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Thursday 30 November 2023

Pope Francis evicts "enemy" Cardinal Burke


The rumours have been confirmed. Pope Francis evicts his US critic, Cardinal Raymond Burke, from the Vatican. 

A useful commentary of events leading to the eviction of the pope's "enemy" is provided at the beginning of the above podcast video.

Pope Francis has attracted much criticism from commentators. Traditionalist Anglicans have looked on in bemusement as he appears to be guiding the Catholic Church along the path to ruin, the path already trod by the Episcopal Church in the US, the Church of England and the Church in Wales, among others.

Having sown the seeds of hope for change among revisionists, the Vatican is trying to draw a line on women’s ordination and homosexuality in new letter to German bishops.

That will not stop revisionists from pecking away as they seek to make the Church conform to the pattern of this world rather than be transformed as the Anglican Church in the West has witnessed 

What hope can there be for a Church when Christians who practice their faith by obedience to the word rather than apostates are regarded as the enemy?

Tuesday 21 November 2023

Archbishop's Rwanda judgement

After the arrival of the refugees from Ukraine at the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Medyka, they wait for a place
 in one of the buses that will take them to large sites or collective shelters. Source: Westport Presbyterian Church

The Archbishop of Wales, who represents less than 1% of the population of Wales, has welcomed the judgement on Rwanda asylum plan.

In doing so, the Provincial News item included the above photograph without attribution. 

The photo has nothing to do with the Rwanda judgement. It actually shows refugees from Ukraine arriving at the Polish-Ukrainian border crossing in Medyka in 2022 according to its source, Westport Presbyterian Church. 

The picture was used to illustrate the plight of Ukrainian refugees in a Church Mission Project in the United States.

This photo published by the BBC more accurately illustrates the problem.

More than 100,000 people have come to the UK by crossing the English Channel in small boats since 2018.

That is more than the population of Rochdale.

The cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels costs around £8 million a day. 

Government projections put the cost of dealing with illegal migrants plan could cost £6bn over two years.

A solution needs to be found but it is unlikely to come from the Church in Wales.

In 2022 the archbishop said he would not make any apologies for pointing out the "deficits" within the government's Rwanda policy. "It's the duty of all people, Christians and those of no faith to speak up for those who are marginalised..and for what is right and proper."

The archbishop would be better employed considering the plight of the many Anglicans he and the bench have marginalised in the Church in Wales by reneging on the promised twin integrities and leading the remainder into secularism.

Friday 17 November 2023

C of E agrees to bless sin on trial basis


General Synod November 2023                             Source: Church of England


Despite the Church of England's belief that marriage is between one man and one woman, its General Synod has agreed that special services of prayer and dedication asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples should be introduced on a trial basis.

The religious service could follow a civil wedding ceremony with readings and prayers, music, flowers and confetti, giving the appearance of a wedding in all but name.

The Church of England Evangelical Council said the decision "will tear local parish congregations apart, damage the relationship between large numbers of clergy and their bishops and cause churches across the dioceses to feel as though their shepherds have abandoned them."

Sadly, most of the bishops of the Church of England could not care less, as in the Church in Wales, where many faithful Anglicans have already been abandoned for keeping the faith.

Monday 13 November 2023

Guard of shame

London, the Cenotaph guarded by police                                                                                                         Source: The Sun

As The Sun put it on Armistice Day: "HOW HAS IT COME TO THIS? The Cenotaph will be kept under 24-hour police guard for the first time during Remembrance commemorations as PM appeals for calm. More than 1,000 cops are being drafted in from across the country to assist the 2,000 Met officers at today’s Armistice Day march."

From X (formerly Twitter): "The Metropolitan Police say there has been 'no issues' with the protest for Palestine, which was repeatedly called a 'hate march' by Suella Braverman. Meanwhile hundreds of far right thugs are 'intent on confrontation' and violence against the main march." Photo here.

The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove MP, may have had a different view of the 'protest for Palestine' march after being mobbed by Palestine protesters at Victoria station as may some of the police on the ground.

Victoria station also witnessed the sorry state of charity volunteer poppy sellers having to retreat from a rowdy mob of pro-Palestine protesters.

The march itself may have been relatively peaceful but there were ugly incidents as illustrated here and here. X shows some demonstrators wearing terrorist headbands while another could be heard shouting "death to all the Jews".

Some ugly banners were also shown on X. One with a swastika incorporated into the Star of David Another called for 'burning a British flag on Remembrance Day'.

Despite there being 'no issues' in the view of the Met they have requested assistance using X. Examples here and here.

Hopefully the public will cooperate but it is worrying when increasing numbers attend gatherings which cloak illegal activity. Activity which is difficult to contain given the weight of numbers. The Met's solution is surveillance followed by arrests where possible. The problem with that approach is that offenders appear to get away with it. 

How has it come to this? The problem is summarised here by bestselling author and columnist Douglas Murray.

Suella Braverman was correct when she said: "This can’t go on. Week by week, the streets of London are being polluted by hate, violence, and antisemitism. Members of the public are being mobbed and intimidated. Jewish people in particular feel threatened. Further action is necessary."

Postscript [19.11.2023]

Tuesday 7 November 2023

Contempt triumphs over respect

The Cenotaph surrounded by pro-Palestinian demonstrators                                                                               Source: LBC

The Prime Minister has described the pro-Palestinian protests planned for London on Armistice Day as 'provocative and disrespectful'.

The government, the Metropolitan police and the majority of the British public are against it but the organisers insist it will go ahead.

What the march demonstrates is contempt for British values, values which many of the participants want to replace with an alien ideology so candidly admitted here

Closer to home, the Welsh Government recently paid out £300K Swansea's Sketty Mosque and Community Centre to aid Community Cohesion.

From the Swansea mosque on 17 October: " 'Victory to Islam'. 'Look after the mujahideen' in Gaza."

Pure contempt for British values.