Exclusive: Vatican Appoints Editor of Catholic Truth To Head Think Tank

Exclusive: Vatican Appoints Editor of Catholic Truth To Head Think Tank

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I’m truly astonished, and honoured, to tell you all that I’ve been appointed by the Vatican to head a think tank on the role of women in the Church.  I’m aware that there will be opposition from within the Church especially from radical feminists,  and I am genuinely surprised that I’ve been chosen for such an important task.  I’d appreciate your prayerful support at this time.  I wanted the Catholic Truth blogging community to be the first to know this news and I’d like to thank the Vatican officials who agreed to allow me to make the announcement here, in advance of the formal communique.  Obviously, I am unable to disclose much detail about my privileged new role, but I am interested to hear first hand from readers as to their thoughts about the role of women in the Church today.  

Comments (53)

  • Catherine

    Editor,

    This is fantastic news! I am delighted!

    I think you will be able to correct the wrong ideas about women in the Church, which is probably why the Vatican has picked you in the first place. I see a glimmer of hope in this appointment. Wonderful news!

    April 1, 2014 at 12:10 am
  • Josephine

    Just caught this as I was heading for sweet dreams and now I feel fully awake! What marvellous news! It’s incredible.

    Wishing you all the best, editor. I’m sure you’ll do a great job.

    April 1, 2014 at 12:16 am
  • Daniel

    And a very happy 1st of April to all readers of your blog. You fooled a few! 🙂

    April 1, 2014 at 12:22 am
    • Fidelis

      Daniel,

      What makes you so sure it’s a joke? I’m not at all surprised.

      Congratulations, editor – I’m absolutely delighted at this appointment. You’ll be a wonderful ambassador for Catholic women.

      April 1, 2014 at 12:36 am
  • Nicky

    I sincerely hope it’s not a joke. We’re due some good news.

    “Get women back into the home, out of the workplace and sanctuary” would be my idea for the think tank. Congratulations editor – more power to your elbow.

    April 1, 2014 at 12:58 am
  • fryderykfranciszekchopin

    Wow! Congratulations Editor!!!!!!! You definitely deserved it!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

    April 1, 2014 at 1:01 am
  • GabbyGlasgowGirl

    I’m over the moon that a Scotswoman has been appointed to this position. After all the scandals a la O’Brien & his merry men, maybe this is the Pope’s way of giving us hope.

    Congrats, editor – great news, awra best 😀

    April 1, 2014 at 1:19 am
  • Miles Immaculatae

    I don’t know what to believe any more.

    .

    April 1, 2014 at 1:27 am
    • Miles Immaculatae

      I mean in a good way, this is fantastic news. So unexpected.

      April 1, 2014 at 1:29 am
      • Miles Immaculatae

        Although, I am confused. Can you confirm this isn’t an April fool joke?

        April 1, 2014 at 2:51 am
      • 3littleshepherds

        It’s a joke.

        April 1, 2014 at 3:29 am
  • jobstears

    Congratulations, dear Editor!

    I am surprised the Vatican picked you for the post….but stranger things have happened!! That’s not to say you don’t deserve the recognition, you deserve all that and more!

    I’ll second Nicky in hoping you’ll work to get the women out of the sanctuary! Then you could soften the ‘women be submissive….’ exhortation and tell us what the Bible really meant, really.

    Daniel, shouldn’t you be asleep???

    Fidelis,

    I agree, Editor would be a wonderful ambassador for Catholic women.

    April 1, 2014 at 1:46 am
    • GabbyGlasgowGirl

      Yes, please get the real St Paul out there – he is too easily manipulated by misogynists to keep women down. The Catholic Church should lead the way by publishing the real St Paul. He was no misogynist.

      April 1, 2014 at 1:49 am
  • 3littleshepherds

    Yeah, right! Eye of the Tiber front page headlines!

    April 1, 2014 at 3:25 am
  • carterbencj

    I am bewildered and astonished. Thanks be to God! Knock some sense into them in Rome!

    April 1, 2014 at 7:55 am
  • Daniel

    Incredible. Even after being advised that this is an April Fool some people still take it seriously. Lighten up folks. It’s the first of April. It’s good to see that the editor of CT has a sense of humour, but it’s a little worrying that readers of this blog could take such a post seriously even after they are reminded of the date. Could anyone seriously think such an appointment would happen no matter what day of the year it was reported?

    April 1, 2014 at 8:12 am
    • Vianney

      Daniel, I think you’ll find that people are just going along with the joke.

      April 1, 2014 at 8:41 am
  • Vianney

    Well folks, here’s the evidence we need to have Pope Francis declared insane. Surely he can be removed from office for this.

    April 1, 2014 at 8:39 am
  • carterbencj

    Oh …hell, it’s April 1st! Another year, another time taken in! Clever Editor!

    April 1, 2014 at 8:40 am
  • Benedict Carter

    April 1st again … taken in again….!

    April 1, 2014 at 9:10 am
  • crofterlady

    Does anybody remember the BBC programme about the spaghetti groves in Italy????????????????

    April 1, 2014 at 10:06 am
    • Fidelis

      I think I remember that – there’ve been a few TV April Fool jokes, like the first ever man to be an expectant father!

      April 1, 2014 at 11:16 am
      • Miles Immaculatae

        No, I’m afraid that one was real.

        April 2, 2014 at 6:44 am
  • Frankier

    It`s a pity you were appointed on the 1st April.

    April 1, 2014 at 10:15 am
    • editor

      Well, it’s taken this for Daniel to realise I’ve got a sense of humour. What can I say?

      And don’t forget, this is the one and only Feast Day celebrated by atheists: “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God'” (Psalm 14:1)

      Happy Feast folks!

      PS If a gal can’t dream on April Fool’s Day, when CAN she dream? 😀

      April 1, 2014 at 10:41 am
      • Fidelis

        What I’d like to know is, if you really were appointed to that post, there would have been strings attached, surely?

        Would you have agreed to attend a novus ordo Mass?

        Would you have agreed to respect Vatican II?

        April 1, 2014 at 11:15 am
      • editor

        Fidelis,

        Very good questions.

        Since I’m supposed to be elsewhere in ten minutes, and I don’t have time to post a replacement thread (I thought you lot would be fooled for at least the rest of the day – thanks Daniel) I suggest that bloggers offer their opinions about what should BE my response to any such conditions, were the day ever to dawn when I would be appointed to a Vatican office. A gal must have her dreams…

        Novus Ordo – should I agree to attend in addition to or instead of my regular TLM at an SSPX chapel? Should I attend and fully participate, or attend to be physically present but not participate?

        Vatican II – my position on that is that I accept all of the traditional teaching of the Church which was affirmed at Vatican II (e.g. Lumen Gentium 25) but reject all new teachings such as ecumenism, religious liberty etc.

        Should I modify that to say I accept ALL of Vatican II and make a mental reservation?

        After all, would it not be better that I had a chance of wielding some influence in the Vatican, rather than leave the field open to the modernists?

        Over to thee…

        April 1, 2014 at 11:27 am
    • editor

      Frankier,

      They can appoint me any day they like. I’m not saying “no”! 😀

      April 2, 2014 at 10:20 am
  • gabriel syme

    Very good Editor! Just a shame it is a joke however, the Vatican would indeed be all the better for having your views expressed there!

    I take it this link below is Mundabors effort at an April Fool?

    (he praises Francis for some supposedly orthodox, clearly expressed teachings)

    http://mundabor.wordpress.com/2014/04/01/finally-an-orthodox-pope/

    April 1, 2014 at 11:32 am
    • editor

      Gabriel,

      I saw that and it made me think that it’s surely come to something when it’s an April Fool joke to say that the Pope is thoroughly orthodox. Truly, you couldn’t make it up!

      April 1, 2014 at 9:11 pm
  • Burt

    Ha Editor – pull the other one it’s got bells on. Mind you I nearly fell for a blog headline somewhere stating “Cardinal Nichols makes blistering attack on same sex marriage”…oh wait…maybe I ought to read it…can it be true?

    April 1, 2014 at 11:33 am
    • editor

      Burt,

      I doubt very much if it could be true. The only thing/people that Cardinal Nichols would consider making a blistering attack on is/are so called traditional Catholics.

      April 1, 2014 at 9:12 pm
  • Burt

    Gabriel,
    I just noticed your link to Mundabor’s blog..now it would be great if it was real, but I notice he does not provide a link to the homily. hopefully he will soon let us know because as I type it’s just gone 12:00pm

    April 1, 2014 at 12:03 pm
  • Spero

    Before I make any comments on the role of women in the church,I want to say to you personally that there is no lay person, and I mean , no lay person, deserves such a recognition more than you do.

    God bless you in all you do in the work ahead. And I mean all the work you do here on the blog of course which is every bit as important as anywhere else!!!

    April 1, 2014 at 5:39 pm
    • editor

      Spero,

      You are really very kind indeed, but I have to say that I neither seek, deserve, nor expect (just as well!) any “recognition” for the simple reason that I am not doing anything more than my basic duty. Running a blog in the 21st century doesn’t begin to compare with what St Francis de Sales (for example) did in medieval times, writing then pinning his pamphlets to trees and putting them through doors, at the height of the Reformation to win souls back to the Church – and he did; 73,000 in all, I believe. So, sitting in front of a computer for a bit, bossing the men around, doesn’t really deserve any accolades. Now, where DID I put that halo…

      Still, I’m none too pleased that I’ve not been appointed to that Vatican post. I mean, what does a gal have to do to get ahead in the Church these days? One cannot help but wonder, one really can’t… 😀

      April 1, 2014 at 9:19 pm
  • Dr John Dowden

    Shame!, shame on you all, to even think this might be a joke.

    Both the current (junior) bishop of Rome and the current (one and only) editor of CTS share exactly the same understanding of what is needed in a crisis.

    One is reminded of a former bishop of Rome who was having a spot of bother with Henry VIII and hit upon the quite brilliant idea of appointing Dr Thomas Cranmer as Archbishop of Canterbury. The English Church has never looked back since and is now on the point of appointing her first women bishops.

    What better solution could there be to the little local difficulties of the Catholic Church in Scotland than to appoint the editor of CTS to take upon herself the red frock of Kieth, Cardinal O’Brien?

    Never was there a scarlet woman to equal the editor of CTS. To quote a TCD man
    The Church had never such a writer
    For shame, she has not got a mitre!

    April 1, 2014 at 7:22 pm
    • editor

      Dr John Dowden,

      I am almost 100 per cent certain that you and our beloved Dowden of old, are one and the same Anglican blogger. The only thing missing is the wee doggy avatar.

      Anyway, thank you for your confidence in my fitness for high episcopal office, but I really have no such ambition, no desire to thus offend our dear Lord who – had He wished for female clergy – would have left word with St Peter that the time would certainly come when the Editor of Catholic Truth would have to take over the Church completely, at least in Scotland.

      I do love red, mind you, my favourite colour, so if you can find me a Religious Order with a red Habit, advertising for a Mother Superior, I’ll have to rethink my vocation, with bells on… 😀

      April 1, 2014 at 9:29 pm
  • editor

    Finally,

    I was in the company of a reader today who switched on her laptop in order to check out this April Fool joke. Imagine my surprise when all she had on her screen was / is the headline and then the text. No photo of Yours Truly – I’ve avoided publishing any images of myself or team for years now, but since Sunday’s show, I thought “what the heck” and took a snip from the iplayer version of The Big Questions. “In for a penny”, I thought, and it’ll make the joke more believable. Just ask Daniel.

    I presumed everyone would see the photo – however, said reader doesn’t have it on her screen.

    If anyone else can’t see the photo, will you let me know – I’d need to try to work out why, since I usually put an image with every blog article, if not a video.

    Those who CAN see my photo, copy the following sentences:

    Editor is slim, glamorous, fashionable, I know because I’ve seen her photo….

    Editor is slim, glamorous, fashionable, I know because I’ve seen her photo….

    Editor is slim, glamorous, fashionable, I know because I’ve seen her photo….

    😉 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉 😉

    April 1, 2014 at 9:33 pm
  • 3littleshepherds

    I always had it in my mind that you looked like Jessica Fletcher (which show I dutifully watched as a kid with my Mom). I did pretty good, but you’re cuter!

    April 1, 2014 at 9:50 pm
    • editor

      WOW, 3LittleShepherds – have you just shot up the payscale!

      April 2, 2014 at 1:10 am
  • greatpretender51

    Just curious, Editor, as to the dimensions of this think tank – depth, width, height – and whether it might be filled with water….

    April 1, 2014 at 11:19 pm
    • editor

      GreatPretender,

      I’ll check out those dimensions right after I’ve double-checked the current population of Glasgow…

      April 2, 2014 at 1:10 am
  • jobstears

    Editor is slim, glamorous, fashionable and witty, I know because I saw her photo,
    Editor is slim, glamorous, fashionable, witty and loves red, I know because I can see her and she says so..
    Editor is cuter than Angela Lansbury and Hetty Wainthrop
    Editor is the best!
    Who else would go to all the trouble of posting a thread just to amuse her readers? And here I was thinking she was such a slave-driver!

    April 2, 2014 at 1:47 am
    • editor

      Jobstears,

      I’m mulling over the idea of being “cuter than Angela Lansbury and Hetty Wainthrop” before finally deciding to jump on the bus for the Erskine Bridge!

      Only kidding – they’re lovely ladies and I’m flattered!

      April 2, 2014 at 10:18 am
  • fryderykfranciszekchopin

    Editor is slim, glamorous, fashionable, I know because I’ve seen her photo….

    Editor is slim, glamorous, fashionable, I know because I’ve seen her photo….

    Editor is slim, glamorous, fashionable, I know because I’ve seen her photo..

    Editor is slim, glamorous, fashionable, I know because I’ve seen her photo

    April 2, 2014 at 1:55 am
    • editor

      Chopin,

      Ten out of ten! Great work! Top student!

      April 2, 2014 at 10:19 am
  • Burt

    Slim, glamorous, fashionable Editor,

    Like 3LITTLESHEPHERDS I always had a different image in my mind of you before I saw you on Big Q. For some reason I aways pictured you as a redhead..don’t know why..

    Now where was I before I interrupted myself..oh yeah.. Editor is slim, glamorous, fashionable, I know because I’ve seen her photo..

    April 2, 2014 at 12:17 pm
    • editor

      Burt,

      A REDHEAD? Moi? If only. I’d KILL to be a redhead. Mind u, this latest colour is fine, isn’t it, nobody would guess it’s straight out of a bottle… 😀

      April 2, 2014 at 5:11 pm
    • greatpretender51

      Funny you should mention it, Burt, last time I saw Editor she was indeed a redhead….but last time she saw me, I probably had much less gray hair…

      April 3, 2014 at 6:05 pm
  • Lionel (Paris)

    Dear Editor,
    You will certainly have to face a lot of difficulties…
    I hope that you will succeed in this job.
    Please, receive my congratulations.
    Union de prière LD

    April 4, 2014 at 11:08 pm
  • Lionel (Paris)

    It must be a 1st April joke, is not it?

    April 4, 2014 at 11:23 pm
    • editor

      Lionel,

      Alas – yes, A joke!

      April 4, 2014 at 11:44 pm

Comments are closed.


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