Reading the paper before Mass is not a good way of preparation. That is not how I prepare, but it is usually how I drink my morning coffee. There is no decent picture that I could add to mark this story so I offer it without one. The story in this morning's
Telegraph is so shameful and embarrassing for this government that words do not begin to explain the utter shocking level of the infantile behaviour. I am so sorry that the Holy Father has to put up with such ridiculous mean-spirited behaviour from such ill-intentioned people. What was shocking to me was the reassignment of those involved rather than something more severe. But, in a government of inequality that we are presently living under it is no surprise really. I wonder if a Catholic will be given the opportunity to ask the three candidates about this at the next election debate as the question about their view of the Pope's visit to Britain last week and his Catholic teaching! We will see...To mock the Pope like this is to mock every single Catholic in the country and I believe every single Catholic in this country ought to let #10 know how offended we are this week! Give the article a read for yourself and take a look at the actual
memo that the Telegraph provides--amazing! A portion from the article in the Telegraph reads,
The proposals, which were then circulated among key officials in Downing Street and Whitehall, also include the Pope opening an abortion ward; spending the night in a council flat in Bradford; doing forward rolls with children to promote healthy living; and even performing a duet with the Queen.
In reference to the hugely sensitive issue of child abuse engulfing the Catholic Church, the Government document suggests that the Pope should take a “harder line on child abuse – announce sacking of dodgy bishops” and “launch helpline for abused children”.
The document was sent out by a junior Foreign Office civil servant with a covering note admitting that some of the plans were “far-fetched”.
I realise that this could be the immaturity of some young member of the Foreign Office but in the recent developments on the media's attacks on the HF, one would expect a bit more maturity coming from the Foreign Office in preparation for the Pope's visit. In addition to the outrage of the memo it must be very embarrassing for our government to have such ridiculous nonsense coming from this government's civil servants. Is there an anti-Catholic bias in the media and government? Let the reader understand...
28 comments:
Since it was a member of her govenment department that drew the document up, the Queen should now be forced to make a public apology to the Pope and to all of her subjects who have been hurt and offended by these comments - or is it just the Pope who has to apologise for something he had nothing to do with is a country that he probably has never been to before as we have seen in recent weeks?
God bless our Holy Father. It's not surprising that the world hates him. He is a true witness of of Christ.
"When the world hates you ,remember that it hated Me first" ~Jesus Christ
“If I were not a Catholic, and were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would look for the one Church which did not get along well with the world; in other words, I would look for the Church which the world hates. ...if Christ is in any one of the churches of the world today, He must still be hated as He ...was when He was on earth in the flesh...” ~Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Apparently the document was written by a smart-ass 20-something. I've had my smart-ass moments, too, so I sympathize on some level. But whoever's judgment was so gravely impaired as to allow this stupid joke to leave his office needs to be sacked. Not simply because he made a tasteless joke, but because he obviously has a profoundly untrustworthy sense of judgment.
Sometimes I am ashamed of my country and of its government.God bless our Holy Father.Long may he reign.
Get OVER yourselves. For goodness sake; if your faith is so sure and you really believe in what you say then why should it matter a jot if you get ridiculed in any forum? To those of us who do not lean on the crutch of faiths, it just looks like you're whining about the petty points instead of having the courage to stand up and ask you church leaders WHY they allowed child abuse to happen under their very noses! When I see a Catholic take an active stand against this then they will have my deepest respect.Keep your faith by all means, but don't expect the rest of us to respect your leaders, to us they are men in fancy clothes who claim to be more special than anyone else. Thier actions prove otherwise.
No we shouldn't. It's not really worth noticing. The only thing worth pointing out is that as far as AIDS clinics, Anglican-RC dialogue, whistle-blowing, child protection workshops, speaking on democracy etc goes - All This Happens Already :D
This is English propriety? This is not only mean-spirited, it is downright uncouth and of the backstreets.
I don't think this post is about getting mileage off of a stupid gaff of someone in this government. There is something much more important and that is future government officials and civil workers as well as the media not being held accountable for the very things they condemn from those of faith.
Terri, our faith is so sure. I've read the whole story and the Church is and always will be triumphant in her love for the world unlike so many who claim the highest virtue that is love!
Terri, this document is a direct insult to a visiting head of state, it arose from a "brain-storming" meeting in Whitehall. It was circulated widely. The culprits have not been suspended, (though someone has been moved). Evidently such views are assumed to be at least socially acceptable in the corridors of power. The issue is not whether we can take being ridiculed. The issue whether we Catholics can expect to be treated fairly and with due sensitivity by a Whitehall in which such prejudices are widely held and such documents can arise.
As for a Catholic standing against child-abuse, if you had the sense to read the documents for yourself, rather than just buy into what the media tell you, you would know that one person who has stood up against child-abuse and acted very aggressively against the criminals involved, is the very Pope whose offence you are defending.
Ethical double standards are alleged by morally relativists only when committed by moral objectivists. Ah the blessed fallacies of the duplicitous. Well at least it helps to keep honest those of us with a logical basis for honesty!
Jack Valero took a much better tack, which was to just brush it off, acknowledge that it was a joke and move on. He highlighted that it may also be an opportunity to discuss and explain why the Church believes what she does, and show that it's reasonable. Our outrage at this will acheive nothing: anti-Catholicism is hard-wired into even the English language. Valero showed a very Christ-like response in dismissing it, essentially forgiving those responsible and looking at it as an opportunity to evangelise.
Plus, the Gov. aren't interested, and it's like any bully: responding gives them what they want.
And anyway, some of the ideas were pretty good. Like a debate on abortion (though getting an elderly German to debate the eloquent Hitchenses of the country might not be such a good idea). Or opening a (Catholic, non-contraceptive) AIDS clinic.
Terri -
Do you think there is any danger this guy would have remained in the employ of the FCO if he had sent round a memo suggesting that people pray for the Holy Father? I guess it's OK for secularists and people of other faiths to get offended, but not Catholics.
Catholic Reader -
I'd back the Holy Father to wipe the floor with Hitchens or any of the rest of them in a proper debate - even in a language that is not his own.
Both John Paul II and Benedict XVI have given very personal apologies for how poorly these child abuse cases were handled, accepting part of the collective ecclesiastical guilt themselves. Both have demanded reforms and have encouraged and supported the recovery of victims of such abuse. In America, bishops were instructed to urge victims to come forward and report abuse to the diocese, no matter how long ago the abuse occured.
Much of the problem with child abuse is that it begins and thrives in FAMILIES with histories of abuse and dysfunction. The media wants to attack one man or only a few men for a larger social problem.
Why are we not hearing about the cover up of child abuse by abortion clinics?
Terri, in thinking that our faith is a crutch, you seriously err. It is enlightenment into a reality beyound the merely empirical. Thus where you are forced to stop, we continue.
Anyway, why should catholics not object when the Pope, someone they love, is wronged? What would you do if this happened to a loved one?
Shame on you and a pity so few have read the prayer to -St John Vianney
in the margin. A leaked memo with some poor taste (but salient ) jests is not equivalent to the the crimes committed against children by members of the Catholic hierarchy. But it appears the moral relativists here, - ever anxious to find distraction, will use anything to avoid the questions being asked, both within and outside the church, about why these crimes were concealed to protect the church. The continuing denial only increases the unease and is bound to produce more embarrassing outbursts.
The recent speech by Archbishop Nichols was a model of contrition and well received. An example of humility to all of us - pity it fell on deaf and prideful ears here.
Ah yes, I thought I'd heard that unbecoming strain:
it's the politics of appeasement!
Although I do agree our junior civil servants' sartorial suggestions only became offensive once they also became official.
I'm with Berenike - just ignore this.
It was 'brainstorming' after all, when bad ideas are encouraged in order to stimulate original thinking.
Sure it was in poor taste - but juvenile rather than offensive.
We have much more serious things to engage with: like that fact that no major political party in this country has any decent pro-life or moral credentials.
Anonymous,
I don't think you get any disagreement about the seriousness in which these crimes ought to be viewed. Below this very post is the publishing of the letter from the Bishops of E&W on this very point. That is altogether different from what was carried out at the FO with the memo and even the "joke" is not really a joke for those who carry the scars of having had an abortion...I have read the prayer in the margin; I put it there.
What has happened in the Church recently is a terrible terrible thing, and we need to pray for a healing of the Church and use our own lives to show the rest of the world that we do not condone the abuse and the way things have been handled.
As for the memo, it's incredibly sad that these kind of comments are being made, but I think that instead of condemming the people who are saying these things, we should pray for them that they come to know Jesus in their lives, and accept His forgiveness. If we can't say that we forgive them, we will become bitter and bitterness only separates us from God, even if we believe we feel it on His behalf - I think God is well able to protect Himself from such comments and that He offers that protection to all of us in giving us the power to forgive, even when we're not asked for forgiveness... and I'm sure our Holy Father is strong enough in his faith and the knowledge that he is on God's side to be able to forgive them too. I agree that it is a horrible thing to have said, and completely unfair, but our only reaction to it can be with love and forgiveness, sure and strong in our faith and God's love. We can (and should) pray for our Pope, that his faith remains unshaken and he can continue to lead us in our spiritual lives.
The offending email emerged apparently following a brainstorming exercise on the Pope's forthcoming visit to UK. It happened somewhere in the Foreign Office which employs hundreds of people of course.
The exercise we are told involved a small group of junior staff who decided to use the opportunity to engage in what,misguidedly, they considered to be a bit of humour. As stpetric notes some idiot subsequently sent details of the warped exercise to the Sunday Telegraph which foolishly headlined it.
Jeff- you've had people here tonight blaming the "government" - no Minister was involved or even knew of the so called exercise for heaven's sake. Someone even suggested the Queen send an apology to the Holy Father!
The Bishop of Nottingham got it right this morning on Radio 4 I thought when he spoke of "understandable anger among catholics". He suggested that on reflection, however, the matter should be seen for what it was: a childish, ill-judged, offensive prank involving some junior staff which was then given the oxygen of publicity by a national Sunday nespaper which should have known better.
Tony, thanks for the comment. I'm not responsible for what individual commenters say, just my posts. My point is one that I share with Bishop McMahon. The Scottish MP's debating tonight had it right. It was appalling and embarrassing which is why a full investigation has begun and rightly so. We don't know who was all involved yet and I am certain it will become more clear later. But, I believe Catholics should take seriously the way they are often dealt a strong hand of hypocrisy. Would you disagree?
Ben, I agree with your point here very much! But those in authority with such a sinister culture towards Catholics are the ones in power. That is a concern that I hoped to flag more than the dim-wit youth who wrote the thing.
Open invitation to join in reciting a novena for Pope Benedict. I sourced a novena to St. Benedict, and it's available on;
http://badthingshappenifgoodpeopledonothing.blogspot.com/2010/04/join-us-in-storming-heaven-for-our-pope.html
PS - Have included a link to your blog post Jeffrey. Yes, the 'hand of hypocrisy' continues to pay such civil servants, but had they shown such discrimination to other groups in society than they would have been out of a job, and not given a smooth transit to another post.
I am a devout catholic and a follower of papal doctrine. I find it utterly patronising and offensive that our Catholic leader should be deemed less able to debate and articulate on any other level than an erodite and well-versed, respected individual.
Do people really think that being the age that he is effects his capacity to comprehend the diverse issues of our collective societies, and indeed advise upon them? I think the longer you have lived on this planet and been witness to it's catalogue of troubles and, in topical light, it's salacious tones, then the more you have knowledge of it's effects and the more you are able to give accurate commentary on it. How could a person of even moderate intelligence counter this fact??
This was:
A: a poor, juvenile joke that went too far, and
B: insight into what they REALLY think about us.
I wonder what the reaction would have been had they been insulting Muslims, Asians, or Jews? I doubt it would have been a mere one person transferred.
-Chris M.
They would never do this to the Muslims. It just goes to show, however, that the Catholic Church is the One True Faith. Otherwise the devil wouldn't bother with it!
Jeff,
This anglophile Protestant in Texas blogged about this subject as well, with the same take as your own, one shared by many of your commentators.
David
Post a Comment