Pope resigns

[scottycelt]

[amateur51]

Good to see o'Brien's henchpersons () demanding that Stonewall's funding from Scottish Government be cut because they called O'Brien "a bigot". - what price "the sort of generosity, tolerance and love we would wish to see more of in this world" eh Ruth Davidson, who as a lesbian Tory must be used to dealing with inner conflict

I wonder when First Minister Salmond will extend a public apology to Stonewall Scotland? After all, their calling O'Brien a bigot was spot-on

[Richard Tarleton]

Feeble performance by Cormac Murphy O'Connor on "Today" - old age the only possible excuse, he just doesn't get it. A very reasonable interview by John Humphrys.

Amazing vox pop on the TV news last night - young-ish woman on the street in Edinburgh refused to believe it re K O'B, even though the man said it himself

[Serial_Apologist]

Feeble performance by Cormac Murphy O'Connor on "Today" - old age the only possible excuse, he just doesn't get it. A very reasonable interview by John Humphrys.

Amazing vox pop on the TV news last night - young-ish woman on the street in Edinburgh refused to believe it re K O'B, even though the man said it himself

Lefty/liberal/atheist/gay conspiracy, innit...

[MrGongGong]

Lefty/liberal/atheist/gay conspiracy, innit...

Of course what else do you expect from the Bolshevik Broadcasting Corporation .....

I also was amazed at that incredibly gullible woman in Edinburgh

[Serial_Apologist]

Of course what else do you expect from the Bolshevik Broadcasting Corporation .....

I also was amazed at that incredibly gullible woman in Edinburgh

There was another, too... in Rome...

If there is any truth about "original sin", it seems to reside in the capacity of humans to look uncritically up to authority and obey, especially when in uniform.

But, since neither Adam nor Eve were born in uniform, that must be wrong too...

[eighthobstruction]

Eve was tempted by a Pork Pie!!....<Adam fed up with spare ribs>

[Julien Sorel]

I also was amazed at that incredibly gullible woman in Edinburgh

I guess she wasn't expecting to have a microphone directed towards her; didn't the interviewer approach her immediately after Cardinal O'Brien's statement was read out at Mass? In which case hers might have been an immediate emotional response, she might not have wanted to give a response but couldn't on the spur of the moment think of a way of getting away, or it might have been a closing of ranks: it's not as if Scotland doesn't have a history of sectarianism. Just some other possibilities, rather than simple gullibility.

[Padraig]

Just some other possibilities, rather than simple gullibility.

Thank you for that, JS.

[MrGongGong]

Thank you for that, JS.

?

The woman on TV was expressing the view that it was all made up nonsense and that somehow it will all work out fine for the church
which seems to fly in the face of the facts IMV
though if one can believe in some of the nonsense that these folks do I guess anythings possible (but highly unlikely)

[Julien Sorel]

?

The woman on TV was expressing the view that it was all made up nonsense and that somehow it will all work out fine for the church
which seems to fly in the face of the facts IMV
though if one can believe in some of the nonsense that these folks do I guess anythings possible (but highly unlikely)

She'd just heard something read out that would clearly have had an adverse emotional effect on her. When people first hear bad news it's a not unusual reaction to deny it. I doubt, when she left Mass (which I think is when she was interviewed) she expected a BBC reporter to point a microphone at her and ask for her reaction. I doubt it was uppermost in her mind: 'oh dear - I must sort out a statement for the BBC'. She may well have preferred to say nothing, but was taken by surprise. Or she may have been displaying - yes, unthinking - loyalty. Scotland has a history of sectarianism which would explain why the first reaction of a Scottish Catholic might be to deny anything damaging to the Scottish Catholic Church.

But my main observation is - none of the people spoken to (I saw three) had prepared a statement. They were reacting to the sudden appearance / intrusion of a TV journalist & a camera crew. So maybe they are still so certain, maybe they aren't. But it wasn't a situation which allowed for reflection or space or time to think.

[Resurrection Man]

.....the capacity of humans to look uncritically up to authority and obey, especially when in uniform.

.....

Spot on, SA

[amateur51]

Spot on, SA

I'm sure that RM is always uncritically obedient around traffic wardens

[Flosshilde]

She'd just heard something read out that would clearly have had an adverse emotional effect on her.

It couldn't have been that much of a surprise, surely - the Observer had published the original allegations at least a week ago, & O'Brien had been sacked/told to go early by the Pope. Last Sunday's developments were simply confirmation.

[Julien Sorel]

It couldn't have been that much of a surprise, surely - the Observer had published the original allegations at least a week ago, & O'Brien had been sacked/told to go early by the Pope. Last Sunday's developments were simply confirmation.

Maybe not - but it's not a common occurrence, having a news reporter and a camera crew approach you and ask you for a comment. Not for most people, anyway. And someone with a strong emotional investment in something will hope against hope. I also wonder what other responses, if any, there were to questions asked by the reporter. Did only three members of the congregation speak to him? Did others say something different?