Saturday, 15 January 2011
Friday, 14 January 2011
FOR LINGERIE AND GUNS
SHOP AT THE EPISCOPAL DIVINITY SCHOOL
The Episcopal Divinity School is well known for it's liberal views, but the advertising carried by their blog may be just a tad too laissez-faire.
DON'T BLAME MADPRIEST, BLAME THAT WICKED PARISH PRIEST FROM SUFFOLK AND PAUL(A)
The lady went to the chemist and bought some "Nair" hair remover.
At the register, the pharmacist told her, "If you're going to use this under your arms, don't use deodorant for a few days."
The lady said, "I'm not using it under my arms."
The pharmacist said, "If you're using it on your legs, don't shave for a couple of days."
The lady replied, "I'm not using it on my legs either. If you must know, I'm using it on my Schnauzer."
The pharmacist says, "Well stay off your bicycle for about a week."
***
After 30 years the mother felt her end was coming and said to her son John, "In all those years we never heard anything from Neil. He even never wrote a letter. John, can you go to London, find Neil, and ask him why we never heard anything from him. The least thing what he could have done was writing a letter."
John went to London, landed at Heathrow and asked a guy at the air-ground service the way to WC2.
The guy pointed to the men's restrooms, and John went inside, saw six doors, and knocked on number 2.
Then he asked, "Are you Neil LeDunn?"
"Yes," said the man inside, "but I am almost out of paper."
Then John said, "Well, mate, that is no excuse not writing your mother after all these years."
A HATER'S ALIBI
From THE GUARDIAN:
A nine-year-old girl lies in the morgue. A member of Congress faces a lifetime of struggle to recover from a bullet in the brain. A city is bracing itself for a string of funerals as it tries to fathom the carnage.
But Trent Humphries, co-founder of Tucson's Tea Party, says there is another innocent victim left by Jared Lee Loughner's killing of six people and wounding of 14 others in his assassination attempt against Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. It is his Tea Party movement and, more particularly, his family. The killings, he says, are evolving into a conspiracy to destroy his organisation and silence criticism of the government.
A lot have taken as gospel that the sheriff says that this was caused by talk radio, by Tea Party extremists, that that must be the case. I think it's done a lot of damage. It's given people the idea that somebody like my wife and I caused this murder. There's no evidence. And there's no evidence Sarah Palin caused this murder," he said. "The Democrats are using this opportunity to bludgeon their opponents. People don't want to hear that it was just some stupid, evil act that had no bearing in rationality. They want it to make sense."
Pressed on whether he was concerned when he heard Giffords's warning about Palin's use of gunsights and calls for supporters not to retreat but "reload" in fighting Democrats, Humphries did not retreat. "It's political gamesmanship. The real case is that she [Giffords] had no security whatsoever at this event. So if she lived under a constant fear of being targeted, if she lived under this constant fear of this rhetoric and hatred that was seething, why would she attend an event in full view of the public with no security whatsoever?" he said.
A nine-year-old girl lies in the morgue. A member of Congress faces a lifetime of struggle to recover from a bullet in the brain. A city is bracing itself for a string of funerals as it tries to fathom the carnage.
But Trent Humphries, co-founder of Tucson's Tea Party, says there is another innocent victim left by Jared Lee Loughner's killing of six people and wounding of 14 others in his assassination attempt against Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. It is his Tea Party movement and, more particularly, his family. The killings, he says, are evolving into a conspiracy to destroy his organisation and silence criticism of the government.
A lot have taken as gospel that the sheriff says that this was caused by talk radio, by Tea Party extremists, that that must be the case. I think it's done a lot of damage. It's given people the idea that somebody like my wife and I caused this murder. There's no evidence. And there's no evidence Sarah Palin caused this murder," he said. "The Democrats are using this opportunity to bludgeon their opponents. People don't want to hear that it was just some stupid, evil act that had no bearing in rationality. They want it to make sense."
Pressed on whether he was concerned when he heard Giffords's warning about Palin's use of gunsights and calls for supporters not to retreat but "reload" in fighting Democrats, Humphries did not retreat. "It's political gamesmanship. The real case is that she [Giffords] had no security whatsoever at this event. So if she lived under a constant fear of being targeted, if she lived under this constant fear of this rhetoric and hatred that was seething, why would she attend an event in full view of the public with no security whatsoever?" he said.
A PARAGON OF HUMILITY
I take no delight in my burden of being right about everything all of the time and, being an extremely humble man, I am not one to rub it in, so to speak. However, I think something needs to be said in respect of the president of the United States, Mister Barack Obama's recent speech concerning the Tucson killings, in particular the incredible statesmanship he displayed. Please accept the following statement in the spirit is is given:
HA! HA!
I WAS RIGHT AND
YOU WERE WRONG!
I shall now go back to being the shy, retiring blogger you all know and love so well. I am not anticipating your comments with interest as I know exactly what they will be already.
HA! HA!
I WAS RIGHT AND
YOU WERE WRONG!
I shall now go back to being the shy, retiring blogger you all know and love so well. I am not anticipating your comments with interest as I know exactly what they will be already.
THE PRAYER LIST
14TH. JANUARY 2011
Posted by Allen at MORNINGSIDER:
***
THANKSGIVING
Posted by Steve Tilley at MUSTARD SEED SHAVINGS:
Routine surgery found the partial cartilage tear that everyone had suspected and fixed it. Was up and about within 40 minutes of coming round from a general anaesthetic and home within a couple of hours. Delighted to report that the nausea I have experienced on previous occasions with generals was simply not there. I guess technology has moved on.
So thank for your prayers. My knee is a bit sore (but nothing like as bad as I expected) so I'll be resting it up for a few days within an exercise regime.
MADPRIEST DIGS . . .
A four piece Indie rock band from Dunfermline in Scotland.
BAND'S WEBSITE
PURCHASE VIA MADPRIEST'S AMAZON STORE
Which one is Valerie Green?
Thursday, 13 January 2011
ORDINARIATE LAUNCHES
"THE PORTALOO"
ONLINE MAGAZINE
I think this must be a spoof like "Newsbiscuit." But it's difficult to tell as the Fifth Columnists are funny anyway, like Harry Enfield doing a skit on pompous, 1950s misogynists.
For a chuckle check out the full caboodle by clicking HERE.
MADPRIEST'S MAKE OR BREAK JANUARY APPEAL
The monthly subscriptions already pledged now stands at £340.00 ($531) thanks to one particularly generous friend. That means we are over half way there with 18 days left.
Of course, you can still help clothe and feed me with a simple donation.
See this MADPRIEST UPDATE for full details.
Of course, you can still help clothe and feed me with a simple donation.
See this MADPRIEST UPDATE for full details.
MORE EXTREME TALENT - WE ARE NOT WORTHY
From Suzer:
I sing in OurSong, Atlanta's Gay and Lesbian Chorus. We had our holiday concert a couple weeks ago (at the beginning of December), and playing with us was an amazingly talented young woman, Angelica Hairston, who is a 17-year-old high school senior who is an accomplished harpist and violinist. (She is a student of our director, Robert Glor.) She got a standing ovation the first night of our concert - she was really astounding. Not only does she play well (both harp and violin), she has the poise, intelligence, and a shining beauty that will take her far.
Here is Angelica, backed by Suzer's Norwegian death metal combo, OurSong. I have no idea which one is Suzer, although I don't think she is the singer with the beard. Of course, I could be wrong ...
I sing in OurSong, Atlanta's Gay and Lesbian Chorus. We had our holiday concert a couple weeks ago (at the beginning of December), and playing with us was an amazingly talented young woman, Angelica Hairston, who is a 17-year-old high school senior who is an accomplished harpist and violinist. (She is a student of our director, Robert Glor.) She got a standing ovation the first night of our concert - she was really astounding. Not only does she play well (both harp and violin), she has the poise, intelligence, and a shining beauty that will take her far.
Here is Angelica, backed by Suzer's Norwegian death metal combo, OurSong. I have no idea which one is Suzer, although I don't think she is the singer with the beard. Of course, I could be wrong ...
AN INCREDIBLY TALENTED FAMILY
(EXCEPT, PERHAPS, THE SLACKER FATHER
You all remember Eric Scully, the Canadian dude who shacks up with that theologian woman. Well, he wrote to me a couple of months ago and he included in his email a link to a video of his two lads' rock combo. With apologies to Eric and Eileen for the delay in getting round to it I have now have the great honour of posting this video for your enjoyment. Lovers of loud will love it.
Eric's boys are the one with the yellow telecaster and the bass player.
Eric's boys are the one with the yellow telecaster and the bass player.
A TIMELY REPAIR
This is from the newsletter of my local retreat centre. Those few of you who are aware of all the crap that comes out of the church mentioned, will fully understand why there is such urgent need for the toilet refit.
FOR THE FAITHFUL
There's a lot of new stuff, some of it, very naughty,
over at Chin Wag @ OCICBW...
Details of how to access Chin Wag can be
found in the right hand sidebar, somewhere.
over at Chin Wag @ OCICBW...
Details of how to access Chin Wag can be
found in the right hand sidebar, somewhere.
ANDREW BURNHAM
A MAN OF NO INTEGRITY
From THE CATHOLIC HERALD:
I got married in the autumn of 1984 and my wife said: “Why don’t you do this properly and do it full time?” So I became the curate of Beeston in Nottingham in January 1985, and I then did a couple of years in Beeston. The vicar retired and I found myself running the parish and there was the obvious petition for me to be the new parish priest. But the bishop rather sensibly decided that this wasn’t a particularly good idea.
I was moved to a new parish and I became the vicar of St John’s Carrington, in Nottingham and I was there for seven years till 1994. By that stage I was looking to become a Catholic but it wasn’t clear how that would work out with a wife and two small children. I felt that I couldn’t really carry on being the local line manager for the C of E but there was a job at St Stephen’s House teaching liturgy and mission and being vice principal and I took that up in January 1995. (Andrew Burnham)
So, after deciding to become a Roman Catholic, Burnham accepted the job of vice principal at St. Stephen's House, an Anglican seminary with a long history of being accepting of gay ordinands. Then he accepted the post of flying bishop of Ebbsfleet, an office invented in order to hold the Church of England together.
I acuse Andrew Burnham of gross hypocrisy and dishonesty. For sixteen years he has been taking the piss out of the Anglican Church and especially the Anglo-Catholic faithful. He has put himself in positions in which he was able to undermine the unity of the church he professed allegiance to.
The man is a cad and an ecclesiastical quisling.
Do go and read the full article as it demonstrates just how cynical the treachery of Burnham and his co-conspiraters has been and the length of time that this plot against the Church of England has been going on. And it is conspiracy, have no doubts about that. And it is conspiracy so well planned that we now know that all protestations by the misogynists in my church, that they would stay if only we accommodated their bigoted beliefs, are just whitewash, hiding their true lack of respect and love for the church that has provided them with a career and, in many cases, preferment and which has paid their wages over so many years. Basically, Burnham's statement above, is proof that they are going to go anyway, whatever the Church of England does short of accepting the bishop of Rome's authority. We must accept this fact, stop pandering to the demands of non-Anglicans and get on with making our church what the Holy Spirit so obviously wants it to be - a house of God where all are welcome and where the Gospel of Christ, not the prejudices of hateful men, informs every part.
I got married in the autumn of 1984 and my wife said: “Why don’t you do this properly and do it full time?” So I became the curate of Beeston in Nottingham in January 1985, and I then did a couple of years in Beeston. The vicar retired and I found myself running the parish and there was the obvious petition for me to be the new parish priest. But the bishop rather sensibly decided that this wasn’t a particularly good idea.
I was moved to a new parish and I became the vicar of St John’s Carrington, in Nottingham and I was there for seven years till 1994. By that stage I was looking to become a Catholic but it wasn’t clear how that would work out with a wife and two small children. I felt that I couldn’t really carry on being the local line manager for the C of E but there was a job at St Stephen’s House teaching liturgy and mission and being vice principal and I took that up in January 1995. (Andrew Burnham)
So, after deciding to become a Roman Catholic, Burnham accepted the job of vice principal at St. Stephen's House, an Anglican seminary with a long history of being accepting of gay ordinands. Then he accepted the post of flying bishop of Ebbsfleet, an office invented in order to hold the Church of England together.
I acuse Andrew Burnham of gross hypocrisy and dishonesty. For sixteen years he has been taking the piss out of the Anglican Church and especially the Anglo-Catholic faithful. He has put himself in positions in which he was able to undermine the unity of the church he professed allegiance to.
The man is a cad and an ecclesiastical quisling.
Do go and read the full article as it demonstrates just how cynical the treachery of Burnham and his co-conspiraters has been and the length of time that this plot against the Church of England has been going on. And it is conspiracy, have no doubts about that. And it is conspiracy so well planned that we now know that all protestations by the misogynists in my church, that they would stay if only we accommodated their bigoted beliefs, are just whitewash, hiding their true lack of respect and love for the church that has provided them with a career and, in many cases, preferment and which has paid their wages over so many years. Basically, Burnham's statement above, is proof that they are going to go anyway, whatever the Church of England does short of accepting the bishop of Rome's authority. We must accept this fact, stop pandering to the demands of non-Anglicans and get on with making our church what the Holy Spirit so obviously wants it to be - a house of God where all are welcome and where the Gospel of Christ, not the prejudices of hateful men, informs every part.
DON'T BLAME MADPRIEST, BLAME THAT
WICKED PARISH PRIEST FROM SUFFOLK
Slightly modified by MadPriest.
The Marines found they had too many officers and decided to offer an early retirement bonus. They promised any officer who volunteered for retirement a bonus of £1,000 for every inch measured in a straight line between any two points in his body. The officer got to choose what those two points would be.
The first officer who accepted asked that he be measured from the top of his head to the tip of his toes... He was measured at six feet and walked out with a bonus of £72,000.
The second officer who accepted was a little smarter and asked to be measured from the tip of his outstretched hands to his toes. He walked out with £96,000.
The third one was a non-commissioned officer, a grizzly old Chief Stoker who, when asked where he would like to be measured replied, 'From the tip of my penis to my testicles.'
It was suggested by the pension man that he might want to reconsider, explaining about the nice big cheques the previous two Officers had received. But the old Chief insisted and they decided to go along with him providing the measure was taken by a Medical Officer.
The Medical Officer arrived and instructed the Chief to drop ’em,' which he did.
The Medical Officer placed the tape measure on the tip of the Chief's penis and began to work back.
"Dear Lord!" he suddenly exclaimed, "Where are your testicles?"
"Baghdad medical centre, Doc," the Old Chief calmly replied.
The Marines found they had too many officers and decided to offer an early retirement bonus. They promised any officer who volunteered for retirement a bonus of £1,000 for every inch measured in a straight line between any two points in his body. The officer got to choose what those two points would be.
The first officer who accepted asked that he be measured from the top of his head to the tip of his toes... He was measured at six feet and walked out with a bonus of £72,000.
The second officer who accepted was a little smarter and asked to be measured from the tip of his outstretched hands to his toes. He walked out with £96,000.
The third one was a non-commissioned officer, a grizzly old Chief Stoker who, when asked where he would like to be measured replied, 'From the tip of my penis to my testicles.'
It was suggested by the pension man that he might want to reconsider, explaining about the nice big cheques the previous two Officers had received. But the old Chief insisted and they decided to go along with him providing the measure was taken by a Medical Officer.
The Medical Officer arrived and instructed the Chief to drop ’em,' which he did.
The Medical Officer placed the tape measure on the tip of the Chief's penis and began to work back.
"Dear Lord!" he suddenly exclaimed, "Where are your testicles?"
"Baghdad medical centre, Doc," the Old Chief calmly replied.
THE SOPPY TRACIE THE RED SELECTION
From ABC 15:
A friend of mine awakens each day with three cold noses and warm tongues poking and licking her face, followed by frantic yipping and yapping. She'll tell you it's the greatest way in the world to begin the day.
Bruce, Sugar, and Tripper are Chihuahuas and dachshund that own said noses and tongues. My friend went from zero to three dogs within months, and they bring smiles and joy to everyone they encounter. Two of them, however, have special stories.
Tripper is a female that was born with three legs, missing her right front one. The breeders she belonged to didn't think they were going to be able to make any money off of her, and were considering putting her down. Bruce was born the runt of the litter, extremely tiny and fragile. Chihuahuas are already small.
Know what, though? Tripper keeps up with the other two just fine, despite the missing leg. Bruce has grown up and has the energy of a greyhound. All are tremendous fun, and draw strangers when out in public while on walks or in the dog park.
They weren't defective. Someone cared enough to take a chance on them. On top of that, like most pets, they love humans unconditionally and are always happy to see and play with you. It's a shame the opposite isn't entirely true. How many great memories and experiences would have been missed if they had been put to sleep?
Our Trace is related, through shacking up, with
the human who lives with these little ones.
REVEREND MARSHALL BROWN
(FORMERLY AT TRURO ANGLICAN CHURCH)
A SHORT HISTORY
Immediately after he left that church the vestry instigated a rule that clergy would no longer be allowed to touch the church's money in any circumstance.
THE PRAYER LIST
13TH. JANUARY 2011
From SKY NEWS:
At least 335 people have died and dozens are missing after floods and landslides swept through mountain towns in southeastern Brazil. Worst hit is the town of Teresopolis, 40 miles north of Rio, where reports say at least 114 people have died in 24 hours.
Posted by Kelvin at WHAT'S IN KELVIN'S HEAD:
The last couple of days, I’ve been down with a nasty dose of the flu and it seems it is not over yet. What I’ve had these last few days is the thing that makes you realise why people die of the flu and why its not to be meddled with.
The worst of the fever seems now to be past though I still feel lousy. I’m following all the proper instructions – paracetamol, rest, liquids, melodramatic gay movies etc.
At least 335 people have died and dozens are missing after floods and landslides swept through mountain towns in southeastern Brazil. Worst hit is the town of Teresopolis, 40 miles north of Rio, where reports say at least 114 people have died in 24 hours.
Posted by Kelvin at WHAT'S IN KELVIN'S HEAD:
The last couple of days, I’ve been down with a nasty dose of the flu and it seems it is not over yet. What I’ve had these last few days is the thing that makes you realise why people die of the flu and why its not to be meddled with.
The worst of the fever seems now to be past though I still feel lousy. I’m following all the proper instructions – paracetamol, rest, liquids, melodramatic gay movies etc.
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
It is often said that it is only the female of the
human species that is capable of multi-tasking.
This is a lie. All men have the same skill.
It's just that we specialise in linear multi-tasking.
What's more, we are far, far better
than women at multi-delegating and
multi-sittingaroundwatchingotherpeopledoallthework.
human species that is capable of multi-tasking.
This is a lie. All men have the same skill.
It's just that we specialise in linear multi-tasking.
What's more, we are far, far better
than women at multi-delegating and
multi-sittingaroundwatchingotherpeopledoallthework.
FUN FOR BIRDBRAINED POETS
Viv has gone and inadvertently launched a poetry competition over at ZEN AND THE ART OF TIGHTROPE WALKING.
Viv is a serious poet who posts beautiful poems on her culturally well-regarded blog. I am sure that you lot can soon mess all that up with your own poetic additions on the subject of seagulls. I've managed to use the word "shit" already.
Viv is a serious poet who posts beautiful poems on her culturally well-regarded blog. I am sure that you lot can soon mess all that up with your own poetic additions on the subject of seagulls. I've managed to use the word "shit" already.
THE PRAYER LIST
12TH. JANUARY 2011
ANNIVERSARIES:
Yesterday: 10 years ago the US opened its prison at Guantanamo.
Today: The earthquake in Haiti was one year ago.
***
From CNN:
Recent heavy rains across Sri Lanka caused flooding and landslides that left thousands homeless, killed 13 people and injured 44 others, the country's disaster management agency said Tuesday.
Officials have set up 351 camps to house more than 127,500 displaced people in three provinces, the agency said in a statement. More than 863,000 people have been affected by the floods, the statement said.
From THE TELEGRAPH:
Many Muslims celebrated last week's murder of Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab, and marched in support of Mumtaz Qadri, the police officer who fired a volley of bullets into his back. However, Shehrbano Taseer, 21, has taken up her father's cause and spoken out against misuse of the country's blasphemy laws to target minorities.
Shadab Qadri, head of the Islamic political party in Pakistan, said that she should stop criticising the killer's actions.
"We read the statement of the slain governor's daughter in a newspaper. She should refrain from issuing such statements and must remember her father's fate," he said.
COMMENT: Shehrbano is one heck of a young lady. Only 21 years old, she recently graduated from Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. She is now employed by Newsweek, Pakistan. Of interest to us is the fact that she is a serious blogger (check out HER WEBSITE). Also check out her "Comment Is Free" piece in THE GUARDIAN yesterday.
She is a beautiful young lady.
Shadab Qadri is an ugly (I am referring to his soul), old man.
We pray that Allah will stop him from spewing further hatred and that the evil words he has already spoken will be taken away by the wind. May Shehrbano be protected by the angels.
From THE FINANCIAL TIMES:
An off-duty policeman opened fire on Coptic Christians on a train in Egypt on Tuesday, killing one man and injuring five others in an attack that threatens to exacerbate sectarian tensions less than two weeks after a church bombing in Alexandria killed 23 people.
Hundreds of Christians protested overnight outside the hospital in the town of Samalut in southern Egypt where the dead man and the injured were taken. Police used teargas to disperse the protesters.
From ROME REPORTS:
Egypt has recalled their ambassador to the Vatican for consultation in light of the Pope's remarks on the need for the Egyptian government to do more to protect its Christian minority.
Lamia Aly Mekhemar, Egyptian Ambassador to the Holy See stated, “We do not share the views that Christians are persecuted in our part of the world. Persecution is a big word, in order prove persecution you have to be very careful, this is a legal term that could not be used casually. In this sense we do not share the views about that our governments, some governments in the area have not provided protection for the Christians in the Middle East.”
COMMENT: The authorities in Egypt do persecute Christians and have done for many, many years. I personally knew a Copt, a refugee in my country, who had to flee Egypt because of threats towards his family and threats to his own life. Why Christian people and other supposed haters of injustice, casually go on holiday to such a despotic nation is beyond me. The Egyptian government is no different in kind to the former apartheid government in South Africa. We should boycott Egypt as we boycotted South Africa.
***
From THE DAILY MAIL:
Four Nato troops were killed in two roadside bombings in Afghanistan today, bringing to 15 the number of international troops killed this year already. Three of them died in an attack in eastern Afghanistan and the other was killed in the south of the country. Elsewhere in the country, six members of the Afghan intelligence services were also assassinated in two separate attacks that left 30 wounded.
Posted by Steve at MUSTARD SEED SHAVINGS:
Just so's you all know, tomorrow I'm going to be off sick for a bit. This will be the fourth time in my life I've entered hospital feeling by and large OK and will come out feeling grim. It's all for the best as I'm having my torn knee cartilage repaired. It's eleven months since I tore it.
***
THANKSGIVINGS:
Posted at WOUNDED BIRD:
UPDATE ON AILEEN
On behalf of Aileen I want to thank each and every one of you for the birthday wishes and prayers. Spent the day with my sweet girl. Decorated her room to try to make it more festive. I dont know if she even realizes it, but it made me feel better. Bright note: white cell count dropped its biggest drop yet and her hemoglobin is up. After five bad days, today is good news. (Mike)
***
From Cathy:
6:26 a.m. Wednesday: I just spoke to my dad - he is safe and at my uncle's, out of harm's way. He had just got there about 20 minutes ago when I rang. Kindly neighbours gave him a lift there from his house and looked after him. The water was just on the other side of the street when he left. Thanks be to God. I am extremely relieved.
***
COUNTERLIGHT is back everybody.
Safe and well and fully recharged.
Yesterday: 10 years ago the US opened its prison at Guantanamo.
Today: The earthquake in Haiti was one year ago.
***
From CNN:
Recent heavy rains across Sri Lanka caused flooding and landslides that left thousands homeless, killed 13 people and injured 44 others, the country's disaster management agency said Tuesday.
Officials have set up 351 camps to house more than 127,500 displaced people in three provinces, the agency said in a statement. More than 863,000 people have been affected by the floods, the statement said.
From THE TELEGRAPH:
Many Muslims celebrated last week's murder of Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab, and marched in support of Mumtaz Qadri, the police officer who fired a volley of bullets into his back. However, Shehrbano Taseer, 21, has taken up her father's cause and spoken out against misuse of the country's blasphemy laws to target minorities.
Shadab Qadri, head of the Islamic political party in Pakistan, said that she should stop criticising the killer's actions.
"We read the statement of the slain governor's daughter in a newspaper. She should refrain from issuing such statements and must remember her father's fate," he said.
COMMENT: Shehrbano is one heck of a young lady. Only 21 years old, she recently graduated from Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. She is now employed by Newsweek, Pakistan. Of interest to us is the fact that she is a serious blogger (check out HER WEBSITE). Also check out her "Comment Is Free" piece in THE GUARDIAN yesterday.
She is a beautiful young lady.
Shadab Qadri is an ugly (I am referring to his soul), old man.
We pray that Allah will stop him from spewing further hatred and that the evil words he has already spoken will be taken away by the wind. May Shehrbano be protected by the angels.
From THE FINANCIAL TIMES:
An off-duty policeman opened fire on Coptic Christians on a train in Egypt on Tuesday, killing one man and injuring five others in an attack that threatens to exacerbate sectarian tensions less than two weeks after a church bombing in Alexandria killed 23 people.
Hundreds of Christians protested overnight outside the hospital in the town of Samalut in southern Egypt where the dead man and the injured were taken. Police used teargas to disperse the protesters.
From ROME REPORTS:
Egypt has recalled their ambassador to the Vatican for consultation in light of the Pope's remarks on the need for the Egyptian government to do more to protect its Christian minority.
Lamia Aly Mekhemar, Egyptian Ambassador to the Holy See stated, “We do not share the views that Christians are persecuted in our part of the world. Persecution is a big word, in order prove persecution you have to be very careful, this is a legal term that could not be used casually. In this sense we do not share the views about that our governments, some governments in the area have not provided protection for the Christians in the Middle East.”
COMMENT: The authorities in Egypt do persecute Christians and have done for many, many years. I personally knew a Copt, a refugee in my country, who had to flee Egypt because of threats towards his family and threats to his own life. Why Christian people and other supposed haters of injustice, casually go on holiday to such a despotic nation is beyond me. The Egyptian government is no different in kind to the former apartheid government in South Africa. We should boycott Egypt as we boycotted South Africa.
***
From THE DAILY MAIL:
Four Nato troops were killed in two roadside bombings in Afghanistan today, bringing to 15 the number of international troops killed this year already. Three of them died in an attack in eastern Afghanistan and the other was killed in the south of the country. Elsewhere in the country, six members of the Afghan intelligence services were also assassinated in two separate attacks that left 30 wounded.
Posted by Steve at MUSTARD SEED SHAVINGS:
Just so's you all know, tomorrow I'm going to be off sick for a bit. This will be the fourth time in my life I've entered hospital feeling by and large OK and will come out feeling grim. It's all for the best as I'm having my torn knee cartilage repaired. It's eleven months since I tore it.
***
THANKSGIVINGS:
Posted at WOUNDED BIRD:
UPDATE ON AILEEN
On behalf of Aileen I want to thank each and every one of you for the birthday wishes and prayers. Spent the day with my sweet girl. Decorated her room to try to make it more festive. I dont know if she even realizes it, but it made me feel better. Bright note: white cell count dropped its biggest drop yet and her hemoglobin is up. After five bad days, today is good news. (Mike)
***
From Cathy:
6:26 a.m. Wednesday: I just spoke to my dad - he is safe and at my uncle's, out of harm's way. He had just got there about 20 minutes ago when I rang. Kindly neighbours gave him a lift there from his house and looked after him. The water was just on the other side of the street when he left. Thanks be to God. I am extremely relieved.
***
COUNTERLIGHT is back everybody.
Safe and well and fully recharged.
Tuesday, 11 January 2011
TRURO CHURCH PORNOGRAPHY
(ALMOST A) RING DISCOVERED
From THE FAIRFAX TIMES:
The Rev. Marshall Brown, 57, who has served as a priest at the former Episcopal Church for more than a decade and was the associate rector of pastoral care, was let go Dec. 31 after church officials discovered he had been "accessing websites that could be considered as pornographic," according to Warren Thrasher, executive director for Truro.
"We contract out our computer support and one of the first things I did after Brown's confession was to have our IT people do a sweep of our system," Thrasher said Friday.
The sweep turned up a second church employee's computer that Thrasher said "contained a significant amount of pornography." That employee, who has not been named, also has been fired from the church, according to Thrasher.
Fairfax City police currently are in possession of the unidentified employee's computer and have opened an investigation, but no criminal charges have been filed. "We were told by the church's computer company that the computer contains many images of a pornographic nature, and we are investigating to see if any crime has been committed," said Sgt. Dan Grimm of the City of Fairfax Police on Saturday.
Sect leader, Martyn Minns, released a statement yesterday in which he stated, ""All of us are broken people in need of God's mercy and grace, but CANA takes very seriously the role of clergy to be a wholesome example to the entire flock of Christ and above reproach."
Oh dear, Martyn, you've done something that bad have you?
DON'T BLAME MADPRIEST, BLAME MAD DAD
ALTHOUGH, TO BE HONEST,
MADPRIEST HAS TINKERED WITH IT
Two evangelical, mega-church leaders decided to swap partners for the night.
After 3 hours of amazing sex, Ted says to his colleague, "I wonder how the girls are getting on".
After 3 hours of amazing sex, Ted says to his colleague, "I wonder how the girls are getting on".
WOMEN IN CRISIS
From THE GUARDIAN:
Almost a third of women aged over 18 have taken antidepressants, according to research published today which its authors claim reveals "generations of women in crisis" with mental health problems. According to a survey of more than 2,000 girls and women in England and Wales, around two-thirds have had mild to moderate mental health problems, equivalent to 15.2 million girls and women.
Penny Newman, chief executive of Platform 51 (formerly the Young Women's Christian Association), said: "Millions of girls and women are facing mental health problems and they are telling us that they are not getting the support they need. Our study reveals generations of women in crisis … women are often the linchpins of their families and their communities, and if three in five of them aren't meeting their potential, they lose out, their family and friends lose out – and so does the wider society."
What is most striking about the behaviour of women suffering from mental health problems is that it is often self-destructive and hidden.
Professor Louise Howard, head of women's mental health at King's College London, said the figures were "very interesting and relevant". She said: "There is evidence that there is under-identification of people with mental health problems that need treatment."
COMMENT:
This is a disturbing report, albeit one that simply gives scientific credence to what most of those with an interest in mental health in my country already knew. What it must not be taken as is evidence of discrimination against women. Our underfunded, understaffed welfare services bend over backwards to positively discriminate in favour of women and ethnic minorities. If there is this level of under-diagnosis of female mental health problems, I would guess that there is just as much under-diagnosis of men suffering from mental health problems.
The big question is, what is producing this rise in mental illness among women in England?
One suggestion I would make is that it is the result of the sudden (in evolutionary terms) change in the expectations that society (and women themselves) have of the roles women should now assume. I know from personal experience how confusing and stressful the change in roles now expected of men can be. Society (through popular media such as TV and novels) still insists that we are strong and caring of "our women." Yet it also expects us to turn our hand to what were previously regarded as female responsibilities and change our mental outlooks accordingly. Like it or not, a lot of women expect a man to be both dominant and submissive according to the woman's requirements at any given time. This is a perfectly fair expectation but working out when to be one thing and when to be another is difficult, and the male ability to get things completely wrong when it comes to women has not yet evolved out of our nature.
So, if this is true of men is it also true of women who are now expected to assume many responsibilities that were previously thought of as within the preserve of men, at home and at work, whilst still having to burden all the responsibilities that are traditionally the preserve of women? One thing is for certain, in my opinion, women have taken on male responsibilities more fully than men have taken on women's roles. That women work all day and then come home
where they are still expected to do the majority (all) of the housework and childcare is a situation that most men acknowledge and feel guilty about - but never do anything to remedy. It's a fact - the evolution of the male of the species towards equity among the sexes is lagging far behind the evolution of the female in this respect.
The question this raises is should we look backwards for an answer or forwards?
If we do decide to ride the storm out because it will eventually lead to more civilised and fair society then, if this report is accurate, we need to take more care of both sexes, but especially women who are bearing the brunt of societal changes, in regard to the stresses caused by change so that the horrendous number of people requiring help for mental health problems can be reduced.
Almost a third of women aged over 18 have taken antidepressants, according to research published today which its authors claim reveals "generations of women in crisis" with mental health problems. According to a survey of more than 2,000 girls and women in England and Wales, around two-thirds have had mild to moderate mental health problems, equivalent to 15.2 million girls and women.
Penny Newman, chief executive of Platform 51 (formerly the Young Women's Christian Association), said: "Millions of girls and women are facing mental health problems and they are telling us that they are not getting the support they need. Our study reveals generations of women in crisis … women are often the linchpins of their families and their communities, and if three in five of them aren't meeting their potential, they lose out, their family and friends lose out – and so does the wider society."
What is most striking about the behaviour of women suffering from mental health problems is that it is often self-destructive and hidden.
Professor Louise Howard, head of women's mental health at King's College London, said the figures were "very interesting and relevant". She said: "There is evidence that there is under-identification of people with mental health problems that need treatment."
COMMENT:
This is a disturbing report, albeit one that simply gives scientific credence to what most of those with an interest in mental health in my country already knew. What it must not be taken as is evidence of discrimination against women. Our underfunded, understaffed welfare services bend over backwards to positively discriminate in favour of women and ethnic minorities. If there is this level of under-diagnosis of female mental health problems, I would guess that there is just as much under-diagnosis of men suffering from mental health problems.
The big question is, what is producing this rise in mental illness among women in England?
One suggestion I would make is that it is the result of the sudden (in evolutionary terms) change in the expectations that society (and women themselves) have of the roles women should now assume. I know from personal experience how confusing and stressful the change in roles now expected of men can be. Society (through popular media such as TV and novels) still insists that we are strong and caring of "our women." Yet it also expects us to turn our hand to what were previously regarded as female responsibilities and change our mental outlooks accordingly. Like it or not, a lot of women expect a man to be both dominant and submissive according to the woman's requirements at any given time. This is a perfectly fair expectation but working out when to be one thing and when to be another is difficult, and the male ability to get things completely wrong when it comes to women has not yet evolved out of our nature.
So, if this is true of men is it also true of women who are now expected to assume many responsibilities that were previously thought of as within the preserve of men, at home and at work, whilst still having to burden all the responsibilities that are traditionally the preserve of women? One thing is for certain, in my opinion, women have taken on male responsibilities more fully than men have taken on women's roles. That women work all day and then come home
where they are still expected to do the majority (all) of the housework and childcare is a situation that most men acknowledge and feel guilty about - but never do anything to remedy. It's a fact - the evolution of the male of the species towards equity among the sexes is lagging far behind the evolution of the female in this respect.The question this raises is should we look backwards for an answer or forwards?
If we do decide to ride the storm out because it will eventually lead to more civilised and fair society then, if this report is accurate, we need to take more care of both sexes, but especially women who are bearing the brunt of societal changes, in regard to the stresses caused by change so that the horrendous number of people requiring help for mental health problems can be reduced.
THE PRAYER LIST
11TH. JANUARY 2011
From THE COURIER MAIL (Australia):
Brisbane's Lord Mayor Campbell Newman is predicting 6500 properties will be flooded across the city. He says the next few days will see a large-scale disaster unfolding across the city, ahead of an expected peak in the Brisbane River on Thursday.
Office workers are streaming out of Brisbane's CBD as the Brisbane River breaks its banks with floods greater than 1974 expected to hit the southeast.
Mr Newman revealed that Wivenhoe Dam, built to flood-proof Brisbane after the last flood disaster, was now so full it could no longer protect the city.
"The dam is full," the Lord Mayor said.
"Every bit of rain that falls on the catchment will get to Brisbane, and there is not much more we can do about that."
A volume of water equivalent to two Sydney Harbours is pouring over the vast dam's spillway into the river every 24 hours. Mr Newman said if it continued to rain, "who knows what happens on Friday".
A tenth death has been confirmed from Queensland's flash floods and the toll could rise to more than double that, Premier Anna Bligh says.
The Premier said a revised figure of 78 people are still missing in the wake of the inland tsunami that hit Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley. Five of the dead are children, it has been confirmed.
From THE WASHINGTON POST:
KARACHI, PAKISTAN - The assassin has been showered with rose petals, his home has become a shrine to the faithful and thousands of supporters have marched in the streets, praising him as a heroic defender of Islam.
Mumtaz Qadri, 26, pleaded guilty in a Pakistani court Monday to murdering the governor of Punjab province, Salman Taseer, because of the governor's outspoken opposition to Pakistan's harsh blasphemy law, which makes it a capital crime to criticize the prophet Muhammad.
Posted by Kelli at PLANET TRANSGENDER:
Three Honduran travesti or transgender woman, have been murdered in three separate incidents in the past two weeks. There bodies found raped, burned and thrown into ditches.
Posted by Kathy at KNITTING WITH MY SHOES OFF:
Although the depression is more bearable now, that doesn't mean it doesn't drop-kick me occasionally and leave me completely paralyzed by it. Worse still is when Zach is down with it, too. Today is one of those days. I am barely able to function today, fighting back tears and feelings of complete despair. It's a monumental struggle but I think I'll overcome it...eventually. Maybe by tomorrow.
***
THANKSGIVINGS
Posted by Larry at RENZ IN THE WOODS:
Yes, I am alive and well, for those of you have been wondering. I have had surgeries on both wrists to alleviate carpal tunnel symptoms and am now on a new drug via the neurologist which is helping with what he calls "micro neuropathy" as the cause for my joint pain throughout my body.
Work continues to be a challenge, but I am thankful that I am employed when so many are not. My bills are getting paid and my debt is slowly decreasing. I am blest.
***
Posted at BENE DICTION BLOGS ON:
Saskatchewan’s top court has decided that proposed legislation allowing provincial marriage commissioners to refuse to perform same-sex weddings on religious grounds violates the constitution. In its decision, the Appeal Court said that accommodating commissioners’ religious convictions does not justify discriminating against same-sex couples who want to tie the knot.
***
Posted at LESLEY'S BLOG:
Twitter tells me that "The Bishop of London has issued an ad clerum statement that the Bishop of Willesden is resuming public duties. Hooray!"
Brisbane's Lord Mayor Campbell Newman is predicting 6500 properties will be flooded across the city. He says the next few days will see a large-scale disaster unfolding across the city, ahead of an expected peak in the Brisbane River on Thursday.
Office workers are streaming out of Brisbane's CBD as the Brisbane River breaks its banks with floods greater than 1974 expected to hit the southeast.
Mr Newman revealed that Wivenhoe Dam, built to flood-proof Brisbane after the last flood disaster, was now so full it could no longer protect the city.
"The dam is full," the Lord Mayor said.
"Every bit of rain that falls on the catchment will get to Brisbane, and there is not much more we can do about that."
A volume of water equivalent to two Sydney Harbours is pouring over the vast dam's spillway into the river every 24 hours. Mr Newman said if it continued to rain, "who knows what happens on Friday".
A tenth death has been confirmed from Queensland's flash floods and the toll could rise to more than double that, Premier Anna Bligh says.
The Premier said a revised figure of 78 people are still missing in the wake of the inland tsunami that hit Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley. Five of the dead are children, it has been confirmed.
From THE WASHINGTON POST:
KARACHI, PAKISTAN - The assassin has been showered with rose petals, his home has become a shrine to the faithful and thousands of supporters have marched in the streets, praising him as a heroic defender of Islam.
Mumtaz Qadri, 26, pleaded guilty in a Pakistani court Monday to murdering the governor of Punjab province, Salman Taseer, because of the governor's outspoken opposition to Pakistan's harsh blasphemy law, which makes it a capital crime to criticize the prophet Muhammad.
Posted by Kelli at PLANET TRANSGENDER:
Three Honduran travesti or transgender woman, have been murdered in three separate incidents in the past two weeks. There bodies found raped, burned and thrown into ditches.
Posted by Kathy at KNITTING WITH MY SHOES OFF:
Although the depression is more bearable now, that doesn't mean it doesn't drop-kick me occasionally and leave me completely paralyzed by it. Worse still is when Zach is down with it, too. Today is one of those days. I am barely able to function today, fighting back tears and feelings of complete despair. It's a monumental struggle but I think I'll overcome it...eventually. Maybe by tomorrow.
***
THANKSGIVINGS
Posted by Larry at RENZ IN THE WOODS:
Yes, I am alive and well, for those of you have been wondering. I have had surgeries on both wrists to alleviate carpal tunnel symptoms and am now on a new drug via the neurologist which is helping with what he calls "micro neuropathy" as the cause for my joint pain throughout my body.
Work continues to be a challenge, but I am thankful that I am employed when so many are not. My bills are getting paid and my debt is slowly decreasing. I am blest.
***
Posted at BENE DICTION BLOGS ON:
Saskatchewan’s top court has decided that proposed legislation allowing provincial marriage commissioners to refuse to perform same-sex weddings on religious grounds violates the constitution. In its decision, the Appeal Court said that accommodating commissioners’ religious convictions does not justify discriminating against same-sex couples who want to tie the knot.
***
Posted at LESLEY'S BLOG:
Twitter tells me that "The Bishop of London has issued an ad clerum statement that the Bishop of Willesden is resuming public duties. Hooray!"
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Comment left by MadPriest at SOME DISAGREE WITH MOM:
Free speech is like the right to bear arms. In the USA you can carry a gun but that doesn't mean you are not responsible for the carnage if you decide to fire it into a crowd of people.
Free speech is like the right to bear arms. In the USA you can carry a gun but that doesn't mean you are not responsible for the carnage if you decide to fire it into a crowd of people.
IN WHICH MADPRIEST GETS THE
REPUBLICANS OFF THE HOOK
If gay people didn't keep insisting they should be allowed to get married the Tea Party wouldn't have had to stir up all that hatred and no nine year old little girl would have been killed. So, who is to blame? I think we all know the answer to that question.
IF THE USA IS SO FULL OF CHRISTIANS
WHY DOES GOD KEEP ZAPPING THEM?
HE WAS NEVER SO MEAN AGAINST THE RUSSIANS
Of course, at OCICBW... we knew all along that the little blackbirds died because of teh gay.
COMMENT: So lets get this straight. If human beings piss God off then he kills the nearest flock of blackbirds. Well, that'll teach them naughty gays.
Over the weekend, Cindy Jacobs of Generals International posted a new video prompted by the fact that, as a prophet, people have been asking her about the meaning behind the recent rash of bird deaths ... to which she replied that it might be due to the fact that America is violating God's prohibition on homosexuality with support for gay marriage and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell:
According to biblical principles, marriage is between a man and a woman, so we have to say “what happens when a nation makes a decision that’s against God’s principles?” Well, often what happens is that nature itself will begin to talk to us – for instance, violent storms, flooding. And you know there are actually some patterns that you can see where a nation will make a decision that is contrary to the principles of God and after that there is some kind of answer that God gives - being the God of creation, the God who created nature - but we don’t always understand what He’s saying.
Well, there’s something interesting we have been watching – let’s talk about this Arkansas pattern and say, could it be a pattern? We’re going to watch and see. But the blackbirds fell to the ground in Beebe, Arkansas. Well the Governor of Arkansas’ name is Beebe. And also, there was something put out of Arkansas called "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" by a former Governor, this was proposed, Bill Clinton. As so, could there be a connection between this passage [Hosea 4] and now that we’ve had the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, where people now legally in the United States have broken restraints with the Scripture because the Scripture says in Romans 1 that homosexuality is not allowed.
It could be because we have said it’s okay for people who commit these kinds of acts to be recognized in our military for the first time in our history, there is a potential that there is something that actually happened in the land where a hundred thousand drum fish died and also where these birds just fell out of the air.
COMMENT: So lets get this straight. If human beings piss God off then he kills the nearest flock of blackbirds. Well, that'll teach them naughty gays.
Monday, 10 January 2011
DON'T BLAME MADPRIEST,
BLAME WHOEVER SENT IT IN
A man goes into W.H. Smith's bookshop and asked the young lady assistant: "Do you have the new book out for men with short penises?"
"I'm not sure if it’s in yet."
"That’s the one, I'll take a copy."
"I'm not sure if it’s in yet."
"That’s the one, I'll take a copy."
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From an anonymous source:
"I once met the HR manager from your diocese. Her comment was 'people may win a tribunal, but they'll never work again.'
"That says quite a bit about the Church of England I think."
"I once met the HR manager from your diocese. Her comment was 'people may win a tribunal, but they'll never work again.'
"That says quite a bit about the Church of England I think."
IN WHICH MADPRIEST GOES AGAINST HIS
BETTER JUDGEMENT AND TRUSTS IN GOD
As most of you know, at the end of August 2010, my bishop removed me from my post as an assistant priest at the Church of St. Francis, where I had worked for over eight years, leaving me without a salary and, at the end of February this year, a home to live in. The only reason I was given for this was that the diocese could no longer afford to pay for the post. I have never been the subject of disciplinary action.
In an attempt to get a new post in the Church, as well as applying for positions all over the country, I initiated legal proceedings against the bishop. I claimed for some sort of redundancy payment to get me on my feet and I accused the bishop of disability discrimination against me because his failure to provide me with a permanent position, my right under English disability legislation, led to me being in a post that could be terminated for purely financial reasons.
On Friday I received the reply from the bishop's solicitor. In it they stated that they would not be restricting their defence to the matters on which I was claiming but that they would try and prove that I deserved dismissal because of my behaviour and that I have a history of not getting on with the offices of the Church.
There are highly regarded witnesses who have offered to provide statements to the tribunal on my behalf which will repudiate such claims by the bishop and both myself and my solicitors believe the facts regarding the way I have been employed and the conditions applied to my employment speak for themselves However, any defence I put up to counteract an attack on my work record and character would, most likely, cause incredible harm to lots of people, some of whom I love dearly.
There is the family that came to me near the beginning of my ministry to complain about the inappropriate behaviour of their parish priest towards a teenage boy. When I reported the incident it was covered up (not by a bishop, I hasten to add, no bishop was even informed). There are officers of the church who I would accuse of not doing their duty in respect of my welfare who, in two posts I have held, were aware that I was under unfair attack but did nothing about it, or, at least, did nothing quick enough, even though it was in their power to do so. There are the officers of the church who have offered to help me even though they must realise, from viewing my experience, that this will effect their careers in the church adversely. Also, although I have often spoken up about controversial issues, I have never broken the rules of the Church of England through my actions. I can prove that those who accuse me of spoken indiscretion have themselves acted in ways contrary to the agreed position of the Church on certain matters and the revelation of their actions would harm people I love.
Also, I do have my health to consider. I have kept my mental illness in check for over ten years now. That I have got through all the stress of the last two years without sinking back into depression is one of my most proud achievements. But, a nasty court case and the subsequent national publicity might well be the straw to break the camel's back. I cannot risk going back to the hell it took me so long to crawl out of.
Anyway, all I would achieve, and I would achieve it whether I won the case or not, would be revenge and I am not much in need of that. This post and the knowledge of the guilt, excused and deflected and now buried deep inside them but always there, of the good people who did nothing, will suffice as enough revenge for me.
I have carefully considered all this over the weekend and discussed it with my wife and a clergy friend. I have come to the conclusion that, although from a practical point of view I am turning my back on the possibility of financial compensation that would save my wife and myself from destitution, the harm that I would be causing to other people if I continue with my claim is too much for my conscience to bear. In any case, it would not be the Christian thing to do and I can hardly accuse the bishop of acting in an unchristian manner towards me if I then act in an unchristian manner towards him and other parties, some guilty and some not. Therefore, this morning I instructed my solicitor not to proceed. I would point out here that the legal action would have cost me nothing as it is covered by an insurance policy.
So that's it. I am now a priest in name only which is as useful as a computer that is never switched on. I have come to the conclusion, based on countless rejections over the last two years, that, for whatever reason, I will never be employed by the Church again. As the priesthood was my vocation in life I will now be treading water until the day I die. I expect I will do some useful, maybe even interesting stuff, but it will be purely mechanical. My understanding of the priesthood is so tied up with parish ministry that, try as I might, I am just unable to see anything else as true priesthood.
But, although it is personally subjective, I believe that I will retain my integrity and I think I have proved that integrity is more important to me than any earthly reward or comfort. I have noticed that most people think such a standpoint is plain silly and that it does not take into account the reality of life. But they have not experienced the freedom, albeit, at times, an uncomfortable, even painful, freedom, that living life as close to the moral principles you profess brings.
The big question I now face is how will my new status effect my blogs? I have always spoken as a priest and now I am something different. I think that such issues will take a while to resolve. Things will change. Mrs MP believes the changes will be for the better. I wish I had her faith that stuff always turns out all right in the end.
In an attempt to get a new post in the Church, as well as applying for positions all over the country, I initiated legal proceedings against the bishop. I claimed for some sort of redundancy payment to get me on my feet and I accused the bishop of disability discrimination against me because his failure to provide me with a permanent position, my right under English disability legislation, led to me being in a post that could be terminated for purely financial reasons.
On Friday I received the reply from the bishop's solicitor. In it they stated that they would not be restricting their defence to the matters on which I was claiming but that they would try and prove that I deserved dismissal because of my behaviour and that I have a history of not getting on with the offices of the Church.
There are highly regarded witnesses who have offered to provide statements to the tribunal on my behalf which will repudiate such claims by the bishop and both myself and my solicitors believe the facts regarding the way I have been employed and the conditions applied to my employment speak for themselves However, any defence I put up to counteract an attack on my work record and character would, most likely, cause incredible harm to lots of people, some of whom I love dearly.
There is the family that came to me near the beginning of my ministry to complain about the inappropriate behaviour of their parish priest towards a teenage boy. When I reported the incident it was covered up (not by a bishop, I hasten to add, no bishop was even informed). There are officers of the church who I would accuse of not doing their duty in respect of my welfare who, in two posts I have held, were aware that I was under unfair attack but did nothing about it, or, at least, did nothing quick enough, even though it was in their power to do so. There are the officers of the church who have offered to help me even though they must realise, from viewing my experience, that this will effect their careers in the church adversely. Also, although I have often spoken up about controversial issues, I have never broken the rules of the Church of England through my actions. I can prove that those who accuse me of spoken indiscretion have themselves acted in ways contrary to the agreed position of the Church on certain matters and the revelation of their actions would harm people I love.
Also, I do have my health to consider. I have kept my mental illness in check for over ten years now. That I have got through all the stress of the last two years without sinking back into depression is one of my most proud achievements. But, a nasty court case and the subsequent national publicity might well be the straw to break the camel's back. I cannot risk going back to the hell it took me so long to crawl out of.
Anyway, all I would achieve, and I would achieve it whether I won the case or not, would be revenge and I am not much in need of that. This post and the knowledge of the guilt, excused and deflected and now buried deep inside them but always there, of the good people who did nothing, will suffice as enough revenge for me.
I have carefully considered all this over the weekend and discussed it with my wife and a clergy friend. I have come to the conclusion that, although from a practical point of view I am turning my back on the possibility of financial compensation that would save my wife and myself from destitution, the harm that I would be causing to other people if I continue with my claim is too much for my conscience to bear. In any case, it would not be the Christian thing to do and I can hardly accuse the bishop of acting in an unchristian manner towards me if I then act in an unchristian manner towards him and other parties, some guilty and some not. Therefore, this morning I instructed my solicitor not to proceed. I would point out here that the legal action would have cost me nothing as it is covered by an insurance policy.
So that's it. I am now a priest in name only which is as useful as a computer that is never switched on. I have come to the conclusion, based on countless rejections over the last two years, that, for whatever reason, I will never be employed by the Church again. As the priesthood was my vocation in life I will now be treading water until the day I die. I expect I will do some useful, maybe even interesting stuff, but it will be purely mechanical. My understanding of the priesthood is so tied up with parish ministry that, try as I might, I am just unable to see anything else as true priesthood.
But, although it is personally subjective, I believe that I will retain my integrity and I think I have proved that integrity is more important to me than any earthly reward or comfort. I have noticed that most people think such a standpoint is plain silly and that it does not take into account the reality of life. But they have not experienced the freedom, albeit, at times, an uncomfortable, even painful, freedom, that living life as close to the moral principles you profess brings.
The big question I now face is how will my new status effect my blogs? I have always spoken as a priest and now I am something different. I think that such issues will take a while to resolve. Things will change. Mrs MP believes the changes will be for the better. I wish I had her faith that stuff always turns out all right in the end.
THE PRAYER LIST
10TH. JANUARY 2011
Posted by Pastor Joelle at SKATING IN THE GARDEN:
Christina Taylor Green was born on September 11, 2001. She was featured in a book "Faces of Hope", a book about those born on that day. She had just been elected to her student council. She was at that Safeway in Tucson, Arizona yesterday morning to meet her congresswoman and learn more about politics.
Her mother says:
"She always thought about how she was born on 9/11, and she saw the positive in it," Green said. "She thought of it as a day of hope and change, a chance for the country to come together to be united." (ABC News)
She died on the scene with a single bullet wound to the chest.
From ALJAZEERA:
Three policemen have been killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province. Police were tracking the bomber when he detonated his device in the city of Spin Boldak on Monday.
The attack was the second suicide bombing in four days against police in the Spin Boldak area, near the Pakistan border. At least 16 civilians and a police commander were killed in an attack in a public bathhouse in the city on Friday. More than 20 others were injured in that blast, for which the Taliban claimed responsibility.
From THE NEW YORK TIMES:
Fourteen civilians were killed in clashes with the Tunisian police over the weekend, the government said Sunday, in the deadliest violence in a wave of unrest that has lasted nearly a month.
Protesters say they are angry about a lack of jobs, but officials say the rioting is the work of a minority of violent extremists intent on damaging Tunisia.
***
From AFP:
Flash floods ripped through northeast Australia Monday, killing at least one person as they swept cars and pedestrians into rapids so strong they felled trees and caused landslides.
Severe downpours deluged already sodden Queensland state, with more than 300 millimetres (12 inches) falling in some places in just 24 hours, swelling rivers to fresh peaks and submerging roads and bridges.
A sudden torrent dramatically swept through Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, killing one female pedestrian and whipping at least three others into the raging waters, police said.
***
Please pray for Tenon Saw at IT'S ALL A BIT POOR. There is some stuff going on his life at the moment that is causing him distress. For reasons of confidentiality he withdrew his post on the matter.
***
Posted at PADRE MICKEY'S DANCE PARTY:
I've had a lot of funerals for the past two months. Last week I officiated at three funerals, and it's getting to me. Only one of last week's funerals was for a member of the parish, but it's still tough.
***
Posted by Allen at MORNINGSIDER:
It's been a while since I posted anything and longer since I posted about Morningside Gardens, the cooperative I call home. Things are not well here at Morningside -- the board of directors is deeply divided and there is anger, dismay, and confusion among the cooperators. A friend said to me today that the general fractious mood that characterizes our country these days is also manifesting itself here at Morningside.
Christina Taylor Green was born on September 11, 2001. She was featured in a book "Faces of Hope", a book about those born on that day. She had just been elected to her student council. She was at that Safeway in Tucson, Arizona yesterday morning to meet her congresswoman and learn more about politics.
Her mother says:
"She always thought about how she was born on 9/11, and she saw the positive in it," Green said. "She thought of it as a day of hope and change, a chance for the country to come together to be united." (ABC News)
She died on the scene with a single bullet wound to the chest.
From ALJAZEERA:
Three policemen have been killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province. Police were tracking the bomber when he detonated his device in the city of Spin Boldak on Monday.
The attack was the second suicide bombing in four days against police in the Spin Boldak area, near the Pakistan border. At least 16 civilians and a police commander were killed in an attack in a public bathhouse in the city on Friday. More than 20 others were injured in that blast, for which the Taliban claimed responsibility.
From THE NEW YORK TIMES:
Fourteen civilians were killed in clashes with the Tunisian police over the weekend, the government said Sunday, in the deadliest violence in a wave of unrest that has lasted nearly a month.
Protesters say they are angry about a lack of jobs, but officials say the rioting is the work of a minority of violent extremists intent on damaging Tunisia.
***
From AFP:
Flash floods ripped through northeast Australia Monday, killing at least one person as they swept cars and pedestrians into rapids so strong they felled trees and caused landslides.
Severe downpours deluged already sodden Queensland state, with more than 300 millimetres (12 inches) falling in some places in just 24 hours, swelling rivers to fresh peaks and submerging roads and bridges.
A sudden torrent dramatically swept through Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, killing one female pedestrian and whipping at least three others into the raging waters, police said.
***
Please pray for Tenon Saw at IT'S ALL A BIT POOR. There is some stuff going on his life at the moment that is causing him distress. For reasons of confidentiality he withdrew his post on the matter.
***
Posted at PADRE MICKEY'S DANCE PARTY:
I've had a lot of funerals for the past two months. Last week I officiated at three funerals, and it's getting to me. Only one of last week's funerals was for a member of the parish, but it's still tough.
***
Posted by Allen at MORNINGSIDER:
It's been a while since I posted anything and longer since I posted about Morningside Gardens, the cooperative I call home. Things are not well here at Morningside -- the board of directors is deeply divided and there is anger, dismay, and confusion among the cooperators. A friend said to me today that the general fractious mood that characterizes our country these days is also manifesting itself here at Morningside.
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The predominant economic policy of the world is Capitalism in which people are employed and discarded as if they are not human beings but mere assets, units of production. It is institutionalised, permitted psychosis. We should not be surprised when units of production are unable to see the humanity in each other.
Sunday, 9 January 2011
MADPRIEST'S INCREDIBLY EASY POLITICAL MEME
Liberals believe everybody on the right is out to get them.
Conservatives believe everybody is out to get them.
Who is out to get you?
Conservatives believe everybody is out to get them.
Who is out to get you?
THE OCICBW... CHALLENGE
In the interests of fairness, I would like to compile a list of American conservatives who have been shot at by American liberals. I cannot think of any but I'm sure there must be some. Perhaps my readers could help me on this one.
Please note that conservatives (or conservatives who behaved like democrats) shot at by conservatives do not count.
Please note that conservatives (or conservatives who behaved like democrats) shot at by conservatives do not count.
THE PRAYER LIST
9TH. JANUARY 2011
Please pray for those who died as a result of the shooting in Tuscon yesterday, their families and their friends. Please pray for those who were injured, especially for the recovery of those who are now critically ill. Please pray for the people of the United States. They have, as a nation, important decisions to make because of yesterday's obscenity which will decide the level of peace and prosperity in the whole world as much as in their own country.
Names of the dead in Arizona: Christina Taylor Greene (age 9); Dory Stoddard; Dorothy Morris; Phyllis Scheck; Gabe Zimmerman; and Chief Judge John Roll of the U.S. District Court for Arizona.
Please pray for the people of Sudan who, today, begin a week of voting to decide wether ot not their country should be divided, north and south. Please pray for both Muslims and Christians and that the loving nature of their God will inform their thoughts, words and actions after the result of the referendum is known.
From SKY NEWS:
The bodies of 27 people, almost half of them young men who had been decapitated, have been found in Mexico in the space of just a few hours. Reforma newspaper reported that the men were killed by the Sinaloa cartel, headed by drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, for intruding on the gang's turf.
More than 30,000 people have been killed in Mexico's drugs war since the government launched a major military crackdown in 2006.
***
From CNN:
Israel demolished part of a hotel in East Jerusalem on Sunday as part of a plan to build 20 housing units for Jews in a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
"The state of Israel is demolishing one Palestinian property after another in an effort to cleanse Jerusalem of its Palestinian inhabitants, heritage and history," the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat, said in a statement.
The United States had called on Israel to halt the housing project, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by saying "our sovereignty (over Jerusalem) cannot be challenged".
From AFP:
Heavy rains falling on Australia's flooded north-east could have a "dramatic" impact, officials warned Sunday, stretching already swollen rivers and creeks to their limit across the devastated region.
From CNN:
At least three people have been killed and 300 others injured in riots that erupted across Algeria amid rising food prices and a housing crisis. The protests began last week over spiraling costs of basic food items, including milk, oil and sugar.
From THE TELEGRAPH:
Sana Saleem may not look like a doughty human rights campaigner. Yet every day she shrugs off death threats and anonymous text messages promising to rape her in the street, in order to champion progressive causes on her blog. Even she, though, was unprepared for the outpouring of hate that has engulfed Pakistan this week, with the murder of a high-profile politician who was leading a campaign to reform the country's draconian blasphemy laws.
"I was devastated, really shocked," said the 23-year-old medical student. "They were celebrating his death, showering the killer with rose petals. I never expected this."
From Brian:
Thanksgiving for the prayers offered in my behalf. It made a real difference; I felt immediately uplifted and held close right after I emailed MP. On a sadder note, I returned to my work this week to find that one of my administrators took her own life this week rather than return to work after the holidays. She was only 46. I am a teacher and the effect on our school and the children has been palpably dark and will continue to be so for some time, I fear. So I ask for your continued prayers for the repose of her soul and for the healing presence of God in our workplace.
***
From Rudo:
My father who suffered a stroke just before Christmas died on January 4 and the funeral service took place yesterday, January 7. My brother and I arrived home on January 31st and we thank God that we were able to see and talk to him for 4 days before his final departure. Thanks for the prayers. He did not suffer much pain. He opted for cremation, which is very rare for an African person, because of the struggles in the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe. Since Kunonga has barred the Anglican Diocese of Harare from using the church property, including burial sites, my father could not be buried on the site where my mother is buried. He was cremated today and we will receive his ashes tomorrow. The service was beautiful although it took place in a big tent at our family home in Harare.
Please continue to pray for those left behind, including my three brothers and their wives and children and all his friends who loved him deadly are still struggling to come to terms with such a sudden end to the physical presence of their loved one.
Again thanks for the prayers.
***
From MadPriest:
A good friend of mine, Father Mike Pennington, an old school priest with the eccentricity to go with it, has died. Please pray for his wife Eileen and family and for the Church. Father Mike fought against evil throughout his life and his ministry will be sorely missed. We will also miss his slide shows on sinking ships.
***
Posted by Graham at DIGGING A LOT:
A few months ago, our friend Grace was in a car accident; initially the prognosis was very poor. I got a text a few days ago to say that when she was injected, she whispered the word ‘Ow’. Wow….a little word that would have meant nothing, would have been missed and passed over 4 months ago suddenly became huge and shot through with hope.
The journey is still uncertain and whatever happens the road is long, but something little has become something momentous and more….. Amen.
***
Posted by Dianne at FORKS OFF THE MOMENT:
So I'm still battling this bug. I can't decide if I'm still sick or sick again - I vaguely remember feeling sorta OK a day or two here and there. Then again my head is so stuffed that I'm not sure if I've had a clear thought since Christmas.
***
Posted by Paul at BYZIGENOUS BUDDHAPALIAN:
My friend Ryan's grandfather has died and tonight was the wake. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. May those who love him find comfort. May Ryan be sustained and return safely to school.
In very good news, my dear friend Kathy has a new job and begins work on Monday. This was, blessedly, a very short time unemployed. May she shine in the new position and find satisfaction in it.
The other Cathy is still battling that nasty flu and needs to be working. May her health return swiftly, her vigor increase, and her employment suffice.
Another overlong update on me, me, me:
I did not sleep well (or enough) last night so today had a very rough start. I think my nose is at the healing stage where it is just tender. Sort of that easily irritable phase, like a wound when it itches and you know that's a good sign but it's driving you nuts and you cannot scratch it. For my nose's sake it would be lovely if my facial muscles would go all botox for a few days and not move. Smiling, laughing, yawning, whatever makes nose muscles move and that is unpleasant. Washing my face is a challenge. (Just try it without moving a nose muscle.) I began the day in a foul, miserable mood. [I never promised to be a patient, happy convalescent.] Still, each day I breathe a bit more easily.
The long rest period is making more sense on an experiential level now. Serious stuff was done to straighten out my septum and it needs to heal properly. It is incredibly easy to do something to one's nose that will undermine that. My face is vulnerable and sore. One thoughtless moment could undo a lot. And my body needs more rest than usual (and has actually gotten much less in the first few days). So: patience, Mr. Bear. Chill and let it happen. Be gentle to yourself. Your breathing-improved nose needs time to stabilize.
Names of the dead in Arizona: Christina Taylor Greene (age 9); Dory Stoddard; Dorothy Morris; Phyllis Scheck; Gabe Zimmerman; and Chief Judge John Roll of the U.S. District Court for Arizona.
Please pray for the people of Sudan who, today, begin a week of voting to decide wether ot not their country should be divided, north and south. Please pray for both Muslims and Christians and that the loving nature of their God will inform their thoughts, words and actions after the result of the referendum is known.
From SKY NEWS:
The bodies of 27 people, almost half of them young men who had been decapitated, have been found in Mexico in the space of just a few hours. Reforma newspaper reported that the men were killed by the Sinaloa cartel, headed by drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, for intruding on the gang's turf.
More than 30,000 people have been killed in Mexico's drugs war since the government launched a major military crackdown in 2006.
***
From CNN:
Israel demolished part of a hotel in East Jerusalem on Sunday as part of a plan to build 20 housing units for Jews in a predominantly Palestinian neighborhood of East Jerusalem.
"The state of Israel is demolishing one Palestinian property after another in an effort to cleanse Jerusalem of its Palestinian inhabitants, heritage and history," the chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erakat, said in a statement.
The United States had called on Israel to halt the housing project, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by saying "our sovereignty (over Jerusalem) cannot be challenged".
From AFP:
Heavy rains falling on Australia's flooded north-east could have a "dramatic" impact, officials warned Sunday, stretching already swollen rivers and creeks to their limit across the devastated region.
From CNN:
At least three people have been killed and 300 others injured in riots that erupted across Algeria amid rising food prices and a housing crisis. The protests began last week over spiraling costs of basic food items, including milk, oil and sugar.
From THE TELEGRAPH:
Sana Saleem may not look like a doughty human rights campaigner. Yet every day she shrugs off death threats and anonymous text messages promising to rape her in the street, in order to champion progressive causes on her blog. Even she, though, was unprepared for the outpouring of hate that has engulfed Pakistan this week, with the murder of a high-profile politician who was leading a campaign to reform the country's draconian blasphemy laws.
"I was devastated, really shocked," said the 23-year-old medical student. "They were celebrating his death, showering the killer with rose petals. I never expected this."
From Brian:
Thanksgiving for the prayers offered in my behalf. It made a real difference; I felt immediately uplifted and held close right after I emailed MP. On a sadder note, I returned to my work this week to find that one of my administrators took her own life this week rather than return to work after the holidays. She was only 46. I am a teacher and the effect on our school and the children has been palpably dark and will continue to be so for some time, I fear. So I ask for your continued prayers for the repose of her soul and for the healing presence of God in our workplace.
***
From Rudo:
My father who suffered a stroke just before Christmas died on January 4 and the funeral service took place yesterday, January 7. My brother and I arrived home on January 31st and we thank God that we were able to see and talk to him for 4 days before his final departure. Thanks for the prayers. He did not suffer much pain. He opted for cremation, which is very rare for an African person, because of the struggles in the Anglican Church in Zimbabwe. Since Kunonga has barred the Anglican Diocese of Harare from using the church property, including burial sites, my father could not be buried on the site where my mother is buried. He was cremated today and we will receive his ashes tomorrow. The service was beautiful although it took place in a big tent at our family home in Harare.
Please continue to pray for those left behind, including my three brothers and their wives and children and all his friends who loved him deadly are still struggling to come to terms with such a sudden end to the physical presence of their loved one.
Again thanks for the prayers.
***
From MadPriest:
A good friend of mine, Father Mike Pennington, an old school priest with the eccentricity to go with it, has died. Please pray for his wife Eileen and family and for the Church. Father Mike fought against evil throughout his life and his ministry will be sorely missed. We will also miss his slide shows on sinking ships.
***
Posted by Graham at DIGGING A LOT:
The journey is still uncertain and whatever happens the road is long, but something little has become something momentous and more….. Amen.
***
Posted by Dianne at FORKS OFF THE MOMENT:
So I'm still battling this bug. I can't decide if I'm still sick or sick again - I vaguely remember feeling sorta OK a day or two here and there. Then again my head is so stuffed that I'm not sure if I've had a clear thought since Christmas.
***
Posted by Paul at BYZIGENOUS BUDDHAPALIAN:
My friend Ryan's grandfather has died and tonight was the wake. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. May those who love him find comfort. May Ryan be sustained and return safely to school.
In very good news, my dear friend Kathy has a new job and begins work on Monday. This was, blessedly, a very short time unemployed. May she shine in the new position and find satisfaction in it.
The other Cathy is still battling that nasty flu and needs to be working. May her health return swiftly, her vigor increase, and her employment suffice.
Another overlong update on me, me, me:
I did not sleep well (or enough) last night so today had a very rough start. I think my nose is at the healing stage where it is just tender. Sort of that easily irritable phase, like a wound when it itches and you know that's a good sign but it's driving you nuts and you cannot scratch it. For my nose's sake it would be lovely if my facial muscles would go all botox for a few days and not move. Smiling, laughing, yawning, whatever makes nose muscles move and that is unpleasant. Washing my face is a challenge. (Just try it without moving a nose muscle.) I began the day in a foul, miserable mood. [I never promised to be a patient, happy convalescent.] Still, each day I breathe a bit more easily.
The long rest period is making more sense on an experiential level now. Serious stuff was done to straighten out my septum and it needs to heal properly. It is incredibly easy to do something to one's nose that will undermine that. My face is vulnerable and sore. One thoughtless moment could undo a lot. And my body needs more rest than usual (and has actually gotten much less in the first few days). So: patience, Mr. Bear. Chill and let it happen. Be gentle to yourself. Your breathing-improved nose needs time to stabilize.
MADPRIEST'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
At a press conference following the attack (on US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords), the Pima County Sheriff, Clarence Dupnik, blamed political vitriol for fuelling the attack.
"People tend to pooh-pooh this business that we hear about all the vitriol we hear inflaming the American public by people who make a living doing that," he said. "That may be free speech – but there are consequences."
He said Arizona had become "a Mecca for prejudice and bigotry" and that "people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol".
I can perceive no difference in type between the so-called Tea Party in the U.S. today and Hitler's National Socialist Party in Germany during the late 1920s.
The U.S.A. may be a kind of democracy but its population does not behave in the way the people of mature democracies, at least strive, to behave. Their commitment to the democratic process is tentative and what other commentators have likened to the "Law of the Wild West" still supersedes the ballot box in the minds of many Americans.
For democracy to prosper and create a peaceful, productive political environment it must be grounded in communal common cause. The main enemy of democracy is not disagreement per se, disagreement is healthy in a democracy, but tribalism. There is tribalism in the United States as much as there is in Pakistan, India, Sudan and Nigeria. Those whose "vitriol" caused the deaths in Tuscon yesterday claim to be "true" Americans in the same way Hitler's followers claimed to be "true" Germans. But they are not "true" citizens of the country they inhabit. They are a tribe of bigots who hate the American socio-political experiment that was so dear to the hearts of the founders of the Republic.
Sheriff Dupnik fears that the actions of the political right in the U.S. can encourage the "unbalanced" to acts of violence. The rest of the world fears that the political right in the U.S. is, itself, unbalanced and is a madman whose sociopathic view of anyone who is not itself is as much a danger to the peace of the world as the mindset of the fundamentalist, psychopaths who kill and maim those who are not themselves in the name of Islam.
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