CARDINAL Newman, the Victorian theologian who is due to be beatified by Ratzinger when he arrives in the UK later this week is:
Very popular with everyone – Anglicans, Catholics, even gays like him because they say he was homosexual.
Those are the words of Opus Dei spokesman Jack Valero, reported in today’s Telegraph.
But he added:
There is no question that he [Newman] maintained his vow of celibacy throughout his life. But was he a man of homosexual orientation? We don’t know what went on in his mind and heart but the fact that he had close friendships with men does not imply that he was homosexually inclined.
There has been intense speculation about Newman’s sexuality. On his death in 1890, he was buried in a tomb alongside his lifelong friend, Father Ambrose St John, on the outskirts of Birmingham. The two men had previously lived together.
Valero also accused us Brits of being ignorant about religion, claiming that most people in the UK knew more about Paul Newman, the Hollywood actor, than John Henry Newman.
Paul Newman, left, was said to have been a notorious womaniser, while Cardinal Newman preferred the company of men - and Father Ambrose St John in particular
Valero spoke as it emerged that the Church has only raised £6.2m of its estimated £10m costs for the religious side of the historic state papal visit, while thousands of tickets for the open-air events remain unsold. Taxpayers also face a bill of at least £12m for the state parts such as a reception given by the Queen and heavy security for the most complex ever visit by a foreign head of state.
But Valero, a key figure in the cause to canonise Newman, insisted that the four-day event was a “great coup” for the British Government that would bring “huge prestige and kudos”.
He also predicted that the cities the Pope will visit – London, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow – would make such a “whopping profit” from the Pope’s presence and the large crowds he will attract that the controversy over the cost of the trip will evaporate.
When he touches down, people will start to listen and see that he is more approachable than they thought, and then I think the excitement will build.
He said he hoped the Pontiff would use the legacy of Newman, an Anglican who converted to Rome, to “evangelise” Britain and ease tensions between the two leading Christian denominations over female clergy.
In a briefing to the Vatican press corps in Rome, Valero acknowledged that Britain was now a deeply secular country, with a recent poll showing that the majority of residents were “indifferent” to the first ever state visit by a pontiff.
Nobody knows anything about religion in the UK.
Wrong! The British know all they need to about religion, and are intelligent enough to recognise what utter bollocks it all is. Hence the indifference.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
September 13th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
“Nobody knows anything about religion in the UK,” says Valero. Translation: Nobody wants to accept, without question, the dictat of the papal dictator, in his Mickey Mouse phantasy state, and his contempt for truth, justice or decency and prefers to attempt to hold the old fraud to account for his nefarious and persistent cover up of paedophile abuse by his priests.”
That said, I find Valero’s whines encouraging. Great to know even he admits we are a secular country. Perhaps, with that authority from the Vatican, the government will boot out the unelected bishops in the House of Lords and put a curb on the tsunami of religious effluent that continues to flow from the BBC.
I’m looking forward to watching Peter Tatchell’s programme this evening. I’ll record the Panorama expose of Ratzo.
September 13th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
“The British know all they need to about religion, and are intelligent enough to recognise what utter bollocks it all is. Hence the indifference.”
Amen to that, Barry!
September 13th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
http://www.birminghampost.net/.....-27230858/
If anyone is in the midlands, the pope will be going down the Hagley road into brum on his visit…
September 13th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
It could be viewed as positive that an adult homosexual priest chose to live with his ‘friend’ and had a relationship, rather than be like the majority of priests and take out their suppressed feelings on quireboys.
September 13th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
I’m going to be away in the wilderness taking in the scenery enjoying the fresh air and being eaten alive by midges when the pope does his gig in glasgow I was going to go along and protest but to be honest with Glasgows history of religious stupidity the orange order, the zion baptists, the wee frees and all the other militant proddy bigots who are as batshit crazy as the catholics will probably outnumber those of us who are smart enough to see religion for what it is, the rest will be a bunch of neds and football hooligans singing rangers songs and following the orange order around like lapdogs.
September 13th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
The BBC are absolutely clearing the decks to make way for any old tripe re The Godfather. Read this and weep!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11186584
And they seem to be literally wetting their knickers over the fact that a BBC presenter has been chosen to “lead” the prayers in Hyde Park!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-e.....l-11277354
September 13th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Typical BBC. They can’t even get their strike dates to coincide with the visit.
September 13th, 2010 at 6:22 pm
I wonder if, under the Freedom of Information Act, we could be told how much was spent in the BBC arse licking the Vatican in an attempt (failed) to get Ratzo on to Thought for the Day. A BBC contact tells me the boss man, at least, had an expensive trip to do a bit of lobbying.
September 13th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Peter Tatchell’s documentary is on Channel4 tonight!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cul.....-Pope.html
September 13th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
With the tax funded extravaganza to beatify Newman I thought I might have a look at why Ratzo is so determined to make the man a saint. For a start Newman wrote brilliant prose but that scarcely justifies £20 million and rising from income and various council taxes. A description about John Cornwell’s biography comments on Newman:
“His life was marked by personal feuds, self-absorption, accusations of professional and artistic narcissism, hypochondria, and same-sex friendships that at times bordered on the apparent homo-erotic.”
Well, well, not quite the supposed stuff of saints. Ratzo is said to have studied Newman’s works and to be an admirer. Is their some identification with Newman in that Ratzo appears to be a severely repressed homosexual? Ratzo could not be other than emotionally stunted, the damage he has inflicted on humankind is evidence of that, but does he at a repressed level see the vindication of Newman as a vindication of himself. In raising Newman to sainthood does he see this, unconsciously perhaps, as a means of absolving his own multitudinous guilts. Are we being ripped off via our taxes so that Ratzo may feel better?
September 13th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
I would say that the UK has a largely secular population but cannot in any way claim to have a secular government, if we could then the National Secular Society could pack up and say ‘our work here is done’.
The population at large knowing sod all about religion is a very good sign but Valero should know that those of us who actively oppose religion know a great deal about the subject, probably more than he does in fact.
September 13th, 2010 at 6:54 pm
Panorama (8.30pm):
“What The Pope Knew”
There are similar programmes scheduled on BBC2 and ITV later in the week. The RC hierarchy obviously picked the worst possible time to feature Ratty in a PR drive!
September 13th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Paul Newman a notorious womaniser? No, on the contrary he was noted for his devotion to his wife. As well as his philanthropy, liberal activism, support of gay rights and concern over climate change.Unless you know something I don’t know.
September 13th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Don
I support your comments. After Paul Newman’s son died from drugs Newman devoted huge sums to charitable causes. He was famously faithful to his wife Joan Woodward. He had a healthy contempt for the razzamataz of the film industry and often said he would have preferred to be a motor racing driver but lacked the talent to be really good – another characteristic, realism and modesty.
He was also one hell of an actor. I particularly liked “Somebody up there likes me” but there were many other great performances.
As you say, unless there is something we don’t know …….
September 13th, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Allegations that Newman (Paul, not the gay cardinal) was a womaniser, and a drunk to boot, are contained in Shawn Levy’s biography “Paul Newman: A Life“. In it Levy alleges that “Newman, married to Joanne Woodward for 50 years,carried on affairs while married, including several of long duration”. I should point out that I too was a a great Paul Newman fan, and while these revelations came as a surprise, they have not dented my admiration of the man’s terrific presence on the big screen
September 13th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Cardinal Newman also appeared in costume dramas.
September 13th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
But would he appear on Glee?
September 14th, 2010 at 12:36 am
Valero should recognize that the reason there is little interest in religion is that most people know all they want to know already. More than they want mostly.
The picture on the right looks familiar – did they photoshop damian thompson into a cardinal’s clothes (and remove the wrinkles)?
September 14th, 2010 at 10:06 am
If Ratty is not going to the reception, why are we (the tax payers) having one for him?
September 17th, 2010 at 3:46 am
> When he touches down, people will start to listen and see that he is more approachable than they thought
Sure, he’s very approachable. To approach him, you must show subservience and not question any of his actions.