LET’S play Spot the Difference!Fr Reynolds spoke out regularly in favour of the ordination of women and of same-sex marriage. Oh, and he officiated at mass gay wedding ceremonies.
There is, of course, outrage at the Pope’s decision. It is an attack on freedom, free speech and so on.
Here’s the second story – you probably didn’t read about it: Dr David Drew, a respected paediatrician with an unblemished 37-year record in Britain’s NHS, has had his dismissal from his post upheld by a tribunal.
So what heinous crimes did he commit?
Well, he emailed a famous prayer to colleagues.
It’s the one written by St Ignatius of Loyola which urges us to ‘give and not to count the cost’ and so on.
Although he admits being “a Christian with questions”, he occasionally mentioned his faith, but he never let that faith interfere with his work.
Oh. And one more thing. He wished a colleague a “peaceful Christmas”.
Now, in fairness, he had been told by his boss to keep his Christianity to himself.
The colleague to whom he wished a “peaceful Christmas” said that the message was “aggressive”.
His boss fired him for gross misconduct and subordination and said his presence created a “toxic environment”.
He had also, by the way, uncovered bullying, staff shortages and child safety issues and questioned sending home a child with “suspicious injuries” who was killed by his stepfather a week later.
Anyway, out he has gone with a tribunal deciding – after an eight-day hearing – that to describe himself as a Christian while at work was “inappropriate”.
I presume you spotted the difference.