Not alone

Had lunch with MW today, we discussed the situation at St Winifride's. It turns out that he, like me, is unhappy about things. Like me he doesn't feel that he gets much out of it and like me he gets pretty depressed about it. He says that he might follow me up to Penparcau.

We also reminisced about Fr. John, speaking of which, there are more tributes here (mostly in Welsh, but with some English at the end.

It was really nice to talk with someone who feels the same way I do, so often I feel that I am surrounded by people who violently disagree with everything I think. The thing which really angers me is the way in which these people think it is perfectly acceptable to make the most offensive remarks, not only about non-Catholics, but also about their fellow Catholics - it is possible to disagree with people without being offensive.

Of course, being human, such behaviour tends to make me angry back, which only makes me feel worse. As a student I used to have long arguments with my Protestant freinds, but there was never any personal animosity and at the end of the day we would agree to disagree.

The attitude seems to be 'I am right and if you disagree with me you are scum', it's not what I call Christianity.

I loathe bigotry in any form whenever I come across it. I can't claim that I have never had such feelings, but I have always done my best to push them back into the dark primitive recess where they belong - all human being should be able to rise above such things, those who profess to follow Christ even more so.

I wish these people could see what a poor example they provide, of the faith they profess to love. Even when you think someone is completely wrong - respond in love, if necessary correct in love - but don't treat others with contempt, you will only make them hate you.