OMG is NVG

Not a T shirt worn by a Catholic

The current, and seemingly worldwide usage of the ejaculation, 'Oh my God' has now reached totally unacceptable proportions.


It is, 'Not very good' to use this phrase, in any circumstances other than when on one's knees in a church or in prayer in the home.

I am certain, in fact, that any street usage of this chavvish and blasphemous phrase is unacceptable but, today, it appears to have become the vox pop, not only for the chavs, but also many of those who use the new social networks.

Texting, Facebook and Twitter seem to be littered with 'OMGs' and, walking down any high street, you can hear the phrase coming at you from all directions.

I really admire the Muslims for the way they revere their holy names - but that's as far as it goes.

I am certainly not in favour of dishing out floggings (or worse) for any incontinent usage of the name of the 'prophet' or 'Allah'....although, they do have attractions at times.

What can be done?

Well.......we could start by telling those who make such utterances that it is offensive and unacceptable.

Of course, we face arrest by the authorities or a beating up by the ungodly (or both) by making such statements but, we have to start making a stand somewhere and, the older I get, the less sensitive I am about upsetting the apple cart.

A good start would be in the retail trade in the situation where, in response to the question: "This chicken is well past it's sell by date"  the assistant says: "Oh, my God" you can gently point out that you find it offensive, along with the chicken.

Not Pret a Manger!

Deacon Nick on Protect the Pope blog has a post regarding the sandwich chain, Pret a Manger, featuring 'Virgin Mary Crisps' on their menu.

Tasteless, moronic and insensitive, (Pret a Manger, I mean, not the crisps, I'm sure they are very tasty).


Sometimes I wish we were like some other faiths and could express our feelings and outrage by chucking a petrol bomb through the doors of PaM's Head Office or by stringing their CEO up from the nearest crane, but that is not our way, nor should it be anybody's way.

Deacon Nick makes the point that they would not upset the Muslims in such a manner.
My mind immediately flashes to a menu that features Prophetburgers or offers a Mecca Milkshake, such things might upset the Shi'ites you see?

What is to be done? I can't, in all honesty say that I will bring them to their knees by boycotting their establishments, I don't think that I have ever darkened their doorways. Certainly, the nearest branch to me must be over 100 miles distant in Metropolitan Cardiff.

Didn't the Lord ask us to kind to our enemies? And that, by offering up our acts of charity and kindness it would be rather like heaping white hot coals on their heads?

That has a lot of appeal to me. I shall remember Pret and their 'Catholic' CEO in my prayers but I can think of even more charitable ways of following out Our Lord's instructions; we could have flash mobs turning up for coffee and really showing them the power of the Virgin Mary by singing Salve Regina or a few groups saying the Rosary outside their premises - it would be rather grand if Juventutem could lead the way here, except that, I suspect they will be girding their loins ready for the 40 Days for Life vigils.

Maybe a private Rosary is the best one can do; that and being ready not to eat at Pret a Manger.

And, of course, you can always drop them a polite and courteous line or even phone Clive Schlee, their CEO, he is very proud of the fact that he is ready to speak to his customers at any time, his direct line number is 020 7827 8000

Their online complaints service is HERE