On the day when people all over the world are commemorating the personal sacrifice for humanity and cruel death of Jesus of Nazareth, the man who loved people and especially children, we might ask where are His followers today on the issue of Hollie Greig and the pandemic of child-abuse going on in our society?
Jesus said unequivocally “…if anyone causes any one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” [Matthew 18:6].
There is little doubt that what Jesus was referring to here as ‘sin’ was paedophilia which was already rampant 2000 years ago. Not only is it a ‘sin’ by any normal or natural standards but it is notoriously self-replicating, in that abused children often, although by no means always, go on to become themselves abusers as adults.
In Jesus’ view, the premature sexualisation of children and the desecration of their innocence was a canker threatening the whole of a society of God’s people, which is why he reserved for paedophiles one of the sternest indictments of his ministry.
Shouldn’t the Church therefore and individual churches be getting behind Hollie’s campaign for justice and standing up with us against Paedophilia UK PLC?
It seems that Easter weekend could be a very appropriate moment to take a rain-check on this arm of the campaign. So, if you are a regular attendee of a particular church, could you tell us, have you already informed the vicar and/or congregation about Hollie and are they supportive?
It would be good to be able to begin to draw up a list of the churches which have come out in support of Hollie and against Paedophilia UK PLC. And if anyone has enlisted a Bishop to Hollie’s cause that would be marvellous too – if not, how about writing to yours?
A very good friend of mine is a Mason. I have dined with him on a couple of occasions in the Grand Lodge in Bournemouth (damn good curry, the house chef is Indian!).
Around the walls of the main dining hall are plaques denoting all the the heads of the various lodges. It surprised me to see so many Reverands on the lists.
The wife of a friend of my brother is PA to the Bishop of Salisbury, I’ve been meaning to drop him a line.
You’ve hit it John, a substantial cross-section of C of E and Anglican clergy double as freemasons, it is well-known and accepted (in that world anyway) but is it as the historical figure Jesus who walked among the people and never stood on ceremony (or ritual) would have wished?
I agree that there are many churchmen who are involved in Freemasonry and at senior levels in the Church of England too.
There are lists of Masons on Rebecca Television online (though for Welsh Lodges in the main) and it can be seen that the church has many Lodge members there.
I have been advised that Wesleyan Methodists cannot be Freemasons. That applies to Muslims as well. It might be worth while asking them to take this up.
Also bear in mind that a description of the Church of England is “the Tory party at prayer”. They do not practise what they preach however.
Ever heard of the Muslim Brotherhood? They’ve got all areas covered, even if it isn’t in clear sight. The head of the Grand Lodge in Israel is a Palestinian, so which side does he bat for?