I admit it, Jeffrey Archer is someone who I dislike, who I am wary and suspicious of, and therefore that may well give me an automatic bias when I come across stories like these.
I don't know the in's and out's of this so I suppose I ought to reserve some judgement, suffice to say that I am a bit unsure about the theological accuracy here and concerned about the Vatican approval, esp as Archer, as well described by Catherine Bennett in her column in The Guardian earlier this week:
"...is not devout and has never, unlike Jonathan Aitken, repented of anything. He is not a churchgoer. He is not spiritual. On the contrary: visiting interviewers find him gloating, with his customary enthusiasm, over the substantial treasures he has laid up on Earth. Rather than beg for absolution, he has, in the past, proclaimed his intention to appeal against a conviction he believes to have been unfair. Could he have been sent to challenge their forgiveness? If so, Moloney has responded magnificently, telling the world how much he admires Archer's "honesty and integrity".
More of her article can be read here.
I just don't understand what the Catholic Church (an organisation of which I have much love and respect) is playing at here., because the way things look on the surface it smacks of double standards, they might just as well stop their ban on contraception (and I was never a fan of that, the ban I mean ;) )
Would be interested to know what Cally's Kitchen makes of this and whether this is a spin on what is hopefully a more positive story.
2 comments:
can i ask why you are not a fan of the ban on contaception? I can appreciate disagreeing with the view that married couples should be open to creating life, but ultimately that's the church's position - therefore, surely the ban on contraception is the only possible position they could have, surely?
For the simple reason it isn't mentioned in the Bible. Yes there was Onan and "spilling his seed on the ground" but he was trying to prevent a particular dynasty taking place!
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