Can someone explain why we have Bishops Conferences?

I have been very disturbed lately about the situation of the good Bishop Egan and the Bishop's Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW). It really makes me wonder what their function is.

The situation concerns Catholic politicians who vote for laws contrary to Catholic teaching - in this case, the law of same-sex marriage (SSM).

The case of Bishop Egan was reported in the Daily Telegraph. The bishop publicly said that Catholic politicians who voted for SSM should not present themselves for Holy Communion, as their voting against church teaching is a grave sin, and until they repent and go to confession about voting this way, they must not receive Holy Communion. The church is very clear about this. Anyone in a state of mortal sin cannot receive Holy Communion until they have repented and received absolution. Bishop Egan was only repeating what St John Paul II, Pope Benedict and Cardinal Burke have always taught - which is official church teaching. Bishop Egan is quite right. He is doing what every bishop should do. He is witnessing to the Truths of the Catholic Faith. That is the role of bishops!

Sadly, one of his Catholic politicians took offence at this and complained to the powers in Eccleston Square (where Cardinal Nichols resides). The bishops decided to have a little meeting about this poor politician - as they do. The outcome was relayed by Mgr Marcus Stock. He said that the bishops conference had decided that Catholic politicians who voted for SSM can of course receive Holy Communion. Now quite frankly - this is disturbing and flies in the face of that good bishop Egan. The bishops conference has over ruled one of its bishops. This is dreadful actually. It says no bishop has any authority over his own diocese anymore. This is wrong. The Church is NOT a democracy but the Bishop's Conference has democratised it - very bad.

Of course, publications like The Tablet applauded the decision of the CBCEW. The Tablet calls itself Catholic but it should be stripped of this title. It is no more Catholic than the Anglican Church Times. And yet - dear reader - The Tablet is sold by the shed load in Westminster Cathedral - the most senior Catholic church in England. 

Yes I have written to Cardinal Nichols about this - I never get a response.

I also wrote to Bishop Egan with my support and he replied soon after. He also asked for prayers. 

Sorry folks, but this is a lamentable situation.

Ban the Bishop's conferences and let the bishops have jurisdiction over their own dioceses!

Any comments gratefully received.

Saintly King Henry VI, by the late Ursula Putnam

When we were in Truro for Easter weekend - at my mother's house, I had a look through my late grandmother's writings - she wrote for various Catholic publications. I found an interesting article she wrote in 1969 about King Henry VI, of whom she was very fond. I am sure she won't mind me publishing it on my blog. It was originally in The Ransomer - illustration below.

I like to think my son Henry is named after this good king rather than the later infamous Henry!

'Animal Magic' birthday parties - really worthwhile!

It was my nephew's 4th birthday party recently and nowadays it seems 'de rigeur' to have themed parties for children. Nephew  Maxie wanted an animal party - so my sister shopped around to find a company which could provide real animals to play with. The one she went for is called "Animal Magic" and they were reasonably priced for a 2 hour slot.

A team of 2 young women arrived in funky outfits and fun hair-dos with an array of different animal carriers.

The first activity was feeding rabbits and out plopped some rabbits of various breeds and sizes onto a low table so that the children could feed them carrots. There were also some guinea pigs. 

Here they are - Maxie is facing the camera.

 

For the next activity - the team produced a fully equiped doll's house. This was going to be the 'mouse show'. But these mice were also tame enough to be handled. Again there was a varitey of colours, shapes and breeds. The parents were more scared than the children.

Putting mice on heads was quite popular too - and being pooed on!

Here is niece Holly.

And cousin Henry is here - dressed in a duck 'onesie' which was a Christmas present from his older brother.

The next show was the cookaburra show - but the animal stayed in its container and made some amazing noises. I don't have a photo of this.

The finale of the show was the Meerkat show - this was outside in a pen. The children were given live wiggly worms to feed them. Luckily it wasn't raining. The team were very knowledgeable about the animals although I don't think the children took it all in.

After a good two hours the children finally sat down to an animal themed tea party.

Here are the details if you want to hire this team.

                                                               

Scandal at 'catholic' hospital - St John & St Elizabeth's - hierarchy turns a blind-eye!

This trendy 'catholic' hospital will have to sever ties with the Church as it is permitting practices which go against the natural law and Church teaching.

I have written to Cardinal Nichols - a trustee of this hospital, to ask him what he is doing about this scandal. I don't expect a reply - he does not respond to my letters. But if enough 'awake' Catholics write, his conscience might be pricked. His email is in the linked article at bottom. Remembering that famous phrase  which goes something like this - "it only takes enough people to remain silent for evil to flourish".

More shocking is this - an insider told me that Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor was scathing about orthodox Catholics and said he had SAVED the hospital from falling into the hands of fundamentalists! So, in other words his Emminence is pretty cool about the hospital referring the unborn to their death sentences! Stomach that if you will!

Catholic hospital that hosts abortion-referring center proposes removing pro-life Catholic trustees | LifeSiteNews.com

Our Lady of Good Success. Church approved apparition. IMPORTANT!

If you want to know about ecclesiastical masonry infiltrating the Catholic Church - you really should read the Church approved apparition which happenend in Quito - Equador. It is all about how masonry would invade The Church during the 20th Century.

Faithful Catholics need to open their eyes and wake up - can't stay half asleep.

If the doctrine on marriage starts changing from Rome - then red flags have to go up (watch Cardinal Kasper). Natural Law does not change and applies in all eras and cultures. If the Vatican starts going on about paradgym shifts in Natural Law - they are being decieitful. There is a ferocious power struggle in the Vatican at the moment. Before Mgr Marini died in 2009 he is quoted as saying, "Our hands are tied - we are under masonic occupation".

The Reformation produced blood martyrs - which kept the underground Church alive.

We may have to face this trial again - it could be blood, at the moment it's white. Persecution comes from the outside - and now very much from the inside. A loyal Catholic deacon (Nick Donnelly of 'Protect the Pope' blog) has been told to stop his blog by his bishop - it is faithful to Church teachings. His bishop has a link to a dissenting article on the Tablet - on his blog! 

Dissenting theologians like Hans Kung are given adulation and praise - and even slots on radio 4. He is the darling now. Prof Kung has the single largest entry in The Universe's 'Catholic Who's Who 2014' -Amazing!

There is something very very wrong at the moment. Even point 247 of Evangelii Gaudium isn't right. I am going to expand on that in a blog - I have been in touch with priests in good standing about why it is not correct. I am just amazed how few people have noticed this grave error.

Keep awake and watch out.

Are you prepared to lay down your life for your Faith? You may have to.

The link to the Quito apparition is here.

http://www.padrepioandchiesaviva.com/uploads/chiesa-viva-413-english.pdf

Why did Benedict change his coat of arms in 2010? A mystery

This is quite an interesting mystery. In 2010 Pope Benedict changed his coat of arms, which is unprecedented. No Pope has ever changed his coat of arms during his papacy. This change happened a few years before his resignation.

One significant detail bothers me - why is the cord linking the keys no longer there. This is highly symbolic of the power to forgive sins. I would be very interested in any insight into this.

full article on the link

Has Pope Benedict changed his coat of arms? | National Catholic Reporter

The Most extraordinary Fashion show ever - from 1972. Shocking really.

I love fashion - and I have been to some fashion shows in the past. They are quite fun really.

But this Utube clip takes the biscuit! It is only a few minutes long and was made in 1972. The world was sinking into a moral abyss by this date - abortion, birth control etc, were by now legal in most of the Western nations. It was a turbulent period after the outright rejection of Humanae Vitae - the famous encylcal banning "the Pill". The encyclical was right of course, but took way too long to produce - 4-5 years of endless consultation and dialogue.

It is both shocking and magnificent in a macabre way - it is quite spooky and scary.

Some of the clothes are magnificent but the message they convey is possibly not a good one. I don't think it is a good meaning.

I think it is outrageous really, but I did enjoy watching it.

http://youtu.be/QMQ4JicUs1A

Do watch!