Could this be the defibrillator that Britain needs?

World Youth Day, Madrid appears to have been an overwhelming success but so was Australia last year and so will be Brazil in 2012, I am sure.

Spain has been languishing in a horrid form of part time Catholicism, pick it up when it suits you but put it down when you want to sin. Aaargh! The sin word but, believe me friends (as they say on the evangelical broadcasts), Spain has been on a downward spiral for many years.

Not so many years ago the Spanish Government actually appointed a Catholic woman, Pilar Salarruliana to head up a parliamentary commission to counteract the phenomenal growth in occult practices that were seen as a threat to the stability of the social and religious framework. I am not sure if this post still exists but in the mid 90s the Spanish Government was forecasting over a million  followers of 'dark cults' by the year 2000. Then they had over 6oo sects including groups such as The Pyramid of Seth and The Black Hand.

The Commission uncovered (among many other scandalous episodes), communities of nuns who worshipped Satan, groups of witches indulging in animal sacrifices and a host more demonic influences goings on.

World Youth Day must have hit hard at such practices and, hopefully, will be a wake-up call for the Spanish people, so why not a WYD for Great Britain?

In the wake of the riots and the growth of secularism and materialism and disobedience in Austria, this must surely be the electric shock that the nation needs to bring it closer to Christ.

The indomitable William Oddie of The Catholic Herald thought that this was a runner in his 2010 article below:-

http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/commentandblogs/2010/10/04/lets-bring-world-youth-day-to-britain/

And Catholic Gadfly (he who posts on what abouts? such as 'what about' having a procession/presentation of scapulars at Mass/Crowning of Our Lady etc). Also believes that a WYD GB is needed. All good 'what abouts' by the way.

So, what about it?  A World Youth Day Great Britain.......  

.....Who is the one to kick the ball into play? Archbishop Nichols? Archbishop Mennini? Wayne Rooney? Paul Smeaton? Joseph Shaw?....A.N. Other?

ARCHBISHOP STACK - DO YOU BELIEVE IN OUR LADY'S INTERCESSIONARY POWERS?

"Not an English and Welsh Bishop again"

                                                     

The new Archbishop Designate of Cardiff, His Grace, George Stack gave an address to the General Synod of the Church of England in which he, apparently, denied the role of Mary, Mother of God with regards to her intercession.

Now the important word is "apparently" because, as William Oddie of The Catholic Herald points out, the Archbishop's phraseology is open to some interpretation - but it damn well shouldn't be! Surely that's why our priests rise up the hierarchical ranks, because of their ability (among many other things) to pronounce clearly and without error on the teachings of Holy Mother Church.

It is not good enough to make a statement that leaves a number of speculative options open as to the meaning behind the words.

I am not one of ++ Stack's biggest fans, I disliked the way he handled the Vaughan School debacle and how he responded to letters with a letter of his own (standard response) plus a computerised signature......very low grade in my books.

However, I would like to think that, on this occasion, the Archbishop has been misunderstood and I would also hope that he will issue a corrective statement in which he clearly lays out the role of Our Lady as part of Church teaching.

BUT..........more than that I would hope (and strongly recommend to his Grace) that he leads a pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Wales, Our Lady of the Taper, in Cardigan.

Our Lady of the Taper - what is the
relevance of Lourdes if we do not
believe in Our Lady's intercession?

 In fact, it would be a very good thing for Welsh Catholics if the new Archbishop were to lead the Latin Mass Society Pilgrimage to the shrine this year - and even celebrate a Latin Mass (EF, that is).

You see......it's not just the people of Cardiff who want to know, it's not even the Catholics of the rest of Wales, it's all Catholics from all over the world who want to be reassured of the Archbishop Designate's belief in Our Holy Mother.

Bill Oddie on the Burka - a must read!

Now this will throw you! I mean Bill Oddie the Catholic Herald journalist (not the grumpy and eccentric birdwatcher, despite my last post) and blogger who has an excellent piece on why we SHOULD ban the burka. His post contains reference to an article that appeared in The Daily Telegraph last week by Allison Pearson and she has some very poignant observations to make.
As I am steering clear of controversy all I shall do is point you towards Mr Oddie's blog.