Dear Fr Ray,
We've never met but I saw you at Fr Tim Finigan's silver jubilee mass in 2009 and we both know Mr Malcolm Kemp who, I understand, plays the organ at St Mary Magdalene at times.
Please forgive the unsolicited e-mail (I obtained the address from your parish website) but you wrote a post mentioning Luther and the bibelregal recently, in which you called the German doctor of the church a "wicked anti-Semite" with "bowel problems." I wonder if you attributed Luther's wickedness (I don't personally consider him to have been particularly wicked, just tortured and given to invective) to his bowel problems and not his anti-Semitism, founded in his long study of the scriptures and church history? Because if the reverse is true then you might find Luther in the company of many illustrious popes and monarchs who either expelled the Jews from their realms altogether or restricted their activities and freedom to read the poisonous Talmud.
I would also ask if, as a traditionalist, you might agree with my view that Nostra Aetate is an heretical document that contradicts two thousand years of Christian teaching about the Jews?
Best regards,
Patrick Sheridan
I can't say I'm surprised that I received no reply. This is just the sort of shabby treatment I got from the people at Rorate Caeli and the New Liturgical Movement. Just another sanctimonious priest who, in typically liberal fashion, considers himself and his novel views superior to goodly churchmen from times past.
"Just another sanctimonious priest who, in typically liberal fashion, considers himself and his novel views superior to goodly churchmen from times past."
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head!
It is possible that he rarely reads his email. I have found priests, ministers, etc. to take as long as two months to respond to an email, and the response usually contains some sort of explanation that they rarely read their email. Also, I think he might see your letter as simply provocative---"troll bait" is the current term, I believe. He might also think that you are simply a nutter or perhaps a "Luther," as you describe him. I myself have been something of a "Luther," so I do not criticize. Still, it is a habit of mind that is best walked away from. It leads not to truth but to madness and tremendous suffering for oneself and for all around one.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have found that being given to invective will make one unwelcome in all circles. That is not terribly surprising, if you think about it. Those involved with "Rorate Caeli" and the "New Liturgical Movement" may not be welcoming, I would not know, but you do seem to deal with people rather harshly, at times. Even your letter quoted above was a bit harsh.
Yes, an old friend who is a priest wrote to me about that once. In this case, though, I fail to see how somebody with a regularly-updated blog just misses e-mails. I know it has been read.
DeleteI'm sure he gets a lot of nutters emailing him. Last year the Brighton Argus published a horribly defamatory attack on him because of his traditional views regarding homosexuality---an attack then reprinted in the Telegraph---and he was the recipient of much vicious invective and threats following that. I expect you may have better luck if you soften your language and perhaps send him the message on his Facebook.
DeleteThat seems to be the problem of clerical bloggers. They're already taken more seriously by their readers because they are priests, even if they're illiterate, and they seem to devote too much time to their worldwide readership and becoming personalities in the worldwide traditionalist movement and neglect their pastoral work. Of course, one thing in Ray Blake's favour is that at least he has a parish and a real job - unlike his friend the fat sponge John Zuhlsdorf.
DeleteIf you notice, he doesn't post much (unlike Fr Z). He is too busy running his parish and taking care of souls.
DeleteI've noticed that (lately) about Tim Finigan in his new parish of Margate too.
DeleteChildermass,
ReplyDeleteWas the article in the Brighton Argus in retaliation for Blake's negative comment concerning Jerome Lloyd's theatrical performances as a transvestite.
Indeed Father had gotten a lot of flack in Sodom-by-the-Sea for his honest and public defense of Church teaching---and not "hateful" at all, considering the number of homosexuals present at his parish. I'm certain this was the reason why the Argus defamed Fr Blake regarding his views of the poor in September 2013.
DeleteSo he can either do parish work or reply to your email.
ReplyDeleteNo an hard decision.
I always take emails as for information purposes only and feel no compunction to reply.
Well, when I send messages to people I expect a reply. It's called common decency.
Delete