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Catholic hypocrisy
Posted on March 27th, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: General.
It is interesting to read that Cardinal O’Brien has had a pacemaker fitted following recent heart problems. Whilst I wish him a speedy recovery, surely this is a further example of his hypocrisy - he accepts life-saving medical treatment that arguably goes against the natural order of things, yet he won’t support the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill and the breakthroughs that this could lead to for those suffering from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other degenerative diseases. One of these days I will understand Catholicism - but it won’t be any time soon!
Cardinal O’Brien’s at it again …
Posted on March 21st, 2008 by bryan.
Categories: General.
Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, will during his Easter sermon urge the Prime Minister to re-think ‘monstrous’ plans to allow hybrid human-animal embryos and to allow Labour MPs a free vote on the issue. He will also urge Ministers to resign instead of voting in favour of the new Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.
This is an issue of ethics and morality, so I do support Cardinal O’Brien’s call for a free vote - albeit reluctantly! However, I object to his scaremongering, in particular his references to Frankenstein, and his misrepresentation of a science that could lead to cures for diseases including MS and Alzheimer’s. I also object to his hypocrisy - he will say that the Government has no mandate to change the law in this area, changes which, he will argue, do not enjoy ‘widespread public support’. That may be so, but if anyone lacks a mandate or public support to speak on this or any other area it is Cardinal O’Brien - the unelected leader of a minority religion.
Religious leaders are entitled to preach to the converted. However, they should be prohibited from exercising influence over Government or Parliament, or from using public institutions like the BBC to spread ‘facts’ that are no more believable than the Bible!
A long rant - any excuse to get away from the calculator!
Posted on June 4th, 2007 by bryan.
Categories: General.
My brain is now completely dead - which is a good thing, because I’ve also lost the will to live.
I really don’t know how people work with finances all day, every day. I’ve just been doing it for a few weeks and I struggle to keep my eyes open for more than 30 minutes at a time! I don’t know whether I now have respect or increased pity for the Finance Team at my work - on second thoughts, it’s definitely the latter. But then they are the type that get excited by a balanced Excel spreadsheet. I suppose that someone has to be into that sort of thing.
Life over the past 10 days has pretty much been taken up with revision. I did manage to pop out (with my notes) to Hyde Park yesterday to enjoy the sun, but otherwise I’ve been stuck indoors most of the time. The only thing saving my sanity is Classic FM and the odd visit to the BBC News website, but even that pis**s me off - if it’s not the Catholic Church in Scotland getting upset about a woman’s right to have an abortion it’s reports that Manchester United will spend £50m this summer on transfer fees.
The abortion story really annoys me. First, it’s the fact that a religion still thinks it has the right to dictate to a woman how she should lead her life - I thought that was the role of the courts and Parliament which, for the record, legalised abortion in Scotland in 1967. Second, it’s that same Church’s call that Scottish Catholic MPs who support abortion should not put themselves forward for communion. Well, if Cardinal Keith O’Brien has such an issue with our elected representatives, maybe he should decline any further funding from the Scottish Executive in support of Catholic schools. Of course, that would mean the Church would have to find another source of income to continue to preach its doctrines of hate and lies - to children as young as 5. Third, it’s the fact that the BBC (and other media) continue to give air time to the likes of Cardinal O’Brien. He has no mandate to speak on behalf of ‘Scotland’s Catholics’ - he is un-elected - but yet his often inflammatory statements get more coverage than the many other real stories affecting the nation. Scotland might have a strong Catholic community (many of whom are non-practicing), but it’s out-numbered at least four-to-one by non-Catholics. We elect people - of all sexes, colours and creeds - to represent us, and it’s time for them to stand up against the Catholic (and any other) faith when it starts preaching at the majority of the dis-interested (and happily excommunicated) population.
As for the Manchester United story, I can’t help but think that the £50m that it plans to spend this summer ‘buying’ already wealthy players could be put to much better use. But take heart, apparently we will have our first £200K per WEEK footballer within three years. Is it too late for me take up the game??!