On flying bishops

[Originally posted as a comment at Of Course, I could be wrong]

While I am not without sympathy for those who cannot in conscience receive the priestly ministry of women (I am not among them myself), I remain unable to see why alternative episcopal oversight is necessary in a jurisdiction like England or Wales where women are not ordained to the episcopate. Unlike here, an English FiFer need only ensure that s/he receives the sacraments only from male priests. (Here, s/he would need to know the gender of the priest, his ordaining bishop, the bishop's ordaining bishop...)

The only arguments I have heard are rather fine-spun ecclesiological lines about how the FiF priests can't be in the collegiality of the presbyterate with female priests. In which case I would have thought it was time to leave your diocese and the Anglican Church, rather than associate only with a non-diocesan makeshift "presbyterium."

All Saints Sisters of the Poor

Here is the horarium of All Saints Convent in Maryland. Impressive!

5:30 am Rise
6:00 am Angelus
6:00-6:30 am Meditation in the Chapel
6:30 am Lauds
7:00 am Mass
7:30 am Breakfast
9:30 am Terce
12:00 pm Angelus and Sext
12:15 pm Dinner
3:00 pm None
5:00 pm Vespers, followed by Angelus
5:30 pm Supper
7:15-8:00 pm Recreation
8:00 pm Beginning the Greater Silence, until 9:00 am
8:30 pm Compline
10:00 pm Lights Out


The intervals from 10:00 am to 12 noon and from 2-5 pm are times of silence except on Sundays and greater festivals, and are spent in prayer, work, or study, according to each Sister's personal schedule.

Another epic commercial

Josie Cotton: Johnny Are You Queer?

Johnny what's the deal boy?
Is your love for real boy?
When the lights are low
You never hold me close

Well I saw you today boy
Walking with the gay boys
God it hurt me so
Now I gotta know
Johnny are you queer?

'Cause when I see you
Dancing with your friends
I can't help wondering
Where I stand

I'm so afraid I'll lose you
If I can't seduce you
Is there something wrong?
Johnny come on strong

Oh why are you so weird boy?
Johnny are you queer boy?
When I make a play
You push me away
Johnny are you queer?

'Cause when I see you
Dancing with your friends
I can't help wondering
Where I stand

Johnny you're forsaking
A love you could be taking
I wanna give it to you
But you never come through

Oh why are you so weird boy?
Johnny are you queer boy?
When you asked for a date
I thought that you were straight
Johnny are you queer?

Oh Johnny are you queer boy?
Johnny are you queer?
Tell me, Johnny are you queer?
Tell me, Johnny are you queer?
Johnny are you queer?

Classics corner

Language warning.



"I'm gonna betchslap ya, shetbag!"

Convent time

Today I went to St John's Convent in Toronto for the Sisterhood of St John the Divine's foundation day, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Bishop Ann Tottenham, of whom I am rather fond, was the celebrant and homilist. Unfortunately, attendance was rather poor for such a festal day.

The sisters were very friendly and welcoming, but they can never quite hide their bemusement that a male university student would care to visit them.

Confession circle

Yesterday my cousin, who works at Sporting Life (or Sporting Death, as my sister likes to call it) attended to Jeffrey Buttle while working the fitting rooms. I would be lying if I denied having screamed when told this.