Cabinet Reshuffle & Jacob Rees-Mogg
Today’s news includes clips from the new army advertisement designed to encourage people to join the UK army irrespective of faith, sexual orientation, or “genders”.
Got me thinking. When the Catholic MP, Jacob Rees-Mogg, known to attend the Traditional Latin Mass, was quizzed about his views on “gay marriage” and abortion, he was at pains to assure the interviewer (and thus the wider public) that he would certainly accept an invitation to a “gay wedding” (“and probably enjoy it”) and that, while opposed to abortion at all stages and in all circumstances himself, he would not seek to change the law. Abortion would remain legal. Yet, neither these flexible moral principles, nor his unwavering support for Brexit, where in every interview he has shown himself to be thoroughly well informed, were enough to see him brought into the Cabinet in this week’s reshuffle.
No vision. There’s simply no vision. No suggestion that, if elected to lead the nations of the UK, he would order a health campaign to educate the public on the health implications of both homosexual activity and abortion, in the spirit of the public health campaigns on smoking (which led to a successful ban on smoking in public places) and no suggestion that, thus, perhaps with more information, the public would be perfectly happy to see a pro-life Prime Minister in office. No such suggestions because there is simply no such vision.
And – in the case of a weak Catholic – there’s no real faith: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His justice, and all these other things [power, political office, for example] will be given to you.” (Matt 6:33) Put simply, if Jacob Rees-Mogg puts God and His Moral Law first, ahead of peer and public opinion, God will take care of his career.
Surely, too, a politician confident of the truth of his position on such important moral matters who genuinely seeks the well-being of the countries of the UK, would win over public opinion, based on the facts, the objective health data.
That Jacob Rees -Mogg was, yet again, passed over for promotion in this week’s Cabinet reshuffle should bring home to him that fact that his flexible principles have not paid off. If he has any ambition for higher office – and surely, as a pro-life Catholic in politics, he ought to have ambitions for the highest office, his protestations to the contrary notwithstanding – he ought to openly oppose the evils of abortion and homosexuality and openly resolve to educate the public on the health issues involved with a view to restoring national good health – physically and morally – under his premiership.
I believe that such openness and honesty would see him brought into the Cabinet and ultimately at home in No. 10 Downing Street – what do you think?
Comments invited…
Comments (16)
I’ve been disgusted seeing those army ads. I don’t think most people will make the connection between those and public health videos on abortion and homosexual activity, but I do agree. These public health ads do change people’s opinions and a good Prime Minister with a bit of nounce would be able to start a public discussion on the issues on the pretext of health issues, using videos to inform public opinion.
As for JRM – I don’t seem him having the courage to speak up in a way that will damage his career prospects. He wasn’t even named as a possible new cabinet member despite all his TV and radio interviews supporting Brexit, so I think he’s stuck on the back benches forever, and it serves him right, IMHO.
Michaela,
I am with you on this one – both the army ads (disgusting) and the weakness of JRM.
He’ll never make a sound Catholic political leader, so we need to keep praying for one to show up, sooner rather than later.
I noticed that Jacob Rees Mogg was not promoted in the reshuffle and I was surprised, because he has often been interviewed about Brexit and always obviously a real Brexiteer. I did wonder if he fell foul of the PM because he spoke out against extending the transition period and allowing the European Court to oversee legal issues for EU citizens during that period. Maybe that was why he wasn’t promoted – it can’t have been because he’s a Catholic since he’s a modernist pick ‘n mix Catholic, who just happens to like Latin, LOL!
Lily, surely you mean “can’t have been because”?
Crofterlady,
As you know (from your own experience 😀 ), I always correct typos when I spot them and I’ve just corrected Lily’s two – the one she identified (now deleted by me) and the one you identified that she presumably hadn’t noticed.
NOW can we have YOUR opinion on the missing cabinet promotion of Jacob Rees Mogg, please and thank you!
There was no chance of JRM being taken into the Cabinet and rightly so . One cannot have one telling one that Homosexual Sex is unhealthy as it’s certainly not against Nature as the Horrible Members of the Scottish Parliament keep telling us . No it was the correct decision. After all in Lots Day am sure that there was no chance of the likes of him being made Lord Mayor of Sodom. Jacob Rees Mogg anyhow should know his place by now as am sure he’s shaken Many a Hand in the so called Corridors Of Power that have Gripped his in a way that left him in no Illusion that he was Just On The Wrong Side . Anyhow What Does It Profit A Man If He Should Be A Top Tory But Suffer The Loss Of His Soul . Mr Mogg like all the rest of us know that it is Because The Dogma Lives Strongly In Him that he’s no chance of Dining at a Tory Top Table . And most of us at least older Catholics still remember -The And Just What Was The Name Of That School Again -thrown in phrase at Job Interviews. And we know it still goes on . Scotlands Shame.
FOOF,
Yet again, it is clear that you have not read the blog article. You seem to read only the headlines on this blog, and jump in with both feet.
JRM is on public record as saying he would accept an invitation to a “gay” wedding and “probably enjoy it.”
“The Dogma Lives Strongly In Him”? You kidding? Attending Mass, even a Traditional Latin Mass doth not a Catholic make.
Please read the entire article, which I took time to write, time that I can little spare, and then return with an “OUCH!”
Ed at least give me some credit. Granted I have not the Educational Basis of yourself and I did read the FULL ARTICLE and I certainly stand by what I said . Also when JRM was grilled on morning TV he was caught cold as regards The Whole Homosexual Thing . As far as am concerned where he to be interviewed in the same vein again he would answer differently. Who knows but that’s my opinion and am entitled as such . And I think it is derogatory of you to say or to imply that one is a good or bad Catholic. As regards my last statement on Scotland I stand by it and the Bigotry is still Scotland’s Shame . And am not relating any of it to Football. On that front I couldn’t care less .
FOOF,
JRM said he would attend a “gay” wedding AFTER that televised interview on Good Morning Britain. He wasn’t caught cold at all. And he has repeated it.
As for the “who am I to say or imply one is a good or bad Catholic” – I didn’t say he wasn’t a good Catholic, or that he’s a bad Catholic; on the contrary, I implied, strongly, that he’s no Catholic at all.
Quote anything in Canon Law which permits us to claim to be Catholics while rejecting any part of God’s moral law, which, by the way, is also to deny the authority of Christ’s Church to teach, guard, defend and promote God’s moral law. Remember Our Lord’s stark warning: If you deny Me in the presence of men, I will deny you in the presence of My Father in Heaven.
I never speak of any person still living as a “good” or “bad” Catholic. I’m not a “good Catholic” myself, but not being a “good” Catholic (whatever that means) is a different matter, because once we realise that, however “good” we may appear to other people, measured against God’s goodness, we are far from good. At least, I apply that standard to myself, not to you or anyone else. So, keep the heid!
Since we’re talking about the Conservative Government re-shuffle, maybe this analogy will clarify my meaning: whether or not JRM is a good member of the Conservative Party or not, might be up for debate. What is NOT up for debate is that he IS a member of the Party because he has publicly expressed his fidelity to each and everything required of him as a member. I saw him recently on TV listing all the things that he not only accepts but loves about the Party, including note, that other, highly significant, part of its name – the Conservative and Unionist Party, so I suspect that it’s pretty much a given as to whose side he was on some years ago when Catholics in the north of Ireland were campaigning for some very basic rights, notwithstanding the might of the UK army ranged against them.
So, no, I don’t see the same love of God and His Church in JRM, as I see love of Theresa May and her Party.
Finally, please note that I never have and did not and never will make any remarks about your or anyone else’s educational background. Not interested. It irritates me to bits when people divert from the issue under discussion to make such unfounded personal claims, always introducing an unpleasant tone into the debate. And really, FOOF, you do not want to irritate me to bits, if at all…
http://www.kappit.com/img/pics/38127642afgcg_sm.jpg
Point taken. As I said once before I wouldn’t want to come home to you Ten Bob short in my Pay Packet.
Despite all the hoo-haa his supporters are making, Rees-Mogg seems to be going nowhere fast.
I was not really surprised he was not given a post. As well as being a Catholic, he is also of the common Tory mold – male, white, wealthy etc. 2 counts against him in the eyes of some.
No reasonable person would have a problem with his background, but Theresa May seems to be giving in to liberal media demands to make her ministers “more representative”.
Personally I believe ministers should be appointed on competence, not on their race or social background etc. But identity politics seems to be reaching a new crescendo of idiocy.
We also saw that at an awards ceremony in the US recently, where there was complaint over the fact that no female director has won ‘best director’ since sometime in the 1980s. To me, that says that contemporary female directions must make pretty lousy films, (just as a lot of male ones do too), but others seem to identify this as proof of a secretive male master plan to deny female directors their glory. I know what I think is more likely.
I agree that Rees-Mogg’s interview answers regarding ‘gay marriage’ and abortion etc were disappointing.
On that subject, Tim Farron – whom Mogg was clearly trying to avoid emulating with his interview answers – has come out today and said he regrets saying that ‘gay sex’ was not a sin.
In the end, if you are a Christian you have a very clear idea of what sin is. It is us falling short of the glory of God, and that is something all of us equally share
http://www.bbc.com/news/42638420
Gabriel Syme,
Except that homosexuality is not a mere “sin” – it has been, since the earliest days of Christianity, believed to be one of the “four sins that cry to Heaven for vengeance”.
That fact that Tim Farron was so desperate to remain leader of his Party and that JRM was so desperate to remain in good odour with Theresa May that they would deny what they know to be God’s truth, reveals the paucity of whatever Christian Faith they lay claim to holding. It just amazes me that they can reach Parliament and not have thought through thoroughly, the consequences of going with the political flow instead of preaching Christ, in season and out of season, in their political Party and out of it.
I’m not at all surprised that JRM wasn’t promoted to cabinet level. I believe that is because he is a Catholic who, generally speaking, doesn’t try to hide the fact. He says publicly that he adheres to Church teaching on marriage etc. For some reason he weakened on the homosexual marriage issue. I think it was both cowardly and unbecoming of him as he is the only “role model” that could possibly be found in that den of iniquity, i.e. Parliament, and he failed us. Spectacularly. However, Peter denied Christ three times, repented and went on to become the first pope. Perhaps JRM will do the same and become the first Catholic Prime Minister of Great Britain but, I don’t believe the grace will be forthcoming, unless he does repent, and repent publicly.
Crofterlady,
I don’t think he was passed over because he’s a Catholic. Iain Duncan Smith was a Catholic and he became leader of the Conservative Party. JRM made it clear in interviews that he would not change the Abortion Law and that we would go to a gay wedding, so obviously he wouldn’t change that law either, so I don’t see what being a nominal Catholic has to do with him being passed over in the reshuffle.
I don’t think his betrayal of the faith is comparable to St Peter’s, because Peter knew he was in the wrong, he was being weak out of fear, but JRM has openly made a distinction between his politics and his faith. He said he had no desire for promotion so wasn’t in fear of his career prospects being damaged. He has put parliamentary law above God’s law, because he obviously thinks that is OK to do. It would be great if he did repent, I agree, but I’m not holding my breath. You need to think you’ve something to repent about and I don’t think he’s aware that he’s done something seriously wrong.
IMHO, JRM was passed over in the reshuffle because he questioned the Prime Minister’s position on the transition time for Brexit, and the continued role for the ECJ. That’s the reason, IMHO, not being a Catholic.
As Jacob Rees-Mog quite likes his Latin quotes I wonder if he would like to ponder upon this ancient maxim:”Lex iniusta non est lex.” “Gay marriage and abortion can never have a genuine legal status. They are evil legislations drawn up by a God forsaken legislature. Any Catholic worth his salt would protest against such fallacious legislation and refuse to support any aspect of it. Part of the problem lies in the error that our faith should be separated from our politics. It is also, another example of the refusal to recognise the kingship of Our Blessed Lord to rule over every sphere of our lives. Jacob, is against Gay marriage but would attend a ceremony. By doing so he would lend his support to this horrendous lie. He would weaken the moral foundation of our society. There are Catholic parents who refuse to attend their children’s civil marriage because of the teaching of the Church regarding Marriage. They suffer and they are faithful and brave. How much do good Catholics suffer when their children decide to contract a homosexual “marriage” and they refuse to attend or even to empathise?
Why modern Catholics are so myopic is probably due to the last fifty years of Vatican II teaching and weak catechises.
If Jacob Rees-Mog wishes to be a great Catholic statesman, He needs to be God’s good servant first.
GildaWiseMan,
That’s a central point you make about bad law being no law. Well said. I especially support your final sentence, absolutely true. I can’t understand why so many Catholics have put Jacob Rees-Mogg on a pedestal, when he’s speaking out of both sides of his mouth.
Comments are closed.