tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post2698060310762440798..comments2023-12-16T16:17:43.886+00:00Comments on Fr Ray Blake's Blog: Smearing PolandFr Ray Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584140126211527252noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-42705261131246793712010-02-11T13:48:57.121+00:002010-02-11T13:48:57.121+00:00To Independent:
Minsk was NOT Polish (is Belaruss...To Independent:<br /><br />Minsk was NOT Polish (is Belarussian), while Lwow (today Ukrainian) and Wilno (today Lithuanian) were Polish cities.Jaceknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-47346921311950085892009-11-01T15:48:08.114+00:002009-11-01T15:48:08.114+00:00There were many boys with Polish surnames at my sc...There were many boys with Polish surnames at my school, the sons of Polish servicemen who had settled in Scotland after the war. Mostly they were from Johnstone in Renfrewshire which had played host to a large Free Polish Army camp. A standing joke among some of our teachers was to ask a boy with a Polish surname "Which part of Johnstone are you from?"<br /><br />Strangely enough the parish priest in Johnstone during the war years was one Canon Reifenrath, a German. As far as I know there was no friction between him and the Poles.Crux Fidelishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03949811845963570447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-10932004238346442972009-11-01T13:34:34.899+00:002009-11-01T13:34:34.899+00:00POLAND - land of holy people...
http://www.youtub...POLAND - land of holy people...<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jy8fJUfPcOQGeniuszhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17730974607428479335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-44661547668058675352009-11-01T12:44:32.721+00:002009-11-01T12:44:32.721+00:00Independent, I mean the terrorism against Catholic...Independent, I mean the terrorism against Catholic and other Arabs (and agaisnt Britons, including British Jews, going about their lawful business) contemperaneous with that against the Balts. If it matters, there were ties between the two.<br /><br />Physiocrat, I certainly am. And I am standing for Parliament as a pro-life, pro-family, pro-worker and anti-war candidate here in North-West Durham, which contains the old Irish Catholic stronghold of Consett, the remarkable Recusant village of Esh, and Ushaw College. All help and publicity greatly appreciated. Especially since there is a blackout in diocesan freebie.David Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06839882674758833524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-54144944249083457582009-10-31T12:11:19.414+00:002009-10-31T12:11:19.414+00:00It's not just, or even primarily, a security r...It's not just, or even primarily, a security risk. When I reached adulthood you weren't allowed to work in the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Service (office or diplomatic) or the Cabinet Office unless you were under thirty years of age when you applied.<br /><br />Also, you had to have at least one parent who was a British citizen from birth, or who had been a citizen by naturalisation for at least thirty years.<br /><br />My father became a British citizen when I was two, and my mother was only ever a German citizen.Michael Petekhttp://www.crownofdavid.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-36059479347526333652009-10-31T06:54:42.666+00:002009-10-31T06:54:42.666+00:00I frequently attended the Polish Church in South M...I frequently attended the Polish Church in South Manchester as a teenager, with friends and their families. It has (or had) a sort of a gallery, rather like a synagogue - and round the sides are little urns containing earth from all the battle sites where Poles had fought - such as Monte Casino, which I thought was lovely and sad at the same time. I never felt excluded - and people always switched to English in front of me, when talking before or after Mass. Many Poles also went to the effort of sending their children to an English nursery and spoke English as much as possible at home, so they would be bilingual when starting school. All the Polish girls did an extra O and A Level in Polish - and strolled through Russian at school. There was no sense of grievance or victimhood although I know there were several who did degrees in languages, but were not accepted into the Diplomatic Corps (unlike the English girls with Russian)because they were considered to be a security risk, by having families behind the Iron Curtain.Dillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01205740584849200357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-20700637806195727512009-10-30T23:21:59.913+00:002009-10-30T23:21:59.913+00:00@Richard,
There are what are known as overseas ch...@Richard,<br /><br />There are what are known as overseas chaplaincies to take care of immigrant communities. This can be very useful for the host countries too as it makes extra priests available. Many of the priests in Sweden are there for this reason and they take some of the workload off the local clergy who are a bit thin on the ground.<br /><br />The key to integration is the TLM.Physiocrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13682019625346594568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-31978792216465414962009-10-30T22:56:20.696+00:002009-10-30T22:56:20.696+00:00Why do Poles in England attend their own churches ...Why do Poles in England attend their own churches rather than the normal Parish ones? I assume because of the terrible way in which the Mass and other sacraments were usually celebrated in normal parishes over the last 40 years.Richardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-42439266271435187282009-10-30T22:54:11.664+00:002009-10-30T22:54:11.664+00:00Don't blame Churchill for the betrayal of Pola...Don't blame Churchill for the betrayal of Poland (and the rest of eastern Europe) in 1945. By then the UK was bankrupt, battered and exhausted. It was Roosevelt who insisted on giving way to Stalin.Richardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-30637251227363296992009-10-30T21:36:58.892+00:002009-10-30T21:36:58.892+00:00Mr Lindsay - did Churchill have much choice in Ea...Mr Lindsay - did Churchill have much choice in Eastern Europe at Potsdam? The Soviet Army occupied the area, the American Army would not intervene, and the British Army had neither the strength nor the will to do what Churchill would personally have wished. He had to recognise facts. I agree it was a pity, as I would much prefer Breslau to be still a German city and Minsk a Polish one, but politics is the art of the possible.<br /><br />I assume that by "genocidal terrorism against the Arabs" you mean the mass murders in Darfur, or going further back the Black September massacres perpetrated by King Hussein?Independenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08199774656279385253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-81841198583792310522009-10-30T19:03:34.908+00:002009-10-30T19:03:34.908+00:00George,
I'm all for you keeping your traditi...George, <br /><br />I'm all for you keeping your traditional Polish customs, infact allot of us ex-protestants with little or no tradition of our own would love to adopt our cultural additions ourselves. The point is that if I attend the Polish Church I can't understand the homily (for the reading's i'd have a missel), something the EF no doubt would solve and that those who come from traditionally Catholic countries (phillipinos,poles, irish, maltise) tend to( in my experience) look down us english folk as second-class Catholics, mainly because a large proportion of us are converts (we figured out the C of E was not Christ's Church when the womenpriests thing began) and act accordingly i.e segregating yourself from the community and not even participating in dioceson events, in my mind this calls into question the wisdom of having ethnic parishes in the the first place.Just another mad Catholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10503510474554718305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-43015843085794458052009-10-30T18:39:19.737+00:002009-10-30T18:39:19.737+00:00@David Lindsay
In short, it sounds as if you are ...@David Lindsay<br /><br />In short, it sounds as if you are in favour of the political programme that went under the name of "Distributism" and was promoted by, amongst others, Chesterton and Belloc, following the teachings of Rerum Novarum. Is it not time they were brought back to attention?Physiocrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13682019625346594568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-69293738859876996922009-10-30T15:52:14.269+00:002009-10-30T15:52:14.269+00:00The Czech Civic Democrats deserve British allies l...The Czech Civic Democrats deserve British allies like the trade unionists who have spent decades defending the high-waged, high-skilled, high-status jobs of the working class. Not for us the restriction of travel to the rich, or the arresting of economic development in the poorer parts of the world.<br /><br />The Polish Law and Justice Party deserves British allies like the Catholic and other Labour MPs, including John Smith, who fought tooth and nail against abortion and easier divorce. Like the Methodist and other Labour MPs, including John Smith, who fought tooth and nail against deregulated drinking and gambling. Like those, including John Smith, who successfully organised (especially through USDAW) against Thatcher's and Major's attempts to destroy the special character of Sunday and of Christmas Day. And like the trade unionists who battled to secure paternal authority in families and communities by securing its economic base, frequently marching behind banners that depicted Biblical scenes and characters.<br /><br />And the Latvian Fatherland and Freedom Party deserves British allies with deep roots in the former mining communities, in the women's suffrage movement, in the 1945 General Election victory, and elsewhere. We are unsullied by the weird cult of Winston Churchill. Instead, we can and do condemn his carve-up of Eastern Europe with Stalin. Just as we condemn genocidal terrorism against Balts no less than genocidal terrorism against Arabs.<br /><br />They all deserve British allies like the Labour MPs who mostly voted against Heath's Treaty of Rome. Who all voted against Thatcher's Single European Act. And who voted against Major's Maastricht Treaty in far greater numbers than the Tories.<br /><br />And they need those allies in order to call them away from neoliberal economics and neoconservative foreign policy. Nothing could be more destructive of national self-government, or traditional family values, or the historical consciousness of a people. Cameron is completely signed up to both.<br /><br />Are there not other groups that could propose measures and motions for generous welfare provisions, for public services in the public sector, for universal healthcare provided by the State, for workers' rights, and for the public ownership of important companies? Much of this new group would vote for such measures and motions. But then there would be the Tories.<br /><br />Are there not other groups that could propose measures or motions to safeguard or restore family life in general and paternal authority in particular by safeguarding or restoring high-wage, high-skilled, high-status employment such as coal-mining? Much of this new group would vote for such measures and motions. But then there would be the Tories.<br /><br />Are there not other groups that could propose measures and motions for the payment of mothers to stay at home with their children, for adoption and against abortion, for palliative care and against euthanasia, in favour of President Obama's support for traditional marriage (or, at the very least, against compelling anyone to conduct deviations from it), against sex and violence in the media, against State toleration of drugs and prostitution, against unrestricted Sunday trading, and against supermarkets opening on what are supposed to be public holidays for everyone including shop workers? Much of this new group would vote for such measures and motions. But then there would be the Tories.<br /><br />And are there not other groups that could propose motions, perhaps on appropriate anniversaries, condemning by name all those (including Margaret Thatcher) who signed the Single European Act, and condemning Winston Churchill for his carve-up of Eastern Europe with Stalin? Much of this new group would vote for such motions. But then there would be the Tories.<br /><br />Sorry about the long comment. But you try securing a platform for any of this.David Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06839882674758833524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-79873273316324692182009-10-30T10:32:20.080+00:002009-10-30T10:32:20.080+00:00As a British born Pole, my parents were part of a ...As a British born Pole, my parents were part of a small group of WW2 refugees who found themselves in London in the late 1940's. They were in their late teens early 20's. Displaced, torn from their beloved Poland, having seen many of their family members killed and having suffered the most horrific violence imaginable is it little wonder that having found others like them who had shared the same suffering, they clung to each other for solace and comfort?<br /><br />The Catholic Church and Polish Priests did all they could to help settle these people and that's how the small Polish parish communities grew up around the UK - usually attached to a Parish where the PP was happy to help out and accomodate a Sunday Polish Mass, usually mid to late afternoon.<br /><br />They could not return to Poland - many who did were arrested and detained by their new 'Soviet' masters - to be executed/murdered for alleged 'treason' because they had been members of the Polish armed forces, belonged to the Armja Krajowa (Home Army) or fought in the various uprisings!. Like my Dad, whose mother had survived the war and wrote him letters warning him not to come back to Poland. Despite the heavy and clumsy soviet censoring of her writings - he got the message and stayed in the UK - sadly his mum, my grandmother, died before our first family visit to Poland in 1971. <br /><br />So as they married, settled into jobs and had us kids (early 50's)wanting to maintain that Polish Culture the centre of which was Polish Mass and that deep sense of community, the parishes grew, Saturday morning schools were set up, the Polish scouting movement grew, and I am happy to say that these were some of the best days of my teenage years - not least of which was getting to know that young Polish girl guide who was to become my future wife!<br /><br />Let me tell you, it had nothing to do with segregating themselves off from anyone or anything!!!! We had loads of English, Irish, Italian etc.. friends. Many of these came to Polish Mass with us! It was about maintaining that 'Polishness', that culture, so that it would not be lost, forgotten or erased from memory by the Nazis through the instrument and horror of war. This was a victory for good over evil - LOVE TRIUMPHANT! CHRIST TRIUMPHANT! A sort of resurrection - difficult to explain really, but I am proud to have these Polish roots and my wife and I have instilled as much as we can into our kids - and this includes having Polish names for all our six children, traditional Wigilja at Christmas using all our family recipes handed down from our mothers and grandmothers, Polish language - as much as we can, Swiecone - the blessing of food on Easter Saturday etc...<br /><br />God Bless Poland and let her stay ever faithful to her Catholic roots despite the onslaught of secularism.Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13031618301013986930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-69338189371838253172009-10-30T07:05:03.549+00:002009-10-30T07:05:03.549+00:00The US Catholic church is absurd. Entire parishes ...The US Catholic church is absurd. Entire parishes are divided by language. The EF offers a means to unify communities.Sadie Vacantisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04823532366874114366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-32808043746395358902009-10-30T06:54:14.204+00:002009-10-30T06:54:14.204+00:00@Volponius
"I would imagine the Polish "...@Volponius<br />"I would imagine the Polish "segregate" themselves for the same reasons you choose to "segregate" yourself at an English mass, no one will turn you away if you turn up at the Polish service."<br /><br />I never go to an English language service when I am abroad unless I stumble on one by accident, in which case I make a point of avoiding it in the future. I go to Latin or the vernacular service. I have always found that the locals are very welcoming and one quickly makes friends and starts to integrate with the community. Singing hymns and listening to the liturgy is a big helps in learning the language.<br /><br />But it would be better if vernacular and foreign language masses were restricted where there are immigrants from many different countries in a single parish. Their needs should be catered for by having social activities to which all are invited, foreign language newsletters etc.<br /><br />We cannot afford to have different groups of people separating themselves off in this way, we must make ourselves into an open and welcoming community.Physiocrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13682019625346594568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-85283168481414907302009-10-30T05:49:56.633+00:002009-10-30T05:49:56.633+00:00Leonus
In my diocese (clifton, uk) English being...Leonus <br /><br />In my diocese (clifton, uk) English being the national is the language used at Mass (apart from the few EF Mass's I'm fortunate enough to be able to attend), my concern was that the Polish and Phillipino Catholics in the UK tend set up their own Churches outside normal diocisan boundries (often with the local bishop's support) and hole themselves up there for generations (the Polish Church I pass on the way to University is at least 50yrs old) pretty much refusing to mix with their English co-religonists, now sure allot of us are ex-protestants but that doesn't make us bad Catholics, I also liked physiocrats point about immigrant communities being a potential source of marriage partners, especially since in England a good proportion of the laity are middle aged converts and a young man such as myself has to consider entering into a mixed marriage due to the shortage of young Catholic ladies.Just another mad Catholichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10503510474554718305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-51436166364029372912009-10-30T03:38:24.342+00:002009-10-30T03:38:24.342+00:00I am so sorry to read that Stephen Fry is an anti-...I am so sorry to read that Stephen Fry is an anti-Catholic. I think he is a very funny man and I watched his talks about bi-polar disorder and thought that he spoke very well and with feeling about the condition.<br /><br />I don't have a problem with the Poles wanting to be with other Poles during Mass as long as they don't turn away non Poles. Here in Australia we have Italian Masses and Polish Masses and Vietnamese Masses etc and no one worries.Victoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00403184829256955768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-1649407657414602922009-10-29T23:25:10.795+00:002009-10-29T23:25:10.795+00:00I would imagine the Polish "segregate" t...I would imagine the Polish "segregate" themselves for the same reasons you choose to "segregate" yourself at an English mass, no one will turn you away if you turn up at the Polish service.Volpius Leoniushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10273209983337706262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-49412927674288402602009-10-29T22:58:55.065+00:002009-10-29T22:58:55.065+00:00Mention of David Milliband reminds me that he wrot...Mention of David Milliband reminds me that he wrote a disgraceful article in The Times earlier this week. Under the title "Britain is still a big player. Europe needs us", and speaking in support of Tony Blair's absurd bid for Presidency of the EU, he claimed<br /><br />"Britain is a leading contributor of people and money in tackling the great challenges of the world. Our Armed Forces are trained, equipped and flexible. And we are willing to deploy them in the toughest places. and again Second, British ideas give us influence. During the economic crisis, Britain has been at the forefront of new thinking."<br /><br />Who in Britain is actually doing this contributing, who exactly is being "deployed", and what is this "new thinking"?<br /><br />Miliband should take a walk round Brighton and see the grinding poverty in which many people are trapped, as a result of being expected to "contribute". He might also consider deploying himself for a while with the military, to find out how things are at the sharp end and whether their equipment is all that it might be.<br /><br />He could also usefully to a bit of travelling incognito as an ordinary standard class passenger both in Europe and Britain. He would then notice the astonishing difference between the two, and the shabbiness and poor quality of the infrastructure of this "Big Player".<br /><br />I cannot even imagine what Britain's new thinking could have been at the forefront of during the economic crisis. Britain's economic policies ensured that the country was as badly placed as it could have been when when the storm hit, and in no small measure actually helped to bring on the storm. This "new thinking" has resulted so far in sterling losing about 25% of its value against other currencies, with nothing to show for it apart from signs that the asset price bubble is starting to blow up again. And it could yet slip out of control and lead to a hyperinflation.<br /><br />Milliband's views on Poland or anything else are worthless.Physiocrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13682019625346594568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-26067004537509758472009-10-29T22:58:20.269+00:002009-10-29T22:58:20.269+00:00Father, you rightly mention the "popular Cath...Father, you rightly mention the "popular Catholic bashing of people like Fry and Hitchens and Dawkins".<br /><br />Fifty/sixty years ago there were many skilled Catholics, clergy and laity who could have held their own and the position of the Church in such debates. It is sad that we are so thin on the ground today as regards defenders of the Faith.<br /><br />«Can the Holy Spirit raise up in our day apostles who manifest the vitality of the Church? We are convinced He can, and ask this of Him with faith.» (Pope John Paul II)Dicenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02511586813608342079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-17592808036414142162009-10-29T22:19:18.819+00:002009-10-29T22:19:18.819+00:00I am concerned about the self-segregation of Polis...I am concerned about the self-segregation of Polish people in the Catholic church. It is an issue in Sweden too.<br /><br />Yes, Latin EF rite mass is part of the solution. Parishes also need to go out of their way to invite immigrants to their social events. It would help also if parish priests were to remind their own parishioners to make them welcome and the Polish etc chaplains to encourage members of their communities to come along.<br /><br />Foreign chaplains have a useful role especially when native priests are in short supply.<br /><br />Immigrant communities should be a good source of partners in Catholic marriages.Physiocrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13682019625346594568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-57985471834857475562009-10-29T21:23:17.935+00:002009-10-29T21:23:17.935+00:00Some of my Polish friends go to the Polish Church ...Some of my Polish friends go to the Polish Church & regular Parish..I think it helps them keep their language & culture..don't find it segregates really..the children go saturday morning Polish school & scout camps but have always got on fine with my family & children..like sharing Irish customs..we have an Irish Centre..no harm in that..<br /><br />Stephen Fry's one redeeming grace is he's bi-polar..apart from that..Jackie Parkes MJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16693505024823229152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-48942855302716154412009-10-29T20:37:17.908+00:002009-10-29T20:37:17.908+00:00Nickbris - the term refers to people with Same Sex...Nickbris - the term refers to people with Same Sex Attraction Disorder (SSAD). <br /><br />Help is at hand for those that are struggling with this problem and contrary to what the homosexualists say treatment is most effective - go to NARTH.com for their information on further help and/or read a new book just out "Light in the Closet: Torah, Homosexuality, and the Power to Change" by board certified counselor and relationship specialist Arthur Goldberg. <br /><br />"Anyone wanting to listen to his message would discover that it not only sets out a knowledgeable path of healing and hope for those who are sexually confused, but will also assist anyone whose values have been confused by our politically correct culture. The author wrote the book to pull together diverse information and resources, much of which is unknown by most, he says, and to develop a unique model that integrates psychological secular healing with Biblical commandments, thereby empowering people to overcome today's sexually exploitive culture." Thanks to LifeSiteNews for that.<br /><br />In a nutshell Nickbris..... ;-)Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13031618301013986930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-78650365087106814022009-10-29T20:35:17.356+00:002009-10-29T20:35:17.356+00:00Remember the part played by Poles in the Battle of...Remember the part played by Poles in the Battle of Britain. Remember the battle for Monte Cassino. Remember Arnhem. Poland has a much more glorious WW2 history than France.<br /><br />Remember also that Poland suffered partition between the USSR and Nazi Germany in 1939, and in 1945 lost its Eastern Provinces with inhabitants being given a few hours notice before being expelled.<br /><br />Remember too the opposition to Soviet oppression, an example to all Europe, set by the Poles until 1989. Remember John Paul II.<br /><br />Certainly in the past Poland has been anti-semitic, indeed my wife's family gave refuge in Breslau to a Jewish family fleeing from persecution in Poland in 1937,the latter were not landlords but peasants from what had been the Tsarist Pale of Settlement as indeed was Poland's large Jewish population, <br />but nowadays university students freely toil to restore the Jewish cemetaries.<br /><br />Unlike other countries, there were no quislings in Poland.<br /><br />Criticise it certainly for its tardiness in compensating those who lost property in the German lands beyond the Oder-Neisse line,<br />but do so with respect.Independenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08199774656279385253noreply@blogger.com