Crannóggy Island

Lord George Carey has (again) called on MPs to set time aside to discuss legalising euthanasia. He believes statements used by those to oppose assisted dying - such as “life is sacred” or “thou shalt not kill” - are “too broad as principles to be very relevant to the issue”. In a submission to MPs, he said it was instead an “act of great generosity, kindness and human love” to help dying people to end their lives. Lord Carey, who was Archbishop of Canterbury between 1991 and 2002, announced his support for assisted dying in 2014, when a bill was brought forward in the Lords by Labour’s Lord Falconer. The attempt did not succeed. MPs on the health select committee are looking at the issue of assisted suicide and assisted dying. They are considering whether any protections would be needed against coercion, and what capabilities a person would need to be able to consent to the end of their life. In his submission to the inquiry, Lord Carey wrote: “It is profoundly Christian to do all ...

Crannogs are houses built on artificial islands over water, usually with a bridge or causeway joining them to the shore. When I set up this little blog it was envisaged as a place for friends who had formed relationships on the Archbishop Cranmer weblog to meet, keep in touch and exchange ideas, share what's happening in our respective lives, and even share the odd bit of 'gossip'. To me, this was what I enjoyed most on the site. It was 'friendly rivalry' and there was plenty of good humour among the disagreements. Not 'good disagreements' (heaven forfend!) but an underlying friendship despite our differences. Some 90 posts, 30,000 visits, and 3,000 comments later, it's time to reassess. Please let me know your thoughts and ideas on the following: Has it served its purpose and it is now time to move on?  Where do folk want to take the blog - if anywhere?  If we continue, what type of posts would you want to read?  Can others contribute guest posts (on an...

Vatican News translation   of the preface to Pope Francis’ new book,  Il Miracolo Della Vita  (The Miracle of Life):   “This book aims to remind the reader of the wonder and joy of each one’s coming into the world. It shows the beauty of looking at unborn life as the holder of the highest right that belongs to everyone: that of existing. Beauty, yes, because the spectacle of nature taking its course instills wonder and calls for care, protection, and welcome. "In addressing the subject of this book, above all, I invite everyone around the world to reflect on the reality of abortion not only from the basis of one or another faith or thought tradition, but also with the qualified contribution of science. "It is a firm but calm appeal to bring about discussion with my brothers and sisters, with whom I share our vast and magnificent multifaceted humanity. "Central to this book is the input from a scientist, an expert in embryology and one actively involved in mixed bioet...

  Recently, the first baby born in the United Kingdom with DNA from three parents was born after doctors performed a revolutionary IVF procedure designed to prevent rare but dangerous mitochondrial diseases. Apparently, "less than five” children have been born in the U.K. through this process. This is the first time the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has confirmed any children in the country being born through this process. Because the embryos combine sperm and egg from the biological parents with tiny structures called mitochondria from the donor’s egg, the resulting baby has DNA from the mother and father as usual, plus a small amount of genetic material from the donor Research on MDT, which is also known as mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT), was pioneered in the UK by doctors at the Newcastle Fertility Centre. Progress with MDT led Parliament to change the law in 2015 to permit the procedure. The first case was approved in 2018. Approval is given on a ca...

As Christian churches face an onslaught by 'progressives' it is claimed those holding to traditional beliefs are failing to understand scripture correctly. They're 'old fashioned' and 'out of touch' with new sociological and historical insights. They need to read scripture differently.  Two questions arises: Is scripture clear? and: Can doctrine change? From  The Catholic Thing Perspicuity is not one of the five “solas” –  sola scriptura, sola fide, sola gratia, solus Christus, and soli deo gloria  – that serve as the core doctrines of the Protestant Reformation. But it was affirmed by all the leading thinkers of the Reformation: Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Cranmer. And, even if not regularly preached from the Protestant pulpit, it is the key that unlocks all the rest of Protestant doctrines …   Perspicuity, generally speaking, means that the Bible is clear, though there is not a single, agreed-upon Protestant definition of the doctrine. Some believe the Bi...

Global South church leaders – representing about 75% of Anglicans who frequent pews – have decided that it's time to start cutting ties between the "Canterbury Communion" and the rest of the Anglican Communion. Anglicanism's First World churches have a disproportionately high number of active bishops and large trust funds built on generations of wealth. Global South Anglican flocks are rich in converts, children and, with many battle zones, martyrs. While clashes over LGBTQ issues have made headlines, Anglicans have increasingly become divided by colonial history, economics, culture, demographics and radically different approaches to doctrine. From Anglican Unplugged “What this means is that we are now going to have two Communions of Anglicans going forward, the Global South Anglicans who are keeping to the teachings of the Scripture and the Global North Anglicans who are preaching and practicing a watered-down gospel.” This is how the Rev. Tom Otieno, the vicar of Sa...

Happy Jack is getting concerned by Carl's absence from weblogs. The last he heard from him was over 4 months ago. Since then he hasn't posted anything. Here's what he said: "I just haven't felt well recently so I haven't felt much like writing. Nothing serious. Just aggravating." If anyone has any news please let HJ know.

From the  Catholic Herald :   When King Charles enters Westminster Abbey for his coronation on May 6 he will be preceded by the Cross of Wales, a silver processional cross made for the Church in Wales containing two relics of the True Cross. These were given to him by Pope Francis. It is a mute witness not only to the friendly relationship between the King and the Pope but to the reality that the monarchy is grounded in Christianity and to the fundamentally Christian nature of the coronation itself.   The monarch is the head of state of the United Kingdom, but he is something more; he will be a consecrated king, sealed with the oil of chrism. And sacral kingship is very old indeed. In the Old Testament we find that, as the anthem  at the service reminds us, “Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon king.” It is asking a great deal of any human being to follow the kingship of Solomon, but the character of this part of the ceremony quite consciousl...