So, the Mental Capacity Act comes into force next month (October 1), but already people are signing the forms to request the withdrawal of life sustaining treatment.
Motor neurone disease sufferer Penny, from the Midlands, has already listed the treatment she doesn't want to receive if and when she loses her capacity.
I can't even begin (or have the time to go into) all of the facts and opinions about the Act, its implementation and it's implications. But for those of you that want a recap on what the MCA really is in a nutshell, here's a (very) brief summary:
The Bland judgement opened the door for doctors to dehydrate and starve to death certain mentally incapacitated patients. The Mental Capacity Act through advance decisions, lasting powers of attorney and the re-definition of "best interests" and "medical treatment", extends the principles of the Bland decision to all mentally incapacitated patients. It allows patients to request the withdrawal of treatment by means of an advanced directive or a power of attorney. These documents and statements are legally binding and require doctors to carry out the patient's wishes even if they think they are not in that individual's best interests.
Expect from October 1, then, to see the floodgates open and, as the Law Society predicted during the early stages of the passage of the bill, lots of dispute court cases between doctors, patients, their powers of attorney and their friends and relatives to open up. Expect the horrible stories of elderly people being starved and dehydrated to death, expect, within a relatively short space of time, the pro-euthanasia lobby calling for more "humane" killing as they see it.
I, as many of you have, got involved quite a bit in the campaign against this act and its sinister euthanasia by omission elements. We should continue to oppose it, by exposing any dodgy cases we get to know about where our families or friends have treatment, including food and water, withdrawn against their wishes. It will happen, because with this new act, comes a massive shift in the very nature of medical healthcare as doctors who refuse on clinical or other ethical grounds to implement an advance refusal of treatment face litigation and possibly criminal conviction even if they think it is in the patient's medical best interests.
Indeed, euthanasia by omission is happening already in our hospitals. That's according to counsellors on the end of the phone of the Patient's First Network, set up by SPUC. This helpline gives advice to people who find themselves in awkward situations where euthanasia by omission is a threat. Members of the network get a card and a medallion which alert medical staff, along with your family and carers, that you wish to receive appropriate medical treatment and care. People who join this also have the support of the confidential telephone service which can advise you and your family on end-of-life issues. It's a fantastic thing which SPUC have set up as a helpful response to a dreadful piece of legislation. For more details, see here.
But let's not forget that treatment can ethically be withdrawn which is of no benefit (not helping to sustain life, even making it more burdensome). It's when life sustaining treatment, including the basic care of food and water, is withdrawal WITH THE INTENTION of hastening the death of the patient that leads to euthanasia.
Recently, as you will probably know, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) released a clarification of the church's teaching in this area after a series of questions by the US Bishop's Conference in relation to the Terry Schiavo case. The statement was as follows:
First question: Is the administration of food and water (whether by natural or artificial means) to a patient in a “vegetative state” morally obligatory except when they cannot be assimilated by the patient’s body or cannot be administered to the patient without causing significant physical discomfort?
Response: Yes. The administration of food and water even by artificial means is, in principle, an ordinary and proportionate means of preserving life. It is therefore obligatory to the extent to which, and for as long as, it is shown to accomplish its proper finality, which is the hydration and nourishment of the patient. In this way suffering and death by starvation and dehydration are prevented.
Second question: When nutrition and hydration are being supplied by artificial means to a patient in a “permanent vegetative state”, may they be discontinued when competent physicians judge with moral certainty that the patient will never recover consciousness?
Response: No. A patient in a “permanent vegetative state” is a person with fundamental human dignity and must, therefore, receive ordinary and proportionate care which includes, in principle, the administration of water and food even by artificial means.
The MCA runs directly contrary to the Vatican statement's principles.
It was very encouraging to see the Islamic Medical Association in the UK wholeheartedly back the Vatican's clarification. The association has issued the following statement:
“On behalf of the Muslim believers, we wish to express our happiness with, and full support for, the recent Vatican statement on ensuring food and fluid for mentally incapacitated patients. We believe that the basic means for survival (food and fluid) should be ensured for every human being (and animal), whether or not they are healthy, ill or incapacitated. This is a basic human right for all. All human life is sacred, and only God, the Creator, has the right to end any human life, in its appointed time.
"British Muslims are worried today about the new Mental Capacity Act, which allows and in some cases requires food and water to be denied to mentally incapacitated, non-dying persons. In doing that, our innocent patients will die in pain and agony from the horrific effects of starvation and dehydration. We oppose strongly any court decision or power of attorney used to justify participation in starving or dehydrating anyone to death. All Muslim doctors, nurses and patients, expressing our Islamic beliefs, should oppose this inhumane Act.”
And it is that, an "inhumane Act". In fact, I still maintain that it will be one of, it not the most disastrous law passed by the Labour government under Tony Blair. It's just that most of the British public don't know about its horrific consequences as yet.
Friday, 21 September 2007
Thursday, 20 September 2007
Weekend
At the weekend I was in London and Windsor for my friend's birthday. We met in central London and went out for a bite to eat and some drinks. On Friday night, I travelled back with the birthday boy Henry to the lovely Windsor. Henry went back into London on Saturday to watch his beloved Spurs unfortunately lose to Arsenal.
I dossed in Windsor for the day. A wonder around the town on a Saturday lunchtime makes one proud to be British, with Union Jack flags flying around the stunning backdrop of the castle.
On Sunday - after being stung by a wasp who just wouldn't leave me alone despite getting several bashings with Friday's Daily Telegraph - I went back into London for the day. It's always a pleasure to have the opportunity to go to the kind of mother church of England, Westminster Cathedral. As ever, there were great crowds both at Vespers and Benediction and 5:30pm Mass.
I dossed in Windsor for the day. A wonder around the town on a Saturday lunchtime makes one proud to be British, with Union Jack flags flying around the stunning backdrop of the castle.
On Sunday - after being stung by a wasp who just wouldn't leave me alone despite getting several bashings with Friday's Daily Telegraph - I went back into London for the day. It's always a pleasure to have the opportunity to go to the kind of mother church of England, Westminster Cathedral. As ever, there were great crowds both at Vespers and Benediction and 5:30pm Mass.
Fantastic win at Wolves
Last night, I had the pleasure of driving across to Wolverhampton after work to watch Hull City take on Wolves in the Championship. It was an emphatic away victory for the Tigers, who won by one goal to nil through a Dean Windass penalty.
The highlight of the night was most definitely the impressive skill of City's new (Catholic) Nigerian player Jay Jay Ocotcha. On at least three occasions, he dribbled past several Wolves defenders to get the Tigers into attacking positions. Our travelling supporters loved it. Jay Jay was simply brilliant and has an outstanding ability.
I was delighted to see his story "God sends footballer to Hull" made it onto the front page of the Catholic Herald this week. It's refreshing to see a modern day footballer who appears to put his faith before his football.
The highlight of the night was most definitely the impressive skill of City's new (Catholic) Nigerian player Jay Jay Ocotcha. On at least three occasions, he dribbled past several Wolves defenders to get the Tigers into attacking positions. Our travelling supporters loved it. Jay Jay was simply brilliant and has an outstanding ability.
I was delighted to see his story "God sends footballer to Hull" made it onto the front page of the Catholic Herald this week. It's refreshing to see a modern day footballer who appears to put his faith before his football.
Thursday, 13 September 2007
SPUC Conference (Post 3) and Sunday afternoon
After John's speech there was Mass in the college chapel led by two of the Verona fathers.
I must say, I always find Mass at SPUC conferences very poignant and profound occasions. Having just listened to the task facing pro-lifers in attempting to defeat the culture of death, Mass is, of course, the perfect opportunity to blitz Heaven with prayers for the success of pro-life work across the globe. But seeing those who work ridiculously long hours for the cause, those who are disabled and in pain but still fight on, those who have stood for election on a pro-life ticket and have actually been unjustly arrested for holding up placards of aborted babies in the street, to those who, at grassroots level, work tirelessly to defend human life - to see them all participate in the Sacrifice of the Mass under one roof is very moving.
The priest preaching at the Mass gave an excellent homily about the sanctity of life and defending it from conception until natural death.
After a traditional Sunday lunch and several chats to people, there were few left at the college. I hopped in the car and drove over (again with a little navigational help from St Christopher - not sure if I'm asking for directions from the correct Saint but he seemed to work) to Bradford to see good friend Father Stephen Brown and Father Greg Hogan, who happened to be staying with him at the time.
As expected, the afternoon consisting of tea and cake was amusing and we chatted about many things. Fr Brown had been to some of the conference the day before and was filling me in with some of the bits I missed, especially another excellent talk by Sister Rosanne Reddy about the 10th Anniversary of the Cardinal Winning pro-life initiative up in Glasgow.
Fr Greg's dog, George, was all over me and tried to nick some of my biscuits but didn't succeed, despite Fr Greg odering George to "get him" and "attack"!
At about tea-time it was time to leave Bradford for Kettering.
I must say, I always find Mass at SPUC conferences very poignant and profound occasions. Having just listened to the task facing pro-lifers in attempting to defeat the culture of death, Mass is, of course, the perfect opportunity to blitz Heaven with prayers for the success of pro-life work across the globe. But seeing those who work ridiculously long hours for the cause, those who are disabled and in pain but still fight on, those who have stood for election on a pro-life ticket and have actually been unjustly arrested for holding up placards of aborted babies in the street, to those who, at grassroots level, work tirelessly to defend human life - to see them all participate in the Sacrifice of the Mass under one roof is very moving.
The priest preaching at the Mass gave an excellent homily about the sanctity of life and defending it from conception until natural death.
After a traditional Sunday lunch and several chats to people, there were few left at the college. I hopped in the car and drove over (again with a little navigational help from St Christopher - not sure if I'm asking for directions from the correct Saint but he seemed to work) to Bradford to see good friend Father Stephen Brown and Father Greg Hogan, who happened to be staying with him at the time.
As expected, the afternoon consisting of tea and cake was amusing and we chatted about many things. Fr Brown had been to some of the conference the day before and was filling me in with some of the bits I missed, especially another excellent talk by Sister Rosanne Reddy about the 10th Anniversary of the Cardinal Winning pro-life initiative up in Glasgow.
Fr Greg's dog, George, was all over me and tried to nick some of my biscuits but didn't succeed, despite Fr Greg odering George to "get him" and "attack"!
At about tea-time it was time to leave Bradford for Kettering.
SPUC Conference (Post 2): John Smeaton
"...We’re not on the slippery slope any more – we’re right over the edge of the cliff and in free fall!”
That's the verdict of SPUC's general secretary, Paul Tully, on the draft Human Tissue and Embryos bill which seeks to widen the grounds for carrying out destructive research on human embryos, to permit the creation of interspecies embryos for experiments as well as containing other "simply terrible" proposals. The Bill is expected to be announced in the Queen's speech in November.
During his speech to wrap up the national conference, SPUC's national director, John Smeaton relayed a conversation he had with his colleague about this horrifying piece of legislation:
"As Paul Tully, SPUC’s general secretary, put it to me, 'With interspecies embryos on the legislative horizon and with the political and scientific establishment and with major sections of the media saying that the bill does not go far enough, we’re not on the slippery slope any more – we’re right over the edge of the cliff and in free fall!' "
On the forthcoming political challenges, John said the first was to try to "quite simply... defeat the government’s draft Human Tissue and Embryos bill... The second political challenge is to persuade parliamentarians, whether they are pro-life or pro-abortion, not to table amendments on abortion in the current Parliament because the current Parliament is substantially pro-abortion – and, we won’t lose, unborn children will lose."
He said SPUC was under "no illusions about the powerful forces ranged against us" but that the power of prayer was the most powerful force to defeat pro-abortionists.
John added that there was a fantastic opportunity in the growing grassroots educational work of the Society on which "all future political progress on the right to life is founded and depends and without which no future political progress will ever occur".
Reporting that 2,800 individuals have ordered over half a million educational flyers on this "evil" bill, he said the response to the campaign was unprecedented and presents a fantastic opportunity for the society.
He talked about continuing to make an "unbreakable alliance" with Muslims in the fight for justice for unborn children. Dr Majid Katme, the organizer of SPUC Muslims, has contacted 34 Muslim leaders who’ve subsequently asked SPUC for campaign materials on the Bill.
John concluded by stating: "The great task which faces SPUC today is to stand up and be counted for the most vulnerable human beings in Britain.
"These include spina bifida babies in the womb, 90 per cent of whom are killed and never see the light of day, and Down's babies in the womb, 92 per cent of whom are killed before they see the light of day.
"Also at grave risk are unborn children in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, whom parliamentarians, like Dr Evan Harris and Lord (David) Steel of Aikwood, want to see completely abandoned, if they get support for tabling abortion amendments to the Human Tissue and Embryos draft bill soon to come before Parliament.
"The unborn disabled, the unborn in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, post-abortion women and girls, mentally incapacitated patients threatened by the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act - these are the poorest of the poor in Britain and it's SPUC's job to learn to speak out and to take action ever more effectively in their support and to work with prudence and courage in pursuit and in defence of just laws which uphold the right to life."
That's the verdict of SPUC's general secretary, Paul Tully, on the draft Human Tissue and Embryos bill which seeks to widen the grounds for carrying out destructive research on human embryos, to permit the creation of interspecies embryos for experiments as well as containing other "simply terrible" proposals. The Bill is expected to be announced in the Queen's speech in November.
During his speech to wrap up the national conference, SPUC's national director, John Smeaton relayed a conversation he had with his colleague about this horrifying piece of legislation:
"As Paul Tully, SPUC’s general secretary, put it to me, 'With interspecies embryos on the legislative horizon and with the political and scientific establishment and with major sections of the media saying that the bill does not go far enough, we’re not on the slippery slope any more – we’re right over the edge of the cliff and in free fall!' "
On the forthcoming political challenges, John said the first was to try to "quite simply... defeat the government’s draft Human Tissue and Embryos bill... The second political challenge is to persuade parliamentarians, whether they are pro-life or pro-abortion, not to table amendments on abortion in the current Parliament because the current Parliament is substantially pro-abortion – and, we won’t lose, unborn children will lose."
He said SPUC was under "no illusions about the powerful forces ranged against us" but that the power of prayer was the most powerful force to defeat pro-abortionists.
John added that there was a fantastic opportunity in the growing grassroots educational work of the Society on which "all future political progress on the right to life is founded and depends and without which no future political progress will ever occur".
Reporting that 2,800 individuals have ordered over half a million educational flyers on this "evil" bill, he said the response to the campaign was unprecedented and presents a fantastic opportunity for the society.
He talked about continuing to make an "unbreakable alliance" with Muslims in the fight for justice for unborn children. Dr Majid Katme, the organizer of SPUC Muslims, has contacted 34 Muslim leaders who’ve subsequently asked SPUC for campaign materials on the Bill.
John concluded by stating: "The great task which faces SPUC today is to stand up and be counted for the most vulnerable human beings in Britain.
"These include spina bifida babies in the womb, 90 per cent of whom are killed and never see the light of day, and Down's babies in the womb, 92 per cent of whom are killed before they see the light of day.
"Also at grave risk are unborn children in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, whom parliamentarians, like Dr Evan Harris and Lord (David) Steel of Aikwood, want to see completely abandoned, if they get support for tabling abortion amendments to the Human Tissue and Embryos draft bill soon to come before Parliament.
"The unborn disabled, the unborn in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, post-abortion women and girls, mentally incapacitated patients threatened by the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act - these are the poorest of the poor in Britain and it's SPUC's job to learn to speak out and to take action ever more effectively in their support and to work with prudence and courage in pursuit and in defence of just laws which uphold the right to life."
Wednesday, 12 September 2007
SPUC Conference (Post 1)
This is the first of, hopefully, several posts on the conference.On Saturday, I was working during the day. I was just about to leave the office at 4:30pm and shoot up for the remainder of the conference which started on Friday evening at Trinity and All Saints College, Leeds. Then I learnt of a fire at a supermarket in Corby town centre and had to go and cover it.
Upon arrival, part of the town centre was cordoned off by the police. Eventually, I got as close as I could and managed to find the member of staff who discovered it. I got some details off her and then the police kindly escorted me through the closed off streets to outside the police station. I interviewed the chief fire officer in charge and then went to the Corby office (not far away) to write up the copy and send it through to newsdesk.
It was 7:50pm before I could get off up the M1. Struggling to find the venue, I eventually got there at about 10:45pm with a lot of help from St Christopher. By then, the Ceilidh was in full swing but, I have to admit, I was too knackered to participate. The first person I spoke too was Robin Haig, the national chairman, who kindly offered to buy my a much needed pint.
It was a great atmosphere in the bar as ever and a good chance to catch up with staff, colleagues on the Executive Committee and SPUC supporters nationwide. I was told I had missed some excellent talks and was encouraged to buy the CDs. Katherine Hampton, the excellent conference organiser, kindly sorted out the key to my room despite the late hour and despite it being her birthday. Four or so pints later, I hit the sack, not without getting lost after going to get my bag from the car.
In the morning after breakfast, it was time for the penultimate session, a Silent No More (SNM) Awareness Campaign seminar. SNM is an offshoot of British Victims of Abortion (BVA) and it attempts to make the public aware of the devastation abortion brings to women, men and their families. It holds gatherings in public places nationwide featuring the voices of women and men who regret their abortion decisions. (More information can be obtained here)
Contributors included Cathy MacBean of BVA and John Edwards, Chairman of Nottingham SPUC branch, which hosted a SNM event in Nottingham town centre earlier on this year. These occasions involve very brave women (and some men) standing on the street and giving an account of their experience of abortion. One of the women, who gave a short address to delegates, said she almost wanted to run away when the event was about to start. But she stuck with it and movingly described how she was satisfied that she had spoken of her experience in public.
John gave practical tips on how to organise such an event and said the Nottingham speeches attracted quite a bit of media attention, including from the BBC's Heaven and Earth show.
The seminar also included an intriguing and very useful (for me) speech by Donna Nicholson, SPUC Scotland's Deputy Director. Donna was a journalist for around a decade and had jobs in both the religious and secular press and media. Her presentation looked at the language used by journalists in the US and UK when reporting on stories about abortion. She exposed the bias of many reports in the media on the issue, mainly due to reporters' lack of time or laziness to look at accurate information and language when writing on abortion. A lot of their research is basically rehashing press releases from abortion providers and looking back at achieve stories done by other reporters. She urged trainee reporters to be more accurate in the language they used. For instance, we should never describe abortion advocates as "pro-choice". It should always be "pro-abortion" because it is actually pro-lifers who offer more "choice" in a crisis pregnancy (i.e. help and support to keep the baby, adoption, financial help, support for babies with disabilities). This is compared to the pro-abortion lobby, which doesn't offer much more support than "have an abortion". (I apologise for not taking notes for direct quotes)
After refreshments, there was a general discussion, inviting members to put forward ideas for the betterment of the society. Conclusions from the session included the need to interact by broadcasting campaigning videos on youtube, for instance.
Following that, was the usual rousing speech by National Chairman, John Smeaton. More on that a bit later.
Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Catholicism and football
Over the Bank Holiday weekend I was at home and, naturally, as Hull City were at home, I went to see them play Norwich. At the same fixture two seasons ago, I had the pleasure of joining Delia Smith in the directors box for the match along with my friend (who has just started at the English College, Rome) Phil Cunnah. We had met her at the previous Faith Summer Session, where she delivered the guest lecture on "the power of prayer". Unfortunately, as I've just moved to start the reporter's job in Northamptonshire, I didn't know whether I would be there at that particular game. I have to write to her several weeks before the match to have a chance of getting a place in with the toffs.
Instead, I had the excellent company of Canon Michael Loughlin at the match. After lunchtime Mass at his parish in the centre of Hull (St Charles), Canon invited me in for lunch and asked if he could go to the match with me. "Of course", I said.
It was Canon's first visit to the Kingston Communications Stadium and, despite him really being a Middlesbrough fan, he joined me in cheering on the Tigers. And his priestly presence at the game didn't disappoint. City won 2-1. He even managed to get his visit to the football into his homily the next day, an analogy of going through the turnstile or "the narrow door to heaven" at the stadium to be greeted by a great arena of people.
During the afternoon, he was telling me that two of City's new young signings - Frank Belt and Brewster Frizzell (I think) - were parishioners of his at Bridlington.
After the match, this got me thinking about how many other Catholic professional players there are in the UK. When I was planning this post this morning, I couldn't think of many. But to my delight and joy when turning on the computer to get the latest on City's new signing, former Nigerian international Jay Jay Okocha, I find that he is a self confessed "devout Catholic".
The Mirror goes with "Jay-Jay Okocha: God told me to go to Hull!: JAY-JAY Okocha got an Almighty push to return to England and sign for Championship club Hull". I reckon the exclamation mark is a reference to Hull's reputation as one of, if not the most, Godless cities in Europe, although I'm sure that has changed since the massive influx of Catholic migrants, including Poles and Indians, to the city. As you may know, Hull has also in the recent past been reputed to be one of the worst city's in Britain, which may also have something to do with the witty Mirror headline.
Jay Jay told journalists: "I always ask God if it is his will, and if so then let it be.
"That's the message I got and that's why I'm here at Hull.
"My faith comes before anything. It has also taught me to respect and admire people for what they are and who they are.
"I pray a lot and it has helped me throughout my whole career to stay calm and focused."
So, very exciting times for Catholic Hull. I wonder which parish he will go to...? No doubt priests will be scrapping over him.
I can't think of many Tigers players who have been Catholics in the past except goalkeeper Tony Norman, who played for the club in the early 1990s I think. He lived opposite us and was in St Francis parish.
Back to the general issue of Catholicism and football. The other Saturday, Canon said he was proud to be following in the great tradition of priests going to support their local club on a Saturday. The tradition was that priests would rush back from the match in time to greet a long line of confessors. I've heard of priests arriving at new parishes and rearranging the Saturday evening Mass so they can go to whatever match. My uncle, a former parish priest in Middlesbrough, said the mood on a Sunday morning at Mass depended on whether Middlesbrough had won or lost the day before.
In terms of Catholic players, it would be intriguing to find out who they are. Jay Jay, it seems, is an exception, as most of them tend to keep their faith quiet. Jermaine Defo of Tottenham appeared on a special feature on the BBC's Football Focus inside a church (which looked very Catholic) talking of his strong Christian faith.
There are plenty of players we know who went to Catholic schools or who send their kids to Catholic schools (Roy Keane's children start the new term at Ampleforth College this September). But it's difficult to identify which are practising Catholics. Every single article in the Catholic press on this issue I've seen on this subject in recent years has failed miserably in investigating a list of players that go to Mass.
I think part of the problem is that some famous people who are Catholics tend to be the last person into Mass and the first to depart, for fear of drawing attention to themselves or getting ambushed by old women or the parish nutter. You can understand this.
But, at the same time, it would be intriguing to build up a list of players whom people have actually seen at a Mass so we know which ones are our own so that we can be proud that they believe their faith to be more important then football and support them in that.
Please do mention Catholic players you know and information/sightings of them. I expect Scottish readers of the blog will have a few!
Instead, I had the excellent company of Canon Michael Loughlin at the match. After lunchtime Mass at his parish in the centre of Hull (St Charles), Canon invited me in for lunch and asked if he could go to the match with me. "Of course", I said.
It was Canon's first visit to the Kingston Communications Stadium and, despite him really being a Middlesbrough fan, he joined me in cheering on the Tigers. And his priestly presence at the game didn't disappoint. City won 2-1. He even managed to get his visit to the football into his homily the next day, an analogy of going through the turnstile or "the narrow door to heaven" at the stadium to be greeted by a great arena of people.
During the afternoon, he was telling me that two of City's new young signings - Frank Belt and Brewster Frizzell (I think) - were parishioners of his at Bridlington.
After the match, this got me thinking about how many other Catholic professional players there are in the UK. When I was planning this post this morning, I couldn't think of many. But to my delight and joy when turning on the computer to get the latest on City's new signing, former Nigerian international Jay Jay Okocha, I find that he is a self confessed "devout Catholic".
The Mirror goes with "Jay-Jay Okocha: God told me to go to Hull!: JAY-JAY Okocha got an Almighty push to return to England and sign for Championship club Hull". I reckon the exclamation mark is a reference to Hull's reputation as one of, if not the most, Godless cities in Europe, although I'm sure that has changed since the massive influx of Catholic migrants, including Poles and Indians, to the city. As you may know, Hull has also in the recent past been reputed to be one of the worst city's in Britain, which may also have something to do with the witty Mirror headline.
Jay Jay told journalists: "I always ask God if it is his will, and if so then let it be.
"That's the message I got and that's why I'm here at Hull.
"My faith comes before anything. It has also taught me to respect and admire people for what they are and who they are.
"I pray a lot and it has helped me throughout my whole career to stay calm and focused."
So, very exciting times for Catholic Hull. I wonder which parish he will go to...? No doubt priests will be scrapping over him.
I can't think of many Tigers players who have been Catholics in the past except goalkeeper Tony Norman, who played for the club in the early 1990s I think. He lived opposite us and was in St Francis parish.
Back to the general issue of Catholicism and football. The other Saturday, Canon said he was proud to be following in the great tradition of priests going to support their local club on a Saturday. The tradition was that priests would rush back from the match in time to greet a long line of confessors. I've heard of priests arriving at new parishes and rearranging the Saturday evening Mass so they can go to whatever match. My uncle, a former parish priest in Middlesbrough, said the mood on a Sunday morning at Mass depended on whether Middlesbrough had won or lost the day before.
In terms of Catholic players, it would be intriguing to find out who they are. Jay Jay, it seems, is an exception, as most of them tend to keep their faith quiet. Jermaine Defo of Tottenham appeared on a special feature on the BBC's Football Focus inside a church (which looked very Catholic) talking of his strong Christian faith.
There are plenty of players we know who went to Catholic schools or who send their kids to Catholic schools (Roy Keane's children start the new term at Ampleforth College this September). But it's difficult to identify which are practising Catholics. Every single article in the Catholic press on this issue I've seen on this subject in recent years has failed miserably in investigating a list of players that go to Mass.
I think part of the problem is that some famous people who are Catholics tend to be the last person into Mass and the first to depart, for fear of drawing attention to themselves or getting ambushed by old women or the parish nutter. You can understand this.
But, at the same time, it would be intriguing to build up a list of players whom people have actually seen at a Mass so we know which ones are our own so that we can be proud that they believe their faith to be more important then football and support them in that.
Please do mention Catholic players you know and information/sightings of them. I expect Scottish readers of the blog will have a few!
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