In Praise of Paul Priest

Bloggers of the World, unite!

William Oddie is keeping up the fight at The Catholic Herald on the Archbishop of Westminster Vs Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith saga.

Of course, a 'battle scenario' between the Vatican and the English Catholic Church is not how this issue is being presented in the majority of the Catholic press or mainstream press, but there is little doubt that that is what it now is, if we take the Holy Faith seriously.

Particularly good commentary from Paul Priest, I thought, on Dr Oddie's article. Sorry, Paul, I've edited your comment a little. Here he is, on the position of the Bishops Conference. Paul doesn't pull any punches. If only our Bishops were as ready to tell it as it is. I thought Paul's comment was particularly good as it is something of a round-up recent disasters. Anyway, I'll let him do the talking. Missed opportunities to defend Christ's Bride are in yellow, numbered, bold.

'Sorry Dr Oddie but I'm afraid you're on a hiding to nothing. They don't care - they've conceded that they've lost the fight so there's no point really fighting. They're simply preparing the way for their future justifications for withdrawing the Church from performing Civic marriages - Once 'same-sex marriage' is designated as such and 'equality' legislation finally bullies its way into forcing Churches to perform all forms of marriage or be proscribed from performing any civic marriages. 

Ben Summerskill of Stonewall stated that was their intention years ago; Peter Tatchell repeated the same demands over the weekend. They will get their way - no Government wants to be accused of homophobia. Ultimately any Catholic who wishes to marry will have to go through both a civic and a religious ceremony. Irrespective of what the Anglicans say now - once the law is changed and same sex unions are legally deemed as marriage - they will either fall into line or they will withdraw from the civic aspect - and we'll emulate places like France and Russia where a religious ceremony - even by the established church of the land - will mean nothing legally.

[1.] +Vincent is just citing platitudes - not wanting to be seen as homophobic - not wanting to rock any boat - and just waiting for the inevitable [which of course doesn't have to be!]. For +Vincent it's 'let the Scots do the shouting and fighting; and after the dust has settled we'll pretend to have always been sympathetic to the winning side' It's despicable - but it's politics! We should be used to it by now. With +Vincent it's simply 'don't rock the boat' 'be a man for all seasons [with as many faces]'

But this whole 'gay marriage' thing is nothing in comparison to what else Bishops' Conference have done! [2.] Remember +Smith halting a backbench rebellion against the Mental Capacity Act by sending round a note to the House of Commons saying 'The Church doesn't have a problem with it'? Or +Smith again when he 'welcomed' the relaxation on assisted suicide guidelines for prosecution?

[3.] Do we need to go into the Machiavellian Machinations of the CESEW? Not only are abortion-mongering [4.] Connexions been given conference blessing to work in Catholic schools - we were on the verge of a nightmare scenario last year where [with Oona Stannard's conspiracy] we almost had Catholic schools being banned from saying abortion and extra-marital sex was wrong outside a religion class!

I just don't get why everyone seems to be so submissive, compliant and complacent - underage sex is being promoted, contraception and abortifacients are being provided, and abortion referrals are given - all under the roof of a Catholic school in the strictest confidence - even for those under the age of consent! Are we insane? Why are we letting this happen? Why isn't every Catholic on the streets? Or camped outside Eccleston Square until this diabolical evil is removed from our schools? Surely all the Catholic teachers and governors know? Surely all our clerics? So why is it happening?

But wait a minute. [5.] We also have a conference which endorses the Liverpool Care Pathway - which prescribes Euthanasia via the removal of nutrition and hydration. So if we have a Bishops' Conference [under +Vincent's tenure] which signs off/on, and turns a blind eye to Abortion and Euthanasia - why should we be so shocked that suddenly they betray the teachings on the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on what constitutes Marriage and Marital Lovemaking and how in the name of all sanity can we do anything about it because the CDF know exactly what Conference has done - and exactly what +Vincent is like? But nothing's being done about it.

Is there not one Bishop who will take a stand and say 'No!" ? One with the guts to take a stand and tell Conference to shove their syncretist, relativist heterodoxies and their murder-conspiring policies where the sun doesn't shine? Surely Bishop Davies will? Or Bishop Doyle? Or one of the others who we all know are decent good men but shamefully negligent of their Apostolic mandate? Surely one of them will say 'No!' ? This is a nightmare scenario and their turning a blind eye at four male or four female bare legs in a bed is just the tip of the iceberg.'

Paul works hard raising awareness on Catholic sites about the catalogue of hasty retreats from proclaiming the Gospel undertaken by a number of our Shepherds. A great summary, Paul. Can you tell us more about the scandal of St John & St Elizabeth Hospital as well, please? A post on that is well overdue.