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Monday 29 February 2016

The real victims of political correctness.




In this 2010 CBN News video "What Will Happen When Islam Takes Over Britain WAKE UP!" a clear warning was given on the perils of not addressing political correctness.

The Prime Minister's claim in 2011 that multiculturalism had failed was met with a wave of indignant protests and denial. In 2016 the real victims of political correctness, mainly vulnerable children, are being identified on a regular basis.

This is the reality. From an Express report: The authorities spent years letting gangs of Pakistani and British-Pakistani men get away with horrendous crimes against white girls. Evidence suggests that such groups have been operating in Rotherham, Oxford, Keighley, Bradford and Rochdale. The dangerously misguided desire to appear tolerant and politically correct allowed these gangs to operate unchecked for so long.

Nobody in authority has been prepared to stand against the tide. While political parties spend their time harvesting votes from minorities, the Established church continues her obsession with politically correct quotas, advancing the cause of minorities over suitability and validating Islam. 

Tolerance of the intolerant rules. "WAKE UP" indeed!

Friday 26 February 2016

Legitimate target


England v Ireland: Jonny Sexton will be targeted - Eddie Jones, BBC Sport


The cold dark months of Winter are not my favourite months but a few things make February more bearable. The days are drawing out, the garden is preparing to burst into life and we have the Six Nations.

An ancient Briton by birth, I am not without some English blood in my veins which makes the performance of the England rugby team all the more disappointing with their "winning is everything" attitude to the game. Perhaps it is because they give the impression that they always deserve to win that they appear so arrogant. The depths of their financial and human resources indicate as much but better a good game than win at all costs. In such circumstances the real losers are obvious.

Regrettably England's new coach Eddie Jones is from the England mould. His interview for BBC Sport is a new low in English rugby. Teams want to win but not so obviously at any price. Jones admits that his attitude is to be "physical, fair and brutal" with emphasis on the brutal - so long as it is legal! Brutalitycruel, harsh, and usually violent treatment of another person.

He says Ireland's Johnny Sexton will be a 'legitimate target' during Saturday's Six Nations match at Twickenham, as was England's fly-half Jonny Wilkinson when Jones coached Australia.

Eddie Jones' attitude to the game has made himself a legitimate target. England should send him back to the Southern hemisphere where he belongs taking his brutality with him.

Wednesday 24 February 2016

EastEnders


Men pray outside Whitechapel mosque in east London during Friday prayers.
Photograph: Felix Clay for the Guardian

There have been reports in the press that the new set of the BBC soap EastEnders may include a mosque in an attempt at a "more authentic representation" of communities in East London.

The East London Mosque in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, reportedly where a London schoolgirl who recruited three of her classmates to join IS in Syria was radicalised, serves Great Britain's largest Muslim community with a capacity of 7,000. 

If the producers of EastEnders want an authentic representation, the set will have to be of considerable proportions. The cash strapped BBC could save a lot of money by showing Muslims praying in the street while using the front of a Mosque as a backdrop. Read about the authenticity of this scenario here. The BBC could use the money saved to include a closed Christian church, the fate of many while Islam is being promoted. 

From the Guardian report: "Last year, the character Tamwar Masood quoted the Qur’an in an attempt to explain Islam to his girlfriend Nancy Carter. 'Do good to relatives, orphans, the needy, the neighbour who is near of kin, the neighbour who is a stranger, to the companion at your side and to the traveller,' he said." 

No mention of convert, pay the tax or die as regularly witnessed around the world where Islam dominates.

Monday 22 February 2016

Feeding Islam and ripping the Church apart


Source: Twitter

A sharp-eyed reader has drawn my attention to the menu offered last Thursday at the Cardiff University Chaplaincy: halal chicken casserole! Next Thursday's lunch will also be halal. In fact halal dishes appear to be their regular offering. I appreciate that the Chaplaincy caters for mixed faiths but why do Islamic meals take precedence in a supposedly Christian country?

There is much more to concern the faithful than a meagre halal meal for £1. The Anglican Chaplaincy boasts a seminar at which the Very Rev Jeffery John promoted gay marriage and Canon Jeremy Pemberton talked about life with his 'husband'.

Following his defeat at the Church in Wales Governing Body in September last year Archbishop Barry Morgan said "It would be 'foolish' to bring forward a bill for same-sex marriages in church at the moment. It would be a very brave or perhaps a very foolish Bench of Bishops who were to bring the bill before the governing body at this stage because that might just rip the church apart and lead to the acrimony that has been absent from this debate."  [My emphasis - Ed.]

The intent is clear.

Notwithstanding the dire effects on church attendance resulting in church closures and the loss of the historic parish system, the same procedure is being adopted as was employed in the campaign for the ordination of women followed by their admission to the Episcopate. If at first you don't succeed keep trying until the church is left only with like minded people led astray by a bench of bishops, bar one, who have abandoned the Apostolic faith of the Holy Catholic Church for a dictatorship of  relativism.

When the bishops report back to the Governing Body in April their conclusion appears obvious.

Christianity is in danger. Mosques are already opening their doors to entice the unwary. Closed churches and chapels are being converted adding to the twenty-one Mosques already in Cardiff. Two of the seven chaplains in Cardiff University are Muslim. They need no help from the Church in Wales.

The agenda may be music to the ears of the Archbishop but it is not the Gospel and it is already ripping the church apart.



Postscript [23.02.2016]


The Cardiff University Chaplaincy 50 years ago with Fr Bruce E Davies, RIP surrounded by communicants for the Ash Wednesday Eucharist.


Postscript [24.02.2016]

Plans submitted for a new mosque in Sanatorium Road, Cardiff

In response to worries about traffic problems it has been suggested that this new Cardiff mosque was needed to allow only 30 worshippers to pray. Pull the other one! This was a second application. No doubt there will be another mirroring the Church in Wales', if at first you don't succeed, try again until you get what you want.

Friday 19 February 2016

Transdanger




In a poll of 470 people in San Diego last year 73% said that they would like to see more gender neutral rest rooms. I doubt that they had considered the practicalities or the consequences.

Dr. Michael Brown writing for Charisma News: Even as I write these words, different cities in America are considering dangerous and irrational laws that impose unfair and potentially dangerous burdens on the vast majority of citizens, all in name of helping a tiny number of deeply confused individuals. When will we learn?

I do not wish to minimise any difficulties experienced by a few transgender people but the "quadruple rise  in child transgender referrals in five years" has to be of concern. To put this in proportion, the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust says that referrals over the period included 47 children aged five or under, and two children just three years old. There were 695,233 live births in England and Wales in 2014.

They say that gender dysphoria in young people is a "complex and rare condition" which is "frequently associated with distress which may increase at puberty", adding "it is probably fair to say that young people are increasingly interested in "exploring gender".

Is exposure the problem? Suddenly transgender is everywhere with the politically correct desperate to show their superiority in how understanding they are. But are they?

God created male and female, period. Yes we should be sympathetic to genuine problems but society is becoming so concerned about minorities that we are at risk of losing the plot. Already in the US a man twice entered the changing room of a swimming pool and began disrobing, once in front of a young girls' swim team, saying transgender policies gave him the right to do so. What next?

New transgender-friendly law opens all public restrooms to both sexes
Source: The Christians.com

Men were built for fighting. Women were built for childbearing. It’s interesting to note how stubbornly true—even obvious—these statements remain, despite aggressive efforts to bury them.

Thursday 18 February 2016

The great energy rip-off




When it comes to choosing Gas and Electricity suppliers I am baffled. Tariff type, Unit rate, Standing charges, dual fuel, DD, Exit fees, etc, etc. All I want to know is the overall price for supplying gas and electricity but dream on.

My fixed tariff agreement is about to expire. If I do nothing I will be transferred to the Standard Rate with a big hike in charges. Lest I should be bombarded with suggestions that online switching sites are the answer, I know but they can be part of the problem: The Charity Age UK earned £6m a year for encouraging thousands to sign up to special rate that was £245 higher than cheapest tariff.

Money Saving Expert assures me that by using the Cheap Energy Club I can make significant savings by switching to British Gas. That seemed like a good idea before I heard the boss of Centrica on the BBC's Breakfast Time show this morning justifying the rise in British Gas profits of 31%. What if I sign up and then they reduce their prices? I will be stuck with a fixed tariff until February 2017 unless paying exit fees makes a change worthwile.

After reading about a supposed good deal on a switching site a few months ago I decided to switch. My current supplier then phoned to tell me that comparison sites do not necessarily offer the best advice because "there are various ways of calculating costs". Also some sites do not include all suppliers in their comparisons. Then of course there were the meter readings; were they up to date? And don't forget the mild Winter effect.... I accepted the advice offered and left the decision to another day. My supplier couldn't offer a better deal at the time although there could be a better deal in February when new tariffs may be available. I am still waiting and it is decision time.

The Government assures me that competition is good for the economy benefiting customers with lower prices. But what about consumers who are unable to navigate the obstacle course and the many pensioners who do not have access to a computer or lack the necessary internet skills?

Competition has become a means of boosting profits at the expense of the vulnerable. In fact, a proposal considered by the Competition and Markets Authority is a plan put forward by energy companies themselves to end the use of indefinite standard tariffs and 'force' households to choose a new gas and electricity deal every year. A "licence to rip off consumers" was the verdict of the charity Citizens Advice.

Instead of being given a licence to rip off consumers, energy suppliers should be compelled to advertise their cheapest rates, thus enabling customers to choose between suppliers for the best deal.

Now that that would be an innovation!

Wednesday 17 February 2016

Closer together and wider apart


Former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Reverend Lorna Hood
 making her way through the Church of Scotland's Assembly Hall, where commissioners made
 "a historic vote" in favour of accommodation for congregations that choose a minister in a
 same-sex civil partnership    Source: Christian Today 
(Photo: John Young)

From one "historic step" (see caption) to another. Addressing Synod yesterday the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (C of S), the Right Rev Dr Angus Morrison, said: The Columba Declaration paves the way for future joint working between the Kirk and the Church of England (C of E). It sets out how members and clergy will be allowed to worship and exercise ministry in each other's churches. Approved by Synod by 243 votes to 50 the report will now go to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in May for approval.

Paved with good intentions, the declaration moves the C of E further towards nonconformity while pretending to keep a toe in the Apostolic Church following the lead of the Church in Wales (C in W).

The proposals are set out in GS 2016, "Growth in Communion, Partnership in Mission -
A Cover Note from the Council for Christian Unity". There are two references to apostolic succession.

Para 18 (i): Within the apostolicity of the whole Church is an apostolic succession of the ministry which serves, and is a focus of, the continuity of the Church in its life in Christ and its
faithfulness to the words and acts of Jesus transmitted by the apostles.

Para 31: The Church of Scotland also believes that its ministries are in apostolic succession, without needing to include the episcopal order nor to express that succession through it.
In its ordination rites it emphasizes the continuity of the Church and its ministry. It can
recognize in the historic episcopal succession maintained by other churches a sign of the
apostolicity of the Church. It does not, however, regard it as important for the bene esse
(‘well-being’) of the Church in the same way as the Church of England, and therefore
while respecting its perspective does not share from its own side the significance for the
Church of England of this issue in seeking to grow together.

God forbid that the C of E should follow the lead of the C in W:
"Consequently the Church in Wales Working Group's Long-term Recommendations to their Governing Body were that: 'the Methodist jurisdiction, the Presbyterian jurisdiction and the URC/Covenanting Baptist jurisdiction each elect a bishop, the bishop will ordain all those who are to become ministers within that jurisdiction. That this bishop will be a bishop in the Church Uniting in Wales and will share collegiality and full interchangeability with all the other bishops of that Church'."

Sidelining the Scottish Episcopal Church, the C of S and the C of E "acknowledge one another’s churches as churches belonging to the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ and truly participating in the apostolic ministry and mission of the whole people of God". 

But what of the wider Church? 

The C of S, the C of E and the C in W are minnows in the Christian Church which is dominated by Catholics and Orthodox, now showing signs of coming together while Anglicans drift apart. In global terms Anglicans are mentioned once, "Nigeria now has more than twice as many Protestants (broadly defined to include Anglicans  and independent churches) as Germany, the birthplace of the Protestant Reformation yet they claim to be in the forefront of advancing the apostolic ministry and mission of the whole people of God.

What does this amount to? 

The C of S has opened the door to the appointment of married gay ministers. Having lost the same-sex marriage battle, the Archbishop of Wales is encouraging his rapidly diminishing flock to support the Iris Prize Outreach project which aims to "make 36 short films over the next three years with different community groups to build understanding of LGBT issues". 

Driven by WATCH the C of E  is obsessed with gender issues: "Fewer than one in 50 large churches led by a woman priest".

For the Church to survive in Britain it will have to become closer to the apostolicity of Catholics and Orthodox, not more protestant and secular.

Postscript

'No unity at the expense of truth': a response to Justin Welby's Presidential Address.
An excellent analysis from Christian Concern, H/T Anglican Mainstream, here.

Monday 15 February 2016

Many a true word is spoken in jest





According to The Australian Women's Weekly "the TV comedy gods have answered your prayers – The Vicar of Dibley is coming back". 

The Rev'd Geraldine Granger, AKA Dawn French, said "now that the Church of England formally ruled in favour of allowing female Bishops in 2014 there’s hope for Geraldine to climb the ranks".

Tragically, many a true word is spoken in jest. The Vicar of Dibley has become the fate of the Church of England. In any new series I suspect we will have Bishop Ramsbottom and other tattyfilarious puns which are expected to make the Church more relevant to society. They will have to be quick. Soon the Church will be completely irrelevant to society as she becomes ever more secular

Saturday 13 February 2016

A new beginning?


Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, and Pope Francis met at the Jose Marti
 airport in Havana Feb. 12, 2016 – the first-ever papal meeting with the head of the Russian
 Orthodox Church, a historic development in the 1,000-year schism within Christianity.
 (Crux / Max Rossi / AP)

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:21

The key points in the declaration signed by Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill after their historic meeting on Friday 12 Feb 2016 reported by Crux include:
  • An acknowledgement that “we have been divided by wounds caused by old and recent conflicts, by differences inherited from our ancestors.”
  • Deep concern for “Christians [who] are victims of persecution.” The two leaders said, “In many countries of the Middle East and North Africa whole families, villages and cities of our brothers and sisters in Christ are being completely exterminated. Their churches are being barbarously ravaged and looted, their sacred objects profaned, their monuments destroyed.”
  • A plea for greater inter-religious dialogue: “Differences in the understanding of religious truths must not impede people of different faiths to live in peace and harmony,” the two men said.
  • Worry about secular hostility to religion: “We observe that the transformation of some countries into secularized societies, estranged from all reference to God and to His truth, constitutes a grave threat to religious freedom. It is a source of concern for us that there is a current curtailment of the rights of Christians, if not outright discrimination.”
  • Defense of immigrants and refugees: “We cannot remain indifferent to the destinies of millions of migrants and refugees knocking on the doors of wealthy nations,” they said.
  • A strong call for preserving the “natural family” based on marriage between a man and a woman, and the “right to life,” including opposition to abortion and euthanasia.
  • An invitation to “prudence, social solidarity and action aimed at constructing peace” in Ukraine.
Full report here

In the words of St Benedict "Always we begin again" -

 "that the world may believe that thou hast sent me".

Thursday 11 February 2016

Welby's view


Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby                                        Source: Reuters

"In Muslim countries, Archbishop Welby said, ‘it is often pointed out to me that only one Muslim country was not colonised by Western powers in the 19th century: Saudi Arabia. By 1920, the world’s principal ruler of Muslims was King George V.’ The Archbishop added that western attitudes to the Prophet Mohammed and ‘the media perception of the Muslim community’ were ‘often mentioned to me with savage and bitter anger’."

Perhaps if Muslims had confined their activities to Saudi Arabia instead of seeking to convert mankind to Islam the world would not have been fighting against colonisation for 1400 years.

Christians were living peacefully in the so called Muslim lands well before Islam came on the scene. Of course the Muslim community shows savage and bitter anger against Western attitudes because they believe that they are above objective scrutiny.

While Christians journey through Lent to prepare for the Resurrection, Muslims confidently claim that Christ did not die on the Cross and even that Jesus was a Muslim.

Should we agree with that too, wiping out 2,000 years of hope through Christianity?

Wednesday 10 February 2016

Defender of the Faith


Source: AIN News (Sputnik/Osservatore Romano)

Pope Francis sees President Putin as the 'Only Man' to defend Christians around the world the Assyrian International News Agency reports: According to Pope Francis, Putin is "the only one with whom the Catholic Church can unite to defend Christians in the East."

The report comes from the Russian controlled Sputnik News looking forward to the historic meeting between Pope Francis and Russian Patriarch Kirill in Cuba on Friday (12 Feb 2016). From The Guardian: The pair will sign a joint declaration in Russian and Italian, the details of which have not been made public, before exchanging gifts and making brief statements. There has been speculation that the meeting would lead to a papal visit to Russia, although the Vatican would not confirm such plans were in motion.

The discussions in Havana will focus on the persecution of Christians. The Russian Orthodox spokesman  Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk told journalists "The situation as it has developed today in the Middle East, in North and Central Africa and in some other regions, in which extremists are perpetrating a real genocide of the Christian population, has required urgent measures and closer cooperation between Christian churches."

If these discussions eventually lead to unity Anglicans will be marooned on the outside but no doubt the new breed of Anglican priests and bishops will continue claim they are right in ordaining women and the rest of Christendom is wrong.  

Practising Christians are now a "minority" in Britain like persecuted Roman Catholics during the Reformation, say two of Britain's most senior clerics here. A sad reflection on New Anglicanism which has simply become a vehicle for advancing the interests of minorities over the majority.

Today is Ash Wednesday. There is much to repent.  

Tuesday 9 February 2016

"No-one loves the kuffaar"


Cardiff school children at an open day at Dar Ul-Usra Mosque in Cardiff  Source: Wales Online

Amid constant claims of Islamophobia in response to anyone who questions any aspect of Islam the brainwashing continues. From Wales Online: Mosques across Wales open their doors in bid to share a 'positive message' of Islam.

Wind back the clock and an entirely different picture emerges:



Undercover Mosque was not a one off. Read about the followup here. Also about undercover footage here which shows Muslim pupils being taught "religious apartheid". More recently David Cameron's crackdown on 'poisonous' Islamic extremists here. Read also about Britain's "No-Go" Zones here.

If all these reports are wrong a lot of people have a lot of explaining to do but in reality it is a similar story at home and abroad which suggests a constant pattern.

Mosques have opened their doors in a bid to share a 'positive message' of Islam but "It takes two to tango" was the response of a Muslim Councillor after twelve Asian men were jailed for 143 years for gang-raping a 13-year-old white girl. The  Councillor admitted that some in the community still think the child was partly to blame! Full story here. Hardly a positive image.

Despite all the propaganda the real message from Islam is clear, "No-one loves the kuffaar".

Friday 5 February 2016

Poverty + Islamophobia = Radicalisation - allegedly


Senedd Cardiff Bay                                                                                           Credit: Wales Online

"Poverty and Islamophobia are partly to blame for the radicalisation of Muslims in Wales" according to Islam expert, Professor Sophie Gilliat-Ray from Cardiff's Islam UK Centre. Welsh Government ministers are so taken in by this ludicrous claim that they are speaking to Muslims in a bid to "tackle extremism and Islamophobia".

The Welsh people have been the butt of jokes for years suffering poverty and bigotry but they do not use poverty and Welshophobia as an excuse to resort to extremism. Why? Because their faith is based on the Christian belief of love and forgiveness, not in an ideology which promises paradise for crimes against the innocent.

According to the Postgraduate Funding web site, the Islam-UK Centre was founded in 2005 and "works towards the promotion of better understanding of Islam and the life of Muslims in Britain". Its activities "address issues which are central to the situation of Muslims" in contemporary Britain. With the help of a "very generous gift to the University", the Jameel Scholarships have been established to enable the very best students to come to Cardiff – those who have the intellect and determination to apply their knowledge "for the benefit of Muslim communities in the UK", and to promote "better understanding of Islam" in wider society.

The promotion of Islam is obvious but 'the better understanding of Islam' is a euphemism for blind acceptance. Islam means submission and obedience. To question any aspect of Islam is deemed Islamophobic. In an earlier entry, 'The road to ruin', I referred to UK Mosque Open Day which was being promoted on social media listing participating places of worship. "Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man"!

Cardiff school children at an open day at Dar Ul-Usra Mosque in Cardiff  Source: Wales Online

Muslims like to tell us what we should believe, particularly that Islam is a religion of peace but this is not reflected in the world around us. That most Muslims live peacefully is hardly relevant when their ideology dictates otherwise. Most Germans did not gas Jews and homosexuals but there were sufficient numbers willing to do so. Most Muslims do not behead people because they are not followers of Islam but many do.

In contrast to the fear and repression of Islam, Britons (for now, see previous entry) live in a Christian country with a faith based on the Gospel message: "A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

That can be the only excuse for the Archbishop of Canterbury, joined by the archbishops of Wales, Scotland and Ireland, to accept invitations from Muslim leaders as they seek to convince people that "inter-faith relations in Britain are strong, despite global tensions such as IS atrocities and the refugee crisis". Such dialogue serves only to validate a warped ideology which seeks the demise of Christianity.

Shepherds are tasked with protecting their flocks. Instead they flirt with danger. Islam is contrary to the Christian faith. This is clearly illustrated in the Middle East where ISIS is determined to erase all traces of Christianity.

Poverty and the phony charge of Islamophobia are not responsible for radicalisation. Some of the worst atrocities have been perpetrated by highly educated Muslims. Playing the victim and demanding more concessions is the name of the game. The only hope for peace is opening Islam to rigorous debate, not validating the ideology through inter-faith relations. But that is regarded by Muslims as Islamophobia and ministers play along with it!

Wednesday 3 February 2016

Too little, too late?


Muslims now make up over 5% of the population of Britain                            Source: The Sun/ Alamy


Great Britain is now home to more than 3 million Muslims for the first time ever with more than half born outside the UK.

In most of Europe and the developed world birth rates are low among native-born women. Among Muslim immigrant populations birth rates are much higher.

While the Prime Minister is trying to convince us that he has achieved a remarkable victory (by watering down his demands) in Europe, the reality is staring us in the face.

Unlike most other immigrants Muslims want domination not integration. There lies the real problem.