Tablet comes out for Soho masses throughout UK

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/blogs/266/17

Campaign for marriage

If you want to know more about our friends in the Campaign for Marriage please see

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/03/05/comment-the-coalition-for-marriage-a-creeping-rhizome-of-religious-extremism/

Rowan goes back to Cambridge

Mixed news. we knew that Rowan was about to leave Lambeth and for Cambridge but not when. Now we know he starts next year as President of Magdalen following Eamon Duffy, esteemed historian of the reformation. Rowan could not stay any longer without risking his mental health surely? His attempt to keep the Anglican Church together was over ambitious and allowed some to think they actually run the church with their opinions which are borderline hate crimes in my opinion. I just wish he had been able to put aside his idea of communio and manage to speak truth to power. In a small way he made me think of Pius 12 during the second world war when he thought he could save the German church by not condemning the massacre of the Jews. Perhaps not a good example but a pointer.

I still think Rowan one of the greats of contemporary thinking not just religious either. Learned, witty, eyebrowed, a good man. He deserves the mastership of a Cambridge college. I last saw him at Kings Place the Guardian HQ by St Pancras. He was in discussion with the economics editor, a sociology of work and Susie Orbach. Rowan just swept all before him with his scholarship but more so with his wit and good humour.

This is further encouragement to persevere with the Brothers Karamozov before reading Rowan's book on the subject.

The marriage equality debate moves on

We are exhausted. My civil partner and I have worked hard this last week or two. We have attended a number of meetings in Leicester and managed to ask questions of various heirarchs about their views on marriage equality and/or civil partnerships. We have been aghast at some of the examples of homonegativity and/or hate we have encountered. We managed to get questions to the Archbishop of Westminster when he spoke at Leicester University on Tuesday. It was such a pity that his talk was derivative and unimpressive. Afterwards, he was personally warm with us having just recorded an interview with Radio Leicester. The interview had him telling the world that there was a huge difference between a heterosexually married couple and a same sex couple. Although his (and Peter Smith) were more eirenical than Cardinal O'Brien the message is the same. It feels as if there has been a rowing back from the position on marriage that has evolved over the last 4o years that gives equality to the procreative and the affectional ends of marriage. We are back with Darwin and making babies. What an opportunity has been lost? I, along with many other Catholics, feel deeply disturbed by this reactionary position and hope that it will encourage fellow Catholics to speak out (I am not holding my breath).

It used to be said that celibacy was the summit of human achievement for catholics with marriage coming much lower in the pecking order.

Marriage? Civil Partnership? a week in LE2

Well, the letter from archbishops Vincent Nicholls and Peter Smith, has come and gone. It was meant to be read out this weekend. The church I attend did not benefit from the oral version, Thank God, and the existence of the paper version was pointed out by the priest at the end of mass. The homily was largely about the ten commandments with a link to the NT about the primacy of love. I never knew that the commandment about nor stealing referred to kidnap (stealing people) or so a hebrew bible scholar has argued.

This week in Leicester. Theme of the week seems to be outsiders.

Monday sees anti gypsy and traveller permanent site demonstration. DMU production of The Laramie Project starts on Monday also at Curve. This was sparked by the murder of gay teenager Matthew Shephard in Wyoming.

Tuesday archbishop Vincent at the university.

Station Mass at Holy Cross Wednesday 7.30. Philharmonia at DMH Wednesday.

Thursday first night of Gypsy at Curve. 7pm.

Saturday 17th St Patrick's day mass at St Patrick's with the bishop.
Canvassing in Queens Road against the NHS bill in the morning and rally at the Adult Education College in Wellington Street at 2pm.

Spot the outsider theme, eh?

Coull Quartet in Leicester

The Coull Quarted played Haydn, Shostakovitch and Beethoven to a packed audience at the University of Leicester Embrace Arts centre last night. They were excellent and much helped by the programme note and brief introductions by the second violinist. My concert partner and  I were treated to seats so close to the players that we could see the notes on their copies of the music.This gave an impression of what it is like to play in a string quartet especially the intimacy and closeness of the other players.

Background reading: Vikram Seth An Equal Music

Iain McGilchrist's The Master and his Emissary

I have had this book now for a couple of years and not read it until recently. I was reluctant at first because because because...and now I am glad I have. To get a taste of it there is a You Tube 30 minute lecture by McGilchrist at the RSA which is accessible. As are many of the other links on You Tube.

If you have any comments before, during or after reading the book please let me know.