The Curious Incident of Rees-Mogg on the Right
A number of weeks ago Catholic Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg gave an interview on a morning TV show where he told two interviewers that, when it comes to same-sex marriage and abortion, he believes what the Catholic Church teaches on these matters.
It is a rare thing these days for a Catholic to actually believe what the Catholic Church teaches. We don’t hear it much on the Irish airwaves.
But back to the interview, as you can imagine, the UK left-wing media went into meltdown. And there were attacks from other sides including from within his own party. But Rees-Mogg stood firm and managed to come out the other end relatively unscathed.
Days later a British tabloid accused the MP of profiting from the sale of stomach ulcer pills that are sometimes used illegally as abortifacients in Indonesia. The Sunday Mirror reported that Mr Rees-Mogg’s investment firm holds a £5 million stake in a pharmaceutical company called Kalbe Farma which produces this drug.
Rees-Mogg replied that the firm does not procure the abortion of babies, and emphasised it was not his money in the investments. “It would be wrong to pretend that I like it but the world is not always what you want it to be.”
The story never really gained legs but what this incident shows is the level of vitriolic abuse Catholics can expect just for stating their beliefs.
Towards the end of the TV interview, Rees-Mogg said that Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats was forced to resign because of his views on same-sex marriage. His “remaining faithful to Christ” was incompatible with leading the Lib Dems and showed that the party ‘could not cope with having a Christian as their leader’.
Rees Mogg added: “It’s all very well to say you live in a multi-cultural society until you’re a Christian, until you hold traditional views of the Catholic Church, that seems to be fundamentally wrong...people are entitled to hold these views.”
Brexit
Another reason why the left-wing media dislike him is because he’s a firm believer in Brexit. To some, this is even worse than being a Catholic!
But at least in the UK you can hear two sides of the Brexit debate. Very rarely or ever is there a debate in Ireland about which direction the European Union is heading. The Irish media constantly bleat out the Orwellian-like mantra - ‘EU good, Brexit bad’. They like to tell you that all opinions are equal but some are more equal than others.
After Brexit, Reese-Mogg accused the BBC of having a “deep-seated bias” towards the EU amid claims the broadcaster gave Remain backers more airtime than Brexiteers. The British public saw through the bias and decided to take the future into their own hands and leave the EU. Rees-Mogg would also be aware that the EU is a union that has purposely omitted any mention of God or Christianity in its constitution.
If he ever becomes the next British Prime Minister, it’s hard to know whether he ‘will wear his heart upon his sleeve’ or do a Kennedy/Kenny on us and put the party before the precepts of his faith.
Quote of the month: ‘Those who are not governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.’ — William Penn, English Quaker, Philosopher.
It is a rare thing these days for a Catholic to actually believe what the Catholic Church teaches. We don’t hear it much on the Irish airwaves.
But back to the interview, as you can imagine, the UK left-wing media went into meltdown. And there were attacks from other sides including from within his own party. But Rees-Mogg stood firm and managed to come out the other end relatively unscathed.
Days later a British tabloid accused the MP of profiting from the sale of stomach ulcer pills that are sometimes used illegally as abortifacients in Indonesia. The Sunday Mirror reported that Mr Rees-Mogg’s investment firm holds a £5 million stake in a pharmaceutical company called Kalbe Farma which produces this drug.
Rees-Mogg replied that the firm does not procure the abortion of babies, and emphasised it was not his money in the investments. “It would be wrong to pretend that I like it but the world is not always what you want it to be.”
The story never really gained legs but what this incident shows is the level of vitriolic abuse Catholics can expect just for stating their beliefs.
Towards the end of the TV interview, Rees-Mogg said that Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats was forced to resign because of his views on same-sex marriage. His “remaining faithful to Christ” was incompatible with leading the Lib Dems and showed that the party ‘could not cope with having a Christian as their leader’.
Rees Mogg added: “It’s all very well to say you live in a multi-cultural society until you’re a Christian, until you hold traditional views of the Catholic Church, that seems to be fundamentally wrong...people are entitled to hold these views.”
Brexit
Another reason why the left-wing media dislike him is because he’s a firm believer in Brexit. To some, this is even worse than being a Catholic!
But at least in the UK you can hear two sides of the Brexit debate. Very rarely or ever is there a debate in Ireland about which direction the European Union is heading. The Irish media constantly bleat out the Orwellian-like mantra - ‘EU good, Brexit bad’. They like to tell you that all opinions are equal but some are more equal than others.
After Brexit, Reese-Mogg accused the BBC of having a “deep-seated bias” towards the EU amid claims the broadcaster gave Remain backers more airtime than Brexiteers. The British public saw through the bias and decided to take the future into their own hands and leave the EU. Rees-Mogg would also be aware that the EU is a union that has purposely omitted any mention of God or Christianity in its constitution.
If he ever becomes the next British Prime Minister, it’s hard to know whether he ‘will wear his heart upon his sleeve’ or do a Kennedy/Kenny on us and put the party before the precepts of his faith.
Quote of the month: ‘Those who are not governed by God will be ruled by tyrants.’ — William Penn, English Quaker, Philosopher.
Kolbe Apostolate
If you are familiar with the life of St Maximilian Kolbe, you will be aware that he died in Auschwitz in 1941 after taking the place of a condemned prisoner.
During his life the Polish Franciscan priest, who had a great devotion to Our Lady, used the printing press as a means of evangelisation, producing dozens of periodicals and magazines. Among other things he is the patron saint of journalists which is why we call on him for help quite regularly here in the Alive! newspaper!
The idea of an apostolate inspired by the life of St Maximilian Kolbe came to me a number of years ago but I ‘left it on the shelf’ as it were. But perhaps the time is right now to resurrect the idea.
Because St Maximilian used the printing press to convert souls to God, it is hoped the apostolate will use modern means of media for evangelisation.
So I am calling on writers and designers out there who have a strong faith and who would be interested in coming together to help develop this apostolate.
The apostolate will have a strong emphasis on prayer, particularly the rosary and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and it will give support and encouragement for its members in their endeavours.
If you are interested, email me for more info. Thank you.
Email: kolbeapostolate@gmail.com.
During his life the Polish Franciscan priest, who had a great devotion to Our Lady, used the printing press as a means of evangelisation, producing dozens of periodicals and magazines. Among other things he is the patron saint of journalists which is why we call on him for help quite regularly here in the Alive! newspaper!
The idea of an apostolate inspired by the life of St Maximilian Kolbe came to me a number of years ago but I ‘left it on the shelf’ as it were. But perhaps the time is right now to resurrect the idea.
Because St Maximilian used the printing press to convert souls to God, it is hoped the apostolate will use modern means of media for evangelisation.
So I am calling on writers and designers out there who have a strong faith and who would be interested in coming together to help develop this apostolate.
The apostolate will have a strong emphasis on prayer, particularly the rosary and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and it will give support and encouragement for its members in their endeavours.
If you are interested, email me for more info. Thank you.
Email: kolbeapostolate@gmail.com.
