Now if I was a religious man in the organised sense (which I am not) and if I was of the Roman Catholic persusian of that religious spectrum (which I am not) then I would be on the side of the guys and gals at the Catholic truth.
What is the Catholic truth I hear you say?
No its not an oxy-moron you naughty, naughty reader
It’s an uber conservative, far right Roman Catholic Lobby and pressure group and I quote from their own website.
“Launched on the Feast of St John Ogilvie, Scotland’s only canonised martyr, 10 March, 1999 when it became clear that all our efforts to resolve the growing problems in the Church by writing privately and courteously to our bishops had failed.”
“From the very beginning of the post-Vatican II era, a number of Catholic lay people had been writing regularly to various Scottish Bishops to express concerns about the changing liturgy, most notably the problems of Catholic premises being used by dissenters to attack Catholic faith and morals and priests employed in the media doing exactly the same.”
“These laity spoke respectfully to priests and wrote deferential letters to bishops, but the response was always negative. The bishops either ignored letters or told correspondents to be more charitable. It was not unusual for a politely persistent lay person to be told not to write to the bishop again. If this was the treatment meted out to those who merely sought the resolution of false teaching and liturgical abuses in the new Mass, you can imagine the reaction of bishops to those ‘diehards’ who sought provision of the Traditional Latin Mass. They were rebuked for their “infidelity” to the Pope and told the blatant falsehood that this Mass is now prohibited. Pope Benedict nailed this lie with Summorum Pontificum.”
More than anything else, however, it is our reporting on the extent of homosexuality within the Church in Scotland which has drawn the most vicious reaction from our critics.
Our reports on other crucially important matters, such as the Liturgy and Ecumenism, are generally ignored while critics focus on our upholding of Catholic sexual morality, especially our reports on priests in Glasgow and Edinburgh who actively support the ‘gay’ lifestyle, through running support groups and Masses for ‘gays’ and their partners. We’ve been labelled “extremists” for reporting these scandals.
Over the years we’ve had quite a bit of media coverage, some of it reasonable but most of it hostile and dishonest. Almost every approach to us from the print and broadcasting media has been restricted to the issue of homosexuality. Happily, we were able to set the record straight (pun intended) in some, if not all, cases – see below. Breaking news for our enemies: we have no intention of being silenced, whether we’re labelled extremists, bigots or well-intentioned idiots. We’re here for the duration. Live with it!
Yes, Dear Reader I would be with these cats 100%
In my book you either follow religion head first, zealously, two footed and by the book verbatim or you don’t bother your arse.
Just look at the scripture you are either Hot or cold you either believe or you don’t believe!
THERE IS NO HALF WAY! THERE IS NO LUKE WARM
New International Version
So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
New Living Translation
But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
English Standard Version
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
New American Standard Bible
‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
King James Bible
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.
International Standard Version
Since you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth.
NET Bible
So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth!
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I am going to vomit you from my mouth.”
GOD’S WORD® Translation
But since you are lukewarm and not hot or cold, I’m going to spit you out of my mouth.
Jubilee Bible 2000
So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
King James 2000 Bible
So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.
American King James Version
So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.
American Standard Version
So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold, not hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth.
Darby Bible Translation
Thus because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spue thee out of my mouth.
English Revised Version
So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
Webster’s Bible Translation
So then, because thou art luke-warm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit thee out of my mouth:
Weymouth New Testament
Accordingly, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, before long I will vomit you out of My mouth.
World English Bible
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
Young’s Literal Translation
So — because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth;
and the Bible QUITE CLEARLY SAYS HOMOSEXUALITY IS AN ABOMINATION!!
New International Version
“‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
New Living Translation
“If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense.
English Standard Version
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
New American Standard Bible
If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.
King James Bible
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
If a man sleeps with a man as with a woman, they have both committed a detestable thing. They must be put to death; their blood is on their own hands.
International Standard Version
“If a man has sexual relations with another male as he would with a woman, both have committed a repulsive act. They are certainly to be put to death.
NET Bible
If a man has sexual intercourse with a male as one has sexual intercourse with a woman, the two of them have committed an abomination. They must be put to death; their blood guilt is on themselves.
GOD’S WORD® Translation
When a man has sexual intercourse with another man as with a woman, both men are doing something disgusting and must be put to death. They deserve to die.
Jubilee Bible 2000
If a man shall join himself with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
King James 2000 Bible
If a man also lies with a man, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
American King James Version
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be on them.
American Standard Version
And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
If any one lie with a man se with a woman, both have committed an abomination, let them be put to death: their blood be upon them.
Darby Bible Translation
And if a man lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall certainly be put to death; their blood is upon them.
English Revised Version
And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Webster’s Bible Translation
If a man also shall lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
World English Bible
“‘If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Young’s Literal Translation
And a man who lieth with a male as one lieth with a woman; abomination both of them have done; they are certainly put to death; their blood is on them.
Now these Chaps and Chapettes at the Catholic Truth seem very hung up on that one scripture of the Bible. A lot more than the many scripture, parable and psalm in the bible on say poverty and greed. But I don’t see how homosexuals think they have a place in Christianity it quite clearly states in Leviticus that they are a sinful lot an abomination and should be put to death by stoning.
Now if a young lad was to stand on a football terrace and shout out at a footballer he perceived to be gay that
“You are an abomination and by the lord Gods good name I am going to Stone you to DEATH!”
He would be very quickly arrested, jailed, judged and imprisoned.
But if the same young lad was taught this by not just the Catholic truth but other right wing uber conservative groups of all religions everything is fine and dandy.
Now another reason I have a wee soft spot for the Catholic Truth is the way they have been to be margianlised by their very own church.
Like Jesus Christ did I would go onto the marginalised in our society and give them my support.
The way the likes of the Catholic Truth have been treated and marginalised by the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland and the double standards they have had to endure, the way they have been made second class citizens in their own church is absolutely abhorrent.
Take for instance the story of FATHER Matthew Despard. He published a book on his experiences, Priesthood in Crisis. The book was first written in 2010 but he self-published it on Amazon’s Kindle in the wake of the resignation of Cardinal Keith O’Brien.
In said book He accused the Catholic Church in Scotland of covering up a culture of sexual bullying by a powerful gay mafia.
That sexual misconduct has been rife in junior seminaries, where priests are trained, for decades.
He claimed that when he alerted Church authorities to inappropriate sexual conduct, nothing was done.
Fr Despard said a senior clergyman also targeted him during one of his placements as a priest in the west of Scotland.
He said the man was difficult to work with, and threatened him after he turned down a sudden attempt to kiss him.
He wrote:
“I was passing him in the corridor on my way to my room when he stopped suddenly and then embraced me.
“It was not the usual guy-on-guy companionable embrace that I was accustomed to but something much more intimate.
“At first I thought his mother had died … But he moved as if to give me a kiss. I found this profoundly disturbing and put my hands on his shoulders and pushed him back.
“He was immediately furious, shouting and gesticulating. He said, ‘So it’s true about you! Well don’t worry, Despard, we’ll soon sort you out. We’ll get you. We’ll destroy you and your family.’
“I could see real anger in his eyes and I was dumbfounded.
Fr Despard says in his book that he was the victim of inappropriate approaches during his time as a seminarian.
And he claims that trainee priests who rebuffed the advances of others were frozen out and subjected to bullying.
He reveals that his his first brush with inappropriate behaviour came when he was a student at Chesters College – later renamed Scotus College – in Bearsden in the late 1980s.
He wrote:
“One or two students tried to kiss me when I was there. I did not know what to make of that, whether they were just playing with me or perhaps testing me.
“As it was, the only response I could make was that I was not of the inclination that would engage in that kind of behaviour.”
But he claims that after expressing his distaste, he became a victim of verbal abuse as well as bullying.
He said:
“I became much more aware of the types of individuals that were prodding me and I began to observe many explicit indicators of homosexual behaviours that shocked me. I could not help but notice there were cliques of students with homosexual leanings who had ways of manipulating heterosexual students, turning some against others.”
Fr Despard says he alerted authorities to his claims that he had been victimised because he did not accept the sexual approaches made towards him.
And he claims that after he made his complaint verbally to a senior Church figure, the man began to “bluster” but did not investigate his complaint.
During his time at the college, Fr Despard says, he saw numerous trainees quit altogether.
He said one young man was told he had no vocation and asked to leave after making a complaint about an inappropriate advance.
He added:
“I learned that there had been a victimisation of another first-year seminarian.
“He refused to conform to their sexually ambivalent behaviour and was subjected to such an extent of ridicule that he lost all his confidence. He chose to leave rather than continue to endure the harassment.”
“Homosexuality had been rampant in the seminary and I had suffered more than my fair share of isolation and disrespect because I refused to countenance any advances.
“Here were identical behaviours but in my parish priest. He backed away and stomped up the corridor to his own room, leaving me standing there shocked and confused.
“After my rejection of the crude advances, life for me became a misery.
“In retrospect, it now seems to me that the moment in the corridor signalled the initiation of a campaign which, if not significantly overt, was psychologically brutal.”
Fr Despard added he thought there would be no point in going to the authorities for support, because his attacker was part of an “inner circle” and would be protected.
In another chapel, he says, he was verbally and physically abused by the boyfriend of a priest.
In the book, the serving priest said:
“My concern is that if we don’t face up to what is happening in reality, the Church will suffer enormous damage.
“The accusations I have been making may appear intolerable to some, and truly I have trouble making them.
“But so much of the problematic state of the priesthood stems from the junior seminaries, where training took place cut off from the world, that were laws unto themselves, where abuse became so rife many had to be closed.
“The Catholic Church here in Scotland, and I am ashamed to admit this, has justified itself to Catholic papers by telling lie after lie, denying charges that are true, and claiming they have been defamed when the facts reported in the press are quite simply true.”
“It’s not just about Cardinal O’Brien. If there’s problems in the priesthood, like in any organisation, if you don’t look at them they will come back again in five or 10 years. If you deal with the problem, then you can stop it.”
After his rebuffs, the priest claims he became a victim of verbal abuse as well as bullying, which he was to encounter again at various points throughout his religious career.
For his trouble in trying to right the wrongs in his own Church the brave Whistle blower Father Matthew Despard the parish priest of St John Ogilvie church in High Blantyre, Lanarkshire was told he was being stripped of his duties after failing to meet Bishop Joseph Toal.
Despite the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland’s Hiearachy treatment of the whistle blower Father Matthew Despard he has had support from the people of his church
Almost 300 parishioners walked out of St John Ogilvie’s in High Blantyre after Bishop Toal announced the decision last Saturday. Many were in tears hearing Fr Despard would no longer be their priest.
Father Matthew Despard said that “phones have been off the hook with support” and more than 1000 angry church goers have signed a petition demanding a suspended priest be reinstated with plans to take the campaign to Bishop Toal, then the Vatican.
Now compare the atrocious behaviour the Roman Catholic church in Scotland has committed on the brave whistle blower Fr Despard to its behaviour -under the rule of Cardinal Keith O’Brien- of another brave whistle blower on abuse in the Roman catholic church Father Steve Gilhooley (who many in th Catholic Truth believe was having an a “homosexual relationship” with Cardinal Keith O’Brien
Father Steve Gilhooley lifted the lid on abuse he suffered as a boy at the hands of a priest in his book The Pyjama Parade.
He quit his parish in Our Lady’s Church in Currie, Edinburgh.to undergo counselling after the publication of his controversial book just days after the book hit the shelves.
He is said to be having counselling to “get rid of the demons” he was forced to confront as he wrote about his experiences at a seminary.
His book, written on a three-month sabbatical, was titled after the line-ups of children who queued to be subjected to humiliating punishments.
Scottish Catholic Church spokesman Peter Kearney said yesterday: “Father Gilhooley has asked the Archbishop if he could have a break.
“He has had a heavy workload. He said he would like to get a bit of time off and he has got that.
“There’s no fixed timescale – he will play it by ear.” He stressed that Father Gilhooley still had a future in the Church.
Kearney said: “There’s a lot of talent and ability and, given the opportunity, he can no doubt make a contribution.”
Why the disparity in the treatment of these two brave whistle blowers?
These two men have clearly been the victim of abuse, yet one has been treated with care and almost and the other one Fr Mathew Despard has been shunned
No matter what your views on these individuals personal views. This Disparity is totally wrong and totally unacceptable.
Now the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland is going through the worse crisis it has had since the Reformation – Scotland’s formal break with the Papacy in 1560- and it has all been totally, totally…….
SELF INFLICTED!
There is quite clearly a huge Schism in the small band of people who still regulary attend the church religiously and its quite clearly tearing it apart.
And I for one am LOVING every second of it!
Schadenfreude doesn’t even come close.
All those years bullying and influencing our increasingly secular democracy far beyond their own rightful voting rights that we all have.
All the times they took the moral high ground and behind their own curtain behind their own temple of incense smoke and Guided mirrors appears to look like a more x rated version of the last days of Sodom and Gomorrah!
All those years telling anybody that would listen through their puppets in the media how it was the big bad Protestants or the wider secular society that was trying to damage it. None of these groups had to raise a single metaphorically hand or a single metaphorically stone being thrown.
It all -like many cruel, bigoted, evil, house of cards empires built on sand- came from within.
THE MAN THE BHEASTS CAN'T TAME 