blog will know already that I have little time for Alex Salmond (the First Minister of Scotland, Gawd help us!) and none at all for the aims of the SNP, but even I must sympathise with Mr Salmond having to deal with self-important nonentities such as O'Brien. In any case, why should the Roman Catholic Church be given any special right to have discussions with the Executive, or even officials - of course, individuals within that sky-fairy organisation, as citizens, have a right to have their opinions heard, just like any other citizen, but beyond that I fail to understand what special right this organisation has to any special consideration. His sky-fairy organisation is trying the same tactics of intimidation it tried with the last Spanish government in 2005, when it legislated for same sex marriage in Spain in the face of the virulent attacks of O'Brien's co-religionists in that country and the rogue-state Vatican, the nexus of that sinister organisation (* - see below); the current Spanish government (and its President/Prime Minister) is trying to reverse that legislation, but have so far not stacked the Constitutional Court there sufficiently to assure themselves of success, fortunately, but it will require continual vigilance to thwart these homophobes whose real job should be to try and solve Spain's economic problems and importantly to try and reduce the chronic levels of unemployment there - witch-hunts against the LGBT community may satisfy their core supporters but will do nothing to address these issues.

Now, passing on from nonentities such as 'Cardinal' Keith O'Brien to more important matters, it is pleasing to note that the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has become the latest senior politician to express his support for permitting same sex marriage. Well done, Boris!



(*) Just for clarification, this is not a commentary directed solely at the Roman Catholic Church; it applies equally to the Church of Scotland and the Church of England, which are just as blinkered in their own ways, if perhaps less blatantly publicity-seeking for their sick ideas. If this offends any reader, then I make no apology - if you adhere to such disfunctional organisations please note I consider they merit all the negative commentary that is justifiedly thrown at them.

Taking heed of media pundits' opinions on any topic at all is a dodgy practice

I've held the view for quite a few years that paying too much atention to "media pundits" (amongst others journalists, comedians, television presenters, etc) when they expound on matters well-beyond their chosen method of earning a living or 'supposed expertise' is an unwise course of action. Indeed I've occasionally written about this phenomenon in my blog.

Today in The Sunday Telegraph, the affable Terry Wogan serves up his views on this very topic, so on the surface I should not have too much to quibble at, were it not for the irony that Terry Wogan is himself a 'much-loved' (by many, if the tabloid press and televised media is a guide) media-pundit expressing his views [or more accurately 'prejudices'] on topics which those outside his family and friends have no obligation to take any notice of, unless they stand up to intellectual rigour - which in this case I don't think they do. Today the object of his criticism (if one may dignify his naked polemic with that word) is his fellow generally equally-affable media-pundit Stephen Fry. Wogan is rather oblique in what is in reality a feeble side-swipe at the opinions expressed by Fry on the merits of Pope Benedict XVI being invited to perform a 'State Visit' to this country:

"Try telling that to Stephen Fry, who, this week, has joined a multi-skilled band of protestors to object to the Pope's visit being treated as a State occasion. Fry's opinions on anything and everything are positively revered, in a way that those of, say, Michael Winner, never can be."

Now, apart from the fact that Wogan offers no basis for his dismissal of the views of Fry other than that he thinks they are not worthy of attention, I'm not sure I agree with dear Terry on his analysis of the relative levels of influence accorded to the views of Fry or Winner, or indeed those of Wogan himself. I disagree with some of the opinions expressed by Fry of course, but Wogan's not-so-subtle attempt to belittle the highly-justified criticism of the 'State Visit' granted to the leader of what is merely a religious cult [the Roman Catholic Church currently led by Pope Benedict XVI] expressed by many people (me included) as being the mere parrotting of opinions formed by 'media-pundits' such as Fry is laughable, any more than those who may take a contrary view might like to be told by a smug media-pundit such as Wogan that their views have been influenced by what he writes - although of course I hesitate to surmise how anyone else's opinions are formed.

My final question on Terry Wogan's article is this: Why doesn't he come out and say what he really thinks, rather than trying to couch his criticism of the opinions advanced by Stephen Fry in such 'mealy-mouthed' terms? Frankly his seeming blandness does not fool me or I suspect anyone else.

To be clear, I have no idea what Wogan thinks about 'homosexuality', nor do I accuse him of thinking any specifically 'negative' thoughts about that topic in general. However, as a mere 'media-pundit' himself I don't think his views merit any more attention than those of Stephen Fry (or Christina Odone or Richard Dawkins, to mention just two), except that he is of course free to express his views as an indiviual, just as I am, but they have no other special validity.

Protest The Pope - Day 2

Another excellent article in the series from the Made in Scotland blog here, to mark the second day of the 'State Visit' of Pope Benedict XVI to the UK.

Need a reason to protest the Pope - aside from the child-abuse excuse?

Reason #3 - he actively promotes discrimination, seeing homosexuality as "an intrinsic moral evil".

Read more here.

Protest The Pope - Day 1

Another excellent article from the Made in Scotland blog here, to mark the first day of the 'State Visit' of Pope Benedict XVI to the UK.

Need a reason to protest the Pope?


Reason #2 - he spreads HIV/AIDS.

Read the rest here.

Protest the Pope - the day before

(Please see the UPDATE at the end of this article)

Ever since this blog began in April 2002 (the article
THE VATICAN RESPONSE TO PRIESTLY PAEDOPHILIA appeared here on 29 April 2002 and an earlier article The Sickness at the Heart of the Catholic Church appeared on 20 March 2002 in the comment area of my main website, before I began this blog), I have been writing about the scandal of paedophilia in the Roman Catholic Church and the efforts of the Church hierarchy to cover-up the criminal behaviour of a very significant number of its paid agents (priest and other clerics) in many of the countries in which this 'cult' operates. The Church protests that it has now changed its ways and perhaps it has, to a very limited extent, but if so this change is solely the result of the draconian financial penalties that have been imposed upon it by the civil authorities in particular in the US. But I remain to be convinced that the ethos of the Church has changed fundamentally whenever it thinks it can 'get away with it'. The Roman Catholic Church remains basically an international criminal conspiracy in my view.

Of course paedophilia is only one of the Roman Catholic Church's faults (far too mild a word of course); amongst a litany of evil doctrines, high in the list of 'also-rans' must come the Church's policy of forbidding contraception, even in countries where the transmission of HIV/AIDS is endemic, or of forbidding abortion even in the case of rape (child or adult). It is totally sickening. The leader of this sick institution, Pope Benedict XVI, begins a State Visit to the UK tomorrow so as a Head of State he will be afforded much more respect and consideration than he has any right to expect or deserve. Why was he ever invited?

To commemorate this shameful episode, I am reproducing the whole article which appears today in the blog Made in Scotland; he lives in London so will perhaps be able to attend the 'Protest the Pope' demonstration and march there on Saturday 18 March 2010, but even though I cannot do so I am with the protesters in spirit:

QUOTE

Pope Benedict XVI begins his four-day Papal state visit to the UK tomorrow.

Need a reason to protest the Pope?

Reason #1 - the international criminal conspiracy to cover up for mass child rape.

From Saturday's Guardian.

The Case of the Pope: Vatican Accountability for Human Rights Abuses by Geoffrey Robertson (Terry Eagleton welcomes a coolly devastating inquiry into the Vatican's handling of child abuse) The first child sex scandal in the Catholic church took place in AD153, long before there was a "gay culture" or Jewish journalists for bishops to blame it on. By the 1960s, the problem had become so dire that a cleric responsible for the care of "erring" priests wrote to the Vatican suggesting that it acquire a Caribbean island to put them on. What has made a bad situation worse, as the eminent QC Geoffrey Robertson argues in this coolly devastating inquiry, is canon law – the church's own arcane, highly secretive legal system, which deals with alleged child abusers in a dismayingly mild manner rather than handing them over to the police. Its "penalties" for raping children include such draconian measures as warnings, rebukes, extra prayers, counselling and a few months on retreat. It is even possible to interpret canon law as claiming that a valid defence for paedophile offences is paedophilia. Since child abusers are supposedly incapable of controlling their sexual urges, this can be used in their defence. It is rather like pleading not guilty to stealing from Tesco's on the grounds that one is a shoplifter. One blindingly simple reason for the huge amount of child abuse in the Catholic church (on one estimate, up to 9% of clerics are implicated) is that the perpetrators know they will almost certainly get away with it. For almost a quarter of a century, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the man who is now Pope, was in supreme command of this parallel system of justice – a system deliberately hidden from the public, police and parliaments and run, so Robertson maintains, in defiance of international law. Those who imagine that the Vatican has recently agreed to cooperate with the police, he points out, have simply fallen for one of its cynical public relations exercises. In the so-called "New Norms" published by Pope Benedict this year, there is still no instruction to report suspected offenders to the civil authorities, and attempting to ordain a woman is deemed to be as serious an offence as sodomising a child. There have, however, been some changes: victims of child abuse are now allowed to report the matter up to the age of 38 rather than 28. If you happen to be 39, that's just tough luck. As Robertson wryly comments, Jesus declares that child molesters deserve to be drowned in the depths of the sea, not hidden in the depths of the Holy See. How can Ratzinger get away with it? One mightily important reason, examined in detail in this book, is because he is supposedly a head of state. The Vatican describes itself on its website as an "absolute monarchy", which means that the Pope is immune from being sued or prosecuted. It also means that as the only body in the world with "non-member state" status at the UN, the Catholic church has a global platform for pursuing its goals of diminishing women, demonising homosexuals, obstructing the use of condoms to prevent Aids and refusing to allow abortion even to save the life of the mother. For these purposes, it is sometimes to be found in unholy alliance with states such as Libya and Iran. Neither is it slow to use veiled threats of excommunication to bend Catholic politicians throughout the world to its will. If Pope Benedict were to air some of his troglodytic views with full public force, Robertson suggests, the Home Office would have been forced to refuse him entry into Britain. In fact, he argues, the Vatican's claim to statehood is bogus. It dates from a treaty established between Mussolini and the Holy See, which Robertson believes has no basis in international law. The Vatican has no permanent population, which is a legal requirement of being a state. In fact, since almost all its inhabitants are celibate, it cannot propagate citizens at all other than by unfortunate accident. It is not really a territory, has no jurisdiction over crimes committed in its precincts and depends for all its essential services on the neighbouring nation of Italy. Nor does it field a team in the World Cup, surely the most convincing sign of its phoniness. "Petty gossip" is how the Pope has described irrefutable evidence of serious crimes. His time as the Vatican official in charge of overseeing priestly discipline was the period when, in Robertson's furiously eloquent words, "tens of thousands of children were bewitched, buggered and bewildered by Catholic priests whilst [Ratzinger's] attention was fixated on 'evil' homosexuals, sinful divorcees, deviate liberation theologians, planners of families and wearers of condoms". Can he be brought to book for this? As a widespread and systematic practice, clerical sexual abuse could be considered a crime against humanity, such crimes not being confined to times of war; and though Ratzinger may claim immunity as a head of state, he is also a German citizen. The book comes to no firm conclusion here, but the possibility of convicting the supreme pontiff of aiding and abetting the international crime of systemic child abuse seems not out of the question. The Vatican, in any case, is unlikely to escape such a fate by arguing, as it has done already, that the relations between the Pope and his bishops are of such unfathomable theological complexity that no mere human court could ever hope to grasp them. This is a book that combines moral passion with steely forensic precision, enlivened with the odd flash of dry wit. With admirable judiciousness, it even finds it in its heart to praise the charitable work of the Catholic church, as well as reminding us that paedophiles (whom Robertson has defended in court) can be kindly men. It is one of the most formidable demolition jobs one could imagine on a man who has done more to discredit the cause of religion than Rasputin and Pat Robertson put together.

UNQUOTE

UPDATE (Friday 17SEP2010 16.45 BST) Commenter James Higham below has, subsequent to his somewhat ironic and 'smiling' comment here, written a very cowardly article in which he refers to me in the most unpleasant terms - because I believe in being open and honest in what I write and believe - unlike the weasel James Higham - I am linking to his article so that anyone inclined may read his rancid thoughts, although my own view is that two-faced bigots like Mr Higham deserve scant attention.

Belgian authorities raid meeting of Catholic Bishops

The Vatican has made an official complaint about a raid carried out last Thursday by Belgian police on a meeting of Catholic Bishops there in connection with allegations of paedophilia by priests.

According to the Brussels prosecutor the raid followed a string of accusations "denouncing abuse of minors committed by a certain number of Church figures". Justice Minister Stefaan De Clerck [...] defended the raid in television interviews on Sunday, describing the Vatican's reaction as "a bit excessive" and based on false information, adding: "We must not turn this into a diplomatic incident. The bishops were treated completely normally... and it is false to say that they received no food or drink".

According to the linked report, police confiscated phones, computers and the archdiocese's accounting system in a search for documents including any correspondence between alleged victims and the Catholic authorities. It is also reported that Italy's Corriere della Sera said Belgian authorities acted out of frustration with the Church, which under a 1990s agreement was supposed to refer abuse cases to prosecutors to pursue. (my emphasis - Ed).

In a letter written by the Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI, and released by the Vatican, he wrote, inter alia:

"I have myself repeated numerous times that these serious facts must be dealt with by civil law and by canon law, in reciprocal respect of the specificity and autonomy of each."

With the deepest and most sincere respect to Il Papa and with no intention to offend any of the followers of the Roman Catholic religion, I am obliged to state plainly that I find this statement deplorable, shocking and completely unacceptable. I would imagine that within the territory of Belgium, just as we do in the United Kingdom, that the supreme law is considered to be that of Belgium and that any implication that 'Canon Law' has an autonomous, equal status with national law is roundly, and rightly, rejected. It is high time that the Catholic Church realised that it is no longer going to be allowed to get away with its traditional tactics of denial and when that no longer works, delaying tactics. It has to accept that civil law in the countries where it operates is supreme and show that it is complying fully and without reservation. Then, perhaps unfortunate and embarrassing, but necessary, incidents such as the raid in Belgium last Thursday will no longer be required.

"You May Now Kiss The Groom"

The gentleman in the centre of the composition below will be visiting Britain later this year on what is, in this instance deplorably, called a "State Visit", as he is 'Head of State' of the Catholic enclave in Rome known as the Vatican City State - not some ancient entity as might be imagined, but a political development dating from as recently as 1929 - you can read more about the origins of what can best be described as an 'historical anomaly', not to mention an historic outrage, here. The practical effect of this designation for the visit of the current 'chieftain' of the Roman Catholic 'tribe' is that much of it will be paid for by British taxpayers, whether they are followers of the Roman Catholic 'sky fairy' religion or not, as the bulk of the cost of the visit of a Head of State is normally paid for by the host country.

The official stance of the Roman Catholic Church is that homosexuality is "intrinsically disordered". I'd like to throw this back at the Roman Catholic Church - it is genuinely "intrinsically disordered"; it is an organisation which enforces celibacy on its paid officials (of both sexes), but which nevertheless actively covered up the sexual deviancy of a large number of said paid officials in many countries over several DECADES, until forced by legal threats and financial sanctions by the civil legal authorities in a number of countries to begin to admit its wrongdoing and mend its ways.


A painting created by
Kevin Sharkey,Allesadro Tesei and Amo 2010
@ 80 Francis Street Dublin 8

Maybe one day the Holy Father, or a successor, will repent of his evil ways and officiate at a same-sex marriage, in acceptance of the fact that love can conquer all. I'm not holding my breath though!

Finally, unlike some, I attribute my sources - here and here.

The Pope's UK visit and the Foreign Office 'apology'

This story is undoubtedly an embarrassment for the British 'do no evil'(*) Labour government. The whole point of 'brain-storming' sessions is that ANY and EVERY idea may be aired, however bizarre it might be. But in normal groups (and certainly in most private companies that I am aware of) the ones that are completely off-the-wall are briefly discussed and then dismissed and forgotten about - they certainly don't appear in the minutes of such meetings! Evidently in the public sector, which we all pay for through our taxes, things are different; no-one seems to stop and think what they are doing and what they are trying to achieve. 'Evaluation' did not seem to form any part of this particular Foreign office exercise in 'diplomacy'.

Now that is my assessment of this deplorable lapse from a management point of view. It is yet one more sign of how useless Labour is at managing anything, let alone planning for the visit of what is technically the Head of State of a foreign 'country'.

Having written all this though, I do find it difficult in this particular instance to become too exercised about the Foreign Office lapse. The Catholic Church has become an increasiingly ridiculous organisation in recent years; it preaches certain moral codes to its adherents and to the world generally, then proceeds to cover-up for the criminal behaviour of its 'paid agents' (i.e. priests) in many of the countries of the world where it operates; it is only the vociferous action taken in many countries to expose the 'paedophile' behaviour of priests by victims and the civil authorities that has forced the Church, finally, to begin to address the cancer at its heart. That action, in the case of the US, backed up by justifiedly swingeing financial penalties. The Church is, when it comes to the essentials, as interested as any other party in protecting its 'patrimony' and the financial costs of allowing its miscreant behaviour to continue have had to be made too severe for it to contemplate allowing them to be perpetuated - as it had tried, for decades, to do.

A number of the suggestions in the Foreign Office document, whilst completely unacceptable in the context of a Papal visit, neatly highlight the contraditions and just plain 'wrongness' of a number of the policy stances of the Roman Catholic church:
- celibacy for its 'paid agents' (aka priests), with no outlet for the sexual urges of some of these people. There may well be many priests (and nuns) who are capable of channelling these desires into their lives of devotion to their faith, but it seems than more than a few have failed to live up to the standards expected, over decades and probably centuries, although we will probably never know about cases beyond living memory in the majority of cases;
- suggesting a 'Benedict' brand of condoms is quite funny, but it neatly highlights the monstrous banning by the Church of abortions or birth control methods, including condoms, even in cases of rape or to aid in the prevention of disease transmission. Truly evil policies.

As for suggesting that Pope Benedict should be invited to bless some civil partnerships during his visit, well this is just ridiculous of course, but it does again highlight just how out of touch the policy of the Church is. The suggestion was of course particularly offensive, and presumably designed to be so ('as a joke'), but of course the Church's policies on matters relating to homosexuality are not only outdated, but singularly offensive to millions of British and other gay and lesbian citizems of various countries, including me.

To summarise my whole attitude toward the forthcoming Papal visit, conditions should be arranged such that this visit may occur without undue incident and for those who wish to take part in the various gatherings that will be organised during his visit to do so in safety. So far as I am concerned that is the extent of the government's responsiblity. I certainly do not want our government to acquiesce in deed or word to any of the Catholic Church's teachings which offend against our laws and I do not want it to remain silent should the Pontiff criticise our laws whilst he is actually on British soil; he will be an 'honoured' guest here, but that gives him no special right to intervene in our domestic affairs - we certainly would not tolerate any other foreign Head of State (i.e. American or French, to take two random examples) making negative comments about our laws whilst on a visit here and I don't think an exception should be made for the Pope. The government's first responsibility is to its own citizens (including of course those who adhere to this particular faith, provided such adherence does not offend agasinst the legal rights of other citizens). If the Pope behaves himself whilst here, then he should of course be treated with courtesy, but certainly under no circumstance with 'adulation' at an official level and he should be told firmly that any criticism he makes of our domestic laws whilst he is here will not be tolerated. Any adulation that may be shown should be limited to fellow-adherents of his faith.

There is an excellent French saying which neatly encapsulates my attitude toward this Papal visit: "Faites comme si vous êtes chez vous, mais n'oubliez pas que vous êtes chez moi." ("Treat this country as if if were your own home when here, but don't forget you are [in fact] in my home.")

(*) - irony alert.

Über-"sky-fairy" enforcer Pope Benedict may be invited onto R4 'Thought for the day'

In terms of the 'logic' of the BBC this is probably not unexpected. It is a programme I usually listen to, because I have BBC Radio4 on in the morning when I'm still in bed, although the alarm clock is actually set to Radio3 when it 'goes off' in the morning and I switch to Radio4 a little later. It has always struck me as bizarre, however, that it seems to be implied by the BBC's resourcing policies that only persons who believe in 'sky-fairies' are considered eligible to take part. Don't people who are 'humanists' or 'atheists' have useful things to say? I hope we're not potentially going to be subjected to this horrible old bigot simply because the Director General of the BBC, Mark Thompson, is an adherent of this particular brand of 'sky-fairyism'.

The Pope tries to justify his support for inequality ...

Such false words from the holder of what is supposed to be one of the world's great religious organisarions in support of policies designed to marginalise whole sections of the community:

"Your country is well-known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society. "Yet, as you have rightly pointed out, the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs. "In some respects it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed."

- the temerity of this odious creature in professing to be a 'Christian' appals me. I suspect strongly that 'the Son of God' (if you believe in this particular 'sky fairy' myth, which I don't) would have folks like the present Pontiff slung out of the temple if He came back amongst us.

As anyone who reads my blog knows I am not exactly a supporter of our present Government, but I acknowledge readily it is they who have brought more equality to the LGBT community than any other in our history.

The Pontiff tried the same kind of pretty crude pre-election progaganda in Spain early in 2008 prior to the last General Election there, to express his [tediously predictable] opposition to the marriage law brought in to allow gays and lesbians to marry by the present ruling Party a few years ago. Needless to say even a staunchly Catholic country such as Spain traditionally is, wisely chose to ignore the views of this dreadful old bigot when it came time to vote.

I certainly don't want my taxes used to pay for this visit!

"Father Oprah" disgraced in more nonsense from the Catholic Church

It's a while since I've written about the bizarre rituals of the believers in religious faiths of various kinds; the doings of those who profess to believe in 'sky fairies' has really begun to bore me rigid. The fact that some adherents of an Aberdeen church want to reject a minister because he happens to be gay is of concern to me, but I have other things to worry about right now (whether it's the mess our economy is in or some potentially serious personal health issues I won't discuss here now, or perhaps ever depending on how I feel); religious bodies managed to get Parliament to legislate a while back certain exemptions for themselves in their employment practices to permit them to decline employment to gays on the grounds of their sexuality. I don't like it (some people such as J Arthur McNumpty still find the energy to write about it though), it is odious, but it's the way thinngs currently are and as I am never likely to be affected personally - well, as I say, I have other things on my mind.

So, after that admittedly rather sour introduction, what has provoked me into writing now about yet another piece of nonsense from, you guessed it, the Roman Catholic Church? Well, first of all it involves a 'media star' who happens also to be a priest, it's titillating, he's young and good-looking and it involves sex, but it has the novelty for once that it does not [seem to] involve hoomosexuality in any shape or form. A Mexican tabloid magazine has published photographs of Father Alberto Cutié, a popular Miami Beach priest famous for his Spanish-language television and radio talk shows kissing and embracing, shock horror(!), a WOMAN on a beach (thought to be Fort Lauderdale). Of course there is no actual proof [so far] that he has broken his vow of celibacy unless we can see (yes, please!) pictures of him actually MOUNTING the woman. Sorry to be vulgar, but it's only by stating things clearly and simply that the whole absurdity of the Catholic Church's rules on celibacy can have a very necessary spotlight shone upon them. What's even more bizarre is that the Catholic Church does permit married clergymen from other faiths who convert to Catholicism to become priests and remain married - I suppose the 'logic' there is that divorce is an even worse sin than getting married in the first place?! Watch this surreal discussion about the knots the Catholic Church ties itself in:



- here's another briefer Miami television report, which shows more pictures of the very handsome Father Cutié (OK, call me shallow, but I probably wouldn't bother if he was 'ugly as sin'), who has now been relieved of his priestly charge, even though he remains a priest:



- there's another report here, with yet another embedded television report, this time from CNN.

My one word summary: BIZARRE!

Blair.Visits.Gaza.For.The.First.Time....In.Two.Years!!!

I heard this mentioned in a BBC news broadcast earlier today, but I refrained from writing about it then because I thought I must have misheard - surely it couldn't be THE FIRST TIME HE HAS ACTUALLY VISITED GAZA IN THE TWO YEARS SINCE HE BECAME THE SO-CALLED 'Middle East Envoi'? But no, it seems I heard correctly earlier today after all (a fuller BBC report is here). How come this aspect of his visit (i.e. that it is FIRST) isn't queried by the Beeb? I know Gaza is a dangerous place, but it hasn't been uniformly dangerous throughout all of those two years and is undoubtedly still dangerous now.

Just what has he been doing these past two years?

Call me an old cynic, but is it entirely coincidence that this piece of non-news happens to be covered the very day that Blair's wife, Cherie Booth/Blair QC is fronting a programme on Channel4 about Christianity [aka a programme about God bothering by a 'God Botherer']? For Gawd sakes, who cares what this woman thinks about religion, just because she happens to be the wife of a former Prime Minister? Did they ask her about His Holiness the Pope having foolishly reversed the excommunication of a holocaust-denier and renegade priest (and self-styled 'Bishop') without having done due diligence about this individual's odious beliefs with the Church now belatedly calling for Williamson to recant his views? Is it any wonder why the State of Israel, no paragon of virtue in my opinion in the coincidental matter of Gaza of course, is somewhat equivocal in its views about Roman Catholicism? Does anyone think this programme would ever have included Cherie Booth/Blair had she not shared a bed with Tony Blair for many years, however brilliant an employment lawyer she is said to be? Sorry for my slight crudeness of expression, but it really infuriates me how television channels dependent on our current sad excuse for a Government (i.e. both the BBC and Channel4) seem to seize every opportunity to give these horrid people publicity - and work - and our money.

Cormac Murphy O'Conman on 'Straight Talk'

I'm just watching Roman Catholic Archbishop Cormac Murphy O'Connor on Straight Talk with Andrew Neil. Not yet online, but there is a link to the schedule for this interview here.

His answers on the subject of the covering-up of paedophilia by Roman Catholic priests and Bishops were disingenuous to say the least. The only reason these odious hypocrites were forced into cleaning up their act is because the secular legal process, particularly in the US, caught up with their lies and prevarications and extracted huge financial penalties. They had no alternative but to change, or go bankrupt.

'Christian charity' means ...

... wishing good health and long life even to individuals such as this; Cardinal O'Brien has it seems been fitted with a heart pace-maker, following recent dizzy spells associated with a heart murmur he suffers from.

It might be tempting to assign the Cardinal's health problems to the [rightful] veangeance of the 'Almighty' for some of his less charitable (and dare I say it unChristian) views, even if I support his call for a 'free vote' on the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, although for purely libertarian reasons, not because I share his viewpoint on the 'evil' that this would represent. Yes, I know of his repugnant views and the stance he adopted on the possibility of children being adopted by same-sex couples when legislation on adoption was being debated a few years ago.

But then I, who do not believe in a 'God' and who as a consequence am hardly going to call myself a 'Christian', actually do believe in the fundamental goodness of all people, even people such as Cardional O'Brien. It would be extremely pleasing if many of those in the hierarchy or the Roman Catholic Church (and indeed in the hierarchies of many other Christian and non-Christian religious bodies) could once in a while promulgate views of inclusiveness rather than divisiveness. If, as I hope, Cardinal O'Brien will now enjoy many years of renewed vigour, having been fitted with a pace-maker, I can also hope that he may recall and begin to practise what is supposed to be the basis of the religion he preaches rather than the proscriptive moral posturing into which his Church has become diverted (and perverted) in its efforts to retain its traditional pastoral power in countries where significant numbers of its adherents reside. The views of O'Brien and senior people in his clique of co-religionists would be less farcical, if not more acceptable, had their stance on kiddie-fiddling over many years by priests not been so lamentable

Catholic Church politely told to 'get knotted' by Spanish government

The Spanish government has responded to critisism of recent social reforms in Spain by saying it would not accept "moral guardianship" from anyone.

Even the opposition Partido Popular (PP), although calling for "respect" for the church 'does not intend to abolish divorce and abortion as demanded by the Catholic hierarchy'. The PP is 'not even expected to cancel homosexual marriage, introduced by the Socialists, unless the Constitutional Court decided in favour of the party's earlier complaint against it'.

The statistics in the linked article about the level of adherence to the Catholic faith and the number of civil marriages and children born out of wedlock in recent years are ample evidence about the dwindling authority of the Church amongst ordinary Spanish people.