 Not since the cowled and hooded horror-monks of 18c Gothic novels has there been such fictional excitement over sinister Catholic plots. No sooner has the dire Da Vinci code begun to flag than an interesting novel comes over from Italy this week - Imprimatur, by two Italian novelists who say they have established beyond doubt that Pope Innocent XI bankrolled the invasion of England by William of Orange; leading to the downfall of James II and the (Catholic) Stuarts, the triumph of the Protestants, and the end of Catholicism as a force in English politics. Which would be a bit of an own goal.
The Catholic Encyclopaedia online mentions and discards the story about William of Orange, but he does seem to be a very political Pope indeed, with a finger in plenty of other resistances and invasions. But in Italy, the claim has caused such outrage that the authors, Monaldi & Sorti, are hardly able to market the book within Italy. The Independent says it is on the "informal but irresistible orders of the Catholic Church." Which is attractively un-disprovable...
 Immigration changes the face of churchgoing across the world. Reuters report how in a Dallas suburb, a congregation reflect the ever broader diversity of Catholicism in the US: Vietnamese, HIspanic, NIgerian faces join the more 'traditionally' Irish, Italian and Polish Catholics of the US who will greet Pope Benedict next week. It is also observed that the newer Catholic immigrants are more in tune with official Vatican stances than native-born Americans - think homosexuality, women priests, abortion. On the other hand, they're more likely to be socially leftish. Meanwhile in the UK the Times visits the Portugese community in the Oval, London: “We founded the Mass four years ago with four people,” says Manuel Eduardo Santos, 57, a sandwich-shop worker from Lisbon. Now their numbers have swelled by waves of migrants from Brazil and Madeira. Meanwhile round the corner in Vauxhall the pews are crammed with families from Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, all here for the weekly Spanish-language Mass. Which can, apparently, last for mellow hours rather than the brisk 45-minute canter favoured by Anglo-Saxon Catholics.
Christian churches regularly used to pray "for the conversion of the Jews". Some of the prayers were downright insulting, to modern multifaith sensibilities: like the Good Friday prayer asking God not to refuse mercy " even to the Jews; hear the prayers which we offer for the blindness of that people so that they may acknowledge the light of your truth, which is Christ, and be delivered from their darkness."
Now the Jerusalem Post reports that Pope Benedict XVI' has decided to reformulate the prayer this year.
The full text will be out in March. It will not speak of darkness or blindness...
 It is Superbowl weekend in Phoenix, Arizona, and the sellout crowd of 125,000 fans from out of town need beds. Enter the local Benedictine convent, Our Lady of Guadelupe, raising money for some land, who have decided to offer $250 a night beds to fans, close to the stadium. No alcohol, no smoking, no pool, no TV, no phone in the rooms; but on the other hand some local Marriotts and Hampton charge double that this weekend. And maybe the posters of Mother Teresa, the friendly dog Benito,  the nuns' tame peacock and having a room named after St Hildegard will cheer up the more heartbroken fans when their team loses. Fans of both the New England Patriots and the NY Giants are booked in, and may have to share a bathroom according to the LA Times. The nuns are sanguine. "We're looking forward to it. God wants people to have a good time".
After a long wait, the Muslim leaders who wrote the 'letter of peace" get a response from Pope Benedict. Courteous and cautious, he says that it is important not to ignore or downplay the difference between Christians and Muslims. But “We can and therefore should look to what unites us, namely, belief in the one God, the provident Creator and universal Judge....There is plenty of scope for acting together in the service of fundamental moral values". Sudanese judiciary, please copy.
 The last black Pope was St Gelasius, but Vatican-watchers are saying that this man, Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana, could be the next. Interview in Times online.
1) A Catholic school has been told it cannot sack a headmaster just because he has contracted a (gulp!) civil partnership with another chap.
2)The Catholic Church is threatening to boycott Amnesty International over its insistence that victims of rape should have the right to abortion.
Radio 4 has an interesting programme about the rising demand for - and arrival of - Catholic Polish priests in Britain. What will be fascinating is to see how the Polish Catholic tradition - often pretty strict - meshes with the liberal-right-on-Catholicism common in Britain.
It's known for its theme parks but the new all-Catholic, "vice-free" town, Ave Maria in Florida is for real.
Opening today, the 5,000-acre site will comprise a university and eventually be home to 30,000 Catholics and the country's largest crucifix. Designed on Catholic principles shops in the town won't sell cigarettes, condoms or porn. As Jacqui Goddard in the Times points out, the biggest temptation will be the ice-cream parlour. But is this, as the University's president claims, "helping to build the kingdom of God" or glorifying the religious ghetto?
 The rift between Chinese Catholics and the Vatican widens, with the appointment of Father Li Shan as a Bishop, without Vatican consent. Earlier this year the Pope wrote a letter urging Chinese Catholics towards unity, and independence of state interference.
Meanwhile academics argue that if China is to have a 'state' religion it should be Confucianism: that ancient and fascinating guide to the Good Life. President Hu Jintao has promoted as official slogans such Confucian concepts as "Harmonious Society".
The 2000-year-old philosophy is increasingly studied and respected worldwide, in this age of globalized religion; in the US there are many Confucians. It is, importantly, possible to follow Confucian principles while remaining a Taoist, Christian, Muslim, Shintoist, or Buddhist. To learn about Confucianism London runs courses. A brief online primer is here; a deeper site here.
Perhaps the new education secretary and indeed the exam boards would like to ponder his dictum on education - Confucius was an early meritocrat and advocate of universal education. "Studying without thinking leads to confusion; thinking without studying leads to laziness."
 The Vatican declaration on the validity of other churches has stirred up a hornet's nest (see Ruth Gledhill's blog). Most striking phrase for me: "these separated churches and Communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation".
Is this an implication that the Catholic Church alone does not "suffer from defects" ? What?
The Pope has laid down his Ten Commandments for drivers. We'd welcome your suggestions for more commandments for the road.
Libby Purves is a Times columnist, novelist and Radio 4 broadcaster. Her interest in the glories, inspirations and eccentricities of world religions and cultural traditions was fuelled by an upbringing in Bangkok, Israel, Africa, France and a series of convent schools. Bess Twiston Davies works for the Times Register section and is a regular contributor to the Faith page and Times Online. She studied Hispanic studies and English at Sheffield University and has a journalism diploma from The Robert Schuman Institute, Angers, France. Contact Libby or Bess at: faithcentral@timesonline.co.ukYou might also enjoy Articles of Faith, Ruth Gledhill's wonderful blog about religious affairs.
|
Not since the cowled and hooded horror-monks of 18c Gothic novels has there been such fictional excitement over sinister Catholic plots. No sooner has the dire Da Vinci code begun to flag than an interesting novel comes over from Italy this week - Imprimatur, by two Italian novelists who say they have established beyond doubt that Pope Innocent XI bankrolled the invasion of England by William of Orange; leading to the downfall of James II and the (Catholic) Stuarts, the triumph of the Protestants, and the end of Catholicism as a force in English politics. Which would be a bit of an own goal. 
Recent Comments