De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

Just a quick word on BBC Panorama's Monday night programme which advertised itself thus: Pope John Paul II ruled the Catholic Church for 27 years until 2005. He was one of the most influential figures of the twentieth century, revered by millions and made a saint in record time. Now reporter Edward Stourton can offer a new perspective on the emotional life of this very public figure. Now it is hard not to consider that this is an attempt to besmirch the reputation of an extraordinary public figure. Certainly it hints at a hidden sexual agenda, and this was made even more clear by John Humphry's attempts to suggest to Alexander Lucie-Smith and Caroline Farrow, on BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning, that it would be better if Priests weren't celibate at all after this Panorama. (By the way, I think Caroline & Fr. Lucie-Smith do a wonderful job of running rings around Humphrys, you can listen to the interview here , it takes place in the last ten minutes ...

Loving the family means being able to appreciate its values and capabilities, fostering them always. Loving the family means identifying the dangers and the evils that menace it, in order to overcome them. Loving the family means endeavoring to create for it an environment favorable for its development. The modern Christian family is often tempted to be discouraged and is distressed at the growth of its difficulties; it is an eminent form of love to give it back its reasons for confidence in itself, in the riches that it possesses by nature and grace, and in the mission that God has entrusted to it. "Yes indeed, the families of today must be called back to their original position. They must follow Christ." Familiaris Consortio n. 86 One thing I cannot help but wonder about is why, in the run up to the forthcoming Synod on the family, nobody has mentioned a prayerful re-read of Pope Saint John Paul II's masterful encyclical on the family as a starting point? Familiar...

Following the canonisation's of John XXIII and John Paul II, I have picked up John Paul II's book Crossing the Threshold of Hope once again. It was perhaps the first book I read that made me think again about being a Catholic, back when the post conciliar lack of direction had left me with the idea that Christianity was very confusing and mostly to do with sitting on cushions, singing bland songs, and colouring in. I found the book lying around a caravan in Hampshire on holiday about 30 years ago and flicking through its pages expecting it to be another bland, meaningless exposition of the non-judgementalism which has masqueraded as the faith for numerous years, I was in fact hugely surprised at what was revealed. A vibrant, challenging discussion of faith, packed full of intellectual considerations and answers to the very questions I most cherish. For a bit of context, as to why this was such a formative book for me, consider the title of this blog which is the t...