In today’s Gospel we are set yet another demanding challenge by Jesus. As last Sunday, we have the difficulty of trying to apply Christ’s demanding teaching to our lives in a modern world so vastly different from his in first century Palestine. Most of his hearers, like Jesus himself, came from poor backgrounds. In their…
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Identity politics is killing off healthy debate
From Rachel Sylvester in THE TIMES, 9 October 2018: It is a year since the Eurosceptic Tory MP Chris Heaton-Harris, then a government whip, wrote to universities requesting a list of the names of professors involved in the teaching of European affairs “with particular reference to Brexit”, together with copies of each syllabus and links…
Don’t feel guilty, selfishness is the new religion
From James Marriott in THE TIMES, 9 October 2018: Fancy doing some radical politics? It’s all right, you don’t even have to leave the house. Pop upstairs and run a bath. If you’re feeling especially political you might want to add some bubbles. Jump in. Congratulations, you’re performing a radical act of self care. In…
Homily, 27th Sunday (B) 2018
27th Sunday (B) 2018 Just in this past week it was announced that heterosexual couples in England and Wales will be able to enter into civil partnerships. This will give them a raft of financial advantages reserved until now for marriage. It will provide greater security for couples who want legal recognition for their relationship…
Homily, 26th Sunday of the Year (B)
The incident described in the First Reading complements a similar episode in today’s Gospel. This time it was the apostle John who, like Joshua, was part of an ‘inner circle’, in this case being one of the Twelve apostles around Jesus. John was annoyed that someone was performing exorcisms (‘casting out spirits’) in Jesus’ name even…
Exodus of teachers is a lesson for politicians
From Alice Thomson in THE TIMES, 26 September 2018: Angela Rayner left her school in Stockport without any qualifications and became pregnant at 16 but she was determined to get a job. Now she’s a granny at 38 but also shadow education secretary. She’s punching above her gene pool, as she once explained to me.…
UK asylum seekers refused housing over ‘social cohesion issues’
From Diane Taylor in The Guardian, 27 September 2018: Some asylum seekers have been banned from accommodation in north-east England because of “social cohesion issues” and far-right activity, a move lawyers have described as “discriminatory”, the Guardian has learned. Details of the ban emerged in a note from the Home Office to an asylum seeker’s…
Stop talking down the NHS
By Melanie Reid in THE TIMES, 22 September 2018: Sometimes, I wish I were braver. I’d love the courage to tap people on the arm mid-conversation and say, “Please stop moaning.” I’d like to interrupt meetings with, “Do any of you ever consider how lucky you are?” In fact, I dream of owning a long-distance…
Homily, 25th Sunday (B)
In 1989 a law came into force in England and Wales, known as The Children Act, which states that the interests of children and young people up to the age of 18 are paramount in all considerations of their welfare and safeguarding. No other considerations are allowed to over-ride the right of children and young…
Father Brett Kavanaugh would be suspended and investigated
by Thomas Reese, in The National Catholic Reporter (USA) 21 September 2018 If Brett Kavanaugh were a Catholic priest, how would we now expect the church to deal with him? Kavanaugh is not just any judge, of course. He's been nominated to the Supreme Court. Were he a Catholic priest being considered for promotion to…
