Do you know how hot I am?

The article I came across on the Telegraph website about British men dressing badly in the heat rather reminded me of. . .

Schooling in Central London

We read today in the papers of David Cameron admitting his worry about finding a decent state school for his children. He is right, of course, that some parents have no access to decent schooling for their children. Poor areas have poor schools which give a poor education to their poor pupils who will, in all likelihood, remain poor because of it. It is a vicious catch-22 which I strongly hope our new government can solve.

Personally, though, I can't understand by Cameron can't just simply pack his kids off to public school. Why should they be denied the superb education he enjoyed? Tony Blair did the same thing of course But that was to please the leftist social engineers in his party, and he anyway he packed them off to one of the finest state schools in London. Dave's reason is obviously political too. Sad, isn't it.

New Blog

The Diary of an Intern is a blog, justed started yesterday by a friend of mine who asked me to restart this one to give him a bit of publicity, surrounding a fictional researcher in the Palace of Westminster. The main protagonist is LittleBagCarrer, a machiavellian aspiring politician who will do anything to further his career. There's only one post at the moment but I've seem some of the funny stories in store and it looks like a certain worthwhile read.

Keep Sunday Trading

One of the bloggers over at ConHome is making the case for the total abolition of Sunday trading laws. Another typical so-called conservative dressing up free-market anarchy in the name of Toryism. I'm by no means opposed to free enterprise and free markets but there have to be some limits. The first commenter for instance made the point of employees being forced to work longer hours on a Sunday. A perfectly reasonable point to make, but there are others: what can people buy in an additional six hours on a Sunday (boxing day or not) which they can't buy any day? Why can't people spend time with their families rather than feel pressured into throwing money at the altars of retail? Why are these awful liberals who now infest a once great party doing everything they can to upset tradition in the name of money-making?

Of course we need to get the economy back on track but we don't do it by encouraging people to spend more money which they don't have.

Recognise dissent for what it is

That, to me, was one of the key messages to the English bishops on their visit to Rome this week. Not some anti-gay rant which was cooked up by some (probably self-defining 'ex-Catholic') hack in the media. I've picked out what I consider to be one of the most important messages - certainly for maintaining the traditional  doctrines of the Church. I suppose we can go away with something different but the problem is that with such a homogenous response from the media about the Pope attacking gay people, surely one would expect to find a direct reference?

Here is what His Holiness actually said.

He said:

Dear Brother Bishops, 

I welcome all of you on your ad Limina visit to Rome, where you have come to venerate the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul. I thank you for the kind words that Archbishop Vincent Nichols has addressed to me on your behalf, and I offer you my warmest good wishes and prayers for yourselves and all the faithful of England and Wales entrusted to your pastoral care. Your visit to Rome strengthens the bonds of communion between the Catholic community in your country and the Apostolic See, a communion that sustained your people’s faith for centuries, and today provides fresh energies for renewal and evangelization. Even amid the pressures of a secular age, there are many signs of living faith and devotion among the Catholics of England and Wales. I am thinking, for example, of the enthusiasm generated by the visit of the relics of Saint Thérèse, the interest aroused by the prospect of Cardinal Newman’s beatification, and the eagerness of young people to take part in pilgrimages and World Youth Days. On the occasion of my forthcoming Apostolic Visit to Great Britain, I shall be able to witness that faith for myself and, as Successor of Peter, to strengthen and confirm it. During the months of preparation that lie ahead, be sure to encourage the Catholics of England and Wales in their devotion, and assure them that the Pope constantly remembers them in his prayers and holds them in his heart. 

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. I urge you as Pastors to ensure that the Church’s moral teaching be always presented in its entirety and convincingly defended. Fidelity to the Gospel in no way restricts the freedom of others – on the contrary, it serves their freedom by offering them the truth. Continue to insist upon your right to participate in national debate through respectful dialogue with other elements in society. In doing so, you are not only maintaining longstanding British traditions of freedom of expression and honest exchange of opinion, but you are actually giving voice to the convictions of many people who lack the means to express them: when so many of the population claim to be Christian, how could anyone dispute the Gospel’s right to be heard?

If the full saving message of Christ is to be presented effectively and convincingly to the world, the Catholic community in your country needs to speak with a united voice. This requires not only you, the Bishops, but also priests, teachers, catechists, writers – in short all who are engaged in the task of communicating the Gospel – to be attentive to the promptings of the Spirit, who guides the whole Church into the truth, gathers her into unity and inspires her with missionary zeal.

Make it your concern, then, to draw on the considerable gifts of the lay faithful in England and Wales and see that they are equipped to hand on the faith to new generations comprehensively, accurately, and with a keen awareness that in so doing they are playing their part in the Church’s mission. In a social milieu that encourages the expression of a variety of opinions on every question that arises, it is important to recognize dissent for what it is, and not to mistake it for a mature contribution to a balanced and wide-ranging debate. It is the truth revealed through Scripture and Tradition and articulated by the Church’s Magisterium that sets us free. Cardinal Newman realized this, and he left us an outstanding example of faithfulness to revealed truth by following that "kindly light" wherever it led him, even at considerable personal cost. Great writers and communicators of his stature and integrity are needed in the Church today, and it is my hope that devotion to him will inspire many to follow in his footsteps. 

Much attention has rightly been given to Newman’s scholarship and to his extensive writings, but it is important to remember that he saw himself first and foremost as a priest. In this Annus Sacerdotalis, I urge you to hold up to your priests his example of dedication to prayer, pastoral sensitivity towards the needs of his flock, and passion for preaching the Gospel.You yourselves should set a similar example. Be close to your priests, and rekindle their sense of the enormous privilege and joy of standing among the people of God as alter Christus. In Newman’s words, "Christ’s priests have no priesthood but His … what they do, He does; when they baptize, He is baptizing; when they bless, He is blessing" (Parochial and Plain Sermons, VI 242). Indeed, since the priest plays an irreplaceable role in the life of the Church, spare no effort in encouraging priestly vocations and emphasizing to the faithful the true meaning and necessity of the priesthood. Encourage the lay faithful to express their appreciation of the priests who serve them, and to recognize the difficulties they sometimes face on account of their declining numbers and increasing pressures. The support and understanding of the faithful is particularly necessary when parishes have to be merged or Mass times adjusted. Help them to avoid any temptation to view the clergy as mere functionaries but rather to rejoice in the gift of priestly ministry, a gift that can never be taken for granted.

Ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue assume great importance in England and Wales, given the varied demographic profile of the population. As well as encouraging you in your important work in these areas, I would ask you to be generous in implementing the provisions of the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus, so as to assist those groups of Anglicans who wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. I am convince that, if given a warm and open-hearted welcome, such groups will be a blessing for the entire Church.

With these thoughts, I commend your apostolic ministry to the intercession of Saint David, Saint George and all the saints and martyrs of England and Wales. May Our Lady of Walsingham guide and protect you always. To all of you, and to the priests, religious and lay faithful of your country, I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of peace and joy in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pope Benedict XVI

I emphasised the supposedly contentious passage. Hardly Bonfire of Vanities is it? It doesn't mention homosexuality at all.

In his entire address he says that England, Mary's Dowry, is in his prayers; that the Church has an important role to play in society and that the role of the priest is extremely important. So much for honesty and balance in the media . . .

The Young Fogey Handbook

Whilst rummaging through some old bits and pieces this afternoon I came across an old favourtie which I haven't read for years. It's a book entitled 'The Young Fogey Handbook', edited by Suzanne Lory. Written in the mid-1980s when being a Young Fogey was all the rage - it takes one through all aspects of Young Fogey culture (or sub-culture, perhaps?) including fashion (nothing but a thick, tweed suit please), architecture, churchmanship and food. Young Fogeys love thick-cut toast with thick-cut marmalade, boiled eggs (with solders, naturally), bread and butter puddings, or milk puddings generally whilst eschewing 'small helpings' and 'designer food.'

On the drinks section I was glad to see all my own favourites, claret, sherry, port and ovaltine and relived the horror at some of the less appealing aspects of Fogeyism - the omission of oral hygeine and general neglect of outward appearance as well as the disapproval of Mrs Thatcher.

Nevertheless, Fogey or not, the Handbook is a thoroughly good, quick and amusing read and I strongly suggest you invest in a copy!

The Young Fogey Handbook

Silly Things

Anybody interested in silly paraphernalia connected with the Knights of Malta and other things might be interested in this website. It sells everything from lapel pins and jewellery to perfume via military medals.

Perhaps a British medal from the first world war?

Or, just beneath it, the irony of which did amuse me:

 

I suppose it's a case of pick your side if you ever find yourself in need of a costume or fake decorations? Sadly the site doesn't feature any Knights of Malta 'tat.' But one could always just sign up through the Irish Province I suppose. . .