Plagiarism and Tunnel Vision
Well, one thing of which I
feel pretty sure is that they’ll have a lot to talk about ‘up there’!
And I equally feel that they have not forgotten us down here. I tell you
this: such folk are spurring us on from the battlements above. We who
are in the arena for animal rights are never deserted: their presence is
with us, and we must always make ourselves aware of this. These – along
with very many more – are the real saints of the whole movement for
animal liberation. So take heart and fight on! The new Anglican hymnal
published by Catholic publisher Kevin Mayhew and called COMPLETE
ANGLICAN has the arrogance to substitute ‘Onward Christian Soldiers
Marching As To War’ with ‘Onward Christian Pilgrims; Christ will be our
light’. It’s a plagiarism of surely the worst kind? I ask: what would
Reverend S. Baring Gould, its author - or, indeed, General William
Booth, founder of the Salvation Army! - think of such ‘playing down’ of
New Testament military terms within today’s bland laodicean churches?
They must not only be turning but, indeed, revolving in their
graves!
As for the Anglican Book
Of Common Prayer, it exhorts us daily to ‘pray for the church
militant here on earth’; but quite regrettably the basic worship
book of Anglicanism is now being less and less used. Prayers that were
written by Archbishop Cranmer and other fellow martyrs, are frequently
discarded by pompous prelates, or conceited clerics in circles,
concocting prayers that ring as shallow as do – I’ll not say it! - so
many of our modern hymns. Need one wonder that places of worship, all
around us, are being put up for sale?
I’m
thankful to God that though it was confirmed eight years ago by no less
than two top eye specialists that I had macular degeneration; the wet
type which is the most deadly; and that being in both eyes I could be
blind – apart from peripheral vision! – I can truthfully say that my
sight is better today than it was then. However, what one of the other
specialists also confirmed was that I was also suffering with Glaucoma.
In other words – left untreated daily – I could equally lose my
peripheral vision. The ultimate end would be total darkness’. Well,
thank God, I never accept dogmatically affirmed negative remarks. I look
for rejuvenation rather than regression; and what side we habitually
focus on, more often than not, gets clearer and clearer. Consequently,
I never focus for long on the morbidity and horror of animal
exploitation. I channel the emotions that ‘well up’ so as to make me
physically propelled by ‘righteous wrath’ and indignation; seeking to
release all the force through constructive action
However, returning to
unchecked Glaucoma which results in an ever-increasing narrowness of
tunnel vision it is – metaphorically speaking – the damnable disease of
our churches’ leadership. In fact, it’s not confined to them but via our
theological colleges, a ‘stinted form of compassion’ – as if from God
Himself! - is being perpetuated; and - sad to say it! - my previous
Oxford college may not be immune from this ‘exclusive to man’ form of
redemption.
Go on to The ‘Reformed’ Theology, As
Guilty As The Roman!
Return to Autumn - Winter 2007 Issue
Return to
Newsletters
Animal Padre's
