Scottish Catholic Education Service Guilty of Institutionalised Child Sex Abuse…
Recently, January, 2017, we discussed the distinction which has to be made today, between Catholic schools and authentic Catholic education. The two are no longer the same thing. This, in the context of the large numbers of Muslim pupils populating Catholic schools. Click here to read that discussion
Previously, in July 2016, we had addressed the issues surrounding the compliance with the LGBT agenda, of the Catholic education service in Scotland (SCES) here
Now, today, we look at the utterly shocking report in this week’s Scottish Catholic Observer (SCO) detailing the sheer scale of the apostasy and depravity within the Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES) where, says Barbara Couper, Director of the SCES speaking on behalf of the Scottish Bishops, “gay” pupils in Scottish Catholic schools are to be given “safe spaces” to talk to specially trained (in LGBTI issues) teachers or other adults, under the patently obvious pretext of “bullying”. No such provision for pupils bullied for any other reason is made. Just those who imagine themselves to be called by God to a life of depravity and moral corruption. Ms Couper was addressing the Scottish Parliament’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee about a “range of measures that would be taken in Catholic schools to prevent bullying of any lesibian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex (LGBTI) pupils” Bishop Keenan of Paisley “praised Ms Coupar’s performance before the committee saying she gave an ‘excellent account to the Holyrood Equalities Committee of how our Catholic schools are responding to LGBTI bullying issues while respecting parents’ wishes that their children be educated within the Catholic vision of the dignity of every human person.” (LGBTI ‘safe spaces’ for Catholic schools, Scottish Catholic Observer, 3rd February, 2017.) At time of this writing, the report is not online – if it appears later, we will link to it. This week’s SCO can be read here
It goes without saying that if Ms Couper’s version of Catholic education had remotely reflected the truths of Catholic Faith and Morality, it would have made headline news – as a “hate crime” – for weeks if not months to come. And Bishop Keenan must know that, so he – with his brother bishops – are seriously complicit in this depraved (literally) version of Catholic education.
Lest anyone be ignorant enough to think that this move has anything to do with bullying, take a look at the Stonewall booklet (A Guide For Schools) which argues for ways and means to encourage young pupils to “come out” – this is what is actually going on here; Catholic schools encouraging this vice among young people, who, half the time can’t make up their minds whether they want to be bus drivers or brain surgeons, cops or high court judges, yet they are exposed to the possibility that they may engage in depraved sexual behaviour and be actively encouraged to do so by none other than so-called Catholic educators. Barbara Couper, Director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, insists that Catholic schools “propose the Gospel, not impose the Gospel” – ignoring the fact that the LGBTI community have no problem imposing their counter-gospel. Thus, with a red-hot warning that if you visit this comment from an Anglican gentleman posted by me on our General Discussion thread recently, you will be faced with the sheer depravity of homosexual activity; if you are a parent or a teacher, however, you ought to grit your teeth and suffer the filth, for the purpose of knowing precisely what it is that Barbara Couper and the Scottish Bishops are doing by their ‘safe spaces’ initiative in Catholic schools. They are exposing children to everything you will read there, and more – the commitment of the SCES remember, as quoted in the SCO report of 3rd February, is to put pupils in touch with “help inside and outside the school.”
Below, is the substance of my comment copied from the July thread, with some additional remarks, because I think it applies today, in the context of this latest dereliction of duty by the Scottish Bishops.
Comment:
The Scottish Hierarchy continues to keep a disgraceful silence on the undermining-through-to-destruction of traditional marriage and sexual morality – always taking their lead from the enemy; secular society and, specifically, the homosexual lobby, whose list of deviant behaviour is ever growing. Not one Scottish Bishop has come out plainly to warn the faithful against the heresy in Amoris Laetita. Far from it. Archbishop Tartaglia has advertised training for teachers and priests on how to teach, preach, implement it and you can bet your bottom dollar that if he were instructing Catholic teachers and priests to preach traditional Catholic doctrine on marriage, and ignore the heresy, we’d have heard about it, with banner headlines in the secular press about the “infidelity” of “disobeying” Pope Francis the Great.
There’s a push now for the normalisation of “transgenderism” and “intersex” and goodness knows what else will be added to the list once that’s firmly in place (and they’re almost there, with few questioning the idea that a man may become a woman and vice versa) – bestiality? Why not?
Children and young people are, therefore, effectively being groomed for sexual deviance, with the full and knowing complicity of the useful idiots currently running the Education Service of the Catholic Church in Scotland – and their episcopal bosses. Click here to see who’s who….
Nobody but nobody will convince me that these self-styled education “experts” and the Bishops do not know perfectly well that “addressing LGBTI+ matters in an appropriate and sensitive way” (and providing “safe spaces” for pupils to “come out”) means condoning sexually deviant behaviour and accepting its normalisation – and imposition – by those guilty of this grave sin, which Christians have always believed, is a sin “crying to Heaven for vengeance.”
It seems self-evident then that what is going on in Catholic schools today amounts to institutionalised child sex abuse. If you agree, why not write to the Scottish Catholic Observer to complain about their report published in the paper, 3rd February and entitled: LGBTI ‘Safe spaces’ for Catholic schools – email the Editor, Ian Dunn at ian@sconews.co.uk I’m about to write to him myself, having sent him this comment in advance, in an effort to make absolutely sure that he understands what is at stake for the young people entrusted to Catholic educators. [Later that same day – I’ve now emailed a letter for publication. Let’s see if it makes it onto the SCO Letters Page.]
I would add only this, for reflection: I have long been of the opinion – and said so for years in our newsletter, well before the Cardinal O’Brien scandal broke – that bishops who permit and promote deviant sexual behaviour have placed a huge question mark over their own sexual morality and integrity. It’s called “fair comment”.
Anyway, back to the immediate issue: perhaps you think that providing ‘safe spaces’ in Catholic schools to encourage “gay” pupils to “come out” is just fine? Let’s hear it…
Comments (66)
You may well be interested in reading that today, here in Australia, the public enquiry into the sexual abuse committed in the country over the last 60 years up to the present, moved into a specific enquiry into the abuse committed by members of the Catholic Church.
It was revealed that since 1950 there have been 40,440 claims submitted against Catholic clergy. It is claimed that over that time 7% of all priests have had claims made against them. It is claimed that 20% of Christian Brothers have had such accusations against them but one order had claims made against 40% of their brothers ( I forget the name of the Order).
The Church is reeling against having all these accusations made. Every Bishop in the Country has been summoned to appear before this Commission.
John,
Are there statistics on the number of abuse claims of clergy-boy versus clergy girl?
That’s a great question. As far as I know, the majority of clergy abuse cases as man-on-boy – that is, homosexual assaults.
Yes, the Commission heard that over 70% were against boys under the age of 11.
John R,
Why is it that the media do not point out the homosexual connection? Sorry, I know that sounds thick, but you’ll know that what I am really saying is the media don’t point out the homosexual connection because they don’t want to highlight the link, it’s not PC.
I am horrified that a Catholic newspaper could carry a report like that without any sign that it is so evil. Their readers will just think this is normal. More and more people are expressing the view that things are moving very fast now and that it won’t be long before God intervenes. I agree, and I think it could be this year as it is the centenary of Fatima. Scary thought.
I cannot believe that such a small minority of people, only 1% of the whole population, can wield such power and influence. Everyone is afraid of offending them.
The spiritual blindness so often spoken about on this blog, is really obvious in this article. Fancy being willing to employ specially trained adults and teachers to cater for gay pupils – how many pupils are gay?
This is the result of sex education. Pupils sexually active in natural and unnatural ways, and all condoned by the bishops. They are going to hell in a handcart, no question about it. Everyone is kow-towing to the LGBTI community. It’s painful to watch.
Only Our Lady of Fatima can help us now.
Laura,
“Fancy being willing to employ specially trained adults and teachers to cater for gay pupils – how many pupils are gay?”
I’ve written to the SCO – a letter for publication – and included a question about precisely the number of “gay” pupils in Catholic schools in the context of the financial justification for this “safe spaces” scheme. Let’s see if it ever sees the light of print.
People do think homosexuality is normal nowadays. The Catholic press is no different from any other press. They all report about it as a normal lifestyle, even desirable – as Ms Couper thinks it is or she wouldn’t be selling it in Catholic schools.
I won’t be blogging much before the Ides of February, since Editor has my nose to the newsletter grindstone, but two things about this:
1. Homosexuals are well-known to be hypersensitive, frequently to an irrational degree. Therefore, even the slightest teasing or off-color remark could well be interpreted as “bullying,” and bring down the PC house on the poor kid who “offended” He Who Must Not be Offended.
2. Here is an interesting article about this “bullying” ruse (the link to Sowell’s original column is broken):
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/sowell-lgbt-anti-bullying-efforts-are-propaganda/
That’s a great article, and very short, on the propaganda of bullying.
This sentence stood out for me, near the end:-
“Our schools are already too lacking in the basics of education to squander even more time on propaganda for politically correct causes that are in vogue. We do not need to create special privileges in the name of equal rights.”
I completely agree.
Our Prelates are no longer Catholic, they only ever pretended to be, to get to where they are now. I firmly believe that never truly believed, which means that they are now and always were “actors”. How they can stomach the SSPX constantly pricking their collective consciences is beyond me.
St Miguel,
You are sadly right. The Scottish bishops have long since stopped believing the truths of the Catholic faith. That’s why they are happy to go along with every fad, no matter how much it offends God. They don’t believe in Him, that’s the root problem.
I don’t think it’s a lack of belief in God per se but a loss of a sense of the supernatural. However, I must profess to being confused as to why a normal red blooded male would give up his chance of marriage in order to enter an emasculated priesthood.
Father Malachi Martin once said many years ago that there was a plan to Desupernaturalise the Roman Catholic church.That plan has worked well. I once watched a NO priest sneering with lips curled and casting his eyes up at having to sprinkle Holy Water on the congregation at a service.The non catholics have NO valid orders, can consecrate zippo and that is they way we are going. I remember many years ago at a Gonzaga lecture, where a Prelate mocked the Legion of Mary, the Knights of St Columba (The Mickey Masons) and described how we would be “dropping our baggage off” as we more thoroughly embraced ecumenism…..how about a “leading” other faith Cleric (Archbishop of Canterbury?) doing the Holy Hour at St Andrews Cathedral, after the Stations of the Cross and the Holy Rosary to show solidarity, after all its all about ecumenism?
Josephine, they obviously do not believe in the Devil, Hell, Holy Water. So what do the actually believe? St Patrick’s Church Anderston was never exorcised, despite the horrendous murder. Why?….the Archdiocese og Glasgow has not had an Exorcist since 1974…WHY? Because they do NOT believe in that kind of stuff.So do they believe in Heaven or Hell, do they believe in the Immortal Soul? The overwhelming evidence in front of me says they do NOT.
Why, St Miguel, they believe in the God of Surprises, the God of Mercy aka the God of Do-What-You-Like-When-You-Like-And-Don’t-Repent-Cos-You’ll-Still-Get-To-Heaven-If-You-Choose-To-Believe-It-Exists-But-If-You-Choose-NOT-To-Believe-It-Exists-You’ll-Get-There-Anyway…
That’s what they believe in, dopey….
St. M.,
I have never heard of a place being exorcised, even before Vatican II. Surely the correct response here would have been the re-dedication of the church?
Prognosticum,
You are, I’m sure, correct about “exorcise” being the wrong term here, but I think “re-dedication” is also incorrect, because – unless this is splitting hairs, but I don’t think so – some of us asked for the church to be re-consecrated. In fact, I believe the Archbishop of Glasgow conducted a “re-dedication” service with all the VIP politicians & Co. in place for the show.
I’m almost certain that a re-consecration is of more significance and power than a “re-dedication” – I mean, I can dedicate something, a book, for example, to someone (if I ever get round to writing my novel I will dedicate it to my beloved parents or, A.N. Other who can offer the biggest bribe) but I cannot “consecrate” anyone.
Am I right? Or am I wrong? Before you decide, remember that I have a track record of not always being right but never being wrong 😀
They will use any word but “Exorcise” as it would annoy the VIP’s no doubt. Probably the word consecrate would jar a few people as well, as it is not as if Non Catholics have Valid Orders to allow them to consecrate or bless anything. So come up with Rededicate……banal enough !
As far as I am aware, the pre-Vatican II rite of exorcism, contained in the Roman Ritual, was used only for possessed persons. It is not clear to me that a place can even be possessed.
I checked out the Catholic Encyclopaedia online, and found this:
“Exorcism is (1) the act of driving out, or warding off, demons, or evil spirits, from persons, places, or things, which are believed to be possessed or infested by them, or are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice; (2) the means employed for this purpose, especially the solemn and authoritative adjuration of the demon, in the name of God, or any of the higher power in which he is subject. [emphasis added].
We had a thread not so long ago, which included discussion about a house in Rutherglen suffering an infestation of poltergeist. Priests (and even the diocesan bishop – of Motherwell) visited the house to offer prayers and blessings, without success. The problem continued.
The conclusion was reached that, after trying everything else, an exorcism may be required, so that would have been directed at the home, not the people therein. One of the priests involved had contacted us to keep us informed us about this – it had been reported by the press at the time. Click here to reach that thread, hopefully at the comment where I give the newspaper reports about it. In case not, the discussion on the Rutherglen house begins with a comment from me dated August 13, 2016 at 12:09 pm
Mine is not a desire to be polemical, but just precise. I accept the definition offered by the Catholic Encyclopaedia. And, of course, I am aware of the exorcisms performed over the water and salt in the traditional rite of the making of Holy Water, to say nothing of the the fact that exorcism is part of the traditional rite of Baptism. I just have never heard of the exorcism in the traditional Roman Ritual being applied to a place. And, of course, infestation is not possession, as any exorcist will tell you.
I’d never heard of an exorcism of a place, either, so one lives and one learns.
Re-dedication is, I would guess, the post-Vatican II heir to consecration.
Profound evil occurred in a Catholic church in Glasgow by a serial killer who placed a murdered victim under the floor boards in full view of a Tabernacle.This was Satanic and when the church eventually reopened I went to visit to pray and found no Holy Water in the dried up fonts and one had a sandwich wrapper lying in it. I complained to a Pass Keeper and he said “we don’t do that Holy Water stuff these days,but if you really want some then better see the priest”.They just DO NOT CARE a whit! If a place like that can’t get a proper exorcism then I am lost for words….oh wait a minute..they don’t have an exorcist….no need these days…we are not in the dark ages…blah blah.
St Miguel,
The section on exorcism in this article by Fr John Hardon SJ (RIP) is interesting and useful
However, I would presume that any re-consecration of a church would include a prayer of exorcism.
Maybe you could check it out, since I’ve got an appointment with my beauty consultant – say nothing
Then, if I’m wrong, I’ll grovel. Deal?
Worth a read and the last paragraph is especially significant.But alas the Archdiocese of Glasgow has not had a valid Exorcist since 1974.I believe, having read some of Fr Gabriel Amorth’s tracts, that a skilled Exorcist would be required to recite a prayer of Exorcism for it to be effective.
St Miguel,
Given that Fr Amorth was an ardent devotee of the diabolical Medjugorje hoax, I’m afraid I pay little attention to anything he said, wrote or whatever.
Especially “whatever” …
Fair point Madame Editor…I will stick with Fr Malachi Martin and Hostage to the Devil which I have read. Yes Amorth could not have been that good at discernment and as regards Harry Potter films…I actually quite enjoyed them.. I had a Ford Anglia the same colours whte and blue doncha know !
I am not particularly enamoured of Medjugorje either, but that does not mean that one who is so enamoured will for that reason will not be worth listening to on any front.
I have never been particularly taken with Amorth the man … far too theatrical … his books far too repetitive … but he must take the credit for exposing a gaping hole in post-Vatican II theology and pastoral practice. Without him, exorcism may have never survived in the Latin Church.
Prognosticum,
Would you perhaps concede,however, that when that “someone” who is “enamoured” of Medjugorje – self-evidently of diabolical design – is the chief exorcist of Rome, then it is hardly surprising that people (like myself) do not take his views seriously. Of course, “credit where credit is due” applies generally speaking, but if the chief exorcist of Rome can look (presumably) at the facts presented by the Bishops of the region (see our website, links to the key documents) and NOT see diabolic activity, then I would argue that I am permitted my cynicism in his regard.
If you have not already done so, may I recommend that you read the key documents on our website and note how totally untrustworthy is the “testimony” of the alleged seers. Nobody needs an exorcist to tell them that these “apparitions” are a hoax, but it is somewhat worrying that a top exorcist can’t see it.
Just for your information, the title ‘Chief Exorcist of Rome’ applied to Fr. Amorth was pure journalistic invention. I did some research into this some ten years ago and it transpired that Rome had at that time about a dozen exorcists of whom Amorth was one, albeit the most famous. His fame was not entirely due to his books; he was apparently very good as an exorcist.
Thank you for that. I have seen the title used so often across the internet, that I presumed he must be the boss, so to speak.
St. M. It has far less to do with skill than it does with authority and grace. Remember that an exorcist must be authorized by the bishop.
yes, but no bishop will authorise as they obviously believe that this is all claptrap.
St Miguel,
I think you’ll find that the Bishop of Motherwell no longer thinks diabolical activity is “claptrap” (if ever he did) following his visit to the poltergeist infested house in Rutherglen! I’m reliably informed that all who attended found it a terrifying experience, with one priest refusing to return. As far as I know, the Bishop did make the decision to have an exorcism carried out. I’m told that the family have returned to the house, so I presume that an exorcism was successfully carried out.
I think we must beware of over-stating the case, or over-egging the pudding as they say these days. I wish “they” would stop inventing new words and sayings! 😀
The reply from the Pass Keeper is as untrue as it is utterly scandalous. The reformed Book of Blessings for all its faults (it seems to want to bless only people, not so much places or objects) has an extensive blessing for Holy Water.
As for the sandwich wrapper … utterly disgraceful … beyond words.
The Pass Keeper, when I told him of the sandwich wrapper, told me ” those dried up fonts have actually been used as ashtrays also, Mate”!!!!!!!……I kid you not…this is where we are folks!
St Miguel,
I’d beware of quoting anonymous pass-keepers. I’ve been in St Patrick’s since the murder and re-opening of the church, and I think I would have noticed “dried up” water fonts. I’m pretty sure there was holy water in the fonts, although I may be wrong. However, I definitely would have noticed sandwich papers, be assured.
In any event, St Patrick’s is a city centre church with all sorts of people, including vagrants, popping in – which was one of the problems with the then PP; he made everyone welcome and provided sofas and refreshments for all and sundry at the back of the church, in his misguided interpretation of “I was hungry and you gave me food…” etc. So, I’d beware of attributing any such scandalous details to faithless Catholics. This crisis is very deep and very wide, and it has many angles, some rooted in ignorance – some of it culpable, some not so.
In summary, things are bad enough in the Church – we really do not need to invent or exaggerate anything, as I suspect your anonymous pass-keeper may have done.
The question here, to my mind, is whether or not it is worthwhile for the bishops to continue to pursue their policy of Catholic schools at all costs.
Prognosticum,
That is, indeed, the 64,000 dollar question. Why on earth they want to keep Catholic schools when they are teaching anything and everything except Catholicism, beats me.
When I posed the same question myself, however, some years ago, a gentleman with a tad more insight than my unworthy self explained their rationale in one simple word: power.
Yip. Power. How else to get themselves onto education committees and into Parliamentary Committees etc.
Power. That’s all. Not remotely any concern to pass on the Faith to future generations. Heck, they’re doing everything in their …er… power, to kill off the Faith in the young. I could write the book (and dedicate it to the highest briber!)
And just wait until the Named Person starts to kick off again….coming to a Theatre near you shortly !
Is the will to hang on to Catholic schools at all costs just about power?
I know not, but power may come into it. In any case, the decision, under Cardinal Winning, to close St. Andrews College of Education which trained teachers for Catholic Schools has led to a shortage of Catholic teachers. Not only, but we are now at the point, or so I am told, in which many Catholic teachers prefer to teach in non-Catholic schools because they no longer live out their faith. I even heard recently about it being difficult to fill senior management positions in schools in some dioceses because of a lack of suitable applicants.
I hate to say this, and how I wish that it were different, but I fail to see how these schools can continue in the long run.
Whatever exalted role they hold in the Church or in the Catholic education system, any Catholic who capitulates to the LGBTI agenda, as the introductory article to this thread seems to suggest is happening at the highest levels right now, is an apostate who has joined the ranks of Satan’s forces to corrupt the innocence of youth. The moral teaching of the Church is perfectly clear on homosexuality, as are the Sacred Scriptures, there is no soft talking around it, no pretending to be humane educators and pastors. No, they are corrupters of youth who, as St. Paul says, use liberty as a cloak for malice. God have mercy on those who scandalise His little ones.
Athanasius is, I am very sorry to say, spot on. You need a very long spoon to sup with the Devil.
I have the distinct feeling that no matter how much the Catholic Church is obsequious to secular ‘educational’ objectives, it will never be enough. And, as this thread demonstrates, we have moved into territory which, for one of my generation, is as surreal as it is dangerous.
I’ve just received an email from blogger Gerontius, who is home from hospital after his major heart operation; doctors say he needs 5 months to recover, so he is too tired to blog. However, I promised to post the following on his behalf…
FROM GERONTIUS…
Having just read your latest post on our so-called Catholic Education Service, and being too tired to think or write coherently at present, I thought to [write to say] – I’v’e given up on the Scottish Bishops – Bishop Keenan wouldn’t even consecrate his own diocese to Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart as asked for during his recent diocesan pilgrimage to Carfin. END
I bet Catholic parents have no idea that their children are going to exposed to such reprehensible influences. They probably think that,as in their day, Catholic means Catholic. How absolutely awful. People such as Stonewall have it in their interest to expose young children to this kind of perversion because it will increase their crop of young sex partners. Disgusting. I can hardly believe that Bishop Keenan would collude in such actions.
Helen,
Unfortunately, the parents of children today in schools with “safe spaces” are unlikely to think anything of it. They are also victims of the false catechesis of the past fifty or so years. In fact, Barbara Couper looks too young to have been properly taught the Faith herself! And it goes without saying that Bishop Keenan doesn’t have the proverbial clue. He was born in 1964, so hasn’t known anything but Modernism. I imagine Ms Couper is in the same position. Talk about the lunatics running the asylum.
Editor, ALL my young people were born DECADES after Bishop Keenan and they certainly do have a clue!
Crofterlady,
I think I remember you saying you home-schooled your children. They are different, the home-schooled kids. Those who depended on Catholic schools are the ones who really have been deprived of a proper Catholic education. I was about to add “IMHO” there but no need as the fact that they are openly promoting the LGBTI agenda proves my point.
All this goes back to the Young Scot magazine of 20 years ago.
Madame Editor, is that the same Bishop who gave Fr. Despard his marching orders perchance?
One and the same, St Miguel. One and the same.
Which shows that “PLACES” can actually need exorcised.If a Bishop could not do the needful and said that an Exorcist would be needed then said Exorcist would have to be appointed by the Bishop.
Whilst I agree that catechesis has been dire these last decades that doesn’t mean that folk have lost all sense of decency and, this idea of “safe spaces” and all it entails, is downright indecent. One doesn’t have to be an informed Catholic to know this; it’s just obvious to any decent thinking person. I passed this by a non religious friend of mine and he was appalled that children should be subjected to such social engineering.
I have been thinking a lot about this issue of “creating safe spaces” for children who may be troubled about their sexuality in Catholic schools. Not for one moment would I condone the promotion of the “gay lifestyle” and all that that involves, nor the encouragement of so called transgenderism which I believe is a severe mental health problem. However I am not sure that being lesbian or homosexual is a choice, for most at any rate. The realisation that one may be “gay” causes deep anxiety and even suicidal thoughts for some youngsters and can undoubtedly be a cause of bullying. So, should Catholic schools simply pretend that the problem does not exist or is it not possible that there could be some form of catechesis (hollow laugh) which explains that being gay does not mean that God has called them to a life of debauchery but to a celibate life as is the case for all single people. If those ideals are not put before them as an alternative to the deviant way of life, then they will fall into sin if the only help they receive comes from the Alphabet community. The support they should receive in schools must be based on sound Gospel teaching. It is a very difficult situation but not helped if we deny the reality of it.,
Elizabeth,
Your assessment is precisely what the powers-that-be hope will be the popular response to this scandal.
I’m going to pass over in near silence your acceptance of the sexualisation of school children – another victory for the sex-education brigade, the “liberal” elite running the country, exercising undue influence and power at this time – in order to focus on the facts. Here’s the latest set of figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The idea that the country (and Catholic schools – or any school) is teeming with LGBT etc pupils, is laughable, to say the least. I’ve copied just one short section below – visit the link to read the rest – note, this report is dated October 2015 with next report from the ONS is due in October, 2917, so this is about as up to date as it gets:
In 2015, 1.7% of the UK population identified themselves as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB).
More males (2.0%) than females (1.5%) identified themselves as LGB in 2015.
Of the population aged 16 to 24, there were 3.3% identifying themselves as LGB, the largest percentage within any age group in 2015.
The population who identified as LGB in 2015 were most likely to be single, never married or civil partnered, at 68.2%. END OF SECTION. Click here to read entire report from ONS
I have no doubt, Elizabeth, that you will counter my claim that you are accepting the principle of sex education – you may well express dissent from exposing children to this evil, but, like most people today, including Catholics, you appear to have become imbibed with the thinking associated with it. That it is almost inevitable that children will be sexually active, that they will question their “sexuality” etc. I wonder how many people associated the shocking rise in suicide/attempted suicide among young people, reported in the news last week, with this sort of assumption, the pressure on them to be “sexual”.
Any pupil in any school, Catholic or otherwise, who feels bullied for whatever reason, need only report the matter to their tutor/Head of Year (England) or Guidance Teacher (Scotland) and the matter will be dealt with. Having “safe spaces” for LGBT pupils can only mean one thing; that they are going to be encouraged in their “choice” of “lifestyle” – or confirmed in the belief that, if they have that orientation, it is OK to act upon it. That’s NOT what the Church teaches.
Editor,
with respect I will not pass over in near silence your statement that I am accepting the sexualisation of young children. I did not say or infer that I agree with that in any way. Nor am I saying that it is ok to encourage sexual activity either. I actually said that any teaching on this matter should impress on children that celibacy is required. Do you not think that with all the emphasis on sexual matters whether on TV or the Internet that some Catholic children may well wonder if they are gay themselves? They may not feel able to discuss this with their parents but might just approach a school counsellor. Would you then suggest that they should be sent packing with the impression that no Catholic school should speak about it? Of course we are talking about a very small minority but if the only guidance they get comes from the likes of Stonewall then there is little hope that the correct advice will be given.
I confess to feeling quite upset that you accuse me of modernist liberal thinking.
Elizabeth,
I am truly sorry to have upset you. That was not my intention at all.
I thought I had made clear that I believe all of us, certainly the vast majority of the population including Catholics, have, to some extent, imbibed the secular view about homosexuality – that it is now here to stay and really we have to “cater” for it.
Your latest post seems to confirm this way of thinking, which I can understand, given the media saturation, but I think we need to be much more alert to the danger of accepting – at any level – that we should somehow provide for pupils who may think they are homosexual.
The very existence of “safe spaces” and specially trained adults, will increase the danger which you have identified yourself – that more and more youngsters will begin to question themselves, wonder if they are “gay” and go for a chat to a counsellor who will NOT – believe me – be exhorting them to celibacy.
Surely you know that any teacher/other adult in a Catholic school exhorting a pupil who presents as possibly “gay”, to a life of chastity, celibacy, purity, will hit the headlines as forcing religion down the pupil’s throat, and he/she will be lucky to escape without a conviction for a hate crime. Goodness, nurses have been sacked for offering to pray for or with a patient – what chance would a teacher have, if he/she exhorted a pupil NOT to actively embrace the LGBTI “lifestyle”?
There is just no way that this initiative will be used to promote Catholic Faith and Morality. Not a chance. As for accepting this initiative in order to protect pupils from the likes of Stonewall – this was their idea, they are behind all of these initiatives in schools. They are determined to get as many youngsters as possible to identify as LGBTI – and they intend to use the schools to ensure success.
Schools used to be places where reading, writing, arithmetic etc were taught. Now, with many pupils leaving school with very poor literacy and communication skills, the Government is piling on more and more sex-education and other schemes that have nothing whatsoever to do with education. The Church teaches that delicate sexual matters should be the responsibility of parents. In fact, it can be very damaging for young people to be forced to examine such delicate matters in the company of their peers and in mixed gender groups. And, having seen for myself the often pornographic material used in school (and that without looking at LGBTI issues/descriptions) I doubt many truly informed parents would allow their child anywhere near a sex-education class – or an LGBTI “safe space”.
Interestingly, there was an article in The Times (London) a few years back in which the author pointed out that those who present with an enthusiasm to open up the minds of the young to sexual matters, display the self-same characteristics as paedophiles. In the firm hope that Ms Couper and Bishop Keenan come across that article some day, I rest my case.
Apologies again for causing personal offence, Elizabeth. I truly did not intend to do that – mea culpa many times over.
God bless
I thought I’d add this little story to lighten the mood. It does involve education and two Scots so it is sort of relevant.
Many moons ago at boarding school it is breakfast as usual one morning when Mr McB____, a music teacher (and former Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot) sitting at High Table with the other staff, suddenly pitches forward face first into his bowl of cereal.
Nobody realised at the time but the poor man had had a heart attack. His wife, the greatly-feared Deputy Head of School Mrs. McB____, looked on in astonishment only then to bark out in her most terrible, doom-laden, thick Scottish brogue, “BARRY! Thas’ no way to eat yer cornflakes!”
Happily Mr McB. recovered, although the reputation of his second half never did.
Benedict,
Well, at least it’s not a mean Scot joke … like this one –
Did you hear about the thoughtful Scotsman who was heading out to the pub? He turned to his wee wife before leaving and said, ‘Jackie – put your hat and coat on lassie.’
She replied, ‘Awe Iain that’s nice – are you taking me to the pub with you?’
‘Nah, I’m just switching the central heating off while I’m oot.’
Ha ha! Good one! My story is true though (and maybe your’s is too!).
Below is the letter I emailed to the Scottish Catholic Observer for publication in today’s paper. It has not been published. The letters which ARE published are not, shall we say, exactly rivetting. One from a lady in Edinburgh praising Archbishop Cushley for HIS praise of the Taize community for switching off their phone for just ten minutes every day, to appreciate the silence… another from a lady in Coatbridge lamenting the need for Catholics “to find connection and community” in their parishes during “trying times”; a letter from a lady in Stirling delighed about the latest “award” system in Catholic schools, the (wait for this) Pope Francis Faith Award (!) and finally, a letter with self-explanatory headline: A novel way to spread the true meaning of Easter [I missed the previous week’s article so haven’t a clue what is meant by these “chocolate eggs which still get across the true meaning of Easter” – these days, the “real meaning of Easter” could be anything, so don’t presume anything.] Anyway, the above is the entire letters page of the SCO this week. I humbly suggest that my own submission may have proved a tad more enlightening for readers and, given the report in the previous SCO, really demanded publication… See if you agree…
Dear Sir,
Barbara Coupar, Director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, said Catholic schools: “propose the gospel, not impose the gospel” and had taken ‘a range of measures that would prevent bullying of any lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender or intersex (LGBTI) pupils”. (LGBTI ‘safe spaces’ for Catholic schools, SCO, 3 February, 2017)
Neither Ms Coupar – nor any Bishop – has the authority to decide that there will be specially trained teachers – or other adult – and “safe spaces” where any pupil attending a Catholic school may be permitted, without challenge, to promote or justify any kind of immoral behaviour, including sexual immorality. Catholic schools do not exist to endorse contemporary “liberal” values which contradict the Catholic religion and God’s natural moral law. They exist to promote and defend both – without apology. Any pupil who believes him/herself to be of homosexual orientation need only keep that information to themselves. No need to broadcast the fact. Do you hear those of us living celibate lifestyles demanding acknowledgement or endorsement of the fact? Alleged bullying is merely a propaganda tool – Ms Couper isn’t keen to impose Christ’s Gospel but the LGBTI lobby is determined to impose their counter-gospel. Will there be specially trained teachers – or other adults – and “safe spaces” for pupils bullied in other ways – too small, too tall, ginger hair, the “swots” etc? Of course not. The very concept is ridiculous.
That the Bishops have not only failed to counter the sexualisation and homo-sexualisation of children in our secular society is bad enough; that they have, instead, given their approval to what amounts to institutionalised sexual abuse of children in Catholic schools – as evidenced by this latest “safe spaces” initiative – is shocking in the extreme. It’s not good enough for Bishop Keenan to say that Ms Coupar managed to reassure the Parliamentary Committee whilst “respecting parents’ wishes that children by educated within the Catholic vision of the dignity of every human person.” Catholic sexual morality prohibits – as an evil – homosexual activity. There is just no nice way to say this. Therefore, to present pupils with mixed messages that at once condemn and condone homosexual behaviour is to confuse them – the very antithesis of true education. Either Ms Couper (and the Bishops) wish to teach the truth about homosexual activity, as required by the Church, or they wish to push the LGBTI agenda. They cannot do both. None of us can serve two masters.
This initiative is likely to prove expensive – when will the Catholic community be given details as to the number of pupils claiming to be “gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex” in each and every Catholic school in Scotland, in a spirit of accountability and transparency, so that, even at a most basic level of financial scrutiny, Catholics may judge the “merits” of the scheme?
We know from your report that Bishop Keenan “praised Ms Coupar’s performance before the Holyrood Equalities Committee” where she gave assurances that Catholic schools will comply with the demands of the LGBTI agenda. He – and his brother Bishops of Scotland – must now tell the Catholic community whether or not Barbara Couper – who speaks in their name in matters of Catholic education – is correct in effectively equating Catholic moral teaching on homosexuality with “hate crime”. Or has she overstepped her authority by forgetting that God, too, has rights – the right to have His creatures respect and obey His moral law.
Yours sincerely,
signed
Editor
Catholic Truth
We stopped buying the SCO some years ago and we even persuaded the PP not to sell it in our church. It’s a boring old rag and only gives one point of view: a thriving happy church. Yeah, right.
Helen,
I never buy the SCO or ANY so called Catholic newspaper. I’m given copies of them by a zealous reader friend who is determined to keep me informed!
Why do these bishops ignore the Jesus of Scripture. Especially the part where he talks about scandalising children. the life of a homosexual as he grow older is pure hell. Do the bishops not read what the NHS has to say about blood donors. Homosexuals cannot give blood until they have not had sex for 12 months. they could at least give the matter some thought and what this means to the young children they are grooming for homosexual relationships;s. What the Jesus of Scripture says, as distinct from the false Christ they have invented for themselves, is that it would be better if the bishops had a halter putt around their necks and they were thrown into the sea. the lack of true teaching is obvious from this comment about proposing the Gospel rather than imposing. Parents send their children to Catholic schools so that the Way the Truth and the Life can be imposed on them. Of course that is if you believe in the Jesus of Scripture. The Scottish bishops obviously do not and they are just parasites living off the poor Catholics they pretend to help with their social Gospel.
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