D Day and Ypres

About to depart on a trip to northern France to see the battlefields, memorials and cemeteries. Will report back anon.

Perspective.

The Buxton Advertiser has as its front page story the tale of a massive crucifix being cut down. It was cut down as the Pope was due to arrive in the UK. It has been a feature overlooking Buxton for many years. The paper revealed it had been sent a note identical to one found at the scene of the crime. The cutting down has seemingly been done by someone abused as a pupil at a school in Yorkshire (or by someone very close to a victim). 

The note drew attention to the secrecy and cover-up of abuse which has gone on for decades. "This week Humberside Police  announced they are to re-investigate dozens of fresh claims of abuse at the home which was run by the De La Salle Order of Christian Brothers." The paper also revealed that, "A judge has ruled that the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesborough, which owned the home, is responsible for compensation claims following the abuse, although the church is appealing against the decision." (my emphasis).

One of the several letters on the subject in the paper talked about 'desecration' and a vicar described it as a 'profanity.' While it is clearly upsetting to have this happen, it can be re-erected in a matter of days. The damage caused by thousands of priests abusing children physically and sexually will take a lifetime to put right. Many will never ever recover. Several victims have taken their own lives. 

The organised, systematic cover up and denial of responsibility by the Catholic church is far, far worse. Why has no Bishop or Archbishop been tried for covering up crimes? Now that is something to get upset about. 

To the outraged of Buxton - get some perspective on this issue.

Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival

One of the many delights of this festival is the discovery of music and musicians who exist off the usual radar. An event described as showcasing the Jazz of the 1920's and 30's did not really appeal but turned out to be the best concert of the weekend. The Nova Scotia Jazz Band had four excellent musicians who were all experienced in playing together. Comprising Banjo/Guitar, Sax/Clarinet, Bass, sublime Cornet, with lots of good humour and good tunes, made for a very entertaining event. Solos were short, brilliantly played and served the tune with the melody line always clear.

Lagavulin took over the sponsorship of the event this year and made a difference. Plenty of staff on hand at each venue giving out free drams of excellent whisky. Lots of promotion too. It all helped make the ticket price very good value.

Last year was memorable for the brilliant groundbreaking Norwegians. They did divide their audience though - a significant number couldn't stand them! Nothing to match that this year. Zoe Rahman who is a terrific pianist, came out of the solo dominated ensemble events as a real talent. 

Beatification

'The Pope will beatify 19th Century theologian Cardinal Newman in an open-air Mass on the final day of his four-day state visit to the UK.' (BBC Online 19/9/10)

 Cardinal Newman was aware that this might happen to him. He did not want his bones to become 'relics.' He left instructions for his coffin to be filled with compost - and it was. His coffin was opened a few years ago in a search for relics and it was empty. Newman had achieved his aim. "His body has been taken into heaven," was the line peddled by the catholic church. No it hasn't. It rotted away - with the help of the compost.

 He did not want to become a saint or even 'blessed' (the first step to sainthood). One of the tests on the path to sainthood is that of the miracle. A Deacon from the US came forward to claim that a prayer to Cardinal Newman cured his chronic backache. A biographer of Newman checked this claim with leading back specialists. They found the idea of this 'cure' being a miracle laughable. 

What would Newman say about the ceremony being held today? He himself admitted that his ego made him most unsuitable for sainthood. So why is it taking place?

Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival 2010

Fabulous location, out of the ordinary venues, top class performers accompanied by a first class single malt. What's not to like?

Well to this listener, there is too much formulaic performing which relegates the tune to the service of the soloist(s). Trygve Seim and his mates, the Norwegian boundary-breakers, who split the audience into love and loath camps last year, raised the bar. Having seen a quintet and a sextet over two days, it becomes wearying to sit through the same performance pattern. Tune - (rhythm section lays down a groove)- alto sax solo- tenor sax solo- trumpet solo- piano solo - then either bass or drummer has a go - then back to the 'tune.' Judging by the whoops and hollers which break out at the end of each solo, it is clearly a popular formula. After a few listens it wears. Occasionally the solos are reduced and the music benefits.

Play 'Stramash,' a cd written about Islay, by Colin Steele, an exceptional musician, and you will find some gorgeous tunes and melodies. He incorporated some traditional folk elements into the mix. The musicians serve the tune and the result is atmospheric and beguiling. 

Put some of those self-same musicians on a live stage and get seemingly endless 'brilliant improvisations' (according to some)  or masturbatory noodling (according to others).

Pope's State Visit

The charge sheet is massive.

Cover up of child abuse and victim suppression thereby perverting the course of justice and magnifying problems for victims. As Cardinal Ratzinger, he issued a secret order commanding all sex abuse cases to be kept 'in house' and under wraps.

Promotion of the spreading of AIDS by banning condom use thereby condemning millions of impoverished people to an early death with horrible consequences for the families and communities affected.

Lying about the effectiveness of condoms.

Declaring women priests to be an evil on a par with child abusers.

Declaring the prophet Mohammad to have brought the world only evil and inhuman things. (A bit rich this one, bearing in mind this charge sheet.)

Promoting the beatification of Pope Pius XII - the wartime pope who refused to condemn the Nazis and who is reported to have colluded with the transportation of the Jews.

Re-admitting into the church a formerly excommunicated Bishop, a well publicised Holocaust denier.

Former member of the Nazi Party as a Hitler Youth member.

The case for the defence?

Most young men in Nazi Germany were members of the Hitler Youth. 

He is said to be a 'bit shy.'

Er, that's it.

Best outcome? Arrested as soon as he lands - sent to the International Court in the Hague. Fat chance.

Likeliest outcome? Predominantly apathetic with massive and successful efforts made to keep protesters away.

Legacy? Taxpayers footing the bill. Continued decline in Catholic faith.

Cormac Murphy-O'Connor

The current leader of the Catholic church in Belgium is keen to 'move on' and look to the future, rather than examine the past. This was said in the light of yet more appalling revelations about child abuse carried out by Catholic priests in Belgium. 

As the Belgians begin to come to terms with the extent and depth of their child abuse cases it is instructive to examine the recently retired leader of the Catholic faith in the UK. As a brief biog on Wikipedia has it, "Bishop Cormac Murphy-O'Connor found himself subject to public scrutiny regarding a priest in his diocese when he was Bishop of Arundel and Brighton. During this time it was brought to his attention that a priest, Michael Hill, was a child sexual abuser.

Instead of reporting Hill to the police, Murphy-O'Connor allowed the crime to be covered up and transferred Hill to Gatwick Airport chapel, where the Cardinal believed he would not be able to molest children. In 1997, Hill was finally convicted as a child molester and jailed for sexually assaulting nine children. After three years in jail, Hill was given another five years for assaulting three other boys."

"In 2000, when O'Connor ascended to the status of Archbishop of Westminster, the case became known to the general public."  It also emerged that Hill had continued to abuse children while at Gatwick. 

Now although he has retired, he has been asked by the Pope to head a team investigating child abuse in Ireland. As the Guardian puts it, "Two official reports have pointed to decades of rape, coercion and sexual attack by predatory clerics whose activities, in the words of one of the reports, were "obsessively" concealed by the church hierarchy." Now O'Connor is on his way as head of the papal team. Get an 'obsessive concealer' to investigate other 'obsessive concealers.' What!? 

When will one of these criminals be charged by the civilian authorities for aiding and abetting criminals or for perverting the course of justice?