£35,000 of your money is being used to fund events in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Cardiff with speakers such as:
- Evan Harris MP, vice-President of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association and an honorary associate of the National Secular Society
- Angela Mason, who was director of Stonewall from 1992-2002
- A C Grayling - another honorary associate of the National Secular Society
9 comments:
The attack on the Catholic Church is hotting up which comes as no surprise to anyone as it is fighting for the "culture of life" against a society that is promoting the "culture of death."
Cardinal Wojtyla 2 years before he became Pope said -
We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has gone through. I do not think that wide circles of the American society or wide circles of the Christian community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel and the anti-Gospel. This confrontation lies within the plans of divine providence. It is a trial which the whole Church . . . must take up. —reprinted November 9, 1978, issue of The Wall Street Journal
But we must not despair at the sight of such humanistic events promoted by Satan's Kingdom of Darkness for Jesus said
"Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven." (Luke 6:22-23)
The Church may be passing through her own Passion, as everyone around tries to crucify it, but it will be followed by a glorious Resurrection, when our separated bretheren will return to the one true fold.
BUT WE MUST PRAY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN - THE POWER OF PRAYER IS WHAT WE NEED TO FIGHT THIS BATTLE
There have been 286 successful grant applications to the EHRC for 2008-2009, only one of which looks to be Christian (TBC). This initiative shows considerable bias and that perhaps EHRC does not recognise religious freedom or manifestation as a materially significant right. EHRC is supposed to be the watchdog over all human rights specified in the ECHR which the Human Rights Act 2000 implements into UK law. There are some very serious issues with the grant of this funding. Is EHRC policy to recognise religious freedom as a lesser right to be trumped by the likes of BHA? How will EHRC protect our rights as Catholics? As a start, this info should be sent to all those people in Wales in the constituency of Brian Gibbons and he should be called to account. We must also ask whether this activity of his has been sufficiently transparent to his constituents. Anyone living in his constituency? Evan Harris, abortion-on-demand activist, has a policy of objecting to conscientious objection by doctors to abortion, so if he continues to undermine religious belief (which underpins some, but not all objection to abortion), he is "loosening" things up for his continuing onslaught for abortion on demand.
Good! It's about time it was realised that not everyone is religious: there is obviously a need to promote equality, human rights and tolerance. You will also note that religious groups have also been given money by the EHRC.
I don't know what Elizabeth is talking about: what attack on the Catholic Church? Also, her belligerent language does nothing to persuade.
I can immediately see five grants made to religious organisations on the EHRC list. As I'm sure you will be aware, the remit of the EHRC covers several strands, taking over from the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality, and the Disability Rights Commission and also has responsibility for the other aspects of equality: age, sexual orientation and religion or belief, as well as human rights.
The age, sexual orientation and religion and belief strands are new and I'm sure it will take a while to really get going on these.
CatholicLawyer said: "This initiative shows considerable bias and that perhaps EHRC does not recognise religious freedom or manifestation as a materially significant right" and "Is EHRC policy to recognise religious freedom as a lesser right to be trumped by the likes of BHA?" I don't understand how one grant to a body representing non-religious - who are equally protected by the Human Rights Act - amounts to 'considerable bias' or how religious rights are being 'trumped'.
The series of events organised by the BHA are about giving (taken from the EHRC leaflet): "Information about “religion or belief” equality legislation, employment practices, human rights, community cohesion, education, conflict of equality strands", so I'm not sure what anyone could object to. I also see that the panel of speakers includes six members of religious organisations, so it seems fairly balanced.
'I don't know what Elizabeth is talking about' - says Zeno.
Ignorance indeed is bliss and I might suggest Zeno that you do your utmost to inform yourself so that you DO understand what Elizabeth is talking about, because the Truth affects you my friend just a much as it affects every soul on this planet, whether you believe in God or not, whether you are religious or not.
Zeno, we are ALL children of God our Creator (whether you like it or not!) and we all will have to give an account of ourselves at the end of our lives.
My hope is that you are visiting Catholic blogs as a first step to gaining further information about Jesus our Saviour and our Lord, rather than just to throw 'stones' at Jesus and His Church. I might suggest another good 'first step', attend Holy Mass on Christmas Day at your local Catholic Church.
God Bless.
George
I am not sure of the intended tone of your post. However, I commented on the OP about the BHA holding events about religious discrimination. Elizabeth seemed to be talking about hate, attacks and wars. Since I was not sure what she was talking about I asked a question, but so far have had no answer.
In response to the post by CatholicLawyer, I supplied some information about the EHRC that others might find useful and informative that might help a discussion. I also asked some questions in an attempt to understand what he or she was saying.
I don't know about you, but I certainly prefer reasoned debate to throwing stones any time. It is only through contact, discussion, debate and listening that people understand others.
Best regards.
Dear Fr,
Apropos of secularisation and other matters, my wife and some other homeschooling mothers are organising a petition and open letter to the Bishops of England and Wales concerning the Government's current proposals for compulsory sex (and relationship) education for 5yr olds upwards in all schools.
http://sexed.mlewin.fastmail.co.uk/
Might this be something you might feel able to draw to the attention of readers of your blog?
God bless,
Mike
Sorry Zeno, some more of my belligerent language to add fuel to fire. Because the Catholic Church makes certain demands which run contrary to the opinion of many people it is under attack, this is because it is preferable to attack the church rather than Jesus Christ.
It is quite common to find a large number of people who have no interest in the Church to suddenly become angry because the Church speaks out against divorce, abortion, pornography, homosexuality, contraception, this is because we often look for official approval to free us from interior approach when we are not sure that something we want to do is right.
It is interesting to note that the law legalizing abortion is a law established by people to whom it shall never be applied. It is essentially an abuse of power by the strong who have already been born against the weak – the unborn. Life is sacred, and every human being has the right to life. By defending the life of the unborn child, the Church seeks to uphold this right and for this it is attacked.
Furthermore, because many people today equate what is legal with what is good, this law distorts the perception that people and society as a whole have of good and evil.
Following Christ's example, the Church gives light to the situation whatever it costs. She calls a spade a spade, she calls sin "sin". This is why the secular world is always throwing punches at her.
When Pope Benedict XVI and the bishops address people's consciences many people are happy to insult them. Yet the Pope and bishops speak out for the Church who is the protector of the human conscience.
The message which the Church addresses to the contemporary world is demanding, just as is the message of Christ's gospel. But it is coherent in its defense of the dignity of humanity: "In order to recognize humanity in all its truth and integrity" ( Paul VI).
Elizabeth
Thanks for your reply.
“it is preferable to attack the church rather than Jesus Christ.”
I will certainly disagree with those I don’t agree with (!) and try to discuss with them, but that’s hardly the same as ‘attacking the church’. Just how would someone attack someone who may have lived 2,000 years ago (particularly when he can’t defend himself!)? It’s what religionists say and do that is open to disagreement, whether it is done in the name of Jesus or not.
“It is quite common to find a large number of people who have no interest in the Church to suddenly become angry because the Church speaks out against divorce, abortion, pornography, homosexuality, contraception,”
It’s not the church speaking out on any subject that people disagree with (or even get angry with!) with: it’s the power that some religionists have over those of us who do not share their views. There is a bias in many countries (eg the US and the UK) for religionists to have a favoured ear of Government which is neither democratic nor deserved. It frequently the case that religionists want their ideas to be heard above all others, just because they are religious ideas, not because of the merit of those ideas.
“Furthermore, because many people today equate what is legal with what is good, this law distorts the perception that people and society as a whole have of good and evil.”
I’m not sure who you think ‘equate what is legal with what is good’. The law is certainly a starting point to behave as society expects, but I’m sure you’ll agree that there’s more to morality than the law.
“Following Christ's example, the Church gives light to the situation whatever it costs. She calls a spade a spade, she calls sin "sin". This is why the secular world is always throwing punches at her.”
Secular really just means neutral on religion; it does not mean the same as atheist - a point I find is frequently lost on many religionists. I’m not sure whether you are saying the ‘secular world’ is always throwing punches at the church because it’s representatives call a spade a spade or whether it’s something to do with following Jesus’ example. I will have no problem with either of these. It matters not where an idea comes from (be it Jesus or Confucius): what matters is the validity of that argument. It matters not whether forthright language is used: what matters is whether the argument is sound or not and its premises valid.
“When Pope Benedict XVI and the bishops address people's consciences many people are happy to insult them. Yet the Pope and bishops speak out for the Church who is the protector of the human conscience.”
If by conscience you mean something like moral values, don’t you think this can be seen as just a bit condescending? It’s seems to be saying that only the Pope has the ‘right’ knowledge about moral values. I can assure you that you will find many who completely disagree with that!
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