Happy Christmas To One And All

Human Rights? Don't Make Me Laugh!

They're a bit like the word 'fascist' I suppose, the words 'human rights', the more they are bandied about the more they lose any kind of significance or meaning. Question the wisdom of uncontrolled immigration from the EU and you'll be labelled a fascist by some swivel eyed pinko liberal loon. Dare to mention the Daily Mail and aforementioned swivel eyed loon will label it fascist. The Mail is not my paper of choice but come on, fascist?

Then we have the ludicrous obsession with human rights. There's a good argument against the tyranny of the majority, after all, if 51% support the slaughter of the first born in every household does democracy say that it should happen? Of course not, democracy is tempered by morality, which tells us it is wrong to slaughter the first born. But for decades now our system, including our system of morals, has been undermined. Militant atheism is one of the most virulent tools being used against our system and human rights are being used as a very effective weapon. What the modern obsession with human rights has given us is the tyranny of the minorities.

One example of the tyranny of the minorities was the forced closure of Catholic adoption agencies for refusing to place children with gay couples. These agencies did magnificent work for children and parents for many, many years but because of our Catholic beliefs the state closed them down by declaring it illegal to refuse gay couples the chance to adopt. The rights of gay people obviously override the rights of Christians in this country.

So what happened to diversity? What happened to the much trumpeted concept of people from all cultures, beliefs and religions happily living side by side? Great idea, unless you're a Christian. Then increasingly you are left on the outside of this wonderful world of diversity and tolerance. Surely, with any number of adoption agencies catering for gay couples, there is room for agencies who object on grounds of conscience? Couldn't gay couples just find an agency that would help them adopt? What next, close down Catholic churches unless they cater for Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and so on?

This week we have had the results from the European Court of Human Rights. Again, in two of the four cases the rights of Christians were trampled on in order to support the rights of gay people. Surely on grounds of conscience, and in the interests of diversity and freedom of choice, people should be allowed to decline to marry gay couples or to provide them sex counselling? As with adoption there are any number of counsellors and registrars who would have no objection to counselling gays or presiding over civil ceremonies for gay people so their refusal on grounds of conscience is not depriving gays of their rights. But these people have now lost their basic right to work because of their beliefs and consciences.

Increasingly 'human rights' are being used to oppress the majority. The more those two words are bandied around the more oppressed the citizens of the UK become. The police state is tightening its grip on an almost daily basis.

Christian Oppression Continues in the UK

European judges have ruled in favour of Nadia Eweida who took her case to the European Court of Human Rights after BA made her stop wearing a necklace with a cross. Judges ruled that the rights of three other Christians had not been violated.

The other cases involved nurse Shirley Chaplin whose employer also stopped her wearing necklaces with a cross, Gary McFarlane - a marriage counsellor fired after saying he might object to giving sex therapy advice to gay couples - and registrar Lillian Ladele, who was disciplined after she refused to conduct same-sex civil partnership ceremonies.

In a typical piece of cowardice the British government backed this oppression of Christians. A sad sign of the times in modern Britain. It seems that freedom of speech and conscience exist as long as you follow the prevailing politically correct orthodoxy. Otherwise all the talk about diversity and equality is just more bullshit.

Happy Christmas

A light shall shine upon us this day: for our Lord is born to us; and He shall be called Wonderful, God, the Prince of peace, the Father of the world to come, of Whose kingdom there shall be no end.

A child is born to us.

And to us a Son is given.

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord our God, that we who rejoice in celebrating the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ may deserve by holiness of life to attain unto fellowship with Him. Who liveth and reigneth forever and ever. Amen.

Wearing A Crucifix

British government lawyers are fighting a group of people who want the right to wear a crucifix. This is despite Cameron pledging to defend the right of christians to do so.

Since I was a child I have worn a crucifix, admittedly under my shirt, t-shirt or whatever but occasionally it is visible. As far as I'm aware my wearing of a crucifix has never harmed another person so why shouldn't people be allowed to wear one to work just as other people wear necklaces?

The fact that people have to fight for this right in the courts shows what a sorry, authoritarian state we are living under. Stalin and Hitler would be proud.

Full story here.

Today Is Pentecost Sunday

After Jesus had ascended to heaven from Mount Olivet, the apostles and disciples returned to the Holy City. They remained together in the Upper Room or Cenacle, the place where Jesus had appeared to them and which may well be called the first Christian church. About a hundred and twenty persons were assembled there. They chose Matthias as an apostle in place of the unhappy Judas; they prayed and waited for the Paraclete.

Ten days had passed, it was Sunday, the seventh Sunday after the resurrection. At about nine o'clock in the morning, as they were together praying fervently, the Holy Spirit descended upon them. Note how all the great theophanies in Christ's life occurred during the course of prayer. After His baptism, for instance, when Jesus was praying the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove; likewise, it was during prayer at night that the transfiguration took place on Tabor. Surely too it was while Mary was praying that Gabriel delivered his message, and the Holy Spirit overshadowed her.

Pentecost followed precedent. The small community of Christians had prepared themselves through prayer for the coming of the Paraclete. The same is true at Mass today, every day; through prayer we ready our souls for the advent of the Spirit.

The descent upon the apostles was internal and invisible in nature although accompanied by certain visible phenomena. There came a mighty roar, like the onrush of a violent wind. It came suddenly, from heaven; but unlike storms that strike a structure from without, this one penetrated and filled the room where the disciples were gathered. Therefore it was not a natural wind, it was a miracle peculiar to the occasion. A second visible sign consisted in tongues of fire that descended upon each one present. These fiery tongues gave visible evidence that the Holy Spirit had descended upon them.

Today at Mass, particularly at holy Communion, the power of the Holy Spirit will come down upon us; fiery tongues will not be seen, but invisible tongues of fire will not be absent. There was still another external manifestation of the Holy Spirit; the apostles and disciples were enabled to speak various languages.

After the roar of the wind many of Jerusalem's pilgrims hurried to the Cenacle. Pentecost was one of the three festivals which obliged all Jews to be present in Jerusalem. Jews from distant lands, and Jewish converts from paganism too, attended these feasts. As a result, a colorful crowd speaking a variety of languages surrounded the house. Now the apostles, who so shortly before had hid in fear behind locked doors, came forth and courageously walked among the multitude speaking to each in his native tongue. It was indeed amazing! Galileans, and multilingual?

But the malicious too were present; they had the answer. Nothing marvelous at all! Those Galileans were simply drunk, and their drunken babble sounded like a foreign language! Peter showed no hesitation in answering the charge. None of their number, he said, were intoxicated; it was but nine o'clock in the morning, and at that hour men usually are sober. What the multitude saw was, in fact, the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy: In those days (of the Messiah), God will pour forth His Spirit upon men and they will prophesy. . . . Then the apostle pointed his words more directly against the accusers: they had killed Jesus, had nailed Him to the Cross; but God had awakened Him and after His departure to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit.

The pilgrims who had heard Peter give this first pentecostal sermon "were pierced to the heart and said: Brethren, what shall we do? But Peter said to them: Repent and be baptized; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Three thousand responded.

One final question: why the miracle of tongues? In answer, recall the story regarding the tower of Babel. Puffed up by pride, men attempted to build a tower that would touch the heavens. To punish their sin, God confused their speech. Sin causes confusion and division. Now Christ came to gather all men into His Church and thereby to unite them to Himself. This should result in creating but one family of nations again. To this blessed state the miracle of tongues points.

Yes, even we as individuals have a gift of tongues which all men can understand. It is the gift of love infused into us by the Holy Spirit. Love unites, love is a common language, by means of love we can speak to all nations.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

From CatholicCulture.org

Fighting To Save Marriage

As the onslaught against Christianity continues, with Dave and his Coalition pledging to end the traditional marriage, the Archbishops of Westminster and Southwark have issued the following pastoral letter, read out to parishioners throught the country at Mass this morning. You can sign the petition against this attack by the government on the Coalition For Marriage website.

A Letter on Marriage from the President and Vice-President of the Bishops’ Conference of

England and Wales

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

This week the Coalition Government is expected to present its consultation paper on the proposed change in the legal definition of marriage so as to open the institution of marriage to same-sex partnerships.

Today we want to put before you the Catholic vision of marriage and the light it casts on the importance of marriage for our society.

The roots of the institution of marriage lie in our nature. Male and female we have been created, and writteninto our nature is this pattern of complementarity and fertility. This pattern is, of course, affirmed by many other religious traditions. Christian teaching fills out this pattern and reveals its deepest meaning, but neither the Church nor the State has the power to change this fundamental understanding of marriage itself. Nor is this simply a matter of public opinion.

Understood as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, and for the creation and upbringingof children, marriage is an expression of our fundamental humanity. Its status in law is the prudent fruit of experience, for the good of the spouses and the good of the family. In this way society esteems the married couple as the source and guardians of the next generation. As an institution marriage is at the foundation of our society.

There are many reasons why people get married. For most couples, there is an instinctive understanding that the stability of a marriage provides the best context for the flourishing of their relationship and for bringing up their children. Society recognises marriage as an important institution for these same reasons: to enhance stability in society and to respect and support parents in the crucial task of having children and bringing them up as well as possible.

The Church starts from this appreciation that marriage is a natural institution, and indeed the Church

recognises civil marriage. The Catholic understanding of marriage, however, raises this to a new level. As theCatechism says: ‘The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, by its nature is ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptised persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.’ (para.1601)

These rather abstract words are reflected however imperfectly in the experience of married couples. We know that at the heart of a good marriage is a relationship of astonishing power and richness, for the couple, their children, their wider circle of friends and relations and society. As a Sacrament, this is a place where divine grace flows. Indeed, marriage is a sharing in the mystery of God’s own life: the unending and perfect flow of love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We know, too, that just as God’s love is creative, so too the love of husband and wife is creative of new life. It is open, in its essence, to welcoming new life, ready to love and nurture that life to its fullness, not only here on earth but also into eternity.

This is a high and noble vision, for marriage is a high and noble vocation. It is not easily followed. But we are sure that Christ is at the heart of marriage, for his presence is a sure gift of the God who is Love, who wants nothing more than for the love of husband and wife to find its fulfilment. So the daily effort that marriage requires, the many ways in which family living breaks and reshapes us, is a sharing in the mission of Christ, that of making visible in the world the creative and forgiving love of God.

In these ways we understand marriage to be a call to holiness for a husband and wife, with children

recognised and loved as the gift of God, with fidelity and permanence as the boundaries which create its sacred space. Marriage is also a crucial witness in our society, contributing to its stability, its capacity for compassion and forgiveness and its future, in a way that no other institution can.

In putting before you these thoughts about why marriage is so important, we also want to recognise the

experience of those who have suffered the pain of bereavement or relationship breakdown and their

contribution to the Church and society. Many provide a remarkable example of courage and fidelity. Many strive to make the best out of difficult and complex situations. We hope that they are always welcomed and helped to feel valued members of our parish communities.

The reasons given by our government for wanting to change the definition of marriage are those of equality and discrimination. But our present law does not discriminate unjustly when it requires both a man and a woman for marriage. It simply recognises and protects the distinctive nature of marriage.

Changing the legal definition of marriage would be a profoundly radical step. Its consequences should be taken seriously now. The law helps to shape and form social and cultural values. A change in the law would gradually and inevitably transform society’s understanding of the purpose of marriage. It would reduce it just to the commitment of the two people involved. There would be no recognition of the complementarity of male and female or that marriage is intended for the procreation and education of children.

We have a duty to married people today, and to those who come after us, to do all we can to ensure that the true meaning of marriage is not lost for future generations.

With every blessing.

Most Reverend Vincent Nichols Archbishop of Westminster

President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

Most Reverend Peter Smith

Archbishop of Southwark

Vice-President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales

Gay Marriage And Homophobia

I've had a restless day today, for various reasons and have followed in the media with interest some of the debate around 'gay marriage', especially in relation to Cardinal O'Brien's comments. What has struck me quite forcefully is the pure venom and intolerance of so many in the gay lobby towards anybody who disagrees with them, especially those with a religious position. The minute somebody disagrees with the concept of 'gay marriage' they are dismissed as 'homophobes' as if they are incapable of rational thought. I have heard Cardinal O'Brien described as 'evil' today and the Catholic church attacked as 'hateful' and 'full of paedophiles'. In fact if the vile attacks on the Catholic church I've heard today were used about a race or about gay people the abuser would be pretty promptly charged with a hate crime.

For the record I oppose the concept of 'gay marriage'. Marriage is between a man and a woman, it's that simple. On the other hand I have no problem with civil partnerships for gay people, but let's not pretend that marriage can suddenly become something it is not, that is fundamentally dishonest.  That is not homophobic, it is just a clearly logical position and in fairness, I have heard a couple of more rational gay people making that point themselves today.

The problem with the militant political gay lobby is that they are so strident they actually create a negative response from many people who may otherwise be tolerant, if not sympathetic. As with any overly strident campaigning group on any issue they lose the middle ground.

Take the case of gay adoption. The power of the gay lobby is such that adoption agencies that would not, on grounds of conscience, place children with gay couples have been closed down. There is no tolerance of people who, on grounds of conscience, could not place a child with a gay couple. I wouldn't place a child with a gay couple, but neither would I close down agencies that do place children with gay couples. I would actually like to be allowed to make the decision myself and not be pilloried as some kind of extreme gay hater, which I am not. I just believe that children need a mother and a father.

It seems to me that as a nation we are becoming slaves to minority pressure groups, and the silent majority are being increasingly attacked and in some cases oppressed, especially those who describe themselves as Christians.

Lent

Lent is the period of 40 days which comes before Easter in the Christian calendar. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ's sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days.

 Lent is marked by fasting, both from food and festivities.
Whereas Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after his death on the cross, Lent recalls the events leading up to and including Jesus' crucifixion by Rome. This is believed to have taken place in Roman occupied Jerusalem.

The Christian churches that observe Lent in the 21st century use it as a time for prayer and penance. Only a small number of people today fast for the whole of Lent, although some maintain the practice on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. It is more common these days for believers to surrender a particular vice such as favourite foods or smoking. Whatever the sacrifice it is a reflection of Jesus' deprivation in the wilderness and a test of self-discipline.

40 is a significant number in Jewish-Christian scripture:

In Genesis, the flood which destroyed the earth was brought about by 40 days and nights of rain.

The Hebrews spent 40 years in the wilderness before reaching the land promised to them by God.

Moses fasted for 40 days before receiving the ten commandments on Mount Sinai.

Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness in preparation for his ministry.

Most Christians regard Jesus' time in the wilderness as the key event for the duration of Lent.
Lent is an old English word meaning 'lengthen'. Lent is observed in spring, when the days begin to get longer.

Purple is the symbolic colour used in some churches throughout Lent, for drapes and altar frontals.
Purple is used for two reasons: firstly because it is associated with mourning and so anticipates the pain and suffering of the crucifixion, and secondly because purple is the colour associated with royalty, and celebrates Christ's resurrection and sovereignty.

The last week of Lent is called Holy Week.

Christianity Under Attack-Again!

In a country where every quirk, weird cultural blip and sexual perversion seems to be protected by equality laws Christianity is the last bastion of the undefended. Those fascists at the National Secular Society are at it again. They are obviously terrified, for some reason, of Christianity and are using perverse human rights legislation to try and oppress it. This time they have turned their bullying venom on that bastion of evil, wicked superstition masquerading as an element of our democracy, Bideford Town Council.

Breaching Human Rights!

A big, soft lardy arsed bastard called Clive Bone finds the saying of a prayer before council meetings so deeply offensive that he went running off to the National Secular Society sobbing and weeping, no doubt with much wailing and gnashing of teeth. What a great, oversized poof!

Of course the High Court agrees with the NSS that prayers are an 'inappropriate ritual that breach articles 9 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights'. I used to think that human rights were about important issues, like not buying and selling people, or massacring people by the million, or fighting for peoples' religious freedom, not about stopping a quick Our Father or Hail Mary before a meeting. That's a thought, remember the days when we actually fought for people in totalitarian states to have religious freedom? Well now, we are the oppressed under our glorious, enlightened liberal democracy. It seems that prayers are also illegal under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972.

I've an easy solution for a prick like Bone, don't say the prayer if you don't believe. If I was in a meeting that was preceeded by muslim prayers, I would just sit there quietly and not join in. But I would respect the rights of the others in attendance to say whatever prayers they see fit. Shame that fascists like Bone and the NSS don't have any tolerance of things that they do not believe in.

Happy Christmas

A Prayer for Christmas Morning

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake, Amen!

More On Adrian Smith, Oppressed Christian

I'll give the politically correct their due, they really do manage to offend everybody, regardless of race, ethnicity blah, blah, blah.

I remember a few years ago a council in East Lancashire harassing a woman who had a piggy bank on her window sill in case it offended Muslims en route to the mosque. I remember seeing an Imam interviewed at the time telling us how his Muslim congregation had found the council's action deeply patronising and offensive.

Now Trafford Housing Trust have united gays, Christians and most rational people in opposition to their victmisation of a Christian employee for daring to express his views on gay marriage.

It now transpires that the Trust acted against him because they were scared of losing the formal approval of an organisation that helps young gay people find housing. Stalin is alive and well after all it seems.

Full story at the Christian Institute.

Gay Marriage And Adrian Smith

You may remember Adrian Smith, the man who was demoted by Trafford Housing Trust for not believing that gays should be married in churches, rather they should stick with civil partnerships? Well below are excerpts from two letters that appeared in the Mail on Sunday yesterday:

I find the treatment of Adrian Smith truly immoral. He's done nothing but express a personal opinion in a private capacity, something he is wholly entitled to do. It is my hope that he is successful in his legal challenge.

Jamie (Somerset)

While some may view his comments as harmless, I believe there is the real possibility of offence. He made his position untenable as soon as he made these comments in a public forum, and as such will have to live with the consequences of his actions. 

Anthony William Mitchell (Cambridge)

Some key words are missing from the above letters. One contained the words 'as a non-Christian gay man', the other 'The Rev'. Can you guess which contained which?

I think The Rev Mitchell typifies all that is wrong with the Church of England. Furthermore, as I find his letter offensive, I trust his bosses will be demoting him to grave digger, where he'll have to live with the consequences of his actions. Oh, but they are probably too busy supporting 'Occupy' to do that.

Another Christian Murdered in Iraq

Attacks on Christians in Iraq continue with a young Christian beheaded this week after being kidnapped. Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003 up to 573 Christians have been killed in religiously and politically motivated attacks. But where is British media coverage? It seems they are far too busy whitewashing what we are supposed to have achieved following the invasion.

The full story can be read here.

Sectarian Violence in Egypt and Christianity in Russia

A few weeks ago, when people in the West were getting all giddy about the overthrow of tyrants in the Middle East, I was as sceptical as ever and warned that things could turn ugly. Sadly I think those of us who counselled caution have been proved correct. It was obvious in my view so I'm not trying to make myself look like some kind of visionary.

As soon as the shackles of dictatorship are cut from the people a vacuum is created. The big question is who fills that vacuum? My belief was that it would be various shades of Islam, from relatively moderate to fundamentalist, and I was shocked at the time how many people scoffed and seemed naively convinced that in two ticks Western style liberal democracies would be the norm from Cairo to Algiers.

Maybe people will be a little more realistic now that reports are appearning ever more frequently of sectarian violence breaking out in Egypt and Christian churches being torched, not just in Egypt but elsewhere too. I fear that we are only at the beginning of what could be a very uncomfortable few decades.

Contrast that with the news of christianity booming in Russia following the fall of communism, as reported on the excellent eChurch Blog. Who knows, we may yet need Russia as a valuable ally again in the future, and it's good to see that even decades of communist oppression couldn't kill the belief of the Russian people.

For information about the persecution of Christians throughout the world please visit: PERSECUTION.ORG

Happy Easter

God our Father,
by raising Christ your Son
you conquered the power of death
and opened for us the way to eternal life.
Let our celebration today raise us up
and renew our lives by the Spirit that is within us.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Persecution of Christians UK Style

I have a little Sunday routine. Up early for Mass but I go for the papers first, dropping one in en route to St Mary's for Mrs B to read when she gets up. I then park near church and read my newspaper for twenty minutes before going in for Mass.

This morning I had to check it wasn't April 1st. I read that an electrician in Wakefield is facing a charge of gross misconduct from his employer, his crime? Having a small palm cross on the dashboard of his work's van. You see his employer, Wakefield and District Housing, a publicy funded social housing provider, doesn't want to give the impression that it supports christianity. However:

 It has provided stalls at gay pride events, held ‘diversity days’ for travellers, and hosted a gender reassignment event entitled A World That Includes Transpeople.

If you would like to make your views known to this 'social housing provider' then here is a link to the contact page of their website.

Full story here.

Aid to Pakistan-Cardinal O'Brien

With some terrible world events in recent weeks it's taken, yet again, a Roman Catholic Cardinal to articulate the wishes of the majority.

Speaking at the launch of a report into the persecution of Christians throughout the world Cardinal O'Brien said:

"I urge (Foreign Secretary) William Hague to obtain guarantees from foreign governments before they are given aid.


"To increase aid to the Pakistan government when religious freedom is not upheld and those who speak up for religious freedom are gunned down is tantamount to an anti-Christian foreign policy.


"Pressure should now be put on the Government of Pakistan - and the governments of the Arab world as well - to ensure that religious freedom is upheld, the provision of aid must require a commitment to human rights."

If you listen to virtually any radio station that has a public phone-in, or speak to a reasonable cross section of the public, the would agree with the gist of what the Cardinal has said. Additionally there is growing anger at the fact that this government is still shipping millions in aid to India and China, when they are spending millions of their own money on nuclear weapons and, in the case of China, oppressing its own population.

Then we have the case of Afghanistan, where people converting to Christianity are sentenced to death by the state, a state we helped establish and have troops laying down their lives to defend.

But most of us gave up thinking our government was there to defend us, our beliefs and our way of life a long time ago.Thank goodness for people like Cardinal O'Brien
 .
Coverage of Cardinal O'Brien's speech from the Press Association.

Persecution of Christians in Afghanistan

I can't help wondering if we have actually achieved anything, despite the tragic loss of life, in Afghanistan. The constitution agreed in 2004 seemingly guarantees religious freedom, but persection of Christians seems as bad as it was under the Taliban. So I wonder what will happen when the UN troops finally depart?

Sayed Mussa converted to Christianity. He was sentenced to death as Sharia law apparently superceded the constitution. He has since been assaulted and raped by other inmates under the influence of the Taliban.

Once again it underlines the fact that foreigners will never tame Afghanistan. More importantly it shows that yet again, the supposed successes of Tony Blair and New Labour were nothing more than con tricks and sleight of hand.

Full Story From New York Times.

Egypt, Idealists, Conspiracy Theorists and Nutters

I had an altercation on Twitter today with an old political acquaintance. He is drooling over events in Egypt. Of course it didn't take him long to attack the USA, this time for evacuating embassy staff when, in his opinion, there was no violence in Egypt. When I pointed out that even the Turks were evacuating, that museums and shops had been looted, that buildings, police vehicles and offices had been on fire in the last week he claimed that was all done by the secret police. I always thought he was mad, that just proved it to me.

I'm no fan of Mubarak, with my limited knowledge of Egypt, and would probably be on the steets myself if I lived in Cairo. But I don't. I live in England, am a Christian and believe in freedom and democracy, and by that I mean western style freedom and democracy. From my position I fear what will happen when Mubarak goes. Look at what is happening in Tunisia. I suppose the mad idealists who think Egypt will be all cuddly, democratic and libertarian post-Mubarak will claim that this report from Reuters, of Islamic violence against Jewish people in the newly 'liberated' Tunisia, is also some kind of conspiracy.

Christians in Egypt currently face intimidation, violence and murder as reported here. How will Christians be treated when a new government comes into power with the support, to what degree is as yet unclear, of the Muslim Brotherhood? To pretend there is no danger of an extremist Islamic republic being installed in Cairo is to prove ignorance of the real world and stupidity beyond belief. To believe that a fundamentalist Islamic state in Egypt would be no threat to the west is also to live in a fantasy world.

I remember watching the Iranian revolution unfold in 1979. Then the Ayatollah Khomeini was waiting in the wings, or Paris to be precise. Egypt in 2011 has the Muslim Brotherhood hovering in the background. It's much more than a sense of deja vu that makes me concerned about events in Egypt. I also worry about the gullible idealists, conspiracy theorists and nutters in this country who think they will wake up tomorrow to find Egypt leading the world in freedom and democracy.