Wednesday 15 September 2010

'We, the Undervalued...'

The Guardian has printed a letter from the World of celebrity, science, comedy, literature, the media and other individuals in spheres of influence in the UK.

There are quite a few glaringly obvious reason why certain individuals are angered by Church Teaching and so despise the Pope for preaching the Gospel, but for me, the most interesting one of Professor Steve Jones, the geneticist, leading luminary in the Galton Institute (formerly the Eugenics Society) who, thanks to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, now has access to large quantities of human embryoes to run tests on them at the University College London (UCL) and God alone knows what else! If you read this article from 2004, it makes it quite clear just how into eugenics and just how into creating a vision of a 'new eugenics' which somehow loses its Nazi roots Professor Steve Jones is. It's almost, er, in his DNA, so to speak. Here is the letter he and other rich atheists have signed...

We, the undersigned, share the view that Pope Ratzinger should not be given the honour of a state visit to this country. We believe that the pope, as a citizen of Europe and the leader of a religion with many adherents in the UK, is of course free to enter and tour our country.

However, as well as a religious leader, the pope is a head of state, and the state and organisation of which he is head has been responsible for:

Opposing the distribution of condoms and so increasing large families in poor countries and the spread of Aids.

Promoting segregated education.

Denying abortion to even the most vulnerable women.

Opposing equal rights for lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Failing to address the many cases of abuse of children within its own organisation.

The state of which the pope is head has also resisted signing many major human rights treaties and has formed its own treaties ("concordats") with many states which negatively affect the human rights of citizens of those states. In any case, we reject the masquerading of the Holy See as a state and the pope as a head of state as merely a convenient fiction to amplify the international influence of the Vatican.

They even got his name wrong! Anyway, here is a letter, which you can sign, and we can send to The Guardian ahead of the Pope's visit telling readers why we welcome the Holy Father to the UK...

We, the undersigned, welcome His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI to the UK as both Head of State of the Holy See and as leader of the World's one billion Catholics and to the Catholic community of the United Kingdom. We believe that his presence in our country comes at an urgent and pressing time, highlighting the trends in our country that serve only to denigrate human rights and human dignity. We support him wholeheartedly because in guarding the Deposit of Faith he:

Opposes the destruction of human life in the womb and values human life from conception to natural death.

Opposes the trend towards refashioning the institution of Marriage, thereby denigrating its inherent stability, rooted in the natural order, as being between one man and one woman.

Opposes the trend in the UK towards testing on human embryoes, experimenting upon them and stripping the unborn of dignity, under a hitherto illusory and deceitful justification that this form of experimentation will yield medical benefits for mankind.

Has worked tirelessly to change the culture of the Catholic Church to take very seriously allegations or incidences of child abuse. He has, in his Church career, made the scourge of child abuse an issue which should be brought to the attention of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to be investigated and acted upon effectively, setting up child protection procedures and policies which now make the Catholic Church the safest place for a child to be. He has offered his time, his prayers and has met personally victims of child abuse and has made statements of the Church's penitence regarding crimes committed by clergy against the child, promoted reconciliation and healing of the victims.

Promotes a vision of humanity which advocates a culture of life, stability, marriage, lifelong fidelity and love in which children are welcomed, rather than destroyed, in which human beings are open to new life, opposing vigorously a culture that treats the possibility of new life with contempt.

Upholds the innate, God-given dignity of all human beings regardless of their sexual orientation or social background and upholds the rights and dignity of society's most vulnerable, the poor, the starving, the outcasts, prisoners, the mentally ill and distressed, the disabled, elderly, sick and all those who are so often disregarded by the rest of society. We thank him for encouraging the Faithful regularly to serve those who are on the margins of society and in whom Christ is served.
Proclaims the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins, Christ Crucified. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI proclaims that because of Christ's Life, Death and Resurrection, men and women can be reconciled to their Creator and hope for Heaven within His Church.. 

There are so many reasons for welcoming the Holy Father to this country, but the two letters signify the clash of cultures caused by the Church - the Sign of Contradiction to the World.

Sign in the comments box if you would like and I'll send it off.

Do we require towns where we live for these letters? Didn't look like it for Fry, Jones and Rayner! Anyway, here's the list so far. Keep 'em coming! More signatories than the letter for Fry and Co already!

Daniel Mallon, Mossend, Bellshill, Scotland
Katherine Rickards, Horsham
Dr Justin Wong (Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge)
Mary Blyth
Antonia Robinson

Richard Yates, Worsley, Manchester
Mac McLernon, Blackfen, Kent
Rev Fr Patrick Brennan
Fr. Stephen D. Brown, University of Bradford
Seth Phipps
Fr Raymond Blake, St Mary Magdalen Church, Brighton
Natasa Wilkie
Laurence England, Brighton
Michael Nicholson
Paul Waddington
Damian Ryan
Ros Pearson
Dominic Heaney
Patti Fordyce
Elizabeth McLernon, Brighton
Oscar Pinnington
Lucy Pinnington
Dr. Timothy Stanley, Leverhulme Fellow, Royal Holloway College, University of London.
Pauline Gately
Mike Forbester, York
Anthony Dickinson
Mr. & Mrs. David Bradley
Annie Mackie-Savage
Jeff Mackie-Savage
Leo Darroch, International Federation Una Voce
Terry Martin, Horsham
Fr Nigel Griffin, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Guy Nevard
Annalisa Panelli Hamilton
Maureen Dawson
Benedict Kobus
Dr Anthony Dykes, University of Manchester
Claire McMillan, Aberdeen
Professor David Paton (Chair of Economics, Nottingham University)
Dr. Isobel Camp
Delia Gaze
Daniel Gribbon
J Hickey
Paddy Stanford
Jim Roche
Kevin O'Brien
Robin Farrow
Brian Crowe, Stronsay, Orkney
Margaret Crowe,Stronsay, Orkney
Clare Griffiths
Carol Ann McKechnie
Michael McKechnie
Emma Rose McKechnie
Callum McKechnie
Ryan McKechnie
Dominic Newman
Father John Boyce
Sandy Morris
Sue Sims
Ray Doherty
Major D Wilson
Michael Carchrie Campbell
Liz Masebo
Patrick Carberry, London
Clare Carberry, London
Liz Masebo
Helen Parry
Marguerita Carroll
Dr Brian Sudlow, University of Reading
Karla Mayers
Erica Mayers
Kevin Burgess
Fr. Mark Naughton
Nick Holland
Celia Longley
David Jones, London
Edward Thompson
Marysia Dembinski
Judith Benson
George Horvath, Brighton
Dianne Brennan, Brighon
Michael Armes, Brighton

Best we get this in to The Guardian before the end of the working day. Well done for signing!

It is now...SENT


I wonder if they'll print it? I mean, we know they're a liberal paper, into freedom of speech and opinion and the like, so ideologically at least, I can't see any reason why they'd omit this letter. We've got more signatories than Stephen Fry, after all...

96 comments:

Mulier Fortis said...

Bones, Count me in...

I sign the bottom letter welcoming the Holy Father!

Mac McLernon

Fr Patrick said...

Excellent Letter! Please add my Name: Rev Fr Patrick Brennan.

Fr. Stephen Brown said...

I'll gladly sign Laurence.
Fr. Stephen D. Brown
University of Bradford

Seth said...

Great letter - please add my name to the signatures (Seth Phipps).

God bless you - doing something useful, unlike the likes of me, just sitting around grumbling about how terrible it all is!!!

Fr Ray Blake said...

Add my signature

Natasa said...

Brilliant. I definitely want to be included.

Natasa Wilkie.

The Bones said...

Laurence England, Brighton

Anonymous said...

Michael Nicholson

Et Expecto said...

Please add my name:

Paul Waddington.

Unknown said...

Damian Ryan

me said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dominic said...

Please add my name

Dominic Heaney

pattif said...

Superb letter - count me in.

Patti Fordyce

Edwin said...

Please add my name (thought am not sure about 'the' at the start of your letter! +Edwin

pelerin said...

Please add my name.

devonfarmer said...

I gladly add my signature
Geoffrey Pitts

Lucy said...

We would like to sign - Oscar and Lucy Pinnington

Anonymous said...

Good work Laurence - put me down. My title is: Dr. Timothy Stanley, Leverhulme Fellow, Royal Holloway College, University of London.

What a ghastly bunch of intolerant, Neo-Nazi goons those signatories are. In a more enlightened age, they'd be burned for heresy. trs

PaulineG said...

Thank you so much for this.

Please add my name.

Pauline Gately

Michael Ryan said...

Please add my name

Michael Ryan

Mike Forbester said...

Count me in.

Mike Forbester
York

Anthony Dickinson said...

I am a no-one but a simple layman and I am happy to sign with the thought in mind of the blood and testimony of the Martyrs of England, Wales and Scotland.

Anthony Dickinson

Anonymous said...

Mr. & Mrs. David Bradley
will gladly sign this excellent letter!!

Annie said...

Add ours too please!

Annie Mackie-Savage
Jeff Mackie-Savage

Natasa said...

I've posted this on the Catholic Answers Forum and hopefully a few signatures will come from there too.

Leo Darroch said...

A wonderful initiative. Please add my name.

Leo Darroch, International Federation Una Voce.

St John's, Horsham said...

Terry Martin

Nigel Griffin said...

Please add my name:

Fr Nigel Griffin
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Guy Nevard said...

Ill Sign, Guy Nevard.

Yours in Christ said...

I sign the letter welcoming the Holy Father!

Annalisa Panelli Hamilton

Anonymous said...

Please add my name - Maureen Dawson.

Ben said...

Please add my signature.

Benedict Kobus

quaerens intellectum said...

I sign
Dr Anthony Dykes
University of Manchester
M13 9PL

Anonymous said...

Please post on my behalf
Claire McMillan
Aberdeen

Unknown said...

I would like to be included on the signatures for this excellent letter.

David

Professor David Paton
(Chair of Economics, Nottingham University)

Isobel Camp said...

Isobel Camp

Please, add my signature.

Dr. Isobel Camp

Delia said...

Please sign me up: Delia Gaze

But please also get rid of the 'the' before 'His Holiness'!

Daniel said...

Please add my name:

Daniel Gribbon

Anonymous said...

J Hickey:

God bless our Church and we welcome His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, who is Christ's vicar on earth, to our country.

Anonymous said...

I agree with every one of your statements.
Paddy Stanford.

Anonymous said...

Maybe specify 'The Holy See' rather than 'Vatican City'.

Jim Roche

Paddy Stanford said...

I agree with all you say. Please sign me up.
Paddy Stanford.

Kevin O'Brien said...

It is my dearest wish to sign and welcome His Holiness to Great Britain

Robin Farrow said...

Robin Farrow

umblepie said...

Add our names please:
Brian & Margaret Crowe,Stronsay, Orkney.
Thanks and well done!

Anita Moore said...

I'm an American and not in Britain, but if I were to be included as a member of the English-speaking world, I'd like to be signed

Anita Moore, Esq., OPL

Clare Griffiths said...

Excellent letter, happy to put my name to it. God bless our Holy Father and may his visit to our soils be a positive faith affirming experience for all involved.

Clare Griffiths

Unknown said...

Thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful response. God Bless.
Please add our names to this list.
Carol Ann McKechnie
Michael McKechnie
Emma Rose McKechnie
Callum McKechnie
Ryan McKechnie

Dominic Newman said...

Dominic Newman

Unknown said...

Thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful response. God Bless.
Please add our names to this list:
Carol McKechnie
Michael McKechnie
Callum McKechnie
Ryan McKechnie
Emma Rose McKechnie

Unknown said...

Father John Boyce

sandy said...

Please add my name.
Sandy Morris.

Sue Sims said...

Sue Sims

But I do wonder whether the Grauniad will print it...

Anonymous said...

Sign me up!

Richard Yates, Worsley, Manchester

Anonymous said...

Thank you!

Ray Doherty

frd said...

Add me too:
Major D Wilson

Michael Carchrie Campbell said...

Add my signature too.

epsilon said...

Please add my name

Liz Masebo

Clare@ BattlementsOfRubies said...

Thanks Laurence, count us in.
Patrick and Clare Carberry. London.

Ches said...

Please add me too:

Dr Brian Sudlow, University of Reading

Anonymous said...

Please add my signature.

Marguerita Carroll

Helen Parry said...

Please add the following names:
Ann Parry
Kenneth Parry
Helen Parry

Anonymous said...

Add these names please:

Karla Mayers
Erika Mayers

David Jones said...

David Jones, London

Celia said...

Celia Longley

Anonymous said...

I hope that the Guardian print your excellent letter!

Nick Holland

St. Ignatius, Ossett said...

Avertantur retrorsum, et erubescant.

Please add. Many thanks and God Bless.

Fr. Mark Naughton

Kevin Burgess said...

Please add my name to the signatories because our society needs to given the truth as much now, if not more, than ever before.

Anonymous said...

Please add my name:

Edward Thompson

Anonymous said...

Please add my name.

Judith Benson

Anonymous said...

Please add my name

Marysia Dembinski

Danny Mallon said...

Please add my name:

Daniel Mallon
Mossend
Bellshill
Scotland

kleine_katerine said...

Count me in!

Katherine Rickards
Horsham, West Sussex

justin said...

Sign my name -

Dr Justin Wong,
Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge

Michael Clifton said...

I would certainly have signed if you had left it open a little longer. I am sure you would have obtained many more signatures if you had left it open for say a full 24 hours. Perhaps you could suggest a further letter. I blog as Fr. Mildew by the way.

Kate said...

Very sorry that I saw this, alas, too late.
Thank you for writing this letter in support of the Holy Father, which I would have gladly signed.

The Bones said...

Yes, Father, but I thought that if there were a chance, getting it in today would be better. It isn't necessarily about numbers - it shows that Mr Fry does not speak for all - he speaks for the 'celebriati'.

Antonia Robinson said...

So sorry that I saw this too late -- my husband and I would have been delighted to sign.
-Antonia Robinson

Mary Blyth & family, Glasgow said...

Thank you for defending our Holy Father. We will have a great 4 days.

Michael Gollop said...

I think I'm too too late but if a reluctant Anglican is welcome to sign, count me in!

Asteroid said...

I'd sign but I'm too late. I hope the letter is printed - and if it is that it gets the same amount of coverage on Radio 4 as the other letter.

Ashley Monk, B.D., M.Th. Bangor, Gwynedd

Bryan said...

Sorry, Laurence, I'm dissenting on this one.

Apart from the ante-penultimate paragraph one could replace or substitute the words "Dalai Lama" for "Benedict XVI" in this letter.

We need the Pope to unapologetically reach the Gospel of Jesus Christ not the Good News of Human Rights - Egalite , fraternite etc..

I hope the Pope is going to speak about Our Lord Jesus Christ and Commandments he has given us to follow. Less talk of Human Rights and more talk about the duty of the Creature towards Christ Jesus his Creator.

Then we need to hear an outspoken message about the need to ask Our Blessed Mother to intercede for us to the Father.

Sorry Bones but your letter misses the mark.

Bryan said...

Sorry "preach" the Gospel of Jesus Christ not "reach"!

The Bones said...

Bryan. Good point.

It is The Guardian and I wanted the letter to act as a rebuttal to the points raised by Fry and Co.

On reflection, you are right. Without the redeeming Blood of Christ, shed for us, it does not make much sense.

forcefullsoul said...

Please add my name

Neil D'Aguiar
Director of Spirituality
Richard Challoner School

Pilgrim said...

Count me in!

David Martin, London

johnf said...

I would also sign but I have been out all day and presumably have missed the deadline.

I will be pleasantly surprised if the Guardian prints the letter.

Dr John Fannon

anjibennett said...

If I'm not too late, please add me
Angela Bennett

Unknown said...

And me if possible. Dr Rupert Beale

Richard Collins said...

If too late, hsave a signature in spirit.

Richard Collins

James P said...

I think I'm too late - but good job!

Good to see you last week!

Anonymous said...

Cathy Kay
This letter has helped me feel stronger. Please add my name.

Terence said...

If not too late I should like to sign the letter.

Anonymous said...

Good job in standing up for the Pope and the people of the Church. Liz Gonzalez.

Sonja Woodman said...

I'm sorry I missed it!! Perhaps my thoughts of support can be counted instead. I'm dismayed at the negativity coming out regarding the Pope's visit - even from quarters otherwise respected!

Mike & Gwen Telford said...

Yes, I too would like to have signed the letter - Mike Telford

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