Roman Catholic Church Squirms


As usual, when those that have been abused by Catholic priests speak out, the Catholic church closes ranks and does what it has been doing for decades. Denies everything especially liability.

So when you see a headline like this

Waterlooville woman wins High Court case against Catholic church over sex abuse

it’s no surprise that there is an immediate response with a headline like this

Portsmouth Bishop hits out at High Court ruling in sex abuse case

The Catholic Church has done absolutely nothing to help those that were abused by the Catholic clergy but they have bent over backwards to hide and protect the abusers.

Now that the finger is actually being pointed at the church, now that the courts are saying that the church is in fact culpable, now is the time when the Catholic Church speaks out.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Crispian Hollis, has leapt to the defence of  Father Wilfred Baldwin, who it is alleged abused a young girl back in the 70’s.

However, solicitor Tracey Emmott said: ‘This effectively reinforces the public perception that the church doesn’t care and is once again trying to avoid responsibility.

‘I question his assertion that the legal case concluded last week involved the only allegation against a priest who he describes as being of unblemished character.

‘In fact before his death Father Baldwin was the subject of an extensive police investigation, based on allegations against him from at least three other alleged victims.’

Now a High Court Judge has ruled against the Catholic church in a row over whether it can be held responsible for sexual abuse by one of its own priests, now the Catholic Church is feeling exposed and is starting to squirm.

It’s about time the church acknowledged its responsibility for not having removed abusive priests and for not having actively supported the prosecution of abusive priests.

And most of all its about time that they acknowledged that they have let down the very people that they should have been protecting, the victims of abusive priests.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINE


Happy Birthday Chris

 

I’m too much of a gentleman to give away your age.

 

Well actually I am too worried about what you might do to me.

 

Anyway, you’ll never catch me up.

 

Hope you have a great day.

 

Lots of hugs XX

 

Cameron blames ‘pointless’ EU rules for killing growth


Hear Hear !!

I have been saying for years that the rule makers in the EU are out of touch with reality. The point of the EU was to facilitate cross border business activities. It was not intended to introduce nonsense rules and regulations which only serve to make doing business more difficult.

Cameron has it right when he says that resolution of the current crisis also offered a golden opportunity to undertake fundamental reform of the EU.

Needless to say I won’t be holding my breath while we wait for this reform to materialise.

Cameron blames ‘pointless’ EU rules for killing growth – Yahoo!.

Jackie Leven


I just thought I would post this having just received an email today. Jackie Leven, the Scottish singer-songwriter is gravely ill, suffering from cancer. In all likelihood he only has a few days left to live.

“Leven is probably the most talented singer-songwriter never to have become a household name” – Neil McCormick

For those of you who have never heard of Jackie I suggest you take a look at the link below and some of the other offerings available on YouTube.

My thoughts are with Jackie, his family and friends.

Jackie Leven & Deborah Greenwood in Southsea – YouTube.

Thankful villages: The places where everyone came back from the wars


Today is Remembrance Sunday and many people will be paying tribute to those that died during the two “great” wars and many other conflicts. The media, newspapers and television, are full of articles and programmes looking back at the famous battles and talking to survivors.

But, please, follow the link below for a slightly different look at the war years and the impact that they had on communities. There you can read about villages that watched their menfolk march off to war and were lucky enough to see all of them return. It’s an amazing story which shows the arbitrary nature of war.

As an aside to this article is a short mention of the French village, Thierville, which has not suffered a single fatality in any of France’s last five wars. That is the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, World Wars I and II, Indochina, and Algeria. A truly unique claim.

Given the lives lost during all those wars, then to be able to witness the return of all your menfolk, that is truly something for which to be thankful.

BBC News – Thankful villages: The places where everyone came back from the wars.

David Cameron calls Fifa’s England poppy ban ‘absurd’


And absurd it is.

Although the poppy may not be worn in all countries around the world, the sentiment is recognised and respected.

Recently Poundland made fools of themselves by banning their staff from wearing a poppy as it contravened their dress code.

What is the matter with these people ? So many petty minded people.

FIFA say that, if they give in to the England request, it will open the doors to other such requests.

So what ?


If we are being asked to acknowledge another nation wishing to show respect then so be it.

Sport is supposed to transcend politics and religion and yet the ruling bodies seem to bend over backwards to get themselves embroiled in disputes over just those matters.

BBC – Newsbeat – David Cameron calls Fifa’s England poppy ban ‘absurd’.

“Smokin” Joe Frazier – RIP


The world of sport has bid a fond farewell to a legend of the boxing world. Former World Heavyweight Champion “Smokin” Joe Frazier died after losing his final fight with cancer of the liver.

He was a true champion.

BBC News – Boxing ex-world champion Joe Frazier dies.

Still Here


Wow !!

Didn’t it rain last night. The sort of rain that falls so hard that it creates a low lying mist cloud up to about twelve inches from the ground. Thunder and lightening too.

Our conservatory has a variety of leaks that creep into action depending on wind direction and amount of water falling out of the sky. Only rarely do they all drip at the same time.

Last night, around midnight, was one of those occasions. I rushed around, strategically placing containers in all the usual places, trying to get ahead of the game.

I thought I had them all covered but this morning I found a wet patch on the step by the kitchen door. A new leak has developed and bypassed all the containers.

Hey ho !! Never mind, I’ll have you covered next time.