Crannóggy Island

This is by  Rod Dreher at  The American Conservative. Jack has decided to post the  article in full  (minus the tweets which don't copy easily) as it raises valid points that are being ignored by politicians. It's a tad long winded, like most articles by him, but well worth a read: Take a look at this headline now leading CNN's website: The answer is, "Probably not, for now." Uh-huh. We'll see. Meanwhile,  did you see this news from eight days ago? : The Pentagon will keep  several thousand American troops in southeast Romania  for at least nine more months, closer to the war in neighboring Ukraine than any other U.S. Army unit, officials said on Saturday. Over the last year, the sprawling Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, just a seven-minute rocket flight across the Black Sea from where Russian forces have settled in Crimea, has become a training hub for NATO forces in southeast Europe. The forces would be a first line of defense should Russia...

This is a post by Bell from his weblog  Bell in the Breach  which he kindly invited Jack to publish or link to. Happy Jack will follow this up with an article considering Judas' eternal fate in a few days time. So, for now, please focus on Judas' motives. I Which disciple has the greatest influence on the world today? Peter, the buffoon who tried to walk on water? The braggart who swore allegiance up and down and then disappeared so fast when the squeeze went on there was nothing left behind but a hologram of dust? No, not him. How about John, the beloved? Loyal to the foot of the cross, right there to the last breath of the Body? Please. Paul, then, the brilliant intellect and zealous converter of souls? In a world where “it’s all good”, not so much. No, it’s none of them. I’ll give you a hint – it’s Judas Iscariot. Forgot about him, didn’t you? But he was an apostle too, and that’s a troubling thought. In truth, we know nothing about him. The only historical sources we ...

According to  LifeSiteNews , Pope Francis has  issued  "brief, confusing comments on the issue of homosexuality, which seem to firmly contradict the Catholic Church’s teaching through the centuries."  Pope Francis recently said that homosexuality shouldn’t be considered a crime, noting that as many as a dozen countries still enact the death penalty for homosexual acts. “We are all children of God and God loves us as we are and with the strength that each of us fights for our dignity. Being homosexual isn’t a crime. It’s not a crime. Yes, but it’s a sin. OK, but first let us distinguish between sin and crime. Because as well, lack of charity to our neighbour is a sin. And you (each one), how are you doing?” The Holy Father began by citing the Catechism’s call to welcome persons with homosexual tendencies. " The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitut...

“We can’t be diminished. We can’t be silenced, because the source of our mission is divine, and you can’t kill that which is divine.” While the Western churches navel gaze about falling congregations, fret about all things homosexual and transsexual, deal with sex abuse in their midst, and engage in internal and external 'cultural wars', Christians across the globe face daily threats to their lives.  The persecution of Christians is at its highest point in three decades, according to the latest report from advocacy group Open Doors .  The World Watch List, released by Open Doors on Jan. 18, reported that, overall, the number of Christians facing persecution worldwide remained steady in 2022 at approximately 360 million. In a list of the 50 countries with the most persecution, North Korea returned to the first spot in 2022. The year prior, Afghanistan had landed in the top ranking following the Taliban’s takeover of the country’s government. Afghanistan ranks ninth in the lates...

Posted by Dodo In the 'free love', drug fuelled search for 'answers' in the 1960/70s some turned to Buddhism, Hinduism and Kabbala for spiritual knowledge. Yet these provided no real insights at all into the predicament of man in a fallen world whose his soul had been wounded.   This song captured this yearning: I look at you all See the love there that's sleeping While my guitar gently weeps I look at the floor And I see it needs sweeping Still my guitar gently weeps I don't know why nobody told you How to unfold your love I don't know how someone controlled you They bought and sold you I look at the world And I notice, it's turning While my guitar gently weeps With every mistake We must surely be learning Still my guitar gently weeps I don't know how you were diverted You were perverted too I don't know how you were inverted No one alerted you I look from the wings At the play you are staging While my guitar gently weeps 'Caus...

Happy Jack has been 'under the weather' recently but is on the mend.  Meantime, here's one of his favourite (almost prophetic) songs from a beautiful singer song-writer, Sandy Denny, whose short life came to an untimely and tragic end. Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving But how can they know it's time for them to go? Before the winter fire, I will still be dreaming I have no thought of time For who knows where the time goes? Who knows where the time goes? Sad, deserted shore, your fickle friends are leaving Ah, but then you know it's time for them to go But I will still be here, I have no thought of leaving I do not count the time For who knows where the time goes? Who knows where the time goes? And I am not alone while my love is near me I know it will be so until it's time to go So come the storms of winter and then the birds in spring again I have no fear of time For who knows how my love grows? And who knows where the time goe...

Cap'n BadBack Blowers perches in his Crow's Nest. His weathered eye always open. With cutlass, spyglass and pirate headband, he is on constant watch. Alert, scanning the Holy See for Buccaneer Dodo and his mateys. Cap'n BadBack Blowers sounds the alarm   Fowl play?  Fowl play! The game is afoot, dear communicants.  *chuckles*   Captain Uncle Brian did Parlay "In answer to your first query, I wasn't consciously quoting, or even alluding to, any other source."  Was I Bilge-sucking or are ye three sheets to the wind? "Why do you ask? " Was the captain 'Hornswaggling' "Am I missing your point?"  Blimey! "And in answer to your second,  I was born and brought up in the C of E but am now,  and have been for nearly twenty years, an "RC" " I be not in possession of 'Letters of Marque'   "But my views on denominations are not divisive, quite the opposite."  Savvy? Yo...