The Hobby Horses of Belief (and assorted hazards)

Obviously Christchurch Cathedral doesn't have the global or even national signficance of Notre-Dame, and the church/state relationship differs as betwen France and NZ. But the civic and heritage sentiments which support the reconstruction of Notre-Dame are also the primary driver for the reconstuction of Christchurch cathedral. If this matter were left to the church alone, there's no doubt that the Cathedral would not be rebuilt.

Doesn't the RCC get it? Crazy drug fueled violent orgies and that priest says it's only newsworthy because it involves the clergy.

At least this creep went to prison for awhile. Maybe Poland's wising up, hard to believe though.

De Burkes at it again, at the CoI synod:

A motion to allow all children of unmarried mothers be baptised in the Church of Ireland was rejected at its General Synod in Armagh, despite the overwhelming support of lay delegates.

The motion had called on the Synod to acknowledge “as a reality of modern life that infants are often born to single parents and/or to couples who are not married”.

Over 40 per cent of births in Ireland are outside of marriage. In a vote on the motion, 69 clergy were in favour with 72 against, while of lay delegates 144 were in favour with 83 against. Due to the clergy rejection, the motion fell.

Separately, proceedings at the General Synod, in the Armagh City Hotel, were disrupted for a short period on Saturday, with a protest by Martina Burke and members of her family. Mrs Burke’s son Enoch, who had been a teacher at the Church of Ireland-run Wilson’s Hospital School in Co Westmeath, is currently in Mountjoy Prison over his failure to comply with an order to stay away from the school.

They didn't have a good time of it last week in court:

The father of jailed teacher Enoch Burke has been found guilty of assault after a trial heard he grabbed and “flung” a female garda to the ground “like a red rag to a bull” after his wife was escorted out of the Court of Appeal (CoA).

Ammi Burke, was found guilty of obstructing a garda during the same “commotion” on March 7th last year at the Four Courts.

Finalising the case, Judge Finan applied the Probation Act in the case of Sean Burke, sparing him a recorded conviction. However, she convicted Ammi Burke and imposed a fine of €400, to be paid within 12 months.

Ms Burke told the court she does not intend to pay and that she would appeal the verdict.

Between that and prison etc this family are a serious drain on the taxpayer.