Catholicus - diarium in tela

Browsing Archive: November, 2010

Holy Father tells terrorists how to plant bombs

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 21, 2010, In : Pope 


The Holy Father was asked in a recent interview to comment on the behaviour of terrorists who plant no warning bombs in heavily populated areas of cities, close to schools and nurseries.  He said it was a bad thing.

He was then asked if it was better if the terrorist telephoned in bomb warnings so that buildings could be evacuated.

The Holy Father said that while engaging in such acts of terrorism was always morally wrong, telephoning a warning "can be a first step in the direction of a moraliz...
Continue reading ...
 

Moved up, or moved out?

Posted by Christopher Mc on Saturday, November 20, 2010, In : Church in Ireland 

THIS POST HAS BEEN DELETED AS THE SOURCE BEHIND IT WHO ASSURED ME THE STORY WAS NOT ONLY TRUE BUT IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN WAS MISTAKEN.

IF YOU MISSED IT - BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.


Continue reading ...
 

Mandela, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama and me

Posted by Christopher Mc on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, In : Current affairs 


Economic Left/Right: -2.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.08

Fresh of the back of the ghastly discovery that I'm in agreement with Patsy Mc Garry and Marie Collins, comes the news that I'm not a crazy right wing reactionary, but a warm, cosy slightly left of centre libertarian - see my political compass above.

It's based on answering a series of questions on issues from economics to abortion, from environment to homosexuality.  Give yourself five minutes and find out if you're a Joe Stalin...


Continue reading ...
 

I am aghast

Posted by Christopher Mc on Monday, November 15, 2010, In : Church in Ireland 



Good grief.  It hardly ever happens.  In fact I cannot recall a previous occasion in which it did happen.  But it happened today.  For the first time I find myself in agreement with Patsy Mc Garry of the Irish Times and abuse victim, Marie Collins.

On Sunday the Archbishop of Boston, Seán Cardinal O'Malley, began his Apostolic Visitation.  He began with Mass in St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin - concelebrated by the Archbishop of Dublin, and his auxiliaries, including the two mentioned in the ...


Continue reading ...
 

An interesting interview

Posted by Christopher Mc on Monday, November 15, 2010, In : Church elsewhere 


If you get a chance wander over to the Financial Times for the interview of Archbishop Vincent Nichols by AN Wilson.  I think I would describe it as "charming" with both parties coming across as decent blokes.

I think my favourite line was:

I pause. This is the moment when a killer interviewer would point out that the Irish church has imploded but, somehow, he seems such a nice man that the words “child abuse” simply will not form on my lips.
Continue reading ...
 

A correction

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 14, 2010, In : Family and friends 


I received a strong complaint from a Democratic supporting reader from America about my recent post which mentioned, in passing, the cost of the visit to India by Barack Hussein Jimmy Carter Obama.  He correctly pointed out that the $200 million per day figure had been widely shown to be untrue.  I am happy to make that correction.

It's easy to get confused with numbers.  200 million is the number of abortions expected worldwide during the President's four year term.  That's five times as many...
Continue reading ...
 

SPHE study day

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 14, 2010, In : Education 


The worst thing about your wife starting a blog is this.  Apart from the fact that she hogs the computer all evening, when you mention something interesting to her, she steals the idea and puts it on her blog before you can!

The lovely ladies above are training to be Catholic Primary Teachers.  Somehow they thought that running down Middle Abbey Street in Dublin in their knickers would contribute to this.  Of course why would they think this is a bad idea when they're being taught at St Patric...
Continue reading ...
 

The idea of a Catholic secondary school

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 14, 2010, In : Education 
Was at an open night last week for a Catholic secondary school.  A number of things to note:

- the event is so onerous on the staff that it is held only every two years, so hard luck if you arrive in town next year;
- the pupils who helped out were generally very helpful, polite and reasonably articulate;
- the principal less so.

But my complaint - we were told all about the academics of the school.  We were told told all about sport and how well th eschool does.  We were told about the school's ...
Continue reading ...
 

Don't try this at home.

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 14, 2010, In : Education 


I've always been nervous about teaching children how not to do things.  Thus programmes on alcohol, drugs, sex, road safety - whatever - often seem to have the opposite effect to the one intended.  And why?  Because lots of children who have never heard of or thought of doing certain things suddenly become aware of the possibilities and instead of avoiding them they decide to try them.

Today I was watching Cbeebies with my daughters.  I love the BBC.  They make the best children's programmes i...
Continue reading ...
 

Another accolade for Barack Obama

Posted by Christopher Mc on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, In : Current affairs 


This week the Left Hand of Darkness becomes the first person ever to require a teleprompter when addressing the Indian Houses of Parliament.  He's been described as a "hypnotising speaker".  Quite. 

"We thought Obama is a trained orator and skilled in the art of mass address with his continuous eye contact," an official, who did not wish to be identified because of security restrictions, said.

It's a bit of a truism that when things don't go well at home, political leaders take to the world st...
Continue reading ...
 

Ireland's own Andrew Jackson

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 7, 2010, In : Current affairs 


Leo: Andrew Jackson, in the main foyer of his White House had a big block of cheese.
Toby: Huh.
Leo: I am making a mental list of those who are snickering, and even as I speak I am preparing appropriate retribution. The block of cheese was huge - over two tons. And it was there for any and all who might be hungry.
Toby: Leo, wouldn't this time be better spent plotting a war against a country that can't possibly defend itself against us?
Leo: We can do that later, Toby. Right now I'm talking about...
Continue reading ...
 

Compare and contrast

Posted by Christopher Mc on Saturday, November 6, 2010, In : Current affairs 


Rather extraordinary story from Great Britain today about the Labour MP Phil Woolas.  Seems he said something unpleasant and untrue about a fellow candidate during the general election.  As a result two high court judges have deemed him unelected and barred him from standing or even voting for three years.

Compare this with Willie O'Dea, TD, who made false and defamatory comments about a fellow candidate of a much more serious nature than Mr Woolas and probably perjured himself in the process....
Continue reading ...
 

Are we done?

Posted by Christopher Mc on Friday, November 5, 2010, In : Theology and Science 


I was watching David Attenborough the other night.  David's programmes have taken on a more ideological bent of late.  The cool scientific detachment of the naturalist is giving way to the atheistic propogandist.  That's fine.  In fact it's better because it's clear where he's coming from.

I should say up front I believe in the basic thrust of evolution.  The scientific evidence is very strong.  Indeed David presented a simple but persuaisive argument for the evolution of the eye which creatio...
Continue reading ...
 

Blessed Malachy de Porres

Posted by Christopher Mc on Wednesday, November 3, 2010, In : Our Lady and the Saints 



Today is the feast of St Malachy, or as he's known locally "yer man that stops us celebrating Blessed Martin".

He's one of those few Irish saints about whom we actually know something, from the middle period between the early saints of Ireland (Patrick, Brigid, Colman etc) and the martyrs up to Oliver Plunkett.  And yet, despite the knowledge we have - his life by St Bernard - in common with the other Irish saints, we have no real devotion to him.

For me St Malachy conjures up the feast day Mas...


Continue reading ...
 

Catholic Education - what's it all about?

Posted by Christopher Mc on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, In : Education 


I was watching the Politics Show yesterday, the Northern Ireland section was on Catholic education and included Auxiliary Bishop Donal Mc Keown, STL, MBA.  I said a quiet little prayer that he would be good, or at least not bad.  Sigh.

The journos did a good job.  The set up, and it was a set up, began with a video clip.  You know the deal, there's a panel for discussion but you open with video that sets the parameters for the whole discussion; it provides the premise for the questions, the pr...
Continue reading ...
 

Vile.

Posted by Christopher Mc on Monday, November 1, 2010, In : Football 

What Man Utd think of sportmanship

Manchester United are a good football team.  They have enjoyed great success over the years.

So why do they consistenly indulge in such unsportsmanlike behaviour and why to so many referees facilitate it?  Nani knowingly handles the ball in breach of rule 12 of the game, a foul so blatant that you'd have to be blind or a referee at Old Trafford not to see it.  And he then takes advantage of the situation to put the ball in the net.  And then to cap it all when...
Continue reading ...
 
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Browsing Archive: November, 2010

Holy Father tells terrorists how to plant bombs

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 21, 2010, In : Pope 


The Holy Father was asked in a recent interview to comment on the behaviour of terrorists who plant no warning bombs in heavily populated areas of cities, close to schools and nurseries.  He said it was a bad thing.

He was then asked if it was better if the terrorist telephoned in bomb warnings so that buildings could be evacuated.

The Holy Father said that while engaging in such acts of terrorism was always morally wrong, telephoning a warning "can be a first step in the direction of a moraliz...
Continue reading ...
 

Moved up, or moved out?

Posted by Christopher Mc on Saturday, November 20, 2010, In : Church in Ireland 

THIS POST HAS BEEN DELETED AS THE SOURCE BEHIND IT WHO ASSURED ME THE STORY WAS NOT ONLY TRUE BUT IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN WAS MISTAKEN.

IF YOU MISSED IT - BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.


Continue reading ...
 

Mandela, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama and me

Posted by Christopher Mc on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, In : Current affairs 


Economic Left/Right: -2.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -1.08

Fresh of the back of the ghastly discovery that I'm in agreement with Patsy Mc Garry and Marie Collins, comes the news that I'm not a crazy right wing reactionary, but a warm, cosy slightly left of centre libertarian - see my political compass above.

It's based on answering a series of questions on issues from economics to abortion, from environment to homosexuality.  Give yourself five minutes and find out if you're a Joe Stalin...


Continue reading ...
 

I am aghast

Posted by Christopher Mc on Monday, November 15, 2010, In : Church in Ireland 



Good grief.  It hardly ever happens.  In fact I cannot recall a previous occasion in which it did happen.  But it happened today.  For the first time I find myself in agreement with Patsy Mc Garry of the Irish Times and abuse victim, Marie Collins.

On Sunday the Archbishop of Boston, Seán Cardinal O'Malley, began his Apostolic Visitation.  He began with Mass in St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin - concelebrated by the Archbishop of Dublin, and his auxiliaries, including the two mentioned in the ...


Continue reading ...
 

An interesting interview

Posted by Christopher Mc on Monday, November 15, 2010, In : Church elsewhere 


If you get a chance wander over to the Financial Times for the interview of Archbishop Vincent Nichols by AN Wilson.  I think I would describe it as "charming" with both parties coming across as decent blokes.

I think my favourite line was:

I pause. This is the moment when a killer interviewer would point out that the Irish church has imploded but, somehow, he seems such a nice man that the words “child abuse” simply will not form on my lips.
Continue reading ...
 

A correction

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 14, 2010, In : Family and friends 


I received a strong complaint from a Democratic supporting reader from America about my recent post which mentioned, in passing, the cost of the visit to India by Barack Hussein Jimmy Carter Obama.  He correctly pointed out that the $200 million per day figure had been widely shown to be untrue.  I am happy to make that correction.

It's easy to get confused with numbers.  200 million is the number of abortions expected worldwide during the President's four year term.  That's five times as many...
Continue reading ...
 

SPHE study day

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 14, 2010, In : Education 


The worst thing about your wife starting a blog is this.  Apart from the fact that she hogs the computer all evening, when you mention something interesting to her, she steals the idea and puts it on her blog before you can!

The lovely ladies above are training to be Catholic Primary Teachers.  Somehow they thought that running down Middle Abbey Street in Dublin in their knickers would contribute to this.  Of course why would they think this is a bad idea when they're being taught at St Patric...
Continue reading ...
 

The idea of a Catholic secondary school

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 14, 2010, In : Education 
Was at an open night last week for a Catholic secondary school.  A number of things to note:

- the event is so onerous on the staff that it is held only every two years, so hard luck if you arrive in town next year;
- the pupils who helped out were generally very helpful, polite and reasonably articulate;
- the principal less so.

But my complaint - we were told all about the academics of the school.  We were told told all about sport and how well th eschool does.  We were told about the school's ...
Continue reading ...
 

Don't try this at home.

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 14, 2010, In : Education 


I've always been nervous about teaching children how not to do things.  Thus programmes on alcohol, drugs, sex, road safety - whatever - often seem to have the opposite effect to the one intended.  And why?  Because lots of children who have never heard of or thought of doing certain things suddenly become aware of the possibilities and instead of avoiding them they decide to try them.

Today I was watching Cbeebies with my daughters.  I love the BBC.  They make the best children's programmes i...
Continue reading ...
 

Another accolade for Barack Obama

Posted by Christopher Mc on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, In : Current affairs 


This week the Left Hand of Darkness becomes the first person ever to require a teleprompter when addressing the Indian Houses of Parliament.  He's been described as a "hypnotising speaker".  Quite. 

"We thought Obama is a trained orator and skilled in the art of mass address with his continuous eye contact," an official, who did not wish to be identified because of security restrictions, said.

It's a bit of a truism that when things don't go well at home, political leaders take to the world st...
Continue reading ...
 

Ireland's own Andrew Jackson

Posted by Christopher Mc on Sunday, November 7, 2010, In : Current affairs 


Leo: Andrew Jackson, in the main foyer of his White House had a big block of cheese.
Toby: Huh.
Leo: I am making a mental list of those who are snickering, and even as I speak I am preparing appropriate retribution. The block of cheese was huge - over two tons. And it was there for any and all who might be hungry.
Toby: Leo, wouldn't this time be better spent plotting a war against a country that can't possibly defend itself against us?
Leo: We can do that later, Toby. Right now I'm talking about...
Continue reading ...
 

Compare and contrast

Posted by Christopher Mc on Saturday, November 6, 2010, In : Current affairs 


Rather extraordinary story from Great Britain today about the Labour MP Phil Woolas.  Seems he said something unpleasant and untrue about a fellow candidate during the general election.  As a result two high court judges have deemed him unelected and barred him from standing or even voting for three years.

Compare this with Willie O'Dea, TD, who made false and defamatory comments about a fellow candidate of a much more serious nature than Mr Woolas and probably perjured himself in the process....
Continue reading ...
 

Are we done?

Posted by Christopher Mc on Friday, November 5, 2010, In : Theology and Science 


I was watching David Attenborough the other night.  David's programmes have taken on a more ideological bent of late.  The cool scientific detachment of the naturalist is giving way to the atheistic propogandist.  That's fine.  In fact it's better because it's clear where he's coming from.

I should say up front I believe in the basic thrust of evolution.  The scientific evidence is very strong.  Indeed David presented a simple but persuaisive argument for the evolution of the eye which creatio...
Continue reading ...
 

Blessed Malachy de Porres

Posted by Christopher Mc on Wednesday, November 3, 2010, In : Our Lady and the Saints 



Today is the feast of St Malachy, or as he's known locally "yer man that stops us celebrating Blessed Martin".

He's one of those few Irish saints about whom we actually know something, from the middle period between the early saints of Ireland (Patrick, Brigid, Colman etc) and the martyrs up to Oliver Plunkett.  And yet, despite the knowledge we have - his life by St Bernard - in common with the other Irish saints, we have no real devotion to him.

For me St Malachy conjures up the feast day Mas...


Continue reading ...
 

Catholic Education - what's it all about?

Posted by Christopher Mc on Tuesday, November 2, 2010, In : Education 


I was watching the Politics Show yesterday, the Northern Ireland section was on Catholic education and included Auxiliary Bishop Donal Mc Keown, STL, MBA.  I said a quiet little prayer that he would be good, or at least not bad.  Sigh.

The journos did a good job.  The set up, and it was a set up, began with a video clip.  You know the deal, there's a panel for discussion but you open with video that sets the parameters for the whole discussion; it provides the premise for the questions, the pr...
Continue reading ...
 

Vile.

Posted by Christopher Mc on Monday, November 1, 2010, In : Football 

What Man Utd think of sportmanship

Manchester United are a good football team.  They have enjoyed great success over the years.

So why do they consistenly indulge in such unsportsmanlike behaviour and why to so many referees facilitate it?  Nani knowingly handles the ball in breach of rule 12 of the game, a foul so blatant that you'd have to be blind or a referee at Old Trafford not to see it.  And he then takes advantage of the situation to put the ball in the net.  And then to cap it all when...
Continue reading ...
 
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