The Catholic Bloggosphere has offended Aunti Austen's delicate clericalist sensibilities

Austen Ivereigh attacks Smeaton.

(Turn about is fair play, Austen).

I thought this was amusing.

And while his organisation, SPUC, does some useful research, its policies of refusing to engage with attempts by Parliament to reduce the numbers of abortions are at odds with the very clear and stated policy of the Catholic bishops of England and Wales...

Well, what I really thought was amusing was the thought that popped into my head when I'd read it: "There's a difference between 'getting engaged' and 'getting into bed with'.

But then, I'm a terrible, wicked, hidebound Taliban Catholic who blogs and criticises our keepers bishops. Pass me my shapeless plaid jumper and sneakers. Where's my mantilla?

But Austen has inserted a bit of unwittingly good news. It seems it's not just the UK bishops who want to shut down the bloggers. The bishops around the world are feeling the pinch:

Last June the bishop who chairs the US bishops' conference's communications committee gave a talk on what it means to be a faithful Catholic media organisation. During his talk Bishop Gabino Zavala noted:

As I talked with brother bishops in preparation for this presentation, there was consistent agreement that one aspect that is most alarming to us about media is when it becomes unchristian and hurtful to individuals. For example, we are particularly concerned about blogs that engage in attacks and hurtful, judgmental language. We are very troubled by blogs and other elements of media that assume the role of Magisterium and judge others in the Church. Such actions shatter the communion of the Church that we hold so precious.

Or perhaps I should say, feeling the heat as the Catholic bloggers hold their collective feet to the fire.

Isn't it funny. It seems like just last week that the liberal establishment was droning on and on about more lay participation in the Church. Didn't we hear from someone like Gumbleton or some other aging member of the tie-dye and Birkenstock club that the future of the Church doesn't lie in the hands of the clergy? Isn't this the time of the laity?

typical of the 'Taliban' mentality of many in the blogosphere [sic] who call for the banning of people they regard as "heretical", even when there has been no such call or declaration by those whom the Church's own law entrusts with the authority to do so. Catholic Voices considers this attitude unacceptable in a Catholic organisation, which is why it excluded those who shared it from being part of the project.

Wah! He won't let us play in his sandbox. That'll show us!

Funny how pre-Vatican II clericalism just keeps bouncing back...Ooo the irony!

Taliban Catholic bloggers unite! Throw off your chains of reactionary clericalist oppression!

Update:

Apparently, in Austen's World, not only can the UK Catholic hierarchy do no wrong, there is no anti-Catholic bias in the media.

Nope. None whatever.

It's all probably just part of the vicious imaginations of the Taliban Catholics.

How do I get to where Austen lives? It sounds like a wonderful world.



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