NOTEBOOK
Belittling religion THE PRESENTER OF BBC Radio 4’s The Moral Maze perhaps tried too hard last week to live up to the programme’s determination to be “provocative” and “combative”. Some listeners were surprised to hear Michael Buerk describe religion as “superstition” in his introduction to the show. The panellists – who included The Tablet’s
Clifford Longley, former politician Michael Portillo and Claire Fox, the founder of the Institute of Ideas – looked at the question of the Christian couple who were successfully sued for refusing a gay couple a double room at their bed and breakfast. In his opening gambit Mr Buerk said:
“Are we now to base our moral and legal code on rationality rather than superstition? Or will we get lost in a sea of relativism without religious absolutes that have under- pinned our notions of right and wrong?” He turned first for comment to Mr Longley who replied: “I’m still seething about the word ‘superstition’, as a matter of fact.” Mr Buerk hit back: “I was merely counterposing arguments, not infringing your human rights.” A magnanimous Mr Longley replied: “Sure, I’ll pardon you.” A BBC spokesman explained that Mr Buerk was setting out “the potential polarities of views that might be taken on the issue under discussion”. The programme is overseen by the BBC’s Religion and Ethics Department. It’s certainly concerned with ethics, but only one regular panellist – Cliford Longley – is a religious believer.
Wowed at the abbey FOR THEPope and his entourage, a highlight of Benedict XVI’s visit to Britain in September 2010 was Evening Prayer at Westminster Abbey. This week, a spokeswoman for the abbey explained that the Pope was so taken with the abbey’s music that the dean, Dr John Hall, sent him five of the choir’s CDs. Now, Benedict XVI has sent a message to the abbey as it prepares to celebrate the 850th anniversary of St Edward the Confessor on Monday with a special Evensong service. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, said: “He prays that this commemoration of the canonisation of an English king by a Successor of Peter will serve to strengthen the bonds of friendship between your country and the Holy See, hastening the day when the visible communion that was lost during the upheavals of the six- teenth century may be fully restored.”Among the Vatican officials who were keen on the Westminster Abbey liturgy was Mgr Guido Marini, the Pope’s master of ceremonies. So enthused was he by the service that one onlooker commented: “He’s ready to become an Anglican.”
Bountiful knight WHEN he departs this life, Albert Gubay will leave one of the biggest-ever personal legacies to the Catholic Church in England and Wales. In recognition of the generosity of the founder of the former supermarket chain Kwik Save, Pope Benedict XVI is making Mr Gubay a Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St Gregory the Great. The 82-year-old businessman hopes to leave around £10 million a year to the Church after his death. This will be generated from his £1 billion fortune to be left to the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation. Despite his generosity, Mr Gubay is not, in
How to convert a witch IT’S A long time since the days of witch- hunts, but according to a new Catholic Truth Society booklet, Catholics should be concerned by the growth in popularity of witchcraft. Wicca and Witchcraft: understanding the dangers sets out to describe how the practice has become popular among young people, particularly women. Written by Tablet contributor Elizabeth Dodd, the booklet explains that modern witchcraft can seem attractive: it is framed as a feminist religion and is sometimes seen as an offshoot of the Green movement. The final chapter in the booklet sets out
“How to Evangelise a Witch” and suggests possible areas of dialogue. These include showing the attractiveness of a loving and forgiving God, the Church’s concern for the environment and the importance of women in Christianity. Ms Dodd, 24, is uniquely placed to write this booklet, as she told us: “When I was 15 I seriously considered becoming a witch. I studied Wicca quite extensively before deciding to reject it and become a Catholic instead.”
Revving up again SOME two million viewers tuned in to watch the diminutive Church of England vicar Adam Smallbone, played by Tom Hollander, fend off drunks, social climbers and happy- clappy sorts as he tried to run an inner-city parish in the hit comedy Rev. Last week, Rev won the best comedy award at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards. We can now confirm that a second series of the BBC2 sitcom is to be announced shortly, with filming expected to begin in the summer and the completed episodes aired towards the end of 2011. James Wood, co-creator of the show with
Hollander, said: “We’ve been getting messages that some vicars find it too painful to watch, which is sort of gratifying.”
fact, a Catholic. In this he has something in common with the media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, who was similarly honoured by the Church in 1998.
Silent witness
EVEN SINCE the murder of their son Jimmy, Margaret and Barry Mizen have dedicated their lives to make the streets safer for teenagers. This week Mrs Mizen revealed for the first time that she is meeting young offenders as part of her work. She told us: “Jimmy’s death has forced me to reach out and build peace, and one element of this for me has been regular visits to young offenders’ institutions.” Mrs Mizen was speaking at the London launch of Million Minutes, a new Catholic charity that will raise money for projects supporting young people. The charity hopes to raise £1 million through a UK-wide spon- sored silence around Sunday 8 May. Veteran TV cook Delia Smith has pledged to join the sponsored silence, along with many youth chaplains, teachers, parish priests and young people themselves.
Jubilee in Cairo AMONG the experts on Muslim and Arabist affairs who will have been watching events unfold along the Nile in the past week would have been Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, the apostolic nuncio to Egypt and delegate to the Arab League. The British-born African White Father was appointed nuncio nearly six years ago after heading the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. The mass protests against President
Mubarak continued in a week when Archbishop Fitzgerald was due to celebrate the golden jubilee of his priesthood. A Mass was arranged for Wednesday evening at the Cairo Church of St Joseph (Banque Misr) but we were unable to contact him at the nunciature on an island in the Nile in the middle of Cairo as phone lines and the internet were down. We wish him well.
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