John Smeaton's very grave warnings about the Synod document, "Instrumentum Laboris".

 I must applaud John Smeaton who heads the pro-life charity SPUC, for his sterling work on exposing the true 'agenda' behind the up-and-coming Synod on the Family, which is due to take place over 3 tortuous weeks from 5th October 2015. 

Please click on the link to read his latest article, highlighting the really insidious and dangerous ideas coming from the working document - called, "Instrumentum Laboris". He says the proposals would put families in grave danger - if they are adopted. One wonders, how such a nasty document can come from the Vatican - it makes you think the Church has been hijacked from within! This document is anything other than Catholic.

He writes in an easy-to-read style and puts his points accross succinctly.

John Smeaton founded this umbrella group "Voice of the Family" after last year's fiasco Synod 2014.

It has many supporters especially pro-life groups. 

As I write this, there is some good news, in that no less than 11 cardinals are opposing this 'agenda' and have just published a book due to be released in September. Cardinal Burke and Bishop Schneider have already been vocal opponents of Cardinal Kasper's proposals, which would endanger the sacrament of matrimony.

Be ready for ecclesiastical fisticuffs and fireworks in October!

http://voiceofthefamily.info/wordpress/?p=1307

An excellent booklet on the Synod is this

Catholic Blogs. Do you think they help you in your Faith? Or are they harmful? Or Both?

Bishop Athanasius Schneider (a living Saint in my opinion), thanked the Catholic blogosphere last Autumn. He thanked them for exposing the real 'agenda' behind the Synod on the family in November of 2014. This infamous Synod became known by many names, such as "Sinnod" and "Spinod". Why? Because many cardinals were openly pushing for the acceptance of certain grave sins, (used to be called mortal sins in pre-Vatican 2), and the whole affair was being spinned, by the use of disingenuous and slippery language. Many good Catholic journalists such as Edward Pentin, did sterling work in uncovering some very naughty behaviour. Like the sabotaging of orthodox books on the family. 

Anyhow - what do you readers think?

I have had 2 schools of thought put to me.

On the one hand, various Catholics think blogs which expose scandals in the Church, can cause harm to 'weak-in-faith' Catholics, as they might drive Catholics out of the Church altogether. I can see that this might happen, as it did when all the pedophilia scandals were being exposed. I think many weak Catholics did leave. I know of one personally, who left as a result. Only 1 though.

On the other hand, I know of Catholics who say their faith has been strengthened as a result of these blogs.

So what do you readers think?

Should Catholic bloggers only write about fluffy kittens and Church of niceties, or should the scandals be truthfully reported on, however horrid they are?

Personally, I have found them to be a great help, because I pray more as a result of scandals.

Another thought. If Catholic blogs didn't report on scandals, they would be accused of being complicit in the 'cover-up'. If Catholic blogs only reported on the good things, then those prelates, who reject Church doctrines, might think they can get away with sowing yet more confusion to the Faithful. 

Something to ponder - what would have happened if there were blogs before and during the Second Vatican Council?! There would have been a bloggonic explosion. The blogosphere would have been in overdrive. 

It is complicated isn't it?

Comments invited

Make 10 outfits out of 16 items of clothing! Using a sudoku board - ingenious idea!

This is a rather frivolous post but actually there is much sense and thrift to this unique idea developed by Colleen Hammond, a former beauty pageant, and weather girl. 

The utube is very short - 3 minutes.

In it, Colleen takes 16 items of clothing, 4 of a type, so 4 bottoms, 4 tops, 4 shoes, 4 jackets and/or accessories (necklaces)

They are mentally  put onto a 16 grid chequer board (or if you are like me, you will  have to write it down). You have to put  them in a particular order to make it work.

You use 2 - 3 colours. The example she gives is black and royal blue, or green and pink. The combinations of 2 colours are limitless. Usually 2 accent colours, or 1 neutral and 1 accent. Or 2 neutral plus 1 accent.

You go through each column and each column is an outfit. You go diagonally and you have an outfit. 4 accross and 4 down and 2 diagonals, making 10 outfits in total. This is fashion on a budget! 

Please watch! Link is under the photo

http://youtu.be/aJ_xQH2rEjI

Actually rather than frivolous - it is a jolly clever and thrifty idea!

I have followed Colleen's tips and in 5 minutes put this very rough sudoku of my clothes, using black, white and yellow. So I could keep the photo at all times, so that when I go shopping I can liaise with what I already own.

The experiment has shown me some combinations I would not have put together before. So I think it is a brilliant idea!

I could swap the yellow for salmon pink next time.

Here is my rough display

Now I swapped the yellow for varieties of coral pinks

I am trying black, white, purple and orange in the following composition

Not perfect but it still shows combinations I would never consider.

At last - a phone which blocks nuisance calls! Deo Gratias!

I can't believe I am writing about telephones but life is suddenly rather peaceful. I no longer have the phone ringing every 15 minutes - every day of the week, including weekends. I stopped answering the land line ages ago as it was constant nuisance calls. I started hating the phone with a vengeance and even pulled the plug out on occasions. 

Since I became a subscriber to "Which?" magazine, their latest issue is a godsend. In it was a snippet about blocking almost 100% of nuisance calls.

So I have now purchased the phone. I got it from John Lewis as they offer a 2 year guarantee.

Here it is.

It is utterly brilliant

"Which?" magazine is excellent too - it is a very interesting magazine in its own right.

A very important article on the abuse of "Natural Family Planning". What happened to "serious reasons"?

Is "NFP" the Trojan horse in the Catholic bedroom? I am coming to the conclusion that it is.

Pope John Paul II never approved of the term "NFP, Natural Family Planning", as it has undertones of a contraceptive mentality. It also sound like the abortion group, "Planned Parenthood". Pope John Paul II preferred the term, "Natural Fertility Awareness". This is a cumbersome term though, and you get blank stares when you use it in polite conversation. The Catholic Church has NEVER  promoted NFP. In fact the doctrine of the Catholic Church is that there has to be a truly serious reason to avoid having children. A serious reason would NOT be doing up a house or upgrading a car. 

Of course - this all requires the cooperation of both spouses. 

http://philotheaonphire.blogspot.co.uk/

Happy 80th Birthday Father Michael Clifton!

On the Feast of St Boniface, 5th June 2015, it was Fr Michael Clifton's 80th birthday. 

Fr Michael was archivist for Southwark Diocese, a role which has given him an encyclopediac knowlege of Catholic history and the characters involved, including Catholic eccentrics, infamous and saints alike. He has also authored 5 books, one of which was "The Alliance of Dissent" - written in the 1980s - to expose disident 'Catholic' organisations, trying to undermine the Church. Although written some time ago, it is an important work as it shows how dissent has flourished in the Catholic Church - certainly in England anyway. Some of the names and groups he exposes no longer exist, but newer groups have emerged such as  ACTA (A Call To Action) - again another 'group' which plots to undermine church teaching under the guise of evolving dogmas and other nonsense. Thankfully ACTA has been exposed and several bishops have warned their parishioners not to take any notice of it. 

Father Michael recently moved into "Holy Cross Priory" - which is also called "Holy Cross Care Home", in Cross-in-Hand, East Sussex. His flat is one of the new conversions in the old listed building, which was designed after Pugin. It is at the top of the building overlooking the car park and the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. Walk into the flat and you instantly witness a priest of many interests. His love of pictures of trains and old buildings - he has a painting of Scotney Castle - Lamberhust, in his sitting room (he told us of the priest hidey hole in the tower of Scotney castle). There are bookshelves full of books and archival materials. In the corner is another great hobby - his train set - which he is still building. 

On the TV and laptop there are various soft animals - a cat I think and other soft toys, possibly childhood memorabilia.

I collected Father Michael and another resident of Holy Cross to take them to Pam Talbot's farmhouse, 5 minutes away, where Father was to say Old Rite Mass, followed by a birthday lunch. The farmhouse has a chapel in the grounds. I wrote about the chapel in the post before this.

The fun and games began, when a sparrow flew into the chapel and perched himself on the wooden crucifix. Father Michael was getting ready to say Mass. Anyhow, this young sparrow wasn't a bit scared and sat still on the right arm of the crucifix (but left from the pew view). Father with all his knowledge said that in the Armenian Rite, the crucifix has a bird in exactly that spot on the crucifix, to symbolise the Holy Spirit. The bird was there for a considerable time.

Birdie started flying around the chapel. Luckily one of the other guests was the formidable Marigold Turner - who is the Latin Mass representative for Southwark Diocese. She suggested we get a fishing net, which Pam Talbot had 2. Eventually the sparrow flew out having avoided both nets.

At the end of Mass, Father sang "Panes Angelicum". 

Lunch was a combined effort. Sharon, a serene nurse from Hailsham provided a very tasty cooked salmon. Pam supplied vegetables from her garden, and an array of sauces. This was followed by Pam's exquisite homemade banana icecream - out of her ice cream maker, which must be one of the earliest machines. Meringues accompanied the ice-cream, followed by cheeses. Then birthday cake and coffee.

The guests were, Pam Talbot (hostess), Father Stephen Hardaker - dean of Mayfield deanery, Marina Napier, Marigold Turner, Sharon and myself.

Father started telling us eccentic stories and I think he had a jolly time. At 80, his mind is razor sharp and I put this down to his avid reading and writing. He had a blog up until 2011 or thereabouts, but a well-known monseigneur, who writes for the Catholic Times threatened to sue him (on unsound grounds) so Father decided to stop the blog. However, he has a weekly email letter, which he sends to people on request. I can supply his email if you contact me.

Now I must mention the delightful Marigold Turner. Her pink lipstick did not move throughout lunch. I had to find out which brand it was - a Bourgois in shade No7, from Boots. Apparently it is made by Chanel but a fraction of the price. Her dress was an animal print by Mulberry and her shoes were by a famous Italian designer, as was her bag. She is quintessentially  English but favours Italian designers - presumably because she goes to Rome quite often. She is a great lady - and has done great work for the Latin Mass Society - managing to arrange Latin Masses every Sunday in her part of Southwark Diocese.

Fr Amorth, the most famous exorcist - his last message to Fr Gruner

Fr Nicholas Gruner - the famous Fatima priest, died suddenly of a heart attack on 28th April 2015. 

I had the privilege of meeting Fr Gruner when he came to give a "day of recollection" at a friend's house nearby. He was quietly spoken and very humble. For all the controversies that surrounded him, I happen to believe he was telling the truth. That was my gut feeling anyway.

Just before he died, he went to the Vatican in April of this year on Fatima business, and met with the most senioir living exorcist - Father Gabriele Amorth - now 90. Father Amorth gave him an urgent message.

Father Amorth said that, unless Russia is consecrated as per Our Lady's instructions, by the end of October 2015, the dark prophecies of Fatima may well happen any time after that. One of the prophecies says whole nations will be annihilated if men do not repent.

I think one should take this very seriously - Father Amorth seems to have insight.

Father Amorth is author to various books - here is one example. It is a good read.

So what does one do? If you are a Catholic, make sure you are in a state of grace, and if you haven't taken up the daily rosary - now may be a good time to start! If you are not a Catholic, you can still pray the rosary - as this will lead you to the Truth. There are plenty of web resources on how to pray the Rosary. You can get rosary CDs for the car, or buy a version from the App store. The rosary may be the greatest weapon of all time.