It seems that everywhere I look these days, I’m finding excellent analyses of the crises facing the Catholic Church (and yes, “crises” is deliberately in the plural). Everywhere, that is, except where we really ought to find such thoughtful, intelligent…
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Call for Help: NZ Journalist, Seeks Gay Catholic Kiwis.
I found this in my inbox this morning: I am a journalist based in Wellington, NZ, writing a feature story about Catholicism in this country and how it is interacting with various changes in society. As part of that, I…
The La Repubblica Report on the Vatican “Gay Cabal” – Original Text.
This week’s La Repubblica story that allegations of some kind of gay network, together with some kind of blackmail threats, triggered Pope Benedict’s resignation, has received widespread coverage – some breathlessly excited, some muted and cautious. (The links offered below,…
Let Us Remember, for Feb 23rd
St Gorgonia , woman deacon
“Once Upon a Time, In the Vatican”: How the Catholic Church Has Changed
Ever since Pope Benedict’s unexpected announcement of his imminent retirement, there’s been extensive commentary and speculation about his possible successor – and in particular, the prospects (or otherwise) that the new man, whoever he is, will be a force for…
Let Us Remember, for Feb 13th, Saints Polyeuct and Nearchos
The Roman soldiers, lovers and martyrs Sergius and Bacchus are well known examples of early queer saints. Polyeuct and Nearchos are not as familiar- but should be. John Boswell (“Same Sex Unions in Pre-Modern Europe“) names the two as one…
Gay Marriage Debate: A Quotable Quote, on Jesus
The former Labour minister David Lammy dismissed suggestion that it somehow undermined Christianity. “The Jesus I know was an illegitimate refugee born with a death sentence on his head,” he said. “He would stand up for minorities”. – Independent -
The Third Dance of Christmas: A Fiddle Dance for St. John’s Day
(Placed by a reader, Joe, as a comment to my piece “Water into Wine: Rereading the Wedding Feast at Cana”). Thanks, Joe. Sweet Saint John was a dancer on the shore of old Capernaum a lovely boy not fit for…
To Soho Mass Foes: “Be Careful What You Wish For”
There’s going to be an enormous amount of discussion tomorrow, both before and after Mass. As I’ve already had my say extensively, in email and on-line, I hope to keep my own mouth shut unless directly asked, and concentrate on…
A Strictly Personal Reflection
On Monday afternoon, I will be meeting up with the Jesuit Provincial, whom I happen to know personally, from my CLC days in Johannesburg, when I was the newly appointed regional co-ordinator for Johannesburg, and he was our newly appointed…
