Ruth Gledhill thinks so. But then, she also imagines there to be "Moderators of the Methodist General Assembly". There is no such body, never mind any such office. This woman is the Religion Correspondent of The Times.
Fr Ray Blake wonders whom the media would then interview, Lord Murphy-O'Connor or his successor. But he need not worry. George Carey is a Life Peer. So was Robert Runcie. So was Donald Coggan. So was Michael Ramsey. And so was Geoffrey Fisher, one of the earliest. The problem simply does not arise.
Rather, we should be asking, if some dispensation is available to enable a Catholic bishop or priest to sit once more in the House of Lords (where they once predominated), then why it should go to Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor. Surely someone more in tune with the Magisterium would be more suitable?
I will not be putting up comments saying things like "Dr Rowan Williams", "Dr John Sentamu", "Dr Michael Nazir-Ali" or "Dr Tom Wright", although the point is well made.
And I will certainly not be putting up any saying "Richard Williamson".
But Fr Aidan Nicols OP? Fr Ian Ker? Fr John Saward? Fr Patrick Burke? Fr Tim Finigan? They all seem rather better bets, to say the very least. Any more?
Following Gordon Brown's rather successful meeting with the Holy Father, the Vatican should bypass the "golden circle that we cannot break" (as the then Cardinal Ratzinger once called Episcopal appointments in this country) and ensure that at least one of the men who should be our bishops is instead among our Peers.
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I could look really smart and "right on the money" if I had not deleted a post in my own Blog that the good Cardinal would be in the New Years Honours.
ReplyDeleteWhen he wasnt (and my other hot tip Ian Paisley wasnt nominated either) I thought Id look more intelligent and informed if I deleted it.
Hey ho.
It will come as a disappointment (or will it?) to Ampleforths finest recusants and priestly types.
Frankly I can never work them out. One minute solemn requiems for the most obscure Stuarts attended by the Sovreign Military Order of Malta (dont laugh!!) with impeccable credentials of service to the Windsors.
I really should seek out friends who DID NOT go to Ampleforth.
I've never used the term 'moderators of the methodist assembly'. Are you confusing me up with the good friend of Our Lord?
ReplyDeletehttp://marymagdalen.blogspot.com/2009/02/ruth-gledhill-has-positively-gushing.html
Of course I don't object to criticism, but take care to note where quote marks begin and end and what I actually write.
http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2009/02/cardinal-to-become-peer.html
Ruth Gledhill (posting anon because of probs with google blogger. ruth.gledhill@thetimes.co.uk)
Oh, well, Ian Paisley's wife already has it. He'll get it when he retires, so will they be like the Howes, whom ocassional attendees arriving in their chauffer-driven Rollers and Bentleys witness getting off the bus having used their OAPs' passes, as they do every day that the House sits?
ReplyDelete