Catholic Church
Keith O’Brien’s resignation is no good thing. But it might be good for the Catholic church
The downfall of Cardinal Keith O’Brien could not have been more complete if it had been orchestrated by Stonewall, which, if you recall, awarded him Bigot of the Year for… Continue reading
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The View from 22 – Ex-Benedict, Mexican Horsemeat and goodbye to Sindy
What does Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation mean for the future of the Catholic church? In this week’s View from 22 podcast, the Daily Telegraph’s Damian Thompson and Freddy Gray discuss… Continue reading
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Can Christians still have Holy Matrimony?
That’s that then. Marriage will change, one way or another. Progress has won. Cue lots of right-on politicians talking about how proud they are to have ushered in such a… Continue reading
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Discovering poetry: John Dryden, Jacobite superstar
From Dryden’s translation of Virgil’s Aeneid Arms and the man I sing who forced by fate And haughty Juno’s unrelenting hate Expelled and exiled left the Trojan shore. Long labours… Continue reading
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The man behind the Alpha Course
Christmas is one of the few times of year when those unaccustomed to attending church feel prompted to join their local congregation for a few carols. But what will they… Continue reading
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Justin Welby’s social conscience
One of the things we know about the next Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is that he doesn’t like bankers. Another is that he has given a good deal of… Continue reading
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In defence of the CofE’s House of Laity
Even friends of an Established church like myself – though I’m a Catholic – should think twice about the wisdom of the idea after the naked political interference in the… Continue reading
40 Comments The Church of England is becoming a church in England
This morning’s newspapers (and indeed the airwaves) are full of apocalyptic predictions about the future of the Church of England. The failure of the General Synod to ordain women bishops has… Continue reading
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The Church of England rejects women bishops
Gulp. The General Synod of the Church of England has, against almost all expectations, rejected the ordination of women bishops. This seems to represent an early defeat for the incoming… Continue reading
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Ireland and Abortion: Cruelty disguised as piety, cowardice misrepresented as principle. - Spectator Blogs
Oh, Ireland! You knew it would come to this. Today’s Irish Times carries the appalling story of the death of Savita Halappanavar, a dentist in Galway, who died in hospital… Continue reading
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Anti-Semitism, Islamism and Islam
My blog on last week’s bombing in Bulgaria and convictions in Manchester provoked a response from my colleague Martin Bright which I should like to respond to in turn. In… Continue reading
24 CommentsCardinal Brady Should Resign
Last night, I finally watched last week’s BBC This World documentary investigating the latest stage of the child abuse scandal that is destroying the Catholic Church in Ireland and, like… Continue reading
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Equality against conscience and the Big Society
It was pretty well apparent at the outset that the Equality Act 2010 – the so-called Socialism in a Single Clause law – spelt trouble and now it is the… Continue reading
31 CommentsHow To Lose An Argument: Gay Marriage & Opus Dei Edition
Jack Valero is the press officer for Opus Dei in the United Kingdom. Plainly, his tweet is made in a personal capacity but it’s not really so far removed form… Continue reading
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The case against gay marriage
Last night, we posted Douglas Murray’s conservative argument in favour of same-sex marriage. Here’s the opposite view: Consultations are, for the prudent, an exercise you only engage in when you’re… Continue reading
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The conservative case for equal marriage
With some right-wing voices — including Catholic Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Tory MP Peter Bone and the Daily Telegraph — speaking out against same-sex marriage, here’s a piece Douglas Murray wrote… Continue reading
66 CommentsThis Troublesome, Ludicrous Priest
If Cardinal Keith O’Brien objects to being considered an intolerant bigot then he should perhaps cease making arguments that are a) intolerant and b) bigoted. Then again, he’s a member… Continue reading
34 CommentsThe Political Speech of the Year
Enda Kenny, Taoiseach, delivered an astonishing speech to the Dail yesterday during which he lambasted the Vatican in ways unprecedented in the history of the Irish Republic. It was, indeed,… Continue reading
26 CommentsCoffee House Exclusive: McBride joins CAFOD
The penance of Damian McBride continues. After being ejected from No10, and disowned by his mentor Ed Balls, I can reveal that… Continue reading
37 CommentsRome is Even More Rotten than Dublin
As you know, I’m not much of a Fianna Fail fan. But if there’s any Irish institution that outperforms the ghastliness of the Soldiers of Destiny it’s the Catholic Church.… Continue reading
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