De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

Today's homily from Our Lady of Ransom, Rayleigh, Essex, UK. Do I spend my Sundays monitoring homilies so I can bring you the dodgy ones? No, of course not. But this horrendous mess of a homily was brought to my attention by a troubled parishioner. You might remember Fox from this post  where he denied the existence of hell. Subsequently he uploaded a video where he explained to his parishioners the Church has got it wrong and he has figured it out - he's figured out what Jesus really meant and it isn't the "horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible teachings punched into us as children". This homily follows some of the same themes and hits some of these same notes. Soon after I posted that blog, the video evidence was removed and Fox appeared to have his preaching faculties removed as he stopped preaching homilies after the Gospel. It didn't really stop him though as he just gave his little lessons in abject heresy before the Mass started. Now he has started gi...

Over the years I have noticed an evolution in the circumstances of our presbyterate which, whether we have heeded it or not, has undoubtedly wrought existential changes in the life of your average priest. Growing up, there were usually  two priests, often three, in a parish. Now priests are largely solitary. As a priest friend of mine remarked a few years ago, this means that it is easy for the good ones to work themselves to death with no one to tell them to take a day off, it's similarly easy for others to descend into darkness, error, alcoholism, etc. A priest is a father and as such, for most of us who take our faith seriously, he commands a certain degree of paternal respect. He is someone who you go to for advice, for wisdom, for succour when things are so bad you can't cope anymore.  But who does he go to? Do you know your priest well enough to be able to say who his friends are? That he has a hot meal? That his heating works? I am blessed to have a family, my home life...

The Apostle's Creed is rightly considered to be a faithful summary of the apostles' teaching. It is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome. -Catechism of the Catholic Church, 184. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. Often today priests and bishops refuse and avoid talking about the truths of the faith, especially controversial ideas which may appear antithetical to modern secular ears. They see...

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ Mt 25:23 At the beginning of the month, Southend Deanery lost one of its most loved and respected priests, Father Andrew Dorricott. This has been a source of great sorrow for many people who have lived in the area for many years. Fr. Dorricott was widely known, changed many lives and was loved & respected by everyone who knew him. As a relatively recent arrival in Southend Deanery (I moved to Leigh-on-Sea in 1999), I had met Fr. Dorricott a couple of times, but didn't know him half as well as I would have liked. However my heart felt sympathies are with all those who feel his loss deeply at this time, and a reminder that he is has gone home to our Father in heaven. Independent Catholic News has this rather fitting tribute: Fr Andrew Dorricott MBE has died - a long serving parish priest, prison chaplai...