General Discussion (9)
If there’s something of interest in the news that’s not covered in one of the topic threads, or you have a question to ask, a comment you’d like to make about anything under the sun, more or less, this is the thread for you. However, please check first, to ensure that you haven’t missed a topic thread or another thread where it would be appropriate to post your comment. Readers have occasionally gone straight to the General Discussion thread to post news that is already the topic of a thread or to ask a question that is already being discussed elsewhere. So, do your Sherlock Holmes before posting here, please and thank you!
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Comments (545)
Pope Francis has formally changed the rules about the Holy Thursday foot washing rite, women can now officially be included.
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/01/21/pope-francis-opens-holy-thursday-foot-washing-rite-to-women/
I think in practice most parishes ignored the previous rules and did what they wanted anyway, as with most other things.
And while that was tolerated, I bet anyone breaking the new rules to keep it restricted to men wouldnt be tolerated haha!
Gabriel Syme,
We’ve been discussing this on the Pope Francis/Rebels thread here
Did + John Fisher, Thomas More et al die for nothing?
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2016/01/breaking-news-pope-francis-to.html
Crofterlady,
This is currently being discussed on the Rome Rabbi Admonishes Pope thread here
Oops! Soz!
Remarkably – but hardly surpisingly, in the wake of the normalisaiton of homosexual behaviour – MSPs are considering a petition which is asking for incest to be legalised for consenting persons over 21:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14230181.MSPs_to_consider_bid_to_change_incest_laws__so_they_no_longer_apply_to_consenting_adults_over_21_/
Gabriel Syme,
Incredible. Just incredible. Who in their right mind would want to legalise incest. Crazy, madness, and, er, diabolical disorientation!
As is this report on the latest about the Planned Parenthood scandal. Incredible – the Grand Jury won’t indict them, but indicts, instead, the man who made the film! Isn’t that like refusing to blame Hitler for the concentration camps and blaming the film makers who keep reminding us about it! Unbelievable.
N O T I C E . . .
This thread should have been closed by around 500 comments, but I’ve just not had time to organise the new thread. Plan to do so by 550 comments, so just be aware in case you are in the midst of the 551st comment when it suddenly disappears!
May I ask of bloggers’ charity urgent prayers for my uncle, Vincent Murphy, who suffered a massive stroke yesterday and is not expected to live. I won’t be around the blog much today but please accept my gratitude in advance for your kindness.
United in prayer for Vincent and all those closest to him. God bless you all.
Athanasius,
I’m very sad to hear that news about your uncle. Be assured of my prayers, for what they are worth.
N O T I C E . . .
I’ve now, at last, prepared the new General Discussion thread so will close this one at 550 comments and post the new one at that time.
Praying for your Uncle and your family. God’s will be done.
Certainly Athanasius. I will remember your uncle in my Rosary tonight.
Of course, and for all your family.
Just popped in for a moment to thank every one of you for your charity. God bless you all.
Me, too, Athanasius, Be assured of my prayers.
Crofterlady
I am very grateful, thank you.
With all that has been happening today, I forgot to post this letter I sent to the Scottish Catholic Observer for publication. I have no idea if it will be published in said paper, so I’m putting it up here as well. It’s a response to a shocking article by Kevin McKenna in last week’s SCO attacking 40 Days For Life. Here it is:
In his rather shocking article of January 22, Kevin McKenna expressed his “sincere hope” that our Catholic hierarchy is not supportive of the international anti-abortion initiative called ’40 Days for Life’.
His objection to this organisation appears to be that prayer and fasting peacefully outside abortion facilities in reparation for the killing of unborn children constitutes a disgraceful act of psychological warfare on vulnerable women. In other words, vulnerable human emotions are more important than vulnerable, more innocent, lives in the womb. But surely this is simply the pro-choice argument wearing the mask of false liberal Catholic sentiment?
Abortion has claimed a conservatively estimated 57 million child lives in the US alone since 1973. That’s a higher death toll for one country than the entire global body count of World War II. Catholics have a Confirmation duty as ‘Soldiers of Christ’ to publicly oppose such an outrage, regardless of whose feelings may be hurt by the truth.
In this respect, Mr. McKenna will be disappointed to learn that the hierarchy of the Church remains steadfast in its militancy against this great sin and does, in fact, support the 40 Days for Life initiative.
The Vatican Secretary of State, for example, speaking for Pope Francis, declared: “The Holy Father greatly appreciates the dedicated work that you and everyone involved in 40 Days for Life are engaged in to promote respect for the lives of all unborn children. His Holiness assures you of his prayerful support for you, your colleagues and all those whose prayer, fasting and sacrifices are saving countless lives and giving glory to God.”
Cardinal Renato Martini of the Dignitatis Humanae Institute in Rome announced: “I am delighted to support 40 Days for Life, which is doing immense work witnessing to the importance of every single human life – each one of us made in the image and likeness of God, our Creator. Thank you for your tireless consistency in opposing what Pope Francis has so often identified as the Culture of Waste – and what is more wasted than a human being before it has even had the chance to be born?”
But it is from the mouth of Fr. Frank Pavone, the National Director of Priests for Life, that Kevin McKenna’s error is most clearly exposed: “Abortion will end when local communities say it will end — no sooner, and no later. We have the power to stop abortion, even while it remains legal. Now is the time to mobilise, sustained by prayer. Priests for Life and I are delighted to have been involved in 40 Days for Life from its inception, and to share the vision and trumpet the call that the Body of Christ belongs in front of abortion centres.”
Athanasius,
That’s an excellent letter. If the editor of the Scottish Catholic Observer doesn’t publish it, that will be a disgrace.
It is an excellent letter, but that doesn’t mean it will be published in the SCO or published uncut. Let’s hope it is, of course, but it’s great to have it here anyway, to make sure it is “out there”.
Thanks for posting it, Athanasius.
I’m about to close this thread now. The new GD thread is here
Thanks to all who contributed to this one.
Comments are closed.