The Catholic church has often been its own worst enemy. Doesn’t matter how many well-intentioned Micks might try to drag it into the 21st century (the 20th century even), the diehards amongst it will always want to cling on to the past.
And yes, I’m looking at you Arthur Skinner, you feeble-minded berk.
Vandalising the St Matthew-in-the-City Anglican church’s “Virgin Mary” billboard just because it didn’t conform to your twisted idea of Christianity?
Must be fun living at your house.
I guess we shouldn’t be surprised.
If there’s one category of behaviour the fanatics amongst the Catholic Church have proved adept at over the past few centuries, it’s the area of bullying, intimidation and exploitation.
Instructionally, Mr Skinner not only believes those responsible for the thought-provoking billboard will “burn in hell”, he regards Catholicism as the only genuine faith. Nothing like a nice dose of tolerance just before Christmas.
A confession here: I didn’t even know there was such a thing as the Catholic Action Group, the basket-case organisation to which Skinner belongs.
First time I heard it mentioned, couldn’t stop thinking of that sketch from Monty Python’s Life of Brian. You know the one. Brian: “Are you the Judean People's Front?”
Reg: “F*** off.” Brian: “What?” Reg: “Judean People's Front. We're the People's Front of Judea. Judean People's front, caw.” Francis: “W***ers.”
Certainly, it was a surprise to discover that someone who talks like Mr Skinner is allowed outside on his own recognisance, at least without being flanked by a couple of beefy men in white jackets.
It’s speculation, true, but if a Muslim cleric had spewed the hate and vitriol that he did the other day, describing all other religions as cults and sects, reserving special loathing for Anglicanism, and promising to break the law if needed, he might have attracted a shade more police attention.
Catholic Action Group?
Nice to know, isn’t it?
That at a time when the Catholic Church is being forced to face up to a history of systemic paedephilia and child abuse, Mr Skinner is out there holding his torch aloft for all the old values.
That at a time when the Netherlands is reeling over a report of 10,000-20,000 children abused by Catholic institutions, when his glorious pope is apologising for widespread kiddy fiddling, Mr Skinner is attacking other churches for being “gay” and “feminist”.
Must admit, I grew out of my Catholic upbringing fairly rapidly.
There is a slender chance, however, that if someone like (the St Matthew-in-the-City reverend) Glynn Cardy had been in charge of my early religious instruction (instead of moronic nuns and priests) I might have lasted a bit longer.
To have been offered the opportunity to believe in Jesus as a politician rather than as a prophet? Could have made all the difference.
Actually, I could still believe in that.
Why does Cardy so infuriate the Mr Skinners amongst us?
Because by debunking a lot of the mythology that surrounds Christianity, he not only makes it more relevant to today’s youth, he also highlights the intolerance, anger and bigotry of those who profess to act in its name.
I mean, there was Rev Cardy the other day, provoking us all to have a think about the meaning of Christmas. And there were Mr Skinner and his ilk; raging, frothing, and promising hellfire and brimstone.
Don’t know about you but, from this window, the contrast could hardly have been more stark.
One man trying to represent the core values of his version of Christianity with a message of empathy and hope; and Mr Skinner’s Catholic Action Group – trying to represent theirs with shows of anger and intolerance, and promises of everlasting violence.
Wonder what Jesus would have made of all that?