What is it with Iceland? First they can't control their dam banks so fritter all our money away and then they can't control their bloody volcano which succeeds where Al Qaeda has historically failed because they've managed to shut down our entire air space indefinitely. What a disaster, particularly for my friends stuck out in Arizona, forced to endure even more endless sunshine and great sounding sporting activities. My heart bleeds.
I've just watched the first party leader debate on the UK's Independent Television network. Well, never mind who said what - who looked best? Nick Clegg got my vote for the best tie, David Cameron won for the best suit and Gordon ... oh gawd. Well done to ITV for screening a question from a token Jewish person and showing that they had someone in a muslim head dress in the studio audience. So P.C. So pukey.
When our leader and would-be leaders got to the question of law and order, Clegg and Brown talked a load of rubbish but Cameron seemed to have the right ideas on longer and more punitive sentences for crimes affecting people's lives. But we're always told that our prisons are overcrowded so they haven't got the room have they? Don't worry, I think I've come up with the solution. We must round up the criminals and tie them all together with a thick rope in a very tight bunch. Then ship 'em to Iceland and pop them as a 'cork', headfirst into the mountain top to stem the volcanic eruption.
Voilà! Two birds with one stone and all that. Roll on May 7th.
Thursday 15 April 2010
Sunday 4 April 2010
It's a sin
Hail Mary, full of grace. Until last Friday, did anyone know that the Pope has his very own personal preacher? How cool is that? I think we should all have one of those; someone on hand just to give us a little preach here or there whenever we need one. I’m thinking of appointing one myself but I can’t decide how to write the job spec. Would it be full or part time? And should the Preacher follow me around everywhere and, well, preach? Must I set him some monthly preaching targets and would he expect an annual job review and merit salary increases? A bonus perhaps for exceptional or outstanding preaching? So many questions, so little time.
Anyway, last week, the Pope’s personal preacher made a Good Friday address at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. He said that recent attacks on the Pope and the Church were comparable to the persecution suffered by the Jews who “know from experience what it means to be victims of collective violence” and are thus “quick to recognise the recurring symptoms.” He went on to tell the congregation that he’d received a letter from one of his good Jewish friends who had written that “the use of stereotypes and the shifting of personal responsibility to a collective guilt reminds me of some of the more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism suffered by Jews under the Nazis.” Aaah, that old chestnut. The Catholic Church can talk about the War now because back in 2000, the Pope apologised to the Jewish faith for his Church's role in it. So that’s all OK then, we’re all friends now.
The Vatican really must be luxuriating in its very own little bubble of smug self-righteousness if it can’t see just how offensive and out of touch this sort of rubbish is.
Let’s have a think about this. First, how very admirable that Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the Pope’s personal preacher has a Jewish friend. Very well done and three cheers to him in demonstrating so publicly how clued up and right-on his is in widening his social circle beyond the hallowed walls of the Vatican. I’m sure he wanted us all to know how by mixing with a variety of people (and yes, even Jews) he has much more a well-rounded understanding of human nature. Friends, let’s give him a round of applause and big respect. Next, he’ll be telling us that some of his best friends are Jews or excuse me, was that implicit?
Secondly, which particular ‘aspects of anti-semitism suffered by the Jews under the Nazis’ weren’t shameful? I’m trying really, really hard to think of some but (and perhaps it’s just me) I simply can’t come up with any that were sort of OK rather than shameful. Perhaps it was the early book burning that Father Cantalamessa finds acceptable? Has anyone tried to burn the Pope’s books recently, attempted to take away his job or ban him from any particular schools, restaurants or modes of public transport?
Maybe it was the deportations that weren’t really that bad. Has anyone endeavoured to deport the Pope for no reason at all or indeed suggested that his job should be forcibly taken from him and given to someone else?
Could it be that robbing people of valuables has some merit? Have any uniformed thugs tried to rob the Pope of all of his valuables or to pull out his gold fillings in the last few weeks?
In fact, has anyone said or done anything to make the Pope fearful for his life or well being in any meaningful way? I’m sure that they haven’t because that really would be shameful. Hey Father Cantalamessa – Hellooo! Media and public comment is one of the horrid inconveniences that a free society must suffer in order to remain free so just get over it. If the Pope can’t take the heat, he should take himself back to Germany.
Finally, what a huge insult to the people whose lives have been demonlished by the criminal paedophillic activities of Catholic priests. For the record Father Cantalamessa, the jury’s out on whether Pope Benedict’s unit that investigated child abuse amongst Priests attempted to ‘crack-down’ or ‘cover-up’ and very often, there’s no smoke without fire. It’s not the Pope who suffered at the hands of child abusers but it is him who perhaps should have acted and spoken up sooner, louder and far more forcibly than he chose to do. In words of few syllables Father Cantalamessa, let me explain that it is this that so many people are so upset about. So now Pope Benedict has to face a little public criticism for his role (or lack of it) in this sorry affair. Well boo hoo, we all feel really sorry for him.
Whether the Pope is personally culpable or not, he’s the leader and the buck stops with him. Shame on you for your sickening comparisons, shame on the perpetrators and shame on the conspirators within your Church who knowingly kept this all under wraps for so long. It’s a sin.
Anyway, last week, the Pope’s personal preacher made a Good Friday address at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. He said that recent attacks on the Pope and the Church were comparable to the persecution suffered by the Jews who “know from experience what it means to be victims of collective violence” and are thus “quick to recognise the recurring symptoms.” He went on to tell the congregation that he’d received a letter from one of his good Jewish friends who had written that “the use of stereotypes and the shifting of personal responsibility to a collective guilt reminds me of some of the more shameful aspects of anti-Semitism suffered by Jews under the Nazis.” Aaah, that old chestnut. The Catholic Church can talk about the War now because back in 2000, the Pope apologised to the Jewish faith for his Church's role in it. So that’s all OK then, we’re all friends now.
The Vatican really must be luxuriating in its very own little bubble of smug self-righteousness if it can’t see just how offensive and out of touch this sort of rubbish is.
Let’s have a think about this. First, how very admirable that Father Raniero Cantalamessa, the Pope’s personal preacher has a Jewish friend. Very well done and three cheers to him in demonstrating so publicly how clued up and right-on his is in widening his social circle beyond the hallowed walls of the Vatican. I’m sure he wanted us all to know how by mixing with a variety of people (and yes, even Jews) he has much more a well-rounded understanding of human nature. Friends, let’s give him a round of applause and big respect. Next, he’ll be telling us that some of his best friends are Jews or excuse me, was that implicit?
Secondly, which particular ‘aspects of anti-semitism suffered by the Jews under the Nazis’ weren’t shameful? I’m trying really, really hard to think of some but (and perhaps it’s just me) I simply can’t come up with any that were sort of OK rather than shameful. Perhaps it was the early book burning that Father Cantalamessa finds acceptable? Has anyone tried to burn the Pope’s books recently, attempted to take away his job or ban him from any particular schools, restaurants or modes of public transport?
Maybe it was the deportations that weren’t really that bad. Has anyone endeavoured to deport the Pope for no reason at all or indeed suggested that his job should be forcibly taken from him and given to someone else?
Could it be that robbing people of valuables has some merit? Have any uniformed thugs tried to rob the Pope of all of his valuables or to pull out his gold fillings in the last few weeks?
In fact, has anyone said or done anything to make the Pope fearful for his life or well being in any meaningful way? I’m sure that they haven’t because that really would be shameful. Hey Father Cantalamessa – Hellooo! Media and public comment is one of the horrid inconveniences that a free society must suffer in order to remain free so just get over it. If the Pope can’t take the heat, he should take himself back to Germany.
Finally, what a huge insult to the people whose lives have been demonlished by the criminal paedophillic activities of Catholic priests. For the record Father Cantalamessa, the jury’s out on whether Pope Benedict’s unit that investigated child abuse amongst Priests attempted to ‘crack-down’ or ‘cover-up’ and very often, there’s no smoke without fire. It’s not the Pope who suffered at the hands of child abusers but it is him who perhaps should have acted and spoken up sooner, louder and far more forcibly than he chose to do. In words of few syllables Father Cantalamessa, let me explain that it is this that so many people are so upset about. So now Pope Benedict has to face a little public criticism for his role (or lack of it) in this sorry affair. Well boo hoo, we all feel really sorry for him.
Whether the Pope is personally culpable or not, he’s the leader and the buck stops with him. Shame on you for your sickening comparisons, shame on the perpetrators and shame on the conspirators within your Church who knowingly kept this all under wraps for so long. It’s a sin.
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