Schools drop Holocaust lessons to avoid offence

Relativism and the censuring of history bourne from ignorance!

Alexandra Frean Times online
Teachers are dropping controversial subjects such as the Holocaust and the Crusades from history lessons because they do not want to cause offence to children from certain races or religions, a report claims.

A lack of factual knowledge among some teachers, particularly in primary schools, is also leading to “shallow” lessons on emotive and difficult subjects, according to the study by the Historical Association.

The report, produced with funding from the Department for Education, said that where teachers and staff avoided emotive and controversial history, their motives were generally well intentioned.

“Staff may wish to avoid causing offence or appearing insensitive to individuals or groups in their classes. In particular settings, teachers of history are unwilling to challenge highly contentious or charged versions of history in which pupils are steeped at home, in their community or in a place of worship,” it concluded.

However, it was concerned that this could lead to divisions within school, and that it might also put pupils off history.

Holy Week Here

Sacred Triduum

The Church encourages the faithful to participate in the Liturgies of the Sacred Triduum: The Mass of the Lord's Supper, the Solemn Liturgy of the Passion and the Easter Vigil, which are central to our faith.

The first and foremost of these is the Vigil of Easter and the first Mass of Easter.

Holy Thursdsay - Mass of the Lord's Supper 8pm

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Good Friday - Liturgy of the Lord's Passion -3.00pm

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Holy Saturday -Solemn Vigil and First Mass of Easter 8.30pm

Easter Day Mass - 10.30am

Seville Statues

See here for more Holy Week images from Seville.

May the Lord Have Mercy on His Soul

Today is the 2nd anniversary of the death of John Paul II: pray for his soul.

Let us pray too that he maybe raised to altar soon.

Pope: Angelus referenc to the Old Rite

Pope: Young people, search for the face of God; follow Christ with innocent hands and pure hearts

In celebrating the XXII World Youth Day, Benedict XVI urged young people to refuse violence, corruption, bribes and to live with pure hearts that “are not led astray by the thrill of pleasure”. The crucified Christ opened “God’s door” on the world and asked the “indifferent” world to open itself to His love. Vatican City (AsiaNews) – In an impassioned appeal, on Palm Sunday which also marked World Youth Day, Benedict XVI asked all young people to “search for the Face of God” and to follow Christ with “innocent hands and pure...

Interestingly, in the light of Cardinal Bertone, the Secretary of State, speaking about the forthcoming Motu Proprio (see Rorate Caeli) as preserving ancient traditions, Benedict XVI then recalled another symbol – now no longer in use – of the Palm Sunday procession, when the priest on his arrival at the door “smote the closed door with the processional cross, which then opened before him” . The Pope explained “the image beautifully depicted the mystery of Christ who, with the wood of his cross, the strength of his love gifted to us, knocked from the world on God’s door; a world that was failing to find access to God”.

Palm Sunday

The King enters His own city.

The people shouted “Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”.

Fr Cantalamessa on Zenit has an interesting exploration on who killed Jesus.

He looks at the change in attitude since the Shoaha, the movement from blaming the Jews to blaming Pilate. One of the great problems with this is that it takes away from the idea that God places himself into the hands of those He loves and it is those who He loves who crucifiy Him. Those who cry "Hosanna" are those who cry "Crucify". Blaming Pilate exclusively diminishes what scripture has to say about Divine Love. God loves and chooses those who kill Him, His Passion is about the absolute vulnerability, which is at the heart of His Divinity, the Cross at the heart of the Trinity.

The same lips that proclaim "Hosanna" today also cry, "Crucify Him".

Who crucifies Him today? Those who cry, "Hosanna".

Palm Sunday 1919

Cardinal Bourne entering Westminster Cathedral in 1919, notice the priests acting as deacons wearing "folded chasubles" and the amazing decorated palm held by the Cardinal, the priest immediately behind the Cardinal looks a little like Monsignor Wallace, one of my illustrious predecessors.

Saturno tip to Mgr Langham's excellent blog