The most trying aspect of those who claim to be progressive (I deliberately won't use the somewhat more honourable term 'reformers'), ecclesially, politically, ethically, is that they never give up, and they are none too scrupulous about their methods.
In Britain a real head of steam is building behind the 'assisted suicide' campaign. Here is George Pitcher's take from the Daily Telegraph on Lord ('Charlie') Faulkner's not-at-all-Independent Commission on the subject, clearly bankrolled and staffed by those committed to a change in the law.
What is it about the great and the good of the contemporary British establishment (or is this a more widespread western phenomenon?) that they seem to be at the same time so imaginatively illiterate and place such unshakeable trust and belief in human rationality? It's as if those horrifying tragedies of the twentieth century - which give the lie to those who question both original sin and the existence of evil - had never happened, and we are back in the late Victorian era when the god of progress was firmly enthroned in the minds and hearts of all right thinking people.
God so loved the world that he didn't send a committee.
However, I'm sure we can rely on churchmen of all traditions and ecclesiastical allegiances to stand up and be counted in defence of the law as it stands. Or should I start a book now on who will be the first to break ranks, and on those who will simply keep their heads down and remain silent for fear of appearing to be out of touch and, therefore, irrelevant in the eyes of those who 'matter?'
For St Andrew's Day:
[& please see the comments (below) for another significant anniversary (a cautionary tale from English history?) - thanks to Prof William Tighe]
The Divine Liturgy on the Feast Day of St. Andrew at the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George, Istanbul, four years ago during the visit of Pope Benedict.
Let us not forget this anniversary as well; taken from Fr. Hunwicke's blog:
ReplyDelete"1569 Rising said...
Father,
St Andrew's Day will always linger in the affections of denizens of the County Palatine Of Durham.
It was on November 30, 1569, that Frs Peirson and Plumtree, clutching the Papal Document absolving the Bishopric from Schism and Heresy, celebrated High Mass in the Cathedral of Durham, the highlight of the Rising of the North so cruelly put down a month later.
The crowd was so great that the Cathedral was filled to bursting, spilling out on to Palace Green. Thousands knelt down to receive absolution, including the Cathedral Chapter and assorted clergy from the city and country.
The same clergy, after the defeat of the rebels, hurried to seek forgiveness from the Queen, and most were rewarded with preferment in the state church they had so recently disowned."
Not to forget 30 November 1554, of course.