How To Be Disobedient To The Pope: Archbishop Vincent Nichols

The international symbol for deafness

From the Pope’s address to the bishops of England And Wales (emphases mine):

Your country is well-known for its firm commitment to equality of opportunity for all members of society. Yet as you have rightly pointed out, the effect of some of the legislation designed to achieve this goal has been to impose unjust limitations on the freedom of religious communities to act in accordance with their beliefs. In some respects it actually violates the natural law upon which the equality of all human beings is grounded and by which it is guaranteed. I urge you as Pastors to ensure that the Church’s moral teaching be always presented in its entirety and convincingly defended. Fidelity to the Gospel in no way restricts the freedom of others – on the contrary, it serves their freedom by offering them the truth.

[…]

In a social milieu that encourages the expression of a variety of opinions on every question that arises, it is important to recognize dissent for what it is, and not to mistake it for a mature contribution to a balanced and wide-ranging debate. It is the truth revealed through Scripture and Tradition and articulated by the Church’s Magisterium that sets us free.

I do not know where Archbishop Vincent “Quisling” Nichols was when these words were pronounced. In the loo, possibly, or perhaps outside for a cigarette. The most probable hypothesis is, however, that he was there, heard the words, read them afterwards, and never cared.

This is the same Vincent “Quisling” Nichols who, you will remember, had to make clear, in the very weeks of the papal visit, who is boss by stating that he doesn’t know whether he would “recognise the reality of gay marriage”. This is, also, the same person who, when the ink on Universae Ecclesiae was not yet dry, was already on record stressing that there would be no instruction in the celebration of the Tridentine Mass in seminaries.

Many, and most of them scandalous, are the achievement of this champion of imitation Catholicism. I have recently reported that his penchant for getting at odds with Catholic teaching has recently received the honour of an internet page ad hoc, that I have linked on the right (Catholic links) under Bad Shepherds: The Vincent Nichols Files

I am now informed – from whom I understand to be the same good soul who has set up the internet site, and many thanks to him – that Vincent Nichols is striking again: he is allowing premises of the diocese to be used by an openly dissenting (means: clearly heretical) homosexual and lesbian group (plus other assorted perversions) called Quest. The excellent site of John Smeaton has the story , and provides you with several links to the astonishing affirmations of these people. Please send the children to bed in advance.

If you read the words at the beginning of the message, you’ll understand what mockery Archbishop Vincent Nichols is making of the Pope’s words. We are far away, here, from Catholic teaching “always presented in its entirety and convincingly defended”. We are, actually, by its exact contrary: Catholic teaching not presented at all, and openly undermined.

All this, on the Diocese’s premises, which gives the group a kind of at least indirect endorsement. The 1986 “Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the pastoral care of homosexual persons” (link on this site, under “Catholic links”; and another document that Archbishop Vincent “Quisling” Nichols must have misplaced) expressly deals with the matter, stating as follows:

“All support should be withdrawn from any organizations which seek to undermine the teaching of the Church, which are ambiguous about it, or which neglect it entirely. Such support, or even the semblance of such support, can be gravely misinterpreted. Special attention should be given to the practice of scheduling religious services and to the use of Church buildings by these groups, including the facilities of Catholic schools and colleges. To some, such permission to use Church property may seem only just and charitable; but in reality it is contradictory to the purpose for which these institutions were founded, it is misleading and often scandalous”.

I am, alas, not a mother tongue, but the meaning of these words seems rather clear to me. It seems to me that the then Cardinal Ratzinger says to the bishops:

1) you may think that to allow “dissenters” to use diocesan structures is just and charitable, but it isn’t;

2) to do so is:
2.1) contradictory to the purpose of teaching sound Catholicism;
2.2) misleading, and
2.3) often scandalous.

Archbishop Vincent Nichols is, also, accessory to these perverts’ heresies not only by silence, but – in giving them the space – by partaking. Not bad for the head of the Church in England & Wales.

John Smeaton wonders whether this time, Archbishop Nichols will “surprise us with a new found fidelity”. I appreciate the humour, but I’d say that it is safer to try to have him surprised by a phone call from Rome:

The place where to address your concern is:

Congregazione per il Clero

Palazzo della Congregazioni, Piazza Pio XII, 3 – 00193 Roma

tel. 06 69884151 fax. 06 69884845

Email: clero@cclergy.va

You can, I think, simply send Mr. Smeaton’s link (more diplomatic than mine) with some short words of concern. Please forward his link or mine to people you know and ask them to also send an email or a letter.

I do hope that our anonymous good soul will update Mr. Nichols’ site with this latest exploit. It might, one day, make Rome’s work easier.

Mundabor

No Need For Altar Rails, Says Westminster’s Diocese

Westminster Diocese considers them superfluous: altar rails

“In the Dioceses of England and Wales Holy Communion is to be received standing, though individual members of the faithful may choose to receive Communion while kneeling. However, when they communicate standing, it is recommended that the faithful bow in reverence before receiving the sacrament.”

This is the answer that the Congregation for Divine Worship gave to the Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales regarding the reception of Holy Communion.

I fail to see how the answer could have been any different. It is entirely obvious that the CDW would not have said “communion can only be received standing”, thus going against 2000 years of reverent Catholic praxis. It is also evident that the CDW would not have answered “communion can only be received kneeling”, thus fully discrediting what has been the (unfortunate) praxis of many decades. The answer could, therefore, have fallen only in the sense that it did: both ways are allowed.

You will not be surprised to know that the Archdiocese of Westminster has now taken this answer as an excuse to decide that there is no ground for the re-introduction of altar rails in the entire Diocese.

One must love the logic: after it has been repeated what everyone already knew, they profit of this to make it as difficult as possible to receive kneeling.

I truly hope that this disgraceful attitude doesn’t get many followers among the bishops in England & Wales, but it is only natural that many others who were just dying to put as many obstacle as they can to a reverent, old-style reception will now be only too pleased to hide behind Westminster’s decision and do the same.

Westminster Diocese is giving, once again, a beautiful example of how not to do it.

Mundabor