Friday, September 10, 2010

Protest the Pope - in their own words


Thanks to the reader who alerted me to this video.

There are some interesting thoughts on the our secular cuilture by Fr Aladics:
I recall that John Paul II in speaking about contemporary secularism, once said that it arose from, what he called, a rationalist prejudice against the supernatural. In other words, rationalism has taken hold of so many people in this age, that they cannot admit even an enquiring mind, a mind that seeks to know, to love, to contemplate, to adore. In such a climate as this, the vision of what life is, is immensly reduced; rationalism and atheistic secularism have so reduced, clipped, trimmed, dulled and oppressed the soul of England, that it now lives in fear of its tiny world being shown up for what it is, and blown open by a greater vision of what human life is about. Today's anger springs from this fear.


What do I mean by the tiny vision of life which England has created for itself? Well, we see this in its extreme use of abortion and contraception, in its excessive focus on shopping culture, in the uncritical embracing of the media and media culture, in the un-thought-out rejection of the Christian life in favour of harsh and violent life-styles and moralities, and in its self-imposed individualism and culture of loneliness. How can human beings live in this culture? No wonder there is terrible anger and fear, now that a herald of the Kingdom of God is approaching.

15 comments:

pelerin said...

Oh dear - that film is upsetting to see. I am particularly upset at seeing what Claire Rayner has to say as I remember being impressed by her agony aunt comments in the past.

My first taste of pre-visit bigotry occurred yesterday in London when I joined one of Joanna Bogle's Catholic History walks. She had just finished telling us about some of the previous Cardinals. We were outside Archbishop's house and a lady shouted that as there were atheists living in the area they would be upset by what Joanna was saying. Needless to say Joanna stood her ground!

The Daily Mail yesterday had an excellent article by columnist Stephen Glover who although not a Catholic welcomed the visit. He ended his column by saying:-
'We may not agree with everything he says, or even with his most fundamental beliefs. But his visit should be welcome because he is something rare in the modern world. A decent man of principle.'

How refreshing in these days of vitriolic newspaper articles and website comments.

Having taken several bus journeys in central London yesterday I made a point of looking at the adverts on the side of the buses, something I never normally bother to do. I am pleased to say that I did not see one single advert referring to ordaining women priests! I imagine ten buses is a minute fraction of the number in the capital and with luck these ten buses are on more remote routes. Their money has been wasted. Last week a bus caught fire outside Victoria station - I wonder if that one had the infamous advert on it?!

pelerin said...

PS I see Stephen Glover's excellent article is on the Daily Mail's website. However it has of course attracted the usual anti-Catholic comments regarding the visit and the Pope himself.

Michael.Petek@btinternet.com said...

Peter Hitchens has written a brilliant article in the Spectator this week.

Look out for it.

Michael Petek said...

So, Peter Tatchell has it in for those Catholic priests who sexually abused children, though he thinks that what they did ought to be legal from age nine.

As for Claire Rayner, what do you think about reporting her to the police?

johnf said...

Who cares what these four repulsive characters say?

Rayner has always been a dangerous woman - no aunt of mine thank goodness. A she-wolf in ewe's clothing. But why hasn't there a newspaper headline somewhere 'Claire Rayner calls for the Pope to be executed'

Why isn't what she says actionable? Doesn't this count as incitement?

nickbris said...

Just a bunch of Pipsqueaks and that Claire Rayner really ought to get on to Vitamin B.

Bryan said...

It is a pity the videomaker did not supply the sources of the various quotations attributed to the "Protest the Pope" people.

Anyhow what does "Protest the Pope" mean. Is it an imperative - Go out and demonstrate against the Pope? Anyone know?

Perhaps some of the disquiet against the views of "Protest the Pope" stems from Catholics forgetting their precarious position in the World (Mundum).

In the Gospel according to St John Our Lord says:

"Chapter 16: [18] If the world hate you, know ye, that it hath hated me before you. [19] If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [20] Remember my word that I said to you: The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: if they have kept my word, they will keep yours also."

Do we think the the Pope or indeed any of us "deserves better" than his/our Master?

Mike said...

Johnf said:

“Rayner has always been a dangerous woman - no aunt of mine thank goodness. A she-wolf in ewe's clothing. But why hasn't there a newspaper headline somewhere 'Claire Rayner calls for the Pope to be executed'

Why isn't what she says actionable? Doesn't this count as incitement?”

Dead right.

Isn’t it interesting to see how the media has dealt with two similar situations. On the one hand massive media coverage of an insignificant American evangelist who says he will publicly burn the Koran. On the other hand, what coverage has there been of Claire Rayner’s outburst about the “need” to “get rid of the Pope”?

But then, again, if Catholics took to the streets to protect about Rayner’s utterance then I suppose that it might be different.

videomaker said...

Bryan,

The sources, with links, are all provided in the description. You access it by double-clicking on the video through to its YouTube page.

Thanks for posting it, Father!

georgem said...

If rumours are true and, really, it beggars belief, then a closet Protest the Pope person is to be given a place of honour by the Holy Father's side.
Should it come to pass it would tell us all we need to know about our hierarchy (as if we didn't know already).
As Benedict XVI has observed the greatest threat to the Faith comes from within.

Just another mad Catholic said...

funny if Joan Burchill had read St. Alphonsus, St John Chrysostom, St Augastine and St. Thomas etc etc then she would realise that being Catholic does not mean that saying sorry and then comitting every sin under the son again..... I've read some of the great Saint's works and I tremble and I'm a traddy Catholic.

Jack

JARay said...

From what I gather from the comments here, I am so glad that I left the land of my birth in 1975 and I will not rush back either.
JARay

JARay said...

By the way,
my surname is Rayner and I have nothing whatsoever to do with this female who besmirches my family name.

joannaB73 said...

Thank you for this insightful article :)

british muslim said...

This is an upsetting film for any person of faith, agressive atheisim is as scary as any other form of religious extremism. I can only imagine how it must feel to a Catholic. As a muslim I welcome the visit of Pope Benedict, he is a man of high morals - someone I can respect even as a non-catholic. Just as my religion has been highjacked by extremists getting the headlines - I know child abuse is not part of the catholic faith. What Peter Tachell said was truely shocking - yet he gets away with it as he is a 'progressive, modern' atheist!!

The Lord’s descent into the underworld

At Matins/the Office of Readings on Holy Saturday the Church gives us this 'ancient homily', I find it incredibly moving, it is abou...