THIS WEEK’S debate between CND veteran Bruce Kent and former Conservative Defence Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind about the future of Britain’s nuclear deterrent had both men scrambling for the moral high ground.Sir Malcolm, 67, quoted the late Sir Michael Quinlan, former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence (and chairman of The Tablet Trust), on how the possession of nuclear weapons was compatible with Just War doctrine. Kent, 84, retorted that the Church is wholly opposed to the Trident nuclear weapons system and that the estimated £100 billion spent on it should be used to tackle climate change.Sir Malcolm’s trump card was to recall that while Kent had once been a “humble monsignor”, he himself had been a prince of the Church, playing Cardina
03 April 2014, The Tablet
Ethical one-upmanship
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Mandatory Friday absence
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Mandatory Friday abstinence
I am shocked by the Bishops of England supposedly suspending the Sunday obligation then issuing Honouring Sunday with words that seem to contradict that (except for the "some" who don't require exemption eg sick). Ruth Gledhill's reports a "clarification" that seemed to be nothing of the sort. So I shall have to run the Covid gauntlet on Sunday 26th Dec., unless they further clarify that their suspension applies to EVERYONE and not just the "some" ie incl. those with the "absolute duty of freely attending".
This approach mirrors the Mandatory Friday absence in England & Wales (but not Scotland) supposedly to celebrate and thank Pope Benedict for visiting the UK. Some celebration, ask me next time how to celebrate it apart from imposing this restriction never revoked.
The Synod content solicits feedback on episcopal communication. I hope to do this but hope it will not censor it. In the meantime I pray for our Bishops. They really need a lay council to bounce around ideas before they continue as outlined above. It shocks me that no one in general has complained, but then we are a passive group perhaps. Very sad, but change sometimes starts from the top down also.