Credit where it's due

I have in the past been critical of the CES in general (passim), and of the appointment of Greg Pope in particular.

It is only fair to acknowledge that it was Greg Pope who sent out the email which has got the Grauniad, Pink News and the Secular Society so upset, so all kudos to him.

I wonder if the more Catholic approach taken by the CES could have anything to do with the departure of Oona Stannard and the leadership of Fr Marcus Stock?

I still believe that for Greg Pope to be credible in his role, he should recant and repent of his previous voting record.  Good deeds are an excellent start, but public bad example and scandal need to be addressed.

Vaughan School Petition

The saga of the Vaughan School continues. The government is consulting on some of the issues raised by the diocese's, err, novel interpretation of the rules... That is likely to result in a clarification that would have worked in the Vaughan parents' favour; but it may be too late, as the current placemen on the governing body will have appointed a new headmaster pleasing to the Educational Bureaucrats (but not the Vaughan parents) by then.

So take a look at the petition, and if you agree with it, sign it (go on, you know you want to really!)

H/t Linen on the Hedgerow

Non Praevalebunt

Every now and then, I am tempted to despair. Naturally optimistic by nature, I look around and it sometimes seems too much:

The CES Scandals, taking the Catholic out of Catholic Education, and promoting the culture of death;
The various CAFOD Scandals, including but not limited to condomania and bankrolling dissent
The Soho Masses Scandal
The Vaughan School Scandal
The Birmingham Oratory crisis
Connexions in Catholic Schools facilitating abortions for our children,
The widespread capitulation on contraception
The closure of seminaries, religious houses, parishes
The lack of the most rudimentary education and formation in the Faith in so many areas
The inability or worse of the bishops to address these and other issues effectively

...and so on.

And then I look in the mirror: at my own inadequacies in addressing any of these issues, or even addressing the basic obligations of my state of life; my habits of sin and reluctance to go to confession, ... and so on.

At such times all I can do is throw myself back on the promises of Our Lord, in particular those in the Tu es Petrus:

Et portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam.

And the gates of Hell shall not prevail against her (The Church).

Let's not have a hissy fit...

...just because some puerile clerk on the government's payroll has yet to grow up.

Surely we have more important things to engage with: such as the fact that none of the main political parties have any Catholic appeal; our bishops appoint inappropriate people to the CES; Austen Ivereigh, James Preece and Mac are having a barny.

Shoot yourself in the foot (why don't you?)

The 'Catholic' Education Service has appointed a new deputy director: he is Greg Pope, a former Labour MP.

He is of course ideally suited for the role: he "was appointed after a rigorous selection process and was the unanimous choice of the final interview panel, which was chaired by Bishop Malcolm McMahon, Chairman of CESEW," according to the CES press release which continues:

"Oona Stannard, Chief Executive and Director of CESEW, welcomed the appointment, saying...'[It] will help us to continue to both promote and protect Catholic education...'"

He has voted consistently in ways that are diametriacally opposed to Catholic teaching on, for example, abortion, contraception, 'gay' relationships etc.

John Smeaton's excellent blog post has all the gory details.

trades description legislation

I would love to see a suite of actions started against those organisations (Schools, Aid Agencies, Education Services) which use the title Catholic to persuade Catholics to support them, but are non- or anti-Catholic in their practice.


Any takers?...