Monthly Archives: February 2013
The lessons Spain could learn from the UK
As an Anglo-Spaniard by birth, upbringing, and professional experience I spend much of my life seeking out the best Britain and Spain can offer each other and warning against potential no-go areas that should be common to both. Following the news of late across Europe, I am not sure I would recommend the introduction of an outspoken and unpredictable British comedian into Spain’s turbulent political life -can you imagine what havoc Russell Brand might cause-but there are other examples of British public life I would commend to Spaniards, regardless of …
The pain of being a Barca fan
Watching Barca’s performance last night against AC Milan not only threw me into a bad depressive mode. It made my flu that much worse so all I could think of was going to bed and hoping sleep would come as quickly as possible. This morning the memory of last night was the first thought that came to me so I felt it difficult to get up. A hang-over despite not touching a drop of alcohol since Lent began! Such moods are familiar to football fans the world over but I …
Farm Street & The Gays
Today’s Guardian, under the headline ‘Church that turned away Wilde opens door to gay flock” may exaggerate a little by suggesting that something akin to a theological revolution is under way at the Jesuit London HQ, Farm Street Church. We are told that the church that 116 years ago refused the disgraced Oscar Wilde –post-trial on charges of sodomy and indecent assault-a request for a six-month retreat, will on an evening two Sundays from now welcome members of London’s Catholic gay community who will no longer be allowed to gather …
Celtic’s self-delusion
Blame it on the fact that I’ve been doing some research recently into the 1978 World Cup in Argentina but Celtic’s defeat by Juventus in last night’s Champion’s League tie had an element of déjà vue – In Scottish terms. Let me elaborate. Earlier this season, I was among a group of Barca supporters that travelled to Glasgow for that Champion’s League group stage tie which has earned a special place in the history of Celtic. Cold and wet and blasted by the sound of the home supports, it was …
Letter to the Holy Spirit
The next Pope I am praying for…: Would be from the developing world, preferably a Jesuit, and not tied in an way to Opus Dei. Start by making a full public act of contrition for where Church has failed to act with sufficient sincerity and justice, and a true sense of God in all things. Carry out a detailed audit of the Vatican’s assets before deciding which can be channelled to mitigating world poverty and supporting major ‘green’ campaigns. Convene immediately a new Vatican Council ,with full representation of …
Same-sex marriage: The Spanish experience
As MP’s in Westminster gather tomorrow to vote ‘in conscience’ on David Cameron’s gay marriage bill, let me share with them and all those interested in the subject, the experience of Spain as I have reported in this week’s Catholic weekly The Tablet. From record youth unemployment to an increasingly volatile political debate on the future of Catalonia, there is no lack of gathering storms in Spain. And yet the issue of same sex-marriage is not one that is provoking floods of outrage these days. Spanish parliamentarians are not facing …
