Introducing The Worlds First Catholic Woman Bishop

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Introducing The Worlds First Catholic Woman Bishop

Blogged by James Preece on 4th March 2010

In a shock move this morning (not that it suprised me very much) the Catholic Bishops Conference announced that since they have a Bishop of the Forces they might as well have a Bishop of the Schools as well.

Bishop Oona Stannard

Like the Bishop of the Forces, the Rt Rev Stannard has a diocese with no geographical boundaries but is Bishop (and indeed Pope) of anywhere that happens to be a school.

Ed Balls is thrilled.

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Reader Comments

kate said...

So, do we now address her as My Lord, or My Lady, or is it Milady?
My Lady Bishop?
My Bishop Lady?
Bishopess?
Her Lordship?
Her Ladyship?
Her Bishopness?

Athanasius said...

How about 'Judasa'.

-5

BrownishBear said...

You really have been making all sorts of unpleasant assumptions about what Ms Stannard is trying to do. You assume that she is trying to undermine Catholic teaching; you assume that she behaves in a manner unbecoming to her post. I ask these questions:

1. Do you not think that hers is a thankless task? Do you really think that battling against Whitehall Mandarins to get concessions against a secularist agenda is easy? And then when she manages anything at all she gets blasted by you and various other members of yoru pressure group. What kind of Christian charity is that?

2. If there were any doubt whatsoever about her integrity or fidelity, do you really think the bishops of this country are stupid enough to leave her in post? What happened to docility? Oh, it doesn't fit your agenda, does it?

3. As for the obsession with sex education, well, the fact is that the vast majority of parents DO NOT teach their children anything very much. All power to those who do. It is much better that they get information (only information, not encouragement or promotion of anything beyond the faith) from responsible adults than to pick it up in the playground; that way promiscuity lies.

4. You and various others are doing untold damage to the unity of the Church. If it were not for the prudence and charity of our bishops you would be out on you ear.

Just stop it. PLEASE. And do something positive with the faith you clearly have in such abundance.

kate said...

Brownishbear;
1)
Ms Stannard's work is not a 'thankless task', she occupies a very well paid position.Far from battling against Whitehall mandarins, Ms. Stannard helped to draft the wording of this unjust bill and welcomes it. True Christian charity does not neglect the duty of correcting error.
2)
Here's the relevant Canon Law-
Can. 212 #2. - The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.
#3. - According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.
3)
You clearly haven't read the definitive teaching of the Church re sex education, it's called
The Truth and meaning of Human Sexuality, available at this link:http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/rc_pc_family_doc_08121995_human-sexuality_en.html
4
)Without Truth there is no Unity. The Church exists for both.

-4

Brownishbear said...

Kate,
Person gets paid for doing job they were employed to do. Shock, horror.

Are you a new appointment to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith? Are you a Bishop? The bishops are the authentic interpreters; whilst they are capable of making mistakes, they operate within the constraints imposed upon them by the state in order to function at all.

I have read 'Truth and Meaning,, thank you. But it was very kind of you to assume that I don't know what I'm talking about just because I don't agree with people constantly carping. I don't think it helps anyone.

Without love, there is nothing. I'm not going to reply again, because I don't have time. I hope that same is true for you.

Richard said...

Brownishbear: overreacting a little, I think.

kate said...

Oh dear!

Tom said...

Brownish-Bear - even though you say you won't write any more, you might read this. What you have written is not wholly accurate.

You state: "The bishops are the authentic interpreters; whilst they are capable of making mistakes, they operate within the constraints imposed upon them by the state in order to function at all."

Were that true, the great English bishop, St John Fisher, would have capitulated along with his episcopal brethren of the day. The bishops, in fulfilling their divinely-appointed duties, have no obligation to operate within any state-imposed constraints where those constraints are fundamentlly against magisterial teachings.

By all means, defend the bishops, but don't do it with blind obedience.

Ben Trovato said...

Alas, the appointment and support of Julian Filochowski as head of Cafod for so many years - and some of the bishops' desire to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his 'partnership' with an ex-priest engaged in attacking the Church - lead some of us to conclude that appointment to a high post in the Church's bureaucracy is not, ipso facto, a guarantee of anything...

Londiniensis said...

What exactly is she holding, and is that an, ahem, rubber article stretched over the end of it?

James said...

It's just this picture very badly (quickly) cut out.

To the Blessed Virgin Prayer for England

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon England thy "Dowry" and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in thee.

By thee it was that Jesus our Saviour and our hope was given unto the world; and He has given thee to us that we might hope still more.

Plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the cross.

O sorrowful Mother! intercede for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the supreme Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son.

Pray for us all, dear Mother, that by faith fruitful in good works we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with thee, in our heavenly home.

Amen.

Couple's Prayer

O God, our heavenly Father, protect and bless us. Deepen and strengthen our love for each other day by day.

Grant that by thy mercy, neither of us may ever say one unkind word to the other. Forgive and correct our faults, and make us constantly to forgive one another should one of us unconsciously hurt the other.

Make us and keep us sound and well in body, alert in mind, tender in heart, and devout in spirit. O Lord, grant us each to rise to the other's best. Then, we pray thee, add to our common life such virtues as only thou canst give.

And so, O Father, consecrate our life and love completely to thy worship, and to the service of all about us, especially those whom thou hast appointed us to serve, that we may always stand before thee in happiness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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