Simon James Green, Children/Teens Gay Author, On The Warpath – Not A Pretty Sight, Folks!
Update: 16 March 2022
Incredibly, today, a snap Ofsted Inspection has taken place in the school, so I’ve opened a new discussion thread here
I will now close this thread to comments.
Original post follows…
The author – Simon James Green – enraged that his book-signing events scheduled to take place in one Catholic secondary school on Monday, 7th March and another Catholic primary school on Wednesday 9 March have been cancelled, has launched a campaign to encourage his LGBTQ+ supporters to “make a noise” – i.e. badger the Archdiocese for daring to insist that the school’s Catholic identity be protected and the event(s) cancelled. Cheek of that archdiocese! What?!* Was that cancellation really necessary? I mean, the author, dear old Simon James Green, is quoted as saying he was merely coming in to the school to “talk about his novel Noah Can’t Even, which features a gay character.”
What on earth is the harm in that? Buckle up and pay attention because you’re about to find out. (If you’ve not read it yet, click here to reach our original discussion on this topic).
A reader, having obtained a copy of the book (kindle edition) had a look to see whether the book is merely featuring a gay character or if it is something more than that, Trust me, it’s something (quite a lot, actually) more than that. Sit up and pay attention…
In its 230 pages, you will be surprised to learn that – for a book merely ‘featuring’ a gay character – the word “gay” comes up 64 times. For a book that isn’t at all to do with sexual activity in any way, sex comes up 83 times. Read those two sentence again, and then move on – but I must warn readers that in the scene to follow, there is pure filth, if that’s not a contradiction in terms. Be warned… but also be aware that kids in Years 8 and 9 (2nd and 3rd Years in Scotland) are being encouraged to read this, and some WILL read it. May already have done so, in preparation for dear old Simon’s visit, planned so that he could – with a flourish of his pen – sign the books purchased by parents for their sons in the mistaken belief that the story merely “features a gay character”. I wonder if there would be any mention of it if the book featured a Scots character? And if there is no Scots character, why not? What’s wrong with having a Scots character in the book? Racism, it’s just everywhere, isn’t it. And Simon James Green, too, who’d have thought it?
From a skim through the book, our reader tells me, it is quite clear that the story is in fact completely centred on the theme of how a teenage boy (Noah), from a less than ideal family situation, ‘discovers he is gay’ … indeed…he is shocked and surprised by this given the fact that the book begins with plans to kiss a girl (kiss comes up 107 times) but then, at a drunken party, things work out differently.
Here is the scene (Warning, not everyone’s cup of tea, to put it mildly)…
“Oh, what the hell,” Harry muttered, putting his hand behind Noah’s head and pulling him towards him. He never thought the day would come. Things like this just didn’t happen to him. So he’d never given it any thought … but now … it was… It was actually happening. To him. Their lips touched, and his heart was immediately all thump thump thump. His stomach lurching, heavy, like before an exam, or when someone says “I’ve got bad news.” Thump. Lurch. But sort of nice. And some sort of terrible. Definitely weird. Sick and warm and trembling hands that he didn’t know what to do with. What the hell was going on? What was Harry doing? Harry was kissing him, that’s what, but why? Why were they kissing? And why was Noah allowing himself to be kissed like this? Was Harry suddenly gay? Harry was never gay before. Not that Noah had noticed, anyway. And he, Noah, wasn’t gay either. Was he? They were both drunk. He couldn’t feel his nose. They were still kissing. It was tender and soft and … Harry was good at it. Had he done this before? He was a master at kissing. A pro. Noah needed to buy time. He needed to work things out. In the absence of any other options, the best thing to do was to continue kissing…. He’d come here to kiss Sophie, and now he was kissing Harry. This wasn’t in the plan! He’d been ambushed by Harry … and now his first kiss was a big gay kiss and not a girl kiss, like he’d planned … like he surely wanted? “Are you…” Noah began, desperate to buy time, “are you … are you gay … or…?” “If wanting to do stuff with other boys means I’m gay, then yes, I’m gay.” “Well, that is what it means. Unless you’re bi, or just experimenting. You know, trying things out…” “No, it’s not like that. I’m gay.” Noah nodded and swallowed hard. It all sounded very final. How had he missed this? How had he not realized? He almost didn’t want this to be true. If it was true, it had to be faced. He didn’t want to face it. He wasn’t ready. He didn’t know how. “So … is this a recent thing, or…” “Not really. I’ve just never fancied girls.” “Right. But maybe … that doesn’t mean you’ll never fancy girls. Maybe you just don’t fancy the girls at our school. Maybe that’s all.” “But I fancy the boys. Some of them.” “Right.” “I fancy you,” Harry said”
So, the book is essentially about a teenager seduced by another boy at school and then over the rest of the book confirmed into an identity that he too is in fact ‘gay’. And of course, he proves this by passionately kissing the girl he had thought himself attracted to.
His gran, who earlier in the book is depicted as the humorous, wise and loving friend to the main character, reassures Noah in his confusion…
““Gay, straight, it’s all the same. Kiss who you want, I say. You can’t help whom you love. I had a dalliance once with a girl called Meredith Southgate.” “What? Really?” said Noah, not really wanting to know, but at the same time, really wanting to know. “Don’t you be wrinkling your nose like that!” she scolded him. “You should be a bit more open-minded. I used to be your age, you know. And one day you’ll be mine, and then you can reassure your grandchildren that all the nonsense they’ve got up to is nothing new and you’ve already been there, done that, got the tea cosy.” “T-shirt.” “Just chill out about it, Peanut. You’re probably making it a hundred times worse for yourself by worrying. If you don’t care, no one else will either – react and you play straight into their hands.” Maybe she was right. Old people usually were. People could probably see it was stressing him out, so they were just winding him up even more. “You know what I did when they found out about me and Meredith?” she said. “I embraced it. I didn’t deny it. Although I didn’t confirm it either. I was aloof about the whole thing. Maintained an air of dignified silence and mystery.””
So, for a book depicted as ‘featuring a gay character’, we discover that the book is, in fact, a teen ‘discovery’ and ‘coming out as gay’ story, with the idea very firmly being placed that the correct response to a potentially passing teenage attraction, is to identify yourself as ‘gay’, and to begin relationships with a guy of the same sex as well as fantasising about other guys.
There is also a scene in which Noah blasphemously characterises the Lord’s prayer being said by a teacher in assembly:
“Let us pray,” “Our Father, who art the gay boy? Noah be his name…” Oh yes, “people have better things to think about.” “He makes Harry come. He gives him one. On earth as it is in heaven…” “And lead him straight into temptation. Right into a gay bar. For Noah is a gay boy. Who likes to suck cock. For ever and ever. He’s gay.” “OK, sit yourselves down!” said Mr Baxter, head of year. The Year Elevens all shuffled back into their seats. Noah despondently plopped back down, straight on to a banana that the hilarious occupants of the row behind had placed on his seat during the prayer. “Awww – right up his arse!” said one of the lads. (It wasn’t.) “He loves it!” said another. (He didn’t.) “Oh, Harry! Do it to me!” sighed a girl. (Not a phrase he would ever use. He wasn’t a porn star with no class.)
Listening to the enthusiastic young woman in the video, would you have a clue about the reality of this book? Her breathless uncritical praise is really signalling the advent of an entirely new genre in its own right – how to review a book without actually detailing the content!
Finally…
If you want a book that just happens to feature a gay character, try Brideshead revisited, a remarkable example of Catholic fiction. Here you see the topic navigated much more faithfully, yet totally respectfully. If you want a ‘gay coming out story’ as a celebration and induction into the fantasy world of LGBT, a world at odds with Catholic morality, try “Noah Can’t Even”.
Editor concludes…
I have no (printable) words for this author, and whoever organised his invitation into not one, but two Catholic schools. In order to achieve these invitations, he’s had to falsely represent his books – certainly Noah Can’t Even is not a book which merely features a gay character. That is not true.
And having been caught out, with the event(s) now cancelled, we see the other side of the grinning Simon James Green – the apparently vindictive side, where he seems determined to punish the Archdiocese of Southwark for doing what it was established to do, defend and spread the Catholic Faith, in season and out of season, against all enemies, domestic and foreign. I am hearing from all sides that the archdiocese is not fazed, that it is standing firm and so, on this Feast of St John Ogilvie SJ, Scotland’s only canonised Reformation martyr, I cannot express sufficiently, my admiration for all those on the side of Truth who have refused to be bullied by the LGBTQ+ lobby into silence and/or compliance. Deo gratias!
St John Ogilvie, pray for us! The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, pray for us!
Comments (73)
Oh yes, ‘tolerance’ (towards themselves) always used to be the LGBT mantra, but try these days having a different belief / viewpoint to the LGBT lobby and you’ll find ‘tolerance’ in VERY short supply. But to the parents of children who are supporting all this, I’d like them to take a look at the real side of the LGBT scene and what horrors their children might have to face. Please read this article by Ronald G Lee, who is himself same-sex attracted, called ‘The Truth About the Homosexual Rights Movement’ https://virtueonline.org/truth-about-homosexual-rights-movement-ronald-g-lee It’s not all about nice little same-sex couples setting up home and adopting babies and being happy ever after. Likewise, for parents with children who are confused that they might want to ‘become a member of the opposite sex’ then please read http://www.sexchangeregret.com – a website written by a Mr Walt Heyer, who ‘transitioned’ for a while. Please reflect on these resources. Pray that the Archbishop of Southwark doesn’t capitulate to this bullying.
Westminster Fly,
I also hope that the archbishop doesn’t give in to the bullying. The LGBT lobby cry “bullying” all the time when it’s they who do the bullying. Praying for the archbishop.
Editor
The thing that always astounds me about these people with their casual “gay” relationships, as is again evident in this filthy book, is that they always present lust as “love”. Well did the Popes before Vatican II warn of the dangers of bad reading material and how certain evil types always target “incautious youth”. I hope the bishop of that diocese stands strong in his Catholic Faith against the whirlwind of evil that will now come his way. These people have the very fury of Satan himself when their plans to corrupt youth are thwarted!
Incredibly, even the author cannot help but acknowledge the well known and well studied psychological connection between a teen boy being seduced into a homosexual relationship and his relatedly dysfunctional home of origins and an absent father figure—– so much for ‘born that way’.
Good news is, like with all psychological conditions, there are therapeutic techniques that will help those who wish to healthily relate to their traumatic upbringing and the unwanted sexual desires that have stemmed from it…. but… ooops……… is this sound psychological solution to psychological trauma still legal??? Thank God for now it is.
Brian,
I agree with your comments. I think ‘born that way’ is an excuse.
Brian
Those adults who want to address their unwanted same-sex attraction will very soon be unable to (despite it being legal for children to decide they want to ‘change sex’.) In this case, self-help is the only option available: https://ignatius.com/the-battle-for-normality-bnstp
Brian,
That’s so true – the author has had to admit that Noah wasn’t “born that way” – LOL! They shoot themselves in the foot all the time. That’s what happens when you are not truthful. If you tell the truth all the time, you don’t need to have a good memory!
I have read the above excerpt from this awful man’s book and thank God I decided to home educate my innocent boys; this would have disturbed their mental health. I pray that the Archbishop of Southwark stays strong. We need more of the Clergy to do their duty. I know it is a difficult decision but I would encourage all parents to home educate their children because I believe this corruption of children’s innocent will get worse, in fact, I know of a school nursery teacher who has already given up her job in a Scottish school because of the sex education being introduced at nursery level.
Catherine,
Like you I read the excerpt from that awful book. I am not surprised that you made the decision to home school your children. It is a sad fact that the aim is to corrupt the innocence of children from the earliest possible age, without consideration of the damage to them. I too pray the Archbishop of Southwark stays firm.
This Vatican document on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons deserves a thorough reading by all those supposedly Catholic parents who are supporting Simon James Green: https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html Particularly this section: “We encourage the Bishops, then, to provide pastoral care in full accord with the teaching of the Church for homosexual persons of their dioceses. No authentic pastoral programme will include organizations in which homosexual persons associate with each other without clearly stating that homosexual activity is immoral. A truly pastoral approach will appreciate the need for homosexual persons to avoid the near occasions of sin. We would heartily encourage programmes where these dangers are avoided. But we wish to make it clear that departure from the Church’s teaching, or silence about it, in an effort to provide pastoral care is neither caring nor pastoral. Only what is true can ultimately be pastoral. The neglect of the Church’s position prevents homosexual men and women from receiving the care they need and deserve.”
Please remember those last three sentences and reflect carefully on them: “But we wish to make it clear that departure from the Church’s teaching, or silence about it, in an effort to provide pastoral care is neither caring nor pastoral. Only what is true can ultimately be pastoral. The neglect of the Church’s position prevents homosexual men and women from receiving the care they need and deserve.”
What a nerve! That author actually lied to get his book-signing approved! Absolutely disgraceful.
I just hope this wakens up the parents who believed the lie.
I could not believe what I was reading when I read the scenes from this dreadful book. Anyone who thinks this is suitable for any young people, Catholic or not, needs their head looking. It’s definitely not what parents send their children to Catholic schools for. Muslim parents use Catholic schools, as well, thinking they will safeguard their children from this whole LGBT+ propaganda campaign.
Lucky Catholics who live in the archdiocese of Southwark, though – very lucky.
Can I suggest that you worry more about the conduct of the church rather than this writer. May I remind you that child abuse is prevalent in the Catholic Church. The recent scandals should have sharpened your minds to focus inwards rather than outwards. This is a public relations disaster and one that further reinforces the view that the church has nothing to offer in the modern world. It’s hard to stomach your position given the shocking levels of sexual and emotional abuse metered out the representatives of Christ on earth.
Max Beatson,
Can I suggest that you think a little more deeply about the issue of child abuse in the Catholic Church? The overwhelming majority of abuse has been on boys, ergo the priest doing the abusing is obviously a homosexual. Men with an inclination to the gay lifestyle are barred from entering seminaries and so such abusers should not have been made priests in the first place – and obviously they’ve lied to get into the seminary, so they’re not exactly men of integrity.
There is also the question of the media focus on the Catholic Church in order to make it look as bad as possible. Here’s a very interesting short article pointing out the hypocrisy of the BBC which is itself guilty of covering up abuse.
https://clearvisioncatholics.blogspot.com/2013/06/bbc-hypocrites.html
That’s not to defend let alone excuse any priest (whether illegitimately ordained or not) who has abused a young person, but let’s see a little bit of proportionality, please, a little justice.
Max Beatson,
I’d like to know what you think of the scenes from the Noah Can’t Ever book? Do you think that is suitable reading for 13/14 year old boys?
Max Beatson,
What are you on about? If I had a £ for every photo I’ve seen of Pope Francis hugging some homosexual couple, I’d be sitting somewhere on a beach in sunny Australia, reading a detective thriller and keeping my mind clear of all thoughts of blogging – and well away from the likes of Simon James Green.
As Mack points out, the BBC cleverly keeps the focus on the Church whereas there are some organisations which try to be a tad more objective – like Stop Abuse
https://stopabusecampaign.org/2018/01/08/is-there-more-sexual-abuse-in-the-protestant-churches-than-the-catholic-church/
Of course, there is no excuse whatsoever for any abuse of any young person ever – whether within or outwith the Catholic Church, so be assured I am not trying to excuse or justify any of it. I would simply point out (as a retired teacher) that, just as it’s dreadful when a colleague is found guilty of such abuse, it would be a million times worse if the entire nation then labelled all teachers, doctors, members of whichever career or profession, as abusers, guilty by association. That is obviously unjust, and yet that is what is happening to priests. I’ve met priests who have had to suffer being insulted on the street, called (the obvious) names – one, at least, stopped wearing his collar outdoors. You must know in your heart (I’m making quite an assumption here…) that there are good and not-so-good, through to bad priests as there are good and not-so-good through to bad teachers, shop assistants, doctors, insurance representatives, lawyers, and – dare I say – librarians…
Almost every email I’ve received this past several days, from the LGBTQ+ lobby angry about the book-signing cancellation, has contain messages – often very vicious messages – to say, essentially, that Catholics have no right to breathe the same air as the rest of society, because some priests have been found to be abusers. I don’t recall any such outrage when Dr Harold Shipman was arrested on suspicion of murdering around 200 (probably a lot more) of his patients. I don’t remember hearing anyone yelling that all doctors are murderers – do you?
PS – and as if bang on cue, this report hit me between the eyes as I was about to close down my computer.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/former-radio-1-dj-jailed-for-grotesque-sexual-abuse-of-children/ar-AAUSnRp?ocid=msedgntp
Radio DJ’s eh? Evil abusers, the lot of them! Er, or maybe not…
First off I’m not the Australian Max Beatson. I’m the English one. My background has included working work with a range of offenders, a large number of whom were sex offenders. I also worked with a range of diocese to strengthen their safe guarding measures. The point I was making is how this incident is viewed from a non catholic position. The church receives funding for schools from direct grants and through privileges afforded by a schools charitable status. These are social payments provided by the state for a child’s education. In return for this the school is obliged to follow a curriculum dictated by the state. Any school is afforded some latitude to ensure a range of beliefs are respected (or tolerated depending on your views). This is why creationism is not taught as fact. Evidence based education means facts are taught to our children. We know how old the earth is and we know the bible is wrong. Similarly we know any society is made up of people who share many similarities but also many differences. Children have an absolute right to understand this and education should be the mechanism through which we explore and develop that understanding. The Diocese mistake is to want the money without the responsibility. Why should society pay for schooling if certain topics or ignored or silenced because of belief? Much like evolution is taught as scientific fact so should the whole range experiences that make our society. The Catholic Church is in a very difficult position given the reported levels of cruelty that have come to light in the last few years, and this incident will only make matters worse. It is out of step with broader social views. As one post highlights other institutions have been complicit in abuse. What makes the church different is the breach of trust. It’s a family for many people . Sadly what we know about sexual abuse is that 85% of all cases occur in the family home. It’s about access. In the church the majority of victims are boys. That’s simply a matter of access not sexual persuasion. I have no problem with my children being taught that people are not the same. I support evidence based education. I tolerate other beliefs so long as they remain personal and are not inflicted on others. I appreciate that religion is important to many people but that it’s relevance is not what it used to be. Society has moved on and unless institutions like the Catholic Church move with times (it has managed this in a number of areas) it will become increasingly marginalised.
Firstly, this superior attitude to the funding of Catholic schools is outrageous. Catholics pay our taxes as well. When the proposal was made in Scotland (1918 Education Act) that we accept the Government offer to put our schools under state funding on condition that the Church retained authority over staffing in certain areas plus curriculum, there were some who foretold precisely the mentality that you display. It’s a true saying, “he who pays the piper calls the tune”. We should never have agreed to that arrangement because the State will and does impose values which are destructive to our Catholic Faith and, unlike the Catholics in Southwark, Scottish Catholics do not have strong bishops to fight the cultural battle. Words, not actions, is – sadly – the modus operandi of the Scottish Bishops.
As for this mantra of “evidence based education” – yeah right. Like the 4 year olds who are going to be permitted to choose their gender/sex, pick a new name and pronouns in Scottish schools, and no doubt south of the border as well all too soon, all without their parents knowing a blessed thing about it – like THAT’s “evidence based”? Half of the country doesn’t know how to define itself – how DO you define a woman now? For goodness sake. Don’t gimme “evidence based” anything these days.
And the Bible is NOT wrong about the age of the earth. I don’t have time now as I need to get on with other work, but there are scientists who don’t accept that the earth is billions of years old – even common sense tells us that folks didn’t sit around for centuries without wondering if they could actually DO anything, when in the (few!) years that I’ve been on the planet we’ve gone from one technical invention to another, in what amounts to nano-seconds. But, like the Covid “science”, only certain scientists are permitted to speak, YouTube makes sure of that, in collusion with governments and their “experts”.
You are not a Catholic so I get it that you think the Church should “move with the times”. God is unchanging and his Law is unchanging – the fact that lobbyists like the LGBTQ+ brigade have tried to change it should make you think twice because the outcome has been chaos. The world is not a better place when people flout and try to change the natural moral order. The Church doesn’t have the authority to change anything in the natural moral law – think of the outrage if you were to read headlines saying that Pope Removes Ban on Stealing & Murder – Your Choice! No can do.
Anyway, I must cut this short of necessity, but be assured – Catholics pay our taxes, despite objecting to them being used for immoral purposes, such as providing abortion and God knows what else on the NHS. So, don’t lecture us on our right (or in your view our lack thereof) to have our own Faith schools. The majority, if it’s any consolation to you, are not worthy of the name Catholic because they do go along to get along with the LGBTQ+ lobby, but Catholics in Southwark are blessed, it seems, to have an archbishop worthy of the office.
Max Beatson may I suggest that you look into the Plank in Your own Eye before looking at the Thorn in ours. As an Australian you have enough Garbage going on in your own Backyard without throwing Muck at us.
We know that we have Reprobate Priests but we certainly don’t want [homosexual] Writers polluting Our Children.
You lot do that enough in your Pride walks.
FOOF,
Why do you think Max Beatson is Australian?
It was I who mentioned Australia – I said I’d like to be sitting on a beach in Australia – I only hit on Australia because I’m assuming it will be sunny over there, no idea, really.
I know not what age your Children are but if when one of them , maybe a Young Girl comes in and says ” Daddy am [undergoing surgery because] I’m now going to be a Boy ” I would think that you would not be so supportive of Mr Green.
Also if you say that you would Support Her, well now a going to be Him all the way [I don’t believe that].
Also one doesn’t need to be an active Homosexual or Transgender to know that that way of Life is Naturally wrong. If you don’t believe me then just Google the Average Lifespan of a Sexually active Homosexual. Also Sir at least on here your allowed your opinion, wrong as it is . Something that We are not even allowed within Our Scottish System. As our opinions are so called Hate Speech.
Max Beatson
A policeman recently raped and killed a woman https://www.met.police.uk/notices/met/our-response-to-issues-raised-by-the-crimes-of-wayne-couzens Another faced a misconduct hearing over an issue connected to the case: https://www.met.police.uk/notices/met/our-response-to-issues-raised-by-the-crimes-of-wayne-couzens Three other officers were charged with sending offensive messages about the case. Do we now have to treat every policeman as a rapist or pervert? No. And if anyone has the time to research (I haven’t today) I’m sure you’d find that the level of child abuse is probably the same – if not higher – in many professions such as teaching, law enforcement, and also in other religious bodies. But the Catholic Church always seems to get the worst publicity. I agree that even one paedophile in ANY organisation is one too many, but I would hardly call child abuse ‘prevalent’ in the Catholic Church, and think it’s unfair to tarnish the reputation of thousands of priests and religious who wouldn’t ever do such a thing.
Max Beatson,
“Evidence based education means facts are taught to our children.”
Please supply us some fact-based evidence that homosexuality is normal and healthy, and perfectly fine to be taught to our children (who, btw, are supposed to be learning the three R’s, not to mention their CF – Catholic Faith – not who they should have sex with).
I like all on Here am Fed up with these Homosexuals and worse still their Writings.
As for that So called grown up Female in that ridiculous Video. She sounded more like an 8 Year Old yet am sure She’s at least 15 . Of course She’s also trying to Pander to 7 and 8 Year Olds. As for that Not so Simple Simon Character [least said, soonest mended – Ed!]
Please also good Catholics. I know it’s a lot quicker writing [in] Alphabet Form. But try and call it as it is which is Homosexuality and Transgenderism.
I still wonder whose idea whose to invite this author to the school(s). Surely they should be aware of the ethos of their school and the message this sends? Was some amount of misdirection and/or misrepresentation of his work in effect..?
Either way, I’m glad the invitation was rescinded – as a Catholic parent living in that area, I would have lost trust in the school if it had gone ahead.
Emanuele Ciriachi,
This is obviously a business for Simon James Green and I would guess he possibly approached the school, and maybe didn’t give them the full story regarding the nature of his writing. Who knows. Maybe he did and certain staff were only too pleased to accommodate him. Not all staff who work in Catholic schools accept Catholic teaching (sadly). He has signed an 8-book deal with Scholastic UK, https://www.simonjamesgreen.com/news so obviously has some kind of interest about getting his material into schools.
Emanuele Ciriachi,
The buck always stops with the person at the top, in this case the Head Teacher. I only agree with Westminster Fly up to a point – maybe in the beginning the Head was fooled into allowing it, but once he realised the truth he should have acted to stop the thing right away. Instead he got the staff, was it, or governors, can’t remember which, to vote to disobey the archbishop. That’s not a Catholic school I would ever consider using for my sons, ever.
You are blessed, though, to live in a diocese where the archbishop acted quickly to end this scandal. Most of them are too weak to stand up to the LGBT+ bullies.
Emanuele,
With all due respect, it appears that you are blissfully unaware of the fact that we are enduring a Church crisis – the worst EVER to afflict Holy Mother Church.
It’s so bad, that even Pope John Paul II himself wrote a letter to the world’s bishops – the first time a pope has ever done that – entitled Veritatis Splendor (The Splendour of the Truth) and in there, among other things, he reminds bishops that they have the power to remove the title ‘Catholic’ from any institution, school, hospital, whatever, that fails to live up the name. That was back in 1993
https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_06081993_veritatis-splendor.html
Things have been dreadful in Catholic schools for years now. I’ve taught in both Catholic and non-denominational schools and believe me, it was easier to communicate authentic Catholic teaching in the ND schools than in any of the “Catholic” schools in which I taught.
Back to Pope John Paul II – he spoke of a “silent apostasy” sweeping the Church at that time – well, it’s silent no more, it’s screaming from the rooftops.
I hope you are not still planning to send you son to the JFS – if so, you do so in the full knowledge that it is about as Catholic as (I’m running out of examples) … finish the sentence – my dinner awaits 😀
Emanuele,
If the fact that the Head gave the go-ahead for the book signing event doesn’t ring sufficient alarm bells in your head about the JFS, what about this front cover of the school newsletter, summer 2020?
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/63665716/summer-newsletter-2020
Would Our Lady, thinkest thou – or even St John Fisher – approve? If the answer is “no”, then neither should we approve it or anything like it. Young people see enough suggestive/impure imagery all around them on TV and advertisements, without seeing it in their (“Catholic”) school as well.
Editor,
I think your choice of words – “badgering” the Archdiocese – is much too charitable. A more accurate description of what behavior we can expect from this nasty crowd is “attacking and smearing the Archdiocese and the Catholic Church.” Isn’t it just too convenient that the Church, because of the homosexual priest scandals, automatically becomes the default whipping boy whenever faithful Catholic clergy do their job and defend Catholic teaching?
I think it’s worth emphasizing the rank hypocrisy of the homosexual militants, who cry “tolerance” (as Westminsterfly has already pointed out) and “inclusion,” but as soon as they get their way and have the establishment behind them, they are the most intolerant and un-inclusive of all. Which proves that all this “tolerance” rubbish was just a ruse to get their foot in the door, to get people to feel sorry for them, to evoke the natural compassion and courtesy of most men.
And if they can’t get their way, they resort to threats, boycotts, demonstrations, intimidation, lawfare, etc. That is how they got the American Psychological Association to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1973:
https://www.hli.org/resources/apa-on-homosexuality/
Here is a teaser from this excellent article:
“Homosexual activists often mention that the medical profession—specifically psychiatrists and psychologists—believe that homosexuality is a “normal human sexual response.” In support of this assertion, they talk about how the American Psychological Association officially removed homosexuality from its list of “mental disorders” in 1973, and that the American Psychiatric Association also classifies homosexuality as normal.
What they do not mention, of course, is that these organizations did not base their changes of opinion on scholarly studies or new scientific evidence. Their acceptance of homosexuality was purely political, the result of a relentless campaign of deception, intimidation, outright violence and unethical collusion between elitist APA/APA committees and activist homosexual groups.”
So congratulations, Simon James Green. Your infantile behavior is modeled on a long history of successful tactics by your fellow thugs. May this ugly history stop right here, and a new one begin of standing up to the self-hatred of homosexuals, projected onto their fellow man.
RCA Victor,
Well, you know me – charitable to a fault 😀
Thank you for that reminder about the APA being bullied into removing homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in 1973 – I had forgotten that.
Here’s some more news – the Catholic Education Service in England – bunch of weaklings – is not supporting the Archbishop:
“The Catholic Education Service – which supports Catholic schools in England and Ireland – insisted its schools were “inclusive”.
“Catholic schools welcome pupils from all backgrounds. This isolated incident has given a false impression of the inclusive nature of Catholic schools,” it said.
“Catholic schools are places where all children can flourish and as such have a zero-tolerance approach to LGBT+ discrimination. Nationally the CES has worked closely with schools, dioceses, and charities to produce Catholic inclusivity guidance and resources for schools that have won acclaim from LGBT+ organisations.
“We would encourage Catholic schools to work closely with their diocese to ensure that all Catholic schools can be welcoming and inclusive centres of learning where everyone is respected as a human being made in the image and likeness of God.”
i asked the CES whether it would support Mr Green’s visit to John Fisher School being rescheduled, and whether it would be happy for him to visit other Catholic schools.
A spokesperson responded: “These are difficult questions for us to give a yes/no answer on. “The role of the CES is not to support/oppose or allow/prohibit what goes on in Catholic schools. That is the role of the relevant diocesan bishop and his education team. “We provide guidance for schools when inviting speakers however this largely revolves around safeguarding matters. “We are aware and appreciate that Mr Green has visited other Catholic schools who have not found his visit problematic.”
https://inews.co.uk/news/government-catholic-diocese-cancelled-visit-gay-author-simon-james-green-equality-act-1510446
This nonsense about Catholic schools being “inclusive” must be challenged. Catholic schools are NOT “inclusive” – their purpose is to pass on the Catholic Faith – end of. We need to stamp out this mentality that Catholic schools are “inclusive” – no they’re not. They were built to pass on the Catholic Faith and only those who accept the Faith should apply to enter. At one time, all staff who were not Catholics had to sign something to say they would not in any way undermine the Faith and ethos of the school – if that is no longer the case, it needs to be restored.
Homosexual behaviour has become accepted and even promoted in society – thanks to a massive lobbying campaign by homosexuals in recent history. The campaigners have been successful beyond their wildest dreams, with their “lifestyle” choice having gone from being a criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment, to being almost mandatory – even for kids in school! Let’s hope robbers and burglars don’t decide to try the same thing.
Keep praying for the Archbishop – given the above remarks by the Catholic Education Service, I’d encourage him to use his power to remove the title “Catholic” from The John Fisher School. It’s about as Catholic as the nearest mosque.
Editor,
“This isolated incident has given a false impression of the inclusive nature of Catholic schools,” it said.
Couldn’t have said it better myself…..now let me see if I can get my tongue out of my cheek….
RCA Victor, excellent points about the APA “acceptance” of homosexuality, changing it from a psychological disorder to a “normal” alternative, or some such nonsense. The whole story is even more incredible and well documented by Robert Riley in his excellent book, Making Gay OK, available from Ignatius Press. It transpires that the ultimate lobbying for change (and the subsequent decision) occurred following an alcohol-fueled homosexual orgy during an APA conference in Hawaii.
Editor, your patience puts me to shame! My tolerance level for commenters like Mr. Beatson is far too low, and you are genuinely to be commended. I suppose we should be more tolerant on our own site; but somehow when I see comments like his, I can’t help but think that such individuals are casting their non-Catholic ideas over multiple blogs like fly fishermen trying to ensnare trout in the Coeur d’Alene River, with the ultimate intention of infecting the faithful. I am quite serious when I say that I admire your patience and long-suffering with Mr. Beatson’s heterodox views.
By the way, in case you missed it, here is Gloria TV’s report on the Simon James Green scandal, which gives much of the credit for smoking out this sick individual to your illustrious blog:
https://www.gloria.tv/post/ZbMY3g79QgEq4LdKzooPorfuP
Marinaio,
Thank you for your kind words, but, believe me, Max is a treasure. I really don’t need to exercise patience with him. He doesn’t agree with me but his responses show some consideration, such as I appreciate the position between morality and law is more complex than I have credited in my earlier post. [And] I do think children should taught about how different people are but this should be age appropriate. which I take it is the answer to my question as to whether he agreed that the scenes in Green’s book were appropriate or not. I think this is his way of saying that he accepts the material in those scenes is not appropriate. That’s men for you, they just can’t get those words out… “Gulp! You’re right!”
You should have been here when we hosted an online debate some years ago, on the importance of the Catholic Church in the world – it took place just after there was a well advertised TV debate on the theme (can’t recall the exact title/debate motion) because we’d had lots of visits from atheists at the time, and we decided it would be a good idea to do our own debate. Phew! We were inundated with atheists who were about as interested in the truth as as our Dear Leader, Nicola
StalinSturgeon is interested in learning how to lead a country.I’ve sometimes been wrong, of course, but over the years I think I’ve been able to gauge a sense of whether someone who is either not a Catholic or a critics of the Church is – at least up to a point – open to hearing the truth. Just because they don’t cave in and ask to be baptised after a couple of exchanges, doesn’t equate with bad faith – if you’ll excuse the pun 😀
Max, you see, emailed me first and since I’d stated on the blog that I wouldn’t be answering emails on this subject, he didn’t torment me with a string of messages. Instead, he signed up for the blog and posted the exact same message here. That suggests to me, at least, a certain level of integrity.
Max – you owe me big time 😀
Just wondered if Simon James Green was doing any book promoting/signing in Islamic schools . . . ?
WF,
I just might email a Muslim to ask that very question!
Oh please do. I’d be very interested to know. And if he isn’t, why not?
Sorry to sound a pedantic note but I played that video clip a second time. I counted the word ‘like’ twenty-nine times in the young woman’s drooling delivery. I think the word ‘just’ wasn’t far behind. If I were an author trying to flog my book I wouldn’t ask her for such a gushing, incoherent fanfare. Why are the young so slovenly in thought and speech? That clip alone would put off any sensible reader.
Let us hope the Archdiocese stands firmly on this one. Anything that riles the wet blankets at the NSS can only be for the good. D’ye get me meaning?
Just sayin, like.
Talk of a natural moral order is ridiculous. History shows that morality changes over time and our actions and behaviours change with it. Society changes as our knowledge develops. To say this is not the case is simply wrong. For example, homosexuality is no longer illegal, women have greater rights in marriage and domestic violence has been outlawed. All schools are held to account by equality legislation. This has been applied to all schools and has lead to interventions in schools ranging from orthodox Jewish and Muslim. It’s applied across the board. In relation to funding then yes people from a range of backgrounds-pay taxes. Indeed large numbers of LGBT+ also pay taxes and have a right to be heard. In my personal view all education should be secular. Religion should be a private matter and should have no influence in wider society. That said many people speak highly of the religious based education that they received and that is the system we current fund in this country. Schools have a wider responsibility than inculcating religion. They have to help a child understand the society they live in and how we came to be what we are. Creationism is not taught in schools as if it was fact. Because we know it is wrong. And that’s why it is no longer taught in a modern school setting. We know how the universe formed and how life evolved on our planet. Obviously this knowledge was not available at the time the bible was written. In fact the Old Testament doesn’t even match with a our knowledge of the people’s who lived at that time. The bible is a story. Sometimes wise but often not. Christianity has played an important role in the development of our species. But the law is clear. You can not discriminate against another group simply because of your beliefs, and that is why the diocese will have to back down. I have sympathy with your positions to the extent that holding onto certainties in a world that increasingly sees religion as irrelevant must be very difficult. But reactions like this will not change the fact that the world changes and we change with it. The history of religion tells us that out of all the religions that have been around for all those years it is those that change and adapt that remain relevant and those that don’t that are forgotten.
Max,
I only have time for a very quick reply to this because I’m trying to get our next newsletter written up – it’s due in the post beginning of April. So, please understand that I have to hit and run here, today.
You are, with respect, confusing what is legal with what is moral. Everything Hitler did to the Jews in the war was legal at that time. Murdering babies in the womb here in the UK today, is legal. The fact that homosexuality has been made legal (as has the murder of the unborn) doesn’t make it moral.
The other things you mention, such as domestic violence being made illegal – again, all that shows is that something which has been permitted despite being immoral, can (and is, thankfully) sometimes corrected. We see how the evil of racism, which was prevalent in the USA until relatively recently, has been outlawed. That is, it has been brought into line with the natural moral law, which reflects God’s goodness (he loves everyone, regardless of race) and justice.
And those bad behaviours have been outlawed precisely to bring them into line with the natural moral law. It cannot be right for one spouse in a marriage to abuse the other. Or for a person to suffer discrimination because of his race or the colour of his skin. That is naturally wrong. Anyone with even a weak moral compass should be able to see that.
You are also wrong about the bible not matching the historical events of the time – very wrong. Archaeologists have admitted that in every case, their findings have confirmed the accuracy of the bible.
I don’t have time to say more on any of this, so I’m afraid if you post further, and nobody else responds, you’ll have to wait for a reply from me – I’m swamped. Just be aware that no timely response from me doesn’t mean that you are right – I have already had a call to alert me to several typos in an early reply to you which made it seem that I was saying the opposite of what I meant to say, so having corrected those, and about to read over this one to make sure it says what I mean it to say, I have to disappear now.
But not before I say this: I’ve had an email pointing out that this thread is not nearly as busy as the previous thread. You betcha. I knew it wouldn’t be anything like as lively. Why? Because dear old Simon Green would not have expected me to publish the scenes from his book which are published at the top of this page, and I suspect that the visitors reading those extracts, were horrified – awakened to the true, and very graphic, nature of Noah Can’t Even – and maybe they are feeling a tad annoyed at having been misled into believing that it was nothing more than a book which featured a gay character.
What about you, Max? Were you surprised (or perhaps shocked) at the graphic nature of those scenes?
Editor,
You don’t actually have to open up Green’s sleazy book to get an idea of what’s inside. The half-peeled banana on the cover is a well-known phallic symbol….unfortunately for Green, it is also a colloquial expression (“bananas”) meaning “crazy,” or even “sexually perverted and degenerate.”
Finally, according to this reference book, “bananas” means “madly excited; mad; behaving oddly”:
https://www.alibris.com/The-Concise-New-Partridge-Dictionary-of-Slang-and-Unconventional-English/book/39993014
Thank you for taking the time to respond. Enjoy the rest of your day and we can pick this up later. Just to say quickly that I appreciate the position between morality and law is more complex than I have credit in my earlier post. I do think children should taught about how different people are but this should be age appropriate. I also think parents views should be taken into account and accommodated where possible. Regards Max
Max
“The history of religion tells us that out of all the religions that have been around for all those years it is those that change and adapt that remain relevant and those that don’t that are forgotten”. You couldn’t be more wrong. Islam doesn’t change and adapt to the world, and it is one of the world’s fastest growing religions today. As far as Christianity is concerned, why is it that after Vatican II, many post-conciliar Catholics ‘adapted to the world’ and now their churches, seminaries and convents are either closed or emptying at the rate of knots. On the other hand, those Catholic churches that remained faithful to the pre-conciliar (traditional Latin Mass) and traditional Catholic doctrines, are burgeoning. Traditional churches have a much higher attendance level, vocations are increasing etc etc. The traditional Latin Mass I attend each Sunday is full of large young families (who don’t practice contraception and abortion) and it is a joy to behold. The novus ordo Mass chapel near where I live is lucky if it gets a handful of very old ladies each week (as I’ve reliably been informed, because I don’t go there) – and even those few old ladies won’t be there much longer. I understand the same is true in Protestant denominations, i.e. the more ‘liberal’ they become, the quicker they empty. So I think you are wrong there.
Max
Just meant to add – if you think Islam has adapted its teachings to those of the world, remember this? https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/04/birmingham-school-stops-lgbt-lessons-after-parent-protests
Max,
If you told Muslims they had to change what they propagate in the practise of their faith, hell would break loose. You would be called racist and probably be taken to court. Why are we who wish to stand steadfast to our Catholic faith and belief not granted the same respect? It is discrimination.
Sadly there are many priests and bishops who follow the flow, and as was recently pointed out on blog, it is only dead fish that go with the flow. As a result many bishops, priests are not standing steadfastly but because the world rejects Gods’s will and the Truth, they buckle to the world’s way.
“You must eat the flesh of the Son of Man . . . this is intollerable and they left Jesus.”
By such lack of action, to LGBTQ and homosexual practises, bishops and priests are leaving Jesus.
Regarding the bible, Sacred Scripture:
Yes written by man but under the influence and guidance of, given by, God the Holy Ghost, the third person of the Trinity. And God will definitely not give us lies, untruths, in His chosen means of revealing His word and teaching. That is our Catholic Faith. We believe that, have every right to, and to follow it accordingly. If you don’t like, then don’t come to our Catholic schools. If you told muslims that they are to change their belief in and practises given in the Qor’an, hell would break loose.
Max, the Qor’an was written in the seven century. Go and tell Muslims they have to change the practices and behaviour they have in following the Qor’an; tell their woman they have no longer to wear head dress, that Mohamed was wrong in saying it is better woman to pray in their houses than go to the Mosque. If you did, I don’t believe you would see the end of the month.
You don’t do it to them; why do you do it to we Catholics who are steadfast in our faith?
Regarding Catholic Education:
“The Catholic Education Service – which supports Catholic schools in England and Ireland – insisted its schools were “inclusive”.
Inclusive – should include teaching and practise which is against God’s will and abhors God: Genesis 18-19?
Supports Catholic – someone needs to go to confession urgently because what is written there is a lie.
As I said yesterday:
“We have a right to our Catholic Faith, to practice it fully, to pass it on through schools for our offspring. LGBTQ or any fascist group has no right to suppress Catholic teaching. I say to such groups – if you do not like, want, what is in our Catholic Church, schools go elsewhere. We pay our taxes too and have every right to state funded schools which the Catholic faith is the centre of. We never forced you to come, terrorised or persecuted you into coming. You have no right to suppress and persecute our faith as you presently do. Your teaching and practices, revile God and us; the truth.”
Do not deprive us of our rights.
I also meant to say,
God Bless Archbishop Wilson, Fr Clark, the school chaplain and Simon Hughes the Diocesan eduction rep.
If you really want to pray for them, say a Rosary for them; ask the Immaculate Hearts powerful intercession with her Son. God Bless them.
Apologies if I missed it, but I have yet to see the word “pornography” applied to Mr. Green’s book in question. Soft pornography, to be sure, but that’s what it is.
RCA Victor,
I hate to contradict you, but – being brutally frank – I call that real porn, given it’s aimed at 12-13 year olds. I was sickened reading it and I’m all of 29, so we’ll have to disagree on this. You say “soft”, I say “real” but don’t let’s call the whole thing off – I’d miss you 😀
I’ll never make a poet, I know. I tried once and got stuck after the first 2 lines:
There was a wee man from Dundee,
who was great at making tea…
Poetry’s just not my thing.
Editor,
That was actually my turn to attempt to be charitable…real porn it is….
RCA Victor,
If you think THAT’s porn, wait till you read the questions being put before students in Scottish (including Catholic) schools. Unbelievable. New thread, just posted, but when you get round to it, you won’t believe your eyes. Or, you will. As one old priest said to me (and this was years ago in England) “It’s only the unbelievable that IS believable these days!”
Just a few quick thoughts. Islam is another example of a religion that has by and large failed to modernise. Not all but certainly a good part remains rooted in the past. It survives largely by the pressures it places on families to get their children to comply. As they say get your children early etc etc. Which is partly why I don’t like religion having a role in education. It is myth based and struggles against the reality of our developing understanding of the universe and our world. Up until this point I had been heartened by the willingness of correspondents to engage with a non believer if you will. But it’s noticeable how the tone can quickly change. It’s worth noting that the Catholic Church has an astonishingly appalling history that has continued to pull power and wealth to itself despite the struggle that many catholics face in their daily lives. The abuse scandal is now spreading to Spain and the sheer scale of the suffering is unchristian and truly horrific. I have found the debate of interest and wanted to communicate to you that you are out of step with the world we now inhabit. There are ways to protect your children but banning an author is only going to lead to negative press. To the editor thank you for engaging. For the others a quote. Sadly I can’t remember where it comes from and who said it but it made me chuckle. “Christianity is a truly wonderful thing, it’s just a shame that no one practices it” You say you have rights, and you do. But so do others and they have a right to be heard and included in our society. In every part of our society including schools, churches, and all the other places where we live our lives. Religion is a part of that world but for many people it is merely a noise in the background, one that all too often denies tolerance towards others that it demands for itself.
Cheerio
Max,
But when you talk about Islam, isn’t that exactly what you’re saying about the LGBTQ+ agenda, which has virtually become a religion? “As they say get your children early etc etc.” Isn’t that exactly what Simon James Green is trying to do? Get them early? The LGBTQ+ lobby has learnt that lesson well. So have the Islamists. Sadly, Catholics largely haven’t and we have exposed our children to dangerous agendas as a result. Dangerous in a spiritual (eternal), mental and physical sense. You wrote “I have found the debate of interest and wanted to communicate to you that you are out of step with the world we now inhabit.” But sadly, the world we now inhabit is largely out of step with Eternal Truth and you can’t see that. I can’t help you, you can only pray for enlightenment. I also think the quote you gave is a misquote. I wonder if you meant what G K Chesterton said: “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” And as for ‘rights’, error has no rights. Never has had, never will have.
Max
I agree that we are or may be out of step with the world world we now inhabit and boy, am I glad.
I`d hate to be in step with the author of the pornographic book about Noah. I just wonder what the craic would have been if Harry had clasped Naamah round the neck and kissed her without her permission, especially with wee Nicola`s new misogyny laws in place.
And the author isn`t happy with the Archdiocese: maybe the Archdiocese isn`t too keen on having a rag in the school that seems to condone and encourage lawbreaking. Surely it s a serious offence for Harry to seduce Noah without his consent whilst under the influence of drink and maybe underage and you talk about child abuse.
You are, of course, correct about the child abuse being on the march. It seems that it called into Buckingham Palace for the ransom money before it went to Spain.
shame on you – the writer of this blog, as well as being the 2007 runner up for bigot of the year. Also shame on any one who supports her foul comments. All of you on this post share the same responsibility as the pedophile priests for giving Catholics a bad name. 99% of Catholics are tolerant if not supportive of the LGBTQ+ community but homophobes like your self make a lot of noise and ruin our reputation. Your evidence for what you call porn is ridiculous and you call it disgusting yet you preach all of this hatred and say you’re doing gods work. Grow up and realise that gay people are not pedophiles and are regular people, unlike yourself who clearly was dropped on your head as a child and then locked in a cupboard for 18 years with nothing but the old testament to read. Love and acceptances was the way of Christ your barbaric beliefs are not the way a catholic should behave.
PS: you are not 29 you are at least 80 looking at your you tube Chanel. lying is a sin Patricia.😊
Oh, you’re a hard man, Peter. I’m not 80 although I’m heading that way (so are you, of course – and don’t worry about it, because the alternative is worse 😀 )
Yes, I’d almost forgotten that I was nominated for the Stonewall Bigot of the Year some time back, but I was beaten by, can you believe it, an Anglican bishop. Ach well, maybe one of these days…
Editor CT,
Sorry to break this news to you, but it looks like you might never hold that coveted position. Stonewall is no longer flavour of the month with the chatterati: https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/uk-news/953118/stonewall-a-champion-or-a-bully and when the BBC dumps you for impartiality concerns, you KNOW you’re in trouble!
Westminster Fly,
LOL! I heard that a while back that the BBC were drawing back from their relationship with Stonewall. I knew it wouldn’t end well, just didn’t think it would be so soon!
Whatever age you are Peter, you need to grow up. The piece in the introduction to this thread, blasphemously parodying the Lord’s prayer, written in Simon James Green’s book, shouldn’t even be read by adults – let alone children. Blasphemy like this – mixing homosexual acts/words with sacred Christian prayers/symbols in a very explicit way, is indicative of some degree of diabolic activity within or operating on the person – and I have encountered it before (read the Open Letter to Archbishop Longley about the notorious Soho ‘gay’ Masses – reprinted in Catholic Truth magazine and possibly on this blog somewhere.) In that case, solid evidence was gleaned that one of the Soho Mass organisers was reading and promoting a blog by a ‘gay’ Catholic priest featuring pictures of men having sex with men and discussing things like shouting out the Holy Name of Jesus and the f*** word, while having anal sex. You could make this stuff up, and sadly – I didn’t. Read the article I posted above – and it is by a same-sex attracted man: https://virtueonline.org/truth-about-homosexual-rights-movement-ronald-g-lee
One can very easily argue that the book is inappropriate, a view that I myself share, and that a 12/13 year old is probably better off without seeing it. But I believe that the children of the school should be given the choice of what and what not they want to partake in.
Now I think that the argument should not be whether or not the book was appropriate but rather should it have been cancelled/ banned.
The event was compulsory, there was no ‘choice’ at all in this, it was being imposed.
Moreover, the ‘choice’ was already made by sending your child to a catholic school in the expectation that they would not be fed with unhealthy, pornographic material contrary to their faith and development.
I can just imagine this character writing this filth. Sitting in a locked room, sweating like a pig, hands shaking with excitement, imagining that he had a young boy in his clutches. I wouldn`t let him near a burst sewer far less a Catholic school.
I have just posted this update on the original JFS thread – posting here, for the record…
News just in…
Fr James Clark has resigned from his position as Chaplain to The John Fisher School. A source close to him has informed me that Fr. Clark decided he simply couldn’t work in a school that was promoting and selling unsuitable, pornographic, material to children.
This is sad – and very disturbing news. In fact, that any Catholic school should be so far gone, so lacking in a sense of morality, so unable to distinguish right from wrong, so imbued with the spirit of the age that a priest has to acknowledge that he cannot work effectively in that environment, is beyond “disturbing”.
I have been arguing for years now that Catholic schools are finished. I, too, was forced to resign from a Catholic institution because the so-called liberals and modernists, very much opposed to Catholic morality on sexual matters, and just about everything else, didn’t want the Faith taught to students.
It’s long-overdue time for the Bishops to obey the instruction of Pope John Paul II to remove the title “Catholic” from those institutions which do not deserve it, due to the kind of infidelity in teaching which we are witnessing at the JFS, and indeed in our own so-called Catholic schools in Scotland.
Quoting from Pope John Paul II in Veritatis Splendor: “ A particular responsibility is incumbent upon Bishops with regard to Catholic institutions. Whether these are agencies for the pastoral care of the family or for social work, or institutions dedicated to teaching or health care, Bishops can canonically erect and recognize these structures and delegate certain responsibilities to them. Nevertheless, Bishops are never relieved of their own personal obligations. It falls to them, in communion with the Holy See, both to grant the title “Catholic” to Church-related schools,179 universities,180 health-care facilities and counselling services, and, in cases of a serious failure to live up to that title, to take it away.” (# 116)
https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_06081993_veritatis-splendor.html
Let’s remember Fr Clark in our prayers – I don’t know him personally, and have had no contact with him throughout this entire situation, but my guess is that he was right to resign, to obey Our Lord’s injunction to “shake the dust”. Once it becomes clear that we can do nothing to improve such a situation, that’s all we can do. Leave them to their spiritual blindness, and move on to more promising pastures. Let’s pray to Our Lady of Fatima, who forewarned us of precisely this sort of diabolical disorientation, where a “gay author” is more welcome in a Catholic school than a conscientious priest, that Father now enjoys peace of soul and a fruitful apostolate in his parish.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for him!”
No one has answered my question – is Simon James Green booked to speak to children / sign his books in any Islamic schools. Try getting an answer: https://www.simonjamesgreen.com/contact-1 or by post: Simon James Green, c/o Harriet Dunlea, Scholastic Children’s Books, Euston House, 24 Eversholt Street, London, NW1 1DB, UK. Failing that, ask the Association of Muslim Schools: https://ams-uk.org
Sorry, WF, I meant to look into that but I’ve just been totally swamped with one thing and another. It’ll be Monday before I can action it, but I will do. It’s important if he’s targeted Catholic schools and caused the resignation of a good priest – so I’m very curious to find an answer to your question, be assured.
What good news this event has been cancelled.
No surprise the LGBT response has been to howl at the moon in the kind of tantrum we see anytime they encounter someone who hold different views to them.
It is a shame that Fr Clark has resigned from his post, but he must do what he feels right.
Editor,
Have you see this write up at Church Militant?
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/gay-author-gaslights-to-defame-brave-bishop
Josephine,
I have now! Thank you for posting.
I’ve also just received it in my inbox, along with this one
https://www.churchmilitant.com/news/article/catholic-school-sacks-pro-lgbt-governors
All very interesting – if a tad late in the day…
See the latest on MSN news:
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/parents-petition-against-catholic-school-that-banned-gay-author-signed-by-1600/ar-AAV2Mim?ocid=mailsignout&li=BBoPWjQ
Catherine,
Thank you for posting that – it is now definitely time for the Archbishop to use the powers he has to remove the title “Catholic” from the JFS – it’s anything but Catholic.
Quoting from Pope John Paul II, Veritatis Splendor: “A particular responsibility is incumbent upon Bishops with regard to Catholic institutions. Whether these are agencies for the pastoral care of the family or for social work, or institutions dedicated to teaching or health care, Bishops can canonically erect and recognize these structures and delegate certain responsibilities to them. Nevertheless, Bishops are never relieved of their own personal obligations. It falls to them, in communion with the Holy See, both to grant the title “Catholic” to Church-related schools,179 universities,180 health-care facilities and counselling services, and, in cases of a serious failure to live up to that title, to take it away.” (# 116) Veritatis Splendor (The Splendour of the Truth), 6 August, 1993…
https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_06081993_veritatis-splendor.html
The sheer nerve of those parents – and where are the parents who support the archdiocese? Keeping mighty quiet, which is all the more reason for the archbishop to end this school’s days as a Catholic institution. I’ve met members of the Orange Lodge with more Catholic and moral sense.
Having now read the entire report, with MPs comments, I’ve now written to the MP as follows…
Elliot Colburn,
I have just read your comments in My London, reported on MSN and I am astonished that you would approve pupils in Years 8 and 9 being encouraged to read the pornographic material in Simon James Green’s book, Noah Can’t Even.
Giving you the benefit of the doubt – assuming you are unaware of the filth in that book – I am including a link to our blog discussion on the topic, in which I have, reluctantly, copied a disgusting scene from that book.
https://catholictruthscotland.com/2022/03/10/simon-james-green-children-teens-gay-author-on-the-warpath-not-a-pretty-sight-folks/comment-page-2/#comment-102877
I would be grateful for your confirmation, on reflection, that – as any right-thinking person would agree – this material is totally unsuitable for young people of any age, but certainly for children as young as Years 8 and 9.
I look forward to your reply. Thank you.
Signed…
In case anyone else wishes to contact him, his email address is elliot.colburn.mp@parliament.uk
and he wishes to be addressed as Elliot Colburn. He also requires your home address, just to keep the Westminster protocol, when dealing with members of the public who are not his constituents (standard parliamentary practice).
Editor,
I remember when Muslim parents were protesting outside a Birmingham school because they objected to the LGBTQ+ content of a programme being used in classes. Some MPs did protest, always on the grounds of the need for tolerance, compassion, etc. But where is the tolerance for those of us with a different point of view, different beliefs that are non-negotiable?
The call for “tolerance” is a cover for “shut up and let us get on with brainwashing your kids”.
For once, cancel culture worked against these morons and they can’t take it.
I have just emailed the Catholic Education Service, as follows:
Please forward this to the person responsible for the quoted remarks below…
The Catholic Education Service is quoted across the internet, on multiple outlets, as follows – this in regard to the cancellation of the gay author’s visit to promote his pornographic book, Noah Can’t Even, remarks which make clear that you do NOT support the archbishop, and thus Catholic teaching on the unacceptability of homosexual activity which cannot be approved under any circumstances. (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 2357)
“We are aware and appreciate that Mr. Green has visited other Catholic schools who have not found his visit problematic,” a CES spokesperson told i News. “This isolated incident has given a false impression of the inclusive nature of Catholic schools,” it said in a statement Thursday.
This is a shocking statement, attributed to an agency of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales. The very idea that the other schools to which you refer, have no problem with pornography, is utterly reprehensible. I would be grateful, therefore, if you would visit the link to our blog discussion below, where I have copied out material from Green’s book. It is nothing short of pornographic, and if the CES supports this sort of thing – as you appear to do – then it’s time the title ‘Catholic’ were removed from all schools which currently enjoy your approval.
You can read the filth in Noah Can’t Even at this link
https://catholictruthscotland.com/2022/03/10/simon-james-green-children-teens-gay-author-on-the-warpath-not-a-pretty-sight-folks/comment-page-2/#comment-102881
However, I must allow for the possibility that you have not actually read the content in the book until now, and, therefore, I look forward to your reply, with an assurance that you will withdraw your support from those seeking vengeance on the archbishop for doing nothing more than his episcopal duty.
Kind regards
Signed
Today, 16 March, a snap Ofsted Inspection has taken place at the JFS. You can read about it on this new thread
https://catholictruthscotland.com/2022/03/16/the-john-fisher-school-woke-bullying-in-action-as-scandalous-snap-ofsted-inspection-takes-place/
I will now close this thread to comments, with thanks to all who have contributed.
Comments are closed.