Sunday, 29 April 2012
Quel temps fait-il aujourd'hui? Euh....
Mulier Fortis has a fantastic piece on the British and our love/hate relationship with the weather. So very very true!
Friday, 20 April 2012
The intolerant Cardinal
Today in the Scotsman Joyce McMillan treated us to yet another pop at the Cardinal for one of his "outspoken" and "controversial" viewpoints, meaning by that a view that was commonly held by the majority until the beginning of the 20th century at least, if not even into the 21st.
Her article presents the false dichotomy supposedly faced by the Scottish government on the issue of gay marriage. On the one hand, there is the "traditional patriarchy", which "requires the ostracisation of homosexuals" and on the other there is "morality", which "requires equal treatment and respect for all in society". The Catholic can certainly agree with the requirement for equal treatment and respect for all in society, but I would disagree with the idea that homosexuals should be ostracised. Let's look at the Catechism passage oft ignored by the media except to distort its meaning:
No ostracisation mentioned there. Yet by representing the Cardinal's statements and the Church's viewpoint as one based on antiquated homophobia, McMillan succeeds in portraying the viewpoint as unjust rather than one based on the sound principles on which marriage is truly based. This makes it difficult for the Church to fully engage in the debate as her statements are considered irrational before the reasons are even heard and the discussion is reduced to the emotions of those who feel excluded, regardless of whether that exclusion is proven to be just. It is at this point that I'd like to share an important article stating secular arguments for traditional marriage. The mere fact that the article is quite long demonstrates the complex nature of the debate and the need for a comprehensive treatment of any objections which may be raised, such as whether the link between traditional marriage and children undermines the marriages of those who are infertile, for example. This article explains why this is not the case.
Finally, I'm glad we have such an "outspoken" Cardinal as it means as Catholics we can't sit on the fence. We're either on his side or not (whether or not you agree with some of the language he uses - I know Catholics who agree with him but disagree on the way he expresses himself); we're either on the side of the Church (and of true compassion and love for homosexual persons), or not.
Her article presents the false dichotomy supposedly faced by the Scottish government on the issue of gay marriage. On the one hand, there is the "traditional patriarchy", which "requires the ostracisation of homosexuals" and on the other there is "morality", which "requires equal treatment and respect for all in society". The Catholic can certainly agree with the requirement for equal treatment and respect for all in society, but I would disagree with the idea that homosexuals should be ostracised. Let's look at the Catechism passage oft ignored by the media except to distort its meaning:
CCC 2358 "This inclination [of deep-seated homosexual tendencies], which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard is to be avoided."
No ostracisation mentioned there. Yet by representing the Cardinal's statements and the Church's viewpoint as one based on antiquated homophobia, McMillan succeeds in portraying the viewpoint as unjust rather than one based on the sound principles on which marriage is truly based. This makes it difficult for the Church to fully engage in the debate as her statements are considered irrational before the reasons are even heard and the discussion is reduced to the emotions of those who feel excluded, regardless of whether that exclusion is proven to be just. It is at this point that I'd like to share an important article stating secular arguments for traditional marriage. The mere fact that the article is quite long demonstrates the complex nature of the debate and the need for a comprehensive treatment of any objections which may be raised, such as whether the link between traditional marriage and children undermines the marriages of those who are infertile, for example. This article explains why this is not the case.
Finally, I'm glad we have such an "outspoken" Cardinal as it means as Catholics we can't sit on the fence. We're either on his side or not (whether or not you agree with some of the language he uses - I know Catholics who agree with him but disagree on the way he expresses himself); we're either on the side of the Church (and of true compassion and love for homosexual persons), or not.
Saturday, 7 April 2012
Monday, 26 March 2012
Justice and Peace Retreat
Lest my good intentions come to nought, here is my follow-up post to what I said on Saturday.
The theme of the retreat was "I have called you by your name" and it started with a discussion of what a name means and how it is often a very personal aspect of who you are. A name represents a person and is a means of addressing this person. When someone uses your first name, it implies that there is a relationship between you and that person. This is why certain cold calls are disconcerting if they use your first name as you are tricked for a moment into thinking that this person knows you at all. When we consider that God calls us by our name, this shows that there is a relationship between God and ourselves. We also know that God knows who we are.
After this were some talks by two SCIAF representatives who spoke a little about their names and then shared stories of two poor and disabled Indians, called Jagadeesh and Fauzia who were helped by SCIAF funding and the Association of People with Disabilities (APD) who helped them to gain skills so that they could support themselves. Incidentally, I already knew quite a bit about APD as my high school was heavily involved for two years with SCIAF particularly in its funding of APD and my best friend from high school went to Bangalore in India to visit their facility. It is quite likely that he met either Fauzia or Jagadeesh while he was there.
These presentations were quite beneficial because they did not simply show images of poor people accompanied with hand-wringing which I had feared. In fact, one of the speakers from SCIAF quoted the following from Blessed John Paul II's encyclical Sollicitudo Rei Socialis regarding solidarity, i.e. that it is:
Another speaker from the Sant'Egidio community, which was initially set up in Rome to help poor and homeless people there, spoke of how it is very important to them that they find out the name of the people they are helping. This allows the charity that they give to be personal, reflecting the human dignity of those they help. He also spoke of how the presents they give to the poor at the Christmas lunches they hold are all labelled for a specific person to show that someone cares for them and considered their wishes.
After this there was time for reflection. I went into a small library and read a book with modern icons. I disagreed with some of them (some of the icons were most definitely not of saints) but it was a reasonable way to pass the time.
After lunch, I participated in "body prayer", which I admit I didn't enjoy. It was optional, and I thought I'd try it out but I didn't like it. Afterwards, we could choose to attend one of three options of prayer - Lectio Divina (which I chose), imaginative prayer and centering prayer. Having heard dodgy things about centering prayer, I decided to avoid it and since I had a book about lectio divina, I decided to try that one out.
The retreat ended with Mass and then I swapped emails with a couple of folk.
The theme of the retreat was "I have called you by your name" and it started with a discussion of what a name means and how it is often a very personal aspect of who you are. A name represents a person and is a means of addressing this person. When someone uses your first name, it implies that there is a relationship between you and that person. This is why certain cold calls are disconcerting if they use your first name as you are tricked for a moment into thinking that this person knows you at all. When we consider that God calls us by our name, this shows that there is a relationship between God and ourselves. We also know that God knows who we are.
After this were some talks by two SCIAF representatives who spoke a little about their names and then shared stories of two poor and disabled Indians, called Jagadeesh and Fauzia who were helped by SCIAF funding and the Association of People with Disabilities (APD) who helped them to gain skills so that they could support themselves. Incidentally, I already knew quite a bit about APD as my high school was heavily involved for two years with SCIAF particularly in its funding of APD and my best friend from high school went to Bangalore in India to visit their facility. It is quite likely that he met either Fauzia or Jagadeesh while he was there.
These presentations were quite beneficial because they did not simply show images of poor people accompanied with hand-wringing which I had feared. In fact, one of the speakers from SCIAF quoted the following from Blessed John Paul II's encyclical Sollicitudo Rei Socialis regarding solidarity, i.e. that it is:
not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.This made clear that the basis of any justice and peace action must be love, which is grounded in love for God and thus has prayer as the cornerstone and an emphasis of the personal nature of charity, hinting at another major aspect of Catholic social teaching - subsidiarity.
Another speaker from the Sant'Egidio community, which was initially set up in Rome to help poor and homeless people there, spoke of how it is very important to them that they find out the name of the people they are helping. This allows the charity that they give to be personal, reflecting the human dignity of those they help. He also spoke of how the presents they give to the poor at the Christmas lunches they hold are all labelled for a specific person to show that someone cares for them and considered their wishes.
After this there was time for reflection. I went into a small library and read a book with modern icons. I disagreed with some of them (some of the icons were most definitely not of saints) but it was a reasonable way to pass the time.
After lunch, I participated in "body prayer", which I admit I didn't enjoy. It was optional, and I thought I'd try it out but I didn't like it. Afterwards, we could choose to attend one of three options of prayer - Lectio Divina (which I chose), imaginative prayer and centering prayer. Having heard dodgy things about centering prayer, I decided to avoid it and since I had a book about lectio divina, I decided to try that one out.
The retreat ended with Mass and then I swapped emails with a couple of folk.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Oh no! He's back!
It has been a long time since I have properly posted, i.e. anything other than prayers or videos, etc. I had taken an unofficial break from any real sort of blogging since I had nothing to say and whenever I did think of writing anything, I didn't seem to have the energy or the willpower to write something complete and thought-out. I also read a number of other blogs and thought "Why would anyone read mine at all, when there are already such brilliant blogs out there?" I also read Joe Heschmeyer's tips on blogging and found I was guilty of a number of mistakes.
Most of all, the impetus for me starting this blog disappeared after I came back from my year abroad while at university. I've already written nostalgically a couple of times about my time in Nantes and perhaps less nostalgically about Heidelberg, although I had more fun in general in the latter place. But since I came back, life seemed as humdrum and uneventful as ever, so I gradually stopped.
I also noticed a great tendency throughout my blog to moan a lot, which I haven't enjoyed reading myself!
I had considered deleting the blog, but for some reason, probably pride, I couldn't delete it. Anyway, I've decided to try at the whole blogging thing again, this time without trying to churn out spiritual, theological masterpieces* but just simple thoughts and reflections that I may have. Today I was at an archdiocesan retreat for justice and peace for young people (which in the Archdiocese means that small gap between 18 and 35!) which was very interesting and heartening to know that you're not alone among your age group. My parish can seem lonely sometimes when the nearest person to your own age is your brother, and that's all.
If I'm good, I'll write something more about the retreat and any reflections I may have of it tomorrow or during the week (which is very busy, so perhaps unlikely).
*Previously, whenever I wanted to write something, I wanted it to be dazzling and perfect, the result of which was nothing at all! A prayer read to us today by Oscar Romero about how we just do a little of the work and God does the whole picture helped me to let go of this desire.
Most of all, the impetus for me starting this blog disappeared after I came back from my year abroad while at university. I've already written nostalgically a couple of times about my time in Nantes and perhaps less nostalgically about Heidelberg, although I had more fun in general in the latter place. But since I came back, life seemed as humdrum and uneventful as ever, so I gradually stopped.
I also noticed a great tendency throughout my blog to moan a lot, which I haven't enjoyed reading myself!
I had considered deleting the blog, but for some reason, probably pride, I couldn't delete it. Anyway, I've decided to try at the whole blogging thing again, this time without trying to churn out spiritual, theological masterpieces* but just simple thoughts and reflections that I may have. Today I was at an archdiocesan retreat for justice and peace for young people (which in the Archdiocese means that small gap between 18 and 35!) which was very interesting and heartening to know that you're not alone among your age group. My parish can seem lonely sometimes when the nearest person to your own age is your brother, and that's all.
If I'm good, I'll write something more about the retreat and any reflections I may have of it tomorrow or during the week (which is very busy, so perhaps unlikely).
*Previously, whenever I wanted to write something, I wanted it to be dazzling and perfect, the result of which was nothing at all! A prayer read to us today by Oscar Romero about how we just do a little of the work and God does the whole picture helped me to let go of this desire.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Collect for the Grace of Compunction
Almighty and most gentle God,
who brought forth from the rock
a fountain of living water
for your thirsty people,
bring forth, we pray,
from the hardness of our heart
tears of sorrow,
that we may lament our sins
and merit forgiveness from your mercy.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.
who brought forth from the rock
a fountain of living water
for your thirsty people,
bring forth, we pray,
from the hardness of our heart
tears of sorrow,
that we may lament our sins
and merit forgiveness from your mercy.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Pray for Catholic midwives
Please pray for the judge and the two midwives involved in a case regarding conscientious objection. The two midwives, who are Catholic, wish to be able to opt out of their supervisory role in the case of abortions. The NHS health board are opposing their action.
The decision could set a precedent regarding these matters across the UK.
The decision could set a precedent regarding these matters across the UK.
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