tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post1061915612735833046..comments2023-12-16T16:17:43.886+00:00Comments on Fr Ray Blake's Blog: Full Text of Pastoral Letter:Fr Ray Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05584140126211527252noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-76070096505967649232012-05-17T10:17:13.853+01:002012-05-17T10:17:13.853+01:00Simply not strong enough or clear enough. We need ...Simply not strong enough or clear enough. We need much firmer leadership. Incidentally the letter was never read out in my Parish Church.KimHattonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03684437340870929578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-77341863211878064222012-03-09T20:27:06.408+00:002012-03-09T20:27:06.408+00:00Nothing more than the official meowing Nichols is ...Nothing more than the official meowing Nichols is expected to stage at this point. <br /><br />Disagreement is merely whispered, in the end of a boring letter, when everyone is asleep. <br /><br />MundaborMundaborhttp://www.mundabor.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-41221270730047600892012-03-07T17:29:33.557+00:002012-03-07T17:29:33.557+00:00Father
I think we should give this letter a chanc...Father<br /><br />I think we should give this letter a chance and see what the reaction is from the faithful, the media and those who fall into many other catergories.<br /><br />I personally would have liked to see something a bit more stronger in words.<br /><br />I rang my PP and asked him if he had received the letter. Then I asked him if I could see it on my way home.<br /><br />He was somewhat amused that I was so eager to hear what was being said for the Homily this Sunday.<br /><br />In my home, we have had has several family discussions about same sex marriage. All my children who are over the age of 18, say that they would decline an invitation to a gay marriage or a lesbian marriage.<br /><br />The doctors in my family think that to redefine marriage - the author is playing God.<br /><br />The lawyers in my family, we say that legal rights have protection in civil partnerships and marriage is not necessary for same gender couples.The Sacraments must be protected by us, the people, and are not open to variation by Governments.<br /><br />The vet in my family says - bring the politicians to his surgery and he will deal with them accordingly.<br /><br />We all have to listen to the words of the letter and understand then fully.<br /><br />Then the comments will begin.<br /><br />I hope you are ready Your Graces.<br /><br />Lawyeratwork.comLawyeratwork.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-47130712187817702022012-03-07T14:36:57.562+00:002012-03-07T14:36:57.562+00:00Delia
When you have been on the 'front line&#...Delia<br /><br />When you have been on the 'front line' for as long as some of us Older priests have been, you would have seen an succession of Bishops come and go.<br /><br />We - and I do speak for some of the older Clergy - looked to Westminster for clear leadership. Strength, fidelity to Rome, courage and dependency.<br /><br />The Seat of Westminster is the Guidance of The Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales.<br /><br />If the Holy Mother Church is under attack or the priesthood is under attack - we EXPECT Westminster to act quickly and expediently and may I add efficiently.<br /><br />What we don't want to see, is a long period of silence and then receive a weak statement which causes further problems. <br /><br />Long are the days gone, where one can sit back and hope things 'blow over' or 'go away'.<br /><br />Action and clear words are justifiable.<br />Let us see then being implemented.<br /><br />FrBTFrBTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-59081995515086595962012-03-07T13:33:34.593+00:002012-03-07T13:33:34.593+00:00I’m glad to see some action from the leadership on...I’m glad to see some action from the leadership on this issue. I would imagine it will make some priests feel uncomfortable and put them in a difficult position: they’ll be the ones who have to deal with the immediate ramifications of reading out this letter; are they up to the challenge of defending the Church’s position on this issue?<br /><br />My feeling would be that the majority of Mass goers are, at best, fairly ambivalent about the changes on the face of them. They do not understand the profoundly radical nature of the proposed changes. Live and let live, I imagine they’ll say. Why is the Church picking on gay people? The trouble is we have let so much slide now that no one really even understands the argument, or knows what marriage is really about any more. Too little, too late?Sitsiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12410440649485944766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-67696951902479012262012-03-07T12:09:56.687+00:002012-03-07T12:09:56.687+00:00Why is it too late? The consultation in England an...Why is it too late? The consultation in England and Wales is just about to start, so the timing seems pretty spot on to me. (Scotland had their consultation months ago, hence the Scottish bishops were ahead of the game.) <br /><br />And why is it weak? This is a pastoral letter to be read out to the faithful at Holy Mass on Sunday; it's not an email to Stonewall or an article in the Daily Mail. It seems to me to be very well considered, reflective and sensitive - saying what needs to be said in a clear and positive way without banging on about it. Much more likely to convert people than a rant, surely. It also encourages everyone to sign the petition.<br /><br />There seems to be a really unpleasant undercurrent in some sections of the blogosphere, constantly carping on about the bishops and not giving them a chance to act in their own time and in their own way. Agreed, some things that they have done are regrettable, but I do think they should be supported as much as possible, and given credit when credit is due. <br /><br />Thank you, Your Grace.Deliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01383433319373651830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-49011770601492738702012-03-07T11:03:29.131+00:002012-03-07T11:03:29.131+00:00As if it really matters in our shambles of a '...As if it really matters in our shambles of a 'democracy', the Conservative Party will never, ever have my vote again.<br />(And I never have voted Lib Dem; there's political sophistication for you!)<br />Michael TelfordMichael Telfordnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-74253016636238153062012-03-07T08:46:28.946+00:002012-03-07T08:46:28.946+00:00A clear statement of the Catholic position on, and...A clear statement of the Catholic position on, and the advantages of, marriage, which complements the letter in the Telegraph earlier this week by Cardinal O’Brien.<br /><br />One thing it doesn’t dwell on however is morality although since this letter is aimed primarily at the political and secularist world, it is perhaps not the best vehicle to clarify this most important aspect of Catholic teaching. However clarified it must be. <br /><br />The two principle reasons why same sex marriage would be illicit and immoral, are, that it is not a union between a man and a woman, and secondly, that it is sinful and grievously so. It would be, as Cardinal O’Brien has said, grotesque, i.e., distorted.Jacobihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04743062941733814176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-33757387732193037092012-03-07T07:53:17.659+00:002012-03-07T07:53:17.659+00:00It is a good letter thank God, but comes far too l...It is a good letter thank God, but comes far too late. <br /><br />H E Card O Brien was the only one who had the gutts to stand up and complain and he did very very well.<br /><br />+Vincent is just jumping on the bandwagon as usual and trying to fit in. It came too late +Vincent.<br />Get your act together!GuidoMnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-77536744728429146712012-03-06T23:08:01.195+00:002012-03-06T23:08:01.195+00:00Yes and now let us hear him speaking for reforms o...Yes and now let us hear him speaking for reforms of the economy which would make the kind of family shown in "Harmony at Parsonage Farm" a commonplace.Physiocrathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13682019625346594568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-17659983160933577052012-03-06T23:06:11.259+00:002012-03-06T23:06:11.259+00:00Yes, nice words indeed, but where are the deeds to...Yes, nice words indeed, but where are the deeds to back up the words? What is needed is a strong condemnation of the government’s agenda. No mincing of words. No pious platitudes. No going along to get along. But a strong <i>condemnation</i> of what is proposed.<br /><br />“We will not put up with this invasion of the religious sphere by the secular authorities!” “We will not abide by any redefinition of marriage!” “We will not allow the government to infringe on our Catholic consciences and compel us to immoral conclusions!”<br /><br />Get a spine your excellencies! As we say here in the US: “Talk is cheap, but it takes money to buy whiskey.”GORhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14313101159848740722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-35423686306995056782012-03-06T21:19:52.599+00:002012-03-06T21:19:52.599+00:00A clear and positive exposition of the benefits of...A clear and positive exposition of the benefits of marriage to society.<br />Does a redefinition of secular marriage in the way proposed by the ggovernment imply that the church might no longer recognise such marriages - was this an implication of the Archbishop's hopeful hymn for marriage?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-21030579076969851182012-03-06T18:42:20.635+00:002012-03-06T18:42:20.635+00:00A thoroughly well reasoned letter.A thoroughly well reasoned letter.The Boneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10271719805983763595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-34307265381614606392012-03-06T18:08:38.278+00:002012-03-06T18:08:38.278+00:00Wordy, wordy, wordy. Worthy but wordy. What I want...Wordy, wordy, wordy. Worthy but wordy. What I want is plain speaking a la H.E. Cardinal O'Brien. These proposals are evil and destructive. No good can come from them. If parliament decreed that Lead was a valuable as Gold, it wouldn't make it so. This is amoral alchemy and what we need is leadership not sophistry.Miles Mariaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07577617270241675549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-70063759515550521302012-03-06T17:10:26.645+00:002012-03-06T17:10:26.645+00:00Fr Ray,
Thank God these two Archbishops have now m...Fr Ray,<br />Thank God these two Archbishops have now made this Pastoral letter "Redefinition of Marriage" following in line within the steps of the good Cardinal North of the Border!<br /><br />God Bless,<br /><br />Michael.YE OLDE JARRA SCRIBEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10368297651311397134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-3858761175691669912012-03-06T16:22:31.798+00:002012-03-06T16:22:31.798+00:00Thank you, your Graces, for a clear and courageous...Thank you, your Graces, for a clear and courageous letter defending marriageFreddynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-46548751461985984092012-03-06T16:08:46.803+00:002012-03-06T16:08:46.803+00:00Father
The letter is to be read in all dioceses, ...Father<br /><br />The letter is to be read in all dioceses, according to my understanding, at all Sunday Masses this weekend.<br /><br />FrBTFrBTnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31069882.post-66220981953183219522012-03-06T15:12:16.001+00:002012-03-06T15:12:16.001+00:00Too weak and too late!
We need a general, not a po...Too weak and too late!<br />We need a general, not a politition!credidi propter quod locutus sumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05215835139991795227noreply@blogger.com