Cosmas

On David and Jonathan

2012-01-19T02:44:00.000-08:00

Theirs was a friendship based on self-sacrifice. It is the highest form of friendship for Jonathan was sacrificing his right to kingship for the sake of justice. No wonder St Aelred had so much regard for this friendship. For Aelred, friendship is a love that is austere and demanding. He draws on images of courtship and marriage to describe friendship for this was a time when his great fellow Cistercian St Bernard had written a commentary on The Song of Songs.
For St Anselm, the love of friendship can never be sensual. Indeed he condemned homosexual activities in the royal court.
Remarkably enough, some believe the love of St Basil and St Gregory Nazianzus to be sensual. Basil said of monks who molest men " Let them be whipped in public..." and Gregory ordered the works of Sappho to be burned, calling her a "lewd nymphomaniac."
Why did Joan of Arc wear men's clothes? Why did Mother Julian use a male name ? Whatever the answer it is not rooted in sensuality.

Latest from the College of Psychiatrists

2011-12-12T08:39:00.000-08:00

Abortion does not improve mental health when compared to giving birth in unwanted pregnancy.
Yet 98% of UK abortions are on grounds of improving mental health.
This last statement presumably is no longer evidence based medicine?

The malignant Dr Kinsey

2011-12-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

When he died, a Catholic paper praised him for his dedication and zeal. We now know that he was zealous in the promotion of perversion and this includes the idea that paedophilia may not be harmful.
One may wonder how many seminaries accepted the claims of this troubled soul and at what cost.

Poor Old Augustine

2011-11-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

St Augustine gets a bad press when it comes to sexuality. In fact he defended the goodness of marriage and procreation against the Manichaeans. He also said especially in De Bono Conjugali that sexual pleasure is by no means sinful in itself. But, against the Pelagians, he said that there is such a thing as concupiscence which is not the same thing as sexual attraction. Rather it is the thing that leads us to selfishness, fornication and adultery.

A case against assisted suicide

2011-11-03T07:45:00.000-07:00

To be found on the Dignity in Dying website. Especially under what the patrons say. When Professor Grayling talks of exhaustive old age, he is clearly not talking about terminal illness.

Catholic Medical Quarterly

2011-10-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

Articles are available at www.cmq.org.uk

Cloyne Again

2011-08-31T04:58:00.000-07:00

The fundamental problem was that the bishop and the Vicar General chose to ignore the Irish proposals. Another problem was that the proposals were sent to Rome as if they were study guidelines. Either way, the problems were in Ireland.

The curse of pornography

2011-08-04T02:07:00.000-07:00

A Canadian bishop who apparently dealt well with the sex abuse crisis in his diocese has been caught with child pornography. What makes a "good" person, like this bishop or Fr Kit Cunningham, do something so wicked? Most pornography addicts tend to compartmentalise their lives. Some addicts get bored of "soft porn" and a relatively small number move on to illegal material. Others are only attracted by illegal material. In either case, we may conclude that pornography addiction is damaging and dangerous.

Letters in The Tablet

2011-07-10T06:04:00.000-07:00

Sister Myra Poole asks the bishops to support the ordination of women to the priesthood because this is the price "to pay in following a growing call 0f the spirit."
Another writer mentions the story of Ananias and Sapphira who were found lying to the Holy Spirit.
Oh, and Sister is not keen on priests being men because of the sex abuse crisis. Perhaps we should abandon the Doctrine of The Trinity and The Incarnation as well.

What happened to the Irish clergy

2011-06-30T01:47:00.000-07:00

If Michael Voris is right, and he has not been sued, Fr Ledwith had an enormous influence over the Irish clergy, an influence that was utterly harmful. After being embroiled in the sex abuse scandals, he has, according to Voris, left the priesthood. It almost goes without saying that there had been a cover up for many years.

When will this plague end

2011-06-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

I owe the Rosminians a great deal. One of them was good enough to be my spiritual director and he introduced me to a wealth of Catholic Spirituality.But the order has got it really badly wrong. How could they have kept quiet following the death of Fr Kit Cunningham when they knew about his past.There is now a wealth of knowledge about the consequences of sexual abuse. There is also a well documented history of Church cover up. With all that, how did they manage to get it so badly wrong?

The Culture of Death

2011-06-02T07:45:00.000-07:00

It is easy for us to equate this phrase with issues relating to abortion and euthanasia. But Pope John Paul said that "Only a higher vision can motivate the choice for life. And the values underlying that vision will greatly depend on whether the nation continues to honour and revere the family as the basic unit of society."

The Catholic Church and the sex abuse crisis

2011-05-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

Many thoughtful people have recognized that only a small number of priests are guilty of this crime.What concerns them is the cover-up and they have every right to be concerned.Sadly,the Catholic Church is not the only institution at fault.There have been similar reports of cover-up involving other religious denominations,schools,the boy scouts etc.
Does this get the Catholic Church off the hook? No. All forms of cover-up involving this crime needs to be condemned.

Geoffrey Robertson QC

2011-05-02T05:39:00.000-07:00

A certain Geoffrey Robertson writes in The Independent 26 April 2011 that "The bedrock of our constitution is the Act of Settlement ...A blood-curdling anti-Catholic rant..."
Must be a different Geoffrey Robertson from the one who wrote "The Case of the Pope,"an anti-Catholic rant.

The most important quote from the New Consultation

2011-04-14T06:32:00.000-07:00

Which,alas,I did not previously quote properly:" If women who have an abortion show a negative emotional reaction to the abortion or are experiencing stressful life events,support and monitoring should be offered as they are more likely than others to develop mental health problems." In pro-life circles,this is known as Post Abortion Trauma.

More on The Consultation Paper

2011-04-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

Remarkably enough,after going through a series of studies,it is noted that it would never be possible to conduct a randomised control trial to include a group of women forced to continue with an unwanted pregnancy and for the rest of the group to be selected to have an abortion.In other words,it is not possible to exclude a link between abortion and mental ill health by means of this kind of psychiatric research. The study by Munk-Olsen is referred to in some detail in the consultation paper.This study was funded by the pro-abortion Susan Buffett Foundation.

Induced abortion and mental health

2011-04-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

What are we to make of the new Draft consultation paper from the College of Psychiatrists? At 118 pages it is certainly detailed. Unlike the blatantly pro-abortion RCOG draft consultation,it attempts at balance. For example, it is reasonably critical of reviews (Charles and American Psychological Association) that dismiss links between abortion and mental ill health.It also states that "if women who have an abortion show a negative emotional reaction to the abortion or experience a stressful life event,support and monitoring should be offered as they are likely than others to develop a mental health problem." It states that "mental health outcomes are likely to be the same whether women with unwanted pregnancies opt for abortion or birth."This makes a mockery of the 1967 Abortion Act which allows for abortion in order to improve the mental health of a woman with an unwanted pregnancy. However,there are many reasons to be critical of the draft consultation paper. I urge people to read it on the College of Psychiatrists website and respond to it.

Planned Parenthood and Mammograms

2011-04-10T02:40:00.000-07:00

Apparently Cecille Richards,head of planned parenthood, lied when she said that her organization offered mammograms.If the abortion-breast cancer link is to be believed,perhaps they should.

Assisted Suicide The Real Agenda

2011-04-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

So the euthanasia campaigner Nan Maitland has killed herself. Was she terminally ill? Was she in intractable pain? No. She had arthritis.So that is the real agenda-to assist people to die whether or not they are terminally ill.

Refuting Stephen Hawking

2011-04-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

For a brilliant refutation of Hawking,do watch the lecture by Dr John Lennox on youtube

Public School Atheists

2011-03-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

Stephen Fry,Hugh Laurie,Dawkins,Hitchens,Jonathan Glover etc. What is it about public schools that brings out the atheist in us? Public schools give us a good formation in the Arts and Sciences.But Theology is often scandulously ignored. Hence the general ignorance in otherwise gifted atheists. I only read about Aquinas once at school-and that was in a book by Bertrand Russell.

Christians have rights too

2011-03-07T08:49:00.000-08:00

I have had the privilege of giving a series of talks in a non-Euoropean country.Many people asked about the issue of homosexuality and I answered in line with the teachings of the Church.There was a great sense of charity with no expressions of hatred.A pity that Christians are losing this right of free expression in Europe.

On a great Jesuit

2011-02-15T03:26:00.000-08:00

A man told Fr Thwaites:"Father, I owe you £100.Why not get this in writing?" Father agreed and wrote on a piece of paper: "You owe me £100" and gave it to this man. The man looked rather surprised.

The Great Jesuits

2011-02-13T07:46:00.000-08:00

Fr Crane was referring to excommunication as an act of charity when he wrote of "time for the chop." Wonderful to know this blog gets read.And so to one of my main projects. I have been meeting dozens of people who have been influenced by Fr Thwaites. Some day someone may write a book about him. A few anecdotes. He would spend hours before the Blessed Sacrament.As he walked into chapel,he would give Our Lord a smile.I asked him what he said in prayer and he answered "Not much." The important thing is to grow in divine intimacy and different souls pray in different ways.

Time for the chop?

2011-02-09T02:34:00.000-08:00

Interesting times we livein. I spent a few hours lamenting the spread of liberalism in the Church-with an Eastern Orthodox Christian ! I have more in common with him than I have with a liberal sitting next to me in church.Professors of theology in Germany, Austria and Switzerland are calling for-just about everything.Why do they remain in the Church? Are they the professional Catholics that Pope Benedict has spoken about? Many years ago Fr Paul Crane SJ wrote an article on Hans Kung entitled "Time For The Chop?"

The Ordinariate will be good for all of us

2011-02-05T10:04:00.000-08:00

There are many Anglicans who share our values on the sanctity of life,marriage etc. We need them. Some of the most Pro-Life priests in our area are ex-Anglicans.The Ordinariate will be small to begin with but it will bring us all many blessings.

Blessings of the Ordinariate

2011-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

Tina Beatie does not like it.Therefore it follows as night follows day that The Ordinariate must be a wonderful blessing for us.

Christian Pride Month

2011-01-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

During this month introduce Christianity into the classroom but do so in a subtle way.Talk about the faith of Pasteur in biology,of Ampere in physics, of Pascal in maths etc.And turn that month into a year.

On tolerance and free speech

2011-01-22T05:53:00.000-08:00

I became a Catholic because people were prepared to criticize my pro-choice views and a whole array of other views.They did so with charity and clarity.I thank God for them.That was 25 years ago.If it happens now,I can report them.What a difference 25 years make.In our age of political correctness,we have to be careful what we say in public.There are exceptions to the rule-attacking the Catholic Church,for example.

If Sarah Palin is responsible for the unrest in the USA

2011-01-11T03:16:00.000-08:00

Then are secularists responsible for the unrest in the UK?

A Dream

2011-01-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

The Radio 4 broadcaster asked the Catholic bishop if the Chuch will change Her teaching on abortion homosexuality contraception and women priests.The bishop answered no no no and no.I then woke up.

Thank You Pope Benedict

2010-12-09T03:39:00.000-08:00

Thank you for reminding us that there are many professional Catholics who make good money from the Church and who appear to have a certain lack of faith.I think of pro-abortion Catholic Professors in the Uk when I listen to your words.

What did the Pope mean?

2010-12-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

He gives the example of a person in a state of moral free fall-a prostitute who takes no responsibility for his actions.He then realizes that he is spreading a deadly infection.He takes what he believes to be responsible precautions.This may be the beginning of his conversion.The important word is the word "may".Such a word does not belong in the language of Magisterial Teaching.

Does the Church teach the principle of the lesser evil?

2010-11-29T06:33:00.000-08:00

No,for the same reason that the Church does not issue guidelines on how to steal cars safely.An interesting consequence of the fiasco surrounding the Papal comment has been the recognition that not all supporters of the Traditional Mass are supporters of Traditional morals.It is disappointing to note that some speakers at Latin Mass events are dissenters when it comes to issues pertaining to human sexuality

A third thought

2010-11-27T07:20:00.000-08:00

A person driving a stolen car still has certain responsibilities to drive safely.When caught,he gets,let us say, 2 years.If he kills someone,he gets many more years.The evil of stealing a car can be increased by circumstance but not diminished if the theft is for pleasure alone. Psychologically,there are serious problems with this argument.The thief may justify his bad behaviour by claiming that he will always drive safely.In fact he needs to steal in order to perfect his technique of safe driving.He is rather like a prostitute who justifies the evil of prostitution by claiming recourse to safe sex

A second thought

2010-11-20T15:15:00.000-08:00

Interesting that Pope Benedict gives the example of male prostitution in his reference to condom use.You do not have to be a moral theologian to realize that this behaviour is intrinsically evil.By using a condom he is not reducing the degree of intrinsic evil.He is taking some degree of responsibility for his intrinsically evil acts.There is still the world of a difference between a first assumption of responsibility and repentance.

A first step

2010-11-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

What does Pope Benedict mean when he speaks of a first step in the direction of moralization,a first assumption of responsibility? It is rather like a man with three partners who decides to give up two and move in with one.The man is still living a disordered life but there is at least the possibility of a future marriage.In saying this,we do not condone fornication.Neither is the Pope condoning male prostitution.

Letter from an atheist journalist

2010-11-19T08:14:00.000-08:00

Johann Hari writes as follows:"Shame on you for defending a protector of paedophiles with ludricous sophistry.I hope one day you repent of your disgusting sin."He refers to my defence of Pope Benedict The Great.Good to know that atheists believe in repentance and sin.

The only answer to suffering

2010-11-07T06:14:00.000-08:00

Because the Vine climbed the trellis of the Cross,the branches can now spread themselves wide on the same wood and find it is a ladder to glory.Profound words from Fr Raymond OCSO.

Father Raymond OCSO on St Bernard

2010-11-04T01:53:00.000-07:00

The message of his fine work Spiritual secrets of a Trappist monk seems to be that we are all called to be contemplatives -to contemplate Him whose image we are and whose likeness we can recover through grace.He encourages with words from St bernard:patience is required but persistence even more.We are an image of God.So are the souls in hell but as they do not possess the likeness of God,they are eternally unhappy.

Saint Bernard and the three freedoms

2010-11-02T03:51:00.000-07:00

Before the Fall,Adam enjoyed three freedoms: freedom to choose, freedom to choose right and freedom to carry out his choice.After the fall Adam enjoyed only one freedom-freedom to choose.According to bernard,it is in this last freedom that the image of God in man resides.Even the souls in hell possess this freedom of choice.In order to save our souls,our free choices must co-operate with grace in order to re-gain the two other freedoms and to share in God's wisdom and power.

Creation

2010-10-31T03:18:00.000-07:00

As Frank Sheed said,if a carpenter made a chair and left the room,the chair would still remain.If God created the universe and abandoned it,the universe would be no more.Since God created out of nothing,unless He continues to hold us in being,we should simply cease to be.

AIDS and condoms

2010-10-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

Once again in the news.Here is an analogy.A reformed thief tries to persuade a thief from robbing a bank and gets nowhere.Eventually he tells the thief to use the right amount of explosives as the amount selected may have caused injurries.The bank robbery goes well and no one is injurred.But please do not expect the Catholic Church to issue guidelines on how to rob banks safely.

Hitler's Popess

2010-10-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

Am reading the life of Margaret Sanger,founder of Planned Parenthood.Not a nice person.She wanted the eradication of the African people by means of birth control and she was anti-Semitic.She also admired Hitler.Makes Marie Stopes look almost moderate.

Spiritual Secrets of a Trappist Monk

2010-10-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

By Fr Raymond OCSO.Sophia Institute Press.What an amazing book.Far better than the later works of fellow Trappist Thomas Merton.He writes that St Thomas Aquinas taught that the mind of man has a natural movement towards truth and the will of man a natural movement towards goodness.The will of man would know perfect happiness only when it could hold as its own not this good or that good but all Goodness. Highly recommended.

Celebrities on dying well

2010-10-28T14:23:00.000-07:00

So Sir Michael Caine is in favour of euthanasia.Not surprising really.No doubt an increasing number of celebrities will demand to die at the time of their choice.We need to respond by offering what is best in the Christian care of the dying.

Anger at Pope Benddict

2010-10-27T02:38:00.000-07:00

Why was there so much anger before the UK visit?A number of people have spiritual and psychological issues about religion rather than intellectual and philosophical.Others just hate the Church.But there are still others who have been genuinely hurt by the filth within the Church.It is so sad to see their anger directed at the wrong person.

The Clergy Abuse Crisis

2010-10-25T09:43:00.000-07:00

If the research evidence is correct and the majority of victims are adolescents,does this make it
a lesser crime? Surely not.How many of those young people are going to grow in trust - let alone learning to trust the Church?The Holy Father in his letter to the people of Ireland writes with profound psychological and spiritual insight.

Those great Jesuits

2010-10-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

Southwell House,North London.The Jesuits I met were in their eighties.They had done extraordinary mission work in various parts of the world.They were true sons of their spiritual Father St Ignatius.They looked on in horror as their own beloved society went through a process of auto-destruction.They have gone to their eternal reward now.To them I can only say Thank You.Thank You also to Canon Francis Ripley-a great priest and a friend of Frank Duff-who patiently answered my questions on the Faith over many years.

My first Traditional Latin Mass

2010-10-23T10:38:00.000-07:00

The Celebrant was Fr Michael Clifton.I think I told Fr Thwaites SJ later that I got a little lost.He advised me to keep going.No regrets.

Receiving Holy Communion

2010-10-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

Archbishop Ranjith has instructed the laity to receive Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue.He has also addressed the issue of liturgical abuse in general.A small minority may join the Protestants.They probably have a certain Protestant tendency anyway.What is increasingly clear is that many Catholics have ceased believing in the Real Presence.

The Church and condoms

2010-10-23T03:01:00.000-07:00

Humanae Vitae is pretty clear:condoms cannot be used in the marriage act.Now if a person is absolutely intent in behaving in a promiscuous manner,he may consider the use of a condom.But,and I think this is the point of note,it is not up to the Church to issue pastoral guidelines to people who wish to behave in a promiscuous fashion.The Church has one purpose-to save souls.

The Poor Jesuits

2010-10-21T05:47:00.000-07:00

Fr Thwaites used to talk to me frequently about the poor Jesuits.He was profoundly distressed by their seeming institutional disobedience.The Jesuits have done great things over the centuries.Perhaps it is time to let them rest in peace.

Some remarkable Sri Lankan Catholics

2010-10-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

There are many who believe that Cardinal Cooray will one day be made a Saint of the Catholic Church.Another saintly Sri Lankan is also an OMI priest-Fr Thomas,founder of the Rosarian Congregation.I would like to write a booklet about him one day.Fr Peter Pillai was rather like Fr Vincent McNabb-a genius.An intellectual giant,he had a profound concern for the poor.His teaching was steeped in the social teaching of the Church and he founded a college named after Aquinas.

God and Evil

2010-10-20T08:34:00.000-07:00

I have been asked to explain in one paragraph how God is the cause of evil.He is not the cause of evil in the way that Hitler was the cause of mass murder.God is the cause of the existence of Hitler while Hitler was in earthly existence.But He did not will what Hitler willed.God is overwhelming Goodness and He cannot will evil.

Cardinal Malcom Ranjith

2010-10-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

Deo Gratias.I had the privilege of meeting Archbishop Ranjith 2 months ago.Suffice it to say that he was somewhat critical of the way in which the Novus Ordo has been implemented.He was also extremely kind and helpful with regard to pro-life issues.

On the Papal Apology

2010-10-19T02:06:00.000-07:00

The Pope has made many heartfelt apologies for the atrocious crime of sexual abuse.Having read various works by psychiatrists,psychologists,anthropologists etc,perhaps it is time for the apologies to be extended.Various psychiatrists appear to have believed that the perpetrators simply needed therapy

LIFE conference

2010-10-17T06:33:00.000-07:00

At the LIFE conference,there was a presentation on the fertility care programme developed by Dr Thomas Hilgers.It is an entirely ethical alternative to the unethical IVF option.Having met Church going people who have recourse to IVF I am left asking the question why is the Hilgers method not better known?

Should you kneel before the Pope

2010-10-15T08:08:00.000-07:00

They kneel before the Pope to receive Holy Communion.That is wonderful.At the same Mass they do not kneel before Priests.Surely we kneel to receive Our Lord in Holy Communion.We should kneel to receive before Popes,Priests and,yes,Extraordinary Ministers.

Catholicism and Mental Health

2010-10-14T10:01:00.000-07:00

It would seem that many people are looking for Catholic Psychiatrists.The number of orthodox Catholic Psychiatrists in the UK is few.Given that a psychiatric illness is as serious as heart disease,it is important for the person to find medical help-Catholic or not.Patients often experience a sense of feeling vulnerable.However,Psychiatrists are only experts on mental health.They are not in a position to challenge the core beliefs of a Catholic.Much the same applies to Psychologists and Counsellors.

Paedophile Priests in the Catholic Church

2010-10-12T02:04:00.000-07:00

The truth is now out:there is no paedophile crisis.The vast majority of victims have been adolescent males.Bishops,please take note.

Grou and the love of neighbour

2010-10-12T01:46:00.000-07:00

Fr grou S J was a tremendous director of souls.He notes that the love of neighbour belongs to the Natural Law.So why did Our Lord refer to it as a new commandment?Because we are called to love as Jesus loves.He died for us when we were His enemies.He prayed for our eternal salvation.We are called to sacrifice everything for the salvation of souls-friends and enemies alike.As I write this I hear that a prominent atheist who said some unpleasant things about the Pope prior to his visit to the UK has died.We are separated by our beliefs.We are united by our humanity.

Eastern Orthodoxy and the Catholic Faith

2010-10-12T01:35:00.000-07:00

My last blog requires some clarification.I was trying to argue that the Church deepens Her understanding of Doctrine frequently as a result of heresy.The Real Presence of Our Lord was denied.The Church responded by using the term Transubstantiation.As Newman noted the Church develops her understanding over time.One could argue that time has stood still in Eastern Orthodoxy-partly because of persecutions over the centuries.

Conversation with an Orthodox Christian

2010-10-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

I mean Eastern Orthodox.He said that the Catholic Church has defined doctrine too precisely.He gave the example of Transubstantiation.My response was that the Eastern Church was also very precise about definitions-on the Trinity for example.The Eastern Orthodox Church has been less precise since breaking away from Rome-precisely.

Being critical of Bishops

2010-10-11T00:56:00.000-07:00

As one new to blogging,it is interesting to know that blogs that do not receive comments still get read.Yes,one of my previous blogs should have read Saint Thomas and the second way.I have been asked if it is right to be critical of bishops when they teach error in public. Saint Thomas answered yes.However,there are ways and means:there is no need to get personal.A spirit of bitterness has been a serious failure of orthodox Catholics.

A certain priest

2010-10-10T02:38:00.000-07:00

A certain priest is annoyed because he feels that he has been called a heretic.I never read his work because I find it profoundly unhelpful.He must have been a young priest during the Second Vatican Council and certain people were looking forward to cataclysmic changes following the Council.In the context of what was going on it is remarkable that Humanae Vitae got it right.It just goes to show that what they say is correct-it is the One True Church

Newman and the Laity

2010-10-09T02:28:00.000-07:00

Newman had an enormous respect for the laity.He recalled that during the Arian crisis,many bishops became Arian while the laity kept the Faith.Fr Thwaites used to quote this frequently.It is possible that the powersthat be are going to focus on the social teaching of the Church-not a bad thing-and evade the more difficult areas including Catholic sexual ethics.It is up to the laity to uphold and defend the constant teaching of the Church against the new Arian onslaught.

Blessed John Henry Newman

2010-10-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

"Three great and loyal friendsof mine, Frs Joseph Gordon,Ambrose St John and Edward Caswall now lie side by side at Rednal,and I put them there."So wrote newman in 1878.He firmly believed that without their support,the work of the Oratory would not have been a success.That is why he wished to be buried with them-people who he believed were Saints.His and their remains would be shaped into a Cross.Sanctity and the Cross-that is surely the message of Newman for our times.

Science and Scientism

2010-10-07T03:34:00.000-07:00

A husband asks his wife if she loves him.She says yes. That is not good enough for him.He needs scientific proof.He has been reading Dawkins and he refuses to leave the science comfort zone.But can science alone explain the nature of love?How can science explain the behaviour of a mother who sacrifices herself for the sake of her child?Can science explain our appreciation of the Good,the True and the Beautiful?Indeed can science explain the scientific method?The more we studu science the more we learn how little we know about the Universe.There are so many things we do in life that are quite unscientific.

Saint Thomas and the First Way

2010-10-06T03:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a thought experiment that might confuse Dawkins.A group of students discuss Hamlet.They have really got into the spirit of the play.They ask questions like what is causing Hamlet to feel sad?What is causing Gertrude to feel guilty?What is causing Ophelia to go mad?There are many other causes to be investigated and discussed.Shakespeare is not one such cause among these many.But one thing is certain:without Shakespeare there would be no Hamlet.No students are going to ask these particular questions.We live in a world of causation and it is right for science to investigate these causes.What Dawkins does not get is that God is not one such cause among many.But without God there will be no other causes.As Thomas would say God is the uncaused cause.

Atheism in UK

2010-10-05T05:14:00.000-07:00

The new atheists are encountering some problems.Many atheists did not support Claire Raynor when she said that the Pope had to be got rid of.Peter tatchell has rightly condemned the abuse of minors by priests.However he also scored an own goal by claiming that not all sex involving children is unwanted,abusive and harmful.Stephen hawking has attempted to prove that there is no God.His attempts have been criticized by sir Martin Rees and sir Roger Penrose.Many atheists have had enough of the toxic fumes emanating from Dawkins,Fry,Grayling and others.They wanted the Pope arrested.He met the Qeen and the Prime Minister.Hari wrote an encyclical to the Catholics of Britain entitled Catholics-shun the Pope who has abused you.Where did it all go wrong?

Cardinal Thomas Cooray

2010-10-04T09:56:00.000-07:00

There are many reasons to suggest that Cardinal Cooray was a prophetic figure.During the second Vatican Council he recognized that modernist elements were working to undermine Catholic Tradition.After the Council he was utterly loyal to the Pope especially during the Humanae Vitae crisis.He had an ardent devotion to Our Lord in the Eucharist and to Our Lady.He was a mystic who sought union with the Creator by reflecting on the created order.May he one day be made a saint of the Catholic Church.

On Liberals and excommunications

2009-03-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

The Liberals are unhappy because the excommunications have being lifted from the four Bishops of the soceity of St. Pius X. It is important for them to understand that the Church prefers to use the medicine of mercy rather than severity.
It would also be helpfull for the Editorial Board of the Tablet to attend a diversity training course in order to move away from their rather dogmatic liberal stance. I also look forward to reading further articles on the old rite of Mass in the Tablet.

Abortion 2008

2008-06-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

The recent events ought to convince us that there is at present not much of a pro-life presence in Parliament. Even those who campaigned to reduce the upper limit have turned out to be entirely in favour of abortion on demand as long as the unborn child is not a graphic reminder of who he or she is. A number of "catholics " have also stated their belief that abortion should be safe, legal and rare - unaware that these are precisely the sentiments of President Clinton.
In order to be truly counter - cultural, we need to be formed according to what may be refered to as a Catechesis in the Catacombs.

Pope Bendict and Geza Vermes

2008-06-25T06:35:00.000-07:00

Geza vermes is an ex-catholic priest who has written a rather bitter review of Pope Benedict's book Jesus of Nazareth. Perhaps this is not suprising as Vermes has spent the last few decades trying to convice us that there is a difference between the Jesus of history and Christ of faith. In contrast, Pope Benedict reminds us that the Jesus of history is truely the Christ of faith. Jesus really knew who He is. He truly rose from the dead. The Gospels are to be entirely trusted.
What Pope Benedict is saying is that our faith and our hope are to be based solidly on the Word made flesh who dwelt among us.

Why Not Orthodox?

2008-04-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

I have a deep respect for the Eastern Orthodox Churches, their traditions and their liturgies. If they were in communion with Rome, I would probably choose to worship with them. Relations between the Greek Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church where I live are excellent.
I do find the Orthodox teachings on divorce and contraception to be weak. Rome is surely right on these matters and this is thanks to the Papal Magisterium. Orthodox Christians are sometimes critical of what they perceive to be precise definitions by Rome on matters such as Real Presence. However, historically it was the great Eastern Fathers such as Athanasius and the Cappadocian Fathers who were very precise when it came to matters of definitions. Rome has simply continued this tradition.

Why Catholic?

2008-04-30T13:45:00.000-07:00

As an Anglican, I discussed Christianity with a friend who belongs to the Indian Orthodox Church. He told me that although his Church had seperated from Rome in AD 451, they still believe in the Real Presence, prayers for the dead, prayers to the saints and especially the Mother of God - in fact all things Roman with the exception of Papal Primacy.
What I thought was the belief of the Roman Catholic Church turns out to be the belief of all Christians prior to the Reformation. The Reformation was truly a revolution. I knew that I had to choose between Rome and Constantinople.

About Me

2008-04-27T02:10:00.000-07:00

My name is Pravin Thevathasan. I converted to the Catholic faith some years ago after many years in the Agnostic fold. Before my conversion, I spent some years studying the Hindu and Buddhist religions and my studies have left me with a certain respect for these religious traditions.
I am also ecumenical minded. I believe that, as orthodox Catholics, we have more in common with Eastern Orthodox Christians and Evangelical Christians than with liberal Catholics.
I am not at present a member of one particular movement within the Church. I deeply appreciate my many contacts with various Catholic movements including the Dominicans, the Oratorians, Opus Dei etc. The priest who has perhaps most influenced me is a Jesuit named Fr. Thwaites.
I have named this site after St Cosmas who, like me, is a physician. My nom de plume is Joseph Matthew as I like these two saints. My favourite theologians are Aquinas and Newman.

The College of Psychiatrists and Abortion

2008-04-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

Lord David Steele, who now claims to listen to the medical profession, did not do much listening back in 1967 when both the British Medical Association and the RCOG were both opposed to making abortion legal. The College of Psychiatrists was the most pro-abortion of the colleges back then. The College had denied that women are significantly affected by abortion.
Until now. The College now recognises that there are some studies that indicate that women suffer depression and other psycho;ogical disorders as a result of abortion. What is truly significant is the recent College statement that there are no psychiatric indications for abortion.
Which begs the question why so many abortions in Britain take place for reasons of mental health?

Site dedication

2008-04-23T01:40:00.000-07:00

This site is dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima.